Homps RETURN via Argeliers 3-Night Itinerary
Set off from Homps on a relaxed return cruise via Argeliers along the Canal du Midi, winding past medieval villages, leafy towpaths, and sunlit vineyards. Pause for a wine tasting at a family-run estate in Paraza, enjoy a guided tour through the olive groves just north of Le Somail, and linger over regional dishes at waterside cafés. It’s the perfect blend of culture, comfort, and the unhurried charm of life on the water.
Suggested Itinerary
Arrive at base
2pm – 5pm
After you have arrived and checked-in, we’ll show you to your boat as quickly as possible. Spend time settling in, freshen up and await your pre-departure briefing which will be given by one of our base technicians. They will familiarise you with the boat’s domestic systems and give you a hands-on demonstration of the boat controls and how to operate it. They will make sure you are comfortable and confident controlling the boat, as well as navigating the waterway, before you set off.
Food for the journey: While part of your crew is settling on the boat, you can buy some provisions and food for any meals you decide to enjoy on board. There’s a supermarket on the opposite side of the canal to the base – cross the footbridge and take a 7 – 10-minute walk along Ru de Port and Rue de la Barque.
There’s also a great wine merchant, La Maison des Vins du Minervois, just across the footbridge from our base. They offer a vast selection of wines from over 100 wineries and vineyards of the region, and they will gladly allow you to try before you buy. They are open until 6pm, Mon – Fri
Homps > Argens-Minervois
5pm – 7pm
Approx. 2 hrs | 5 locks
Make your way to your first overnight mooring at Port d’Argens-Minervois, a marina just a gentle 2-hour cruise away. This easygoing stretch of canal is perfect for getting into the swing of things, with minimal twists and turns and five locks along the way to practice on. The peaceful surroundings make for a relaxed introduction to your cruise. Moor up and settle in for your first night on board.
Dinner at La Guinguette, Argens-Minervois
7:30pm – 9:30pm
You’ll love this ‘finger-lickingly’ good barbecue restaurant – we regularly hear from our customers who rave about it. It’s al fresco dining only and strung with bunting and fairy lights at night. The food here is rustic, tasty and freshly prepared… oh, and the portions are generous too. The ice cream is served in vase-sized glasses. Booking recommended: +33468415196 | laguinguette-restaurant.com
Overnight in Argens-Minervois
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Argens-Minervois > Paraza
9am – 9:30am
Approx. 30 mins | 1 lock
Moor up at the alongside moorings just next to this charming village before exploring and having a lunch nearby your boat.
Explore Paraza
10am – 11:45am
Near the center of the village and dominating the brow of the hill is Château de Paraza, which is where Pierre-Paul Riquet was housed while he oversaw the building of the canal. Today, wine is produced at the château and its owners offer guided tours and wine tasting. You can just turn up, but we’d recommend booking in advance. Contact: Lucile Danglas on 09 64 33 37 43 or 07 78 19 16 41 or email: chateaudeparaza@gmail.com | €45 per person. The Château opens at 10am and its a 10 minute amble, uphill, to get there.
Lunch at OKN9, Paraza
12noon – 1:30pm
OKN9 is the perfect stop for lunch, with a relaxed terrace set right beside the Canal du Midi. The menu blends French, Mediterranean, and Italian influences, featuring fresh seasonal dishes such as seafood, ravioli, and pavé de saumon, alongside lighter plates and tempting desserts. Friendly service and a peaceful waterside setting make it an ideal place to pause before continuing your journey.
Booking recommended: DigiResa: OKN9 | +33 7 49 48 48 55
Paraza > Argeliers
2pm – 4pm
Approx. 2 hrs | 0 locks
Once you reach Argeliers, continue on until you spot a bridge up ahead. Moor up just before the bridge for the night, with your dinner restaurant only a short stroll away after an afternoon of exploration in the village.
