COVID-19 - click here - for our latest update

SteppesTravel
Menu
Our Popular Destinations
See our full list of destinations
Tailor-made & Group Tour Holidays
See all of our Holiday Ideas
About
Our Content
Our People
  • Amy snow biking Our Team

    Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.

  • William Dalrymple Our Tour Experts

    We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.

  • Liz Bonnin Heroes and Heroines

    The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

Panache Hotel Barge, Moored in Haarlem, Krafft, France
Home Our Vessels Alsace & Lorraine Barge Cruise on board Panache

France

Alsace & Lorraine Barge Cruise on board Panache

    Add to wishlist Contact us

    Mixing German and French architectures, wine, cuisine and even language, Alsace and Lorraine have a completely distinct feel to the rest of France. Home to fairy tale castles, rolling vineyards, ancient battlegrounds and mountaintop villages, this less-visited corner of France is both fascinating and picturesque.

    This six-day cruise begins in the historic city of Strasbourg and passes through the beautiful Alsatian countryside on its journey along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. On shore, highlights include the beautiful Gothic Cathedral of Strasbourg, private wine tasting and visits to the medieval castle and Rene Lalique collection of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware in the mountain village of La Petite Pierre. Ascend the unique Arzviller boat elevator, lifting the Panache some 450 feet up the mountainside and cruise through the Arzviller tunnels by candlelight.

    There are also optional excursions for beer tasting and an early morning visit to a local patisserie as well as plenty of opportunities to cycle or walk along the canal.

    On board Panache

    Panache is a stylish and spacious hotel barge decorated in a traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings. Each of the six cabins has an ensuite bathroom with twin hand basins and oversized showers.

    Departure dates

    Panache departs Strasbourg every Sunday between June and October and cruises in the opposite direction on alternate weeks.

    Ship Information

    Crew:6
    Music:CD player/iPod dock
    Cabins (en-suite):6
    Sleeps:12
    Communal Areas:Sun Deck and Spa Pool
    Telescope:1
    Touring bikes:12
    Wifi:(subject to local reception)
    Other:Air Conditioning and Central Heating

    Alternative boats

    Our travel experts have years of knowledge and between them and have personally inspected or travelled on board many of the boats we offer.

    See even more options

    France

    Burgundy Barge Cruise on board L’Art de Vivre

    • £££££
    L'Art de Vivre Hotel Barge, Cruising past Auxerre, Auxerre, France
    View Boat
    France

    Alsace & Lorraine Barge Cruise on board Panache

    • £££££
    Panache Hotel Barge, Moored in Haarlem, Krafft, France
    View Boat

    Let’s chat

    Speak to our experts

    Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on

    01285 601 784

    Send us an enquiry

    Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

    Enquire

    Very satisfied with all aspects of our trip. Steppes kept us fully informed of the progress of the arrangements and gave us various choices of hotels.

    Nick

    Why Choose Steppes?

    Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

    Are you ready to discover extraordinary?


    Why Steppes

    Featured in the press

    Vessel Ice Rating Comparison Chart.

    We use the Llyod Register scale to signify the ice rating of our vessels but you can see how that scale aligns with other scales in the chart below.

    Mame / Country of Register

    Ice thickness (cm)

    10 15 30 50

    Ice thickness (cm)

    lowest   highest
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super
    Finland / Sweden
    Category II
    IC
    IB
    IA
    IA Super