Explore Argeliers
4pm – 7pm
In the heart of Argeliers stands a modest 17th-century château, a reminder of the village’s long history and southern charm. Surrounded by Minervois vineyards, the setting is wonderfully scenic, with rolling vines and views across to the Corbières foothills. Enjoy a gentle stroll or cycle along the towpaths, where the calm of the canal and vineyards at your side set the pace, before returning to your boat for dinner nearby.
Dinner at Le Chat Qui Pêche, Argeliers
7:30pm – 9:30pm
End the day with dinner at Le Chat Qui Pêche, a stylish canal-side restaurant set in a beautifully restored former roadman’s house. The setting is relaxed and picturesque, with a peaceful terrace overlooking the water. The menu blends French and Mediterranean influences, with dishes such as scallops, duck, lobster ravioli, and other seasonal creations designed for sharing. Pair your meal with a local Minervois wine and enjoy the unhurried atmosphere.
Booking recommended: +33 4 68 45 37 42 | Le Chat Qui Pêche
Overnight in Argeliers
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Argeliers > Le Somail
9am – 10am
Approx. 1hrs | 0 locks
The Port du Somail is subject to a mooring fee – please contact the Harbour Master’s Office for more details. +33 9 84 58 81 38 | +33 7 44 90 00 06
Cycle to L’Oulibo
10:30am – 10:50am
If you added bike rental to your holiday booking, we suggest cycling 20 minutes to the north of Somail to visit the The Olive Oil Cooperative Oulibo. Or, the tourist information office (next to Nicols) may arrange a taxi for you.
Explore the Olive Oil Cooperative Oulibo
11am – 12:30pm
Enjoy a 1.5hr guided tour through the olive groves to learn about farming olives and the production of olive oil, including a sound and light show and tasting. Book a tour in advance: 04 68 41 88 84 | loulibo.com/guided-visit
Cycle back to your boat in Le Somail
12:40pm – 1pm
Lunch on board, Le Somail
1pm – 2:30pm
Stop by the grocery barge near the bridge to pick up a few fresh and local ingredients for a relaxed lunch on board (closed from 1:30pm). And if you have a sweet tooth, wander over to Le Glacier du Somail after lunch to enjoy a delicious frozen treat (open from 2pm).
If you’d prefer to eat out, Le Comptoir Nature is a lovely option for lunch.
Le Somail > Homps
2:30pm – 6pm
Approx. 3.5 hrs | 6 locks
Leave no later than 3pm to ensure you are back in Homps before the locks close at 7pm.
Between Le Somail and Paraza, you’ll pass over the Répudre Canal Bridge, one of the only canal bridges built by the canal’s famous designer, Pierre-Paul Riquet. By passing over the waters of the Répudre, it avoided the damage that its waters caused to the canal during floods. Completed in 1676, it was the first canal bridge built in France and is reputed to be the second in the world.
Dinner at Les Tonneliers, Homps
7pm – 9:30pm
Cross the footbridge by the base and in a couple of minutes you’ll be there. Dine in a beautiful and elegant garden setting serving fresh French and Mediterranean cuisine. Booking recommended: +33(0)4 34 44 20 19 | lestonneliers.fr (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).
If you’re dining on one of the above days, try En Bonne Compagnie instead – another great option for dinner!
Overnight in Homps
Breakfast on board
7:30am – 8:30am
Enjoy your final breakfast on board before tidying and vacating your boat by 9am (unless you have booked and paid for a late-checkout).
Depart Homps
9am
4 or 5 night alternative
With 4 or 5 nights, extend your stop in Le Somail with a visit to the antiquarian bookstore, Le Trouve Tout du Livre (open 2:30–6:30pm), before continuing through a scenic stretch of canal lined with vineyards, pretty villages, and shady towpaths.
Continue east to Capestang and don’t miss the Gothic St. Étienne Collegiate church, an unfinished masterpiece with striking stained glass and access to a bell tower offering views over the Cévennes, Pyrenees, and Oppidum of Ensérune. Also worth seeing is the Archbishop of Narbonne’s former summer residence, Château des Archevêques, which looks plain from outside but contains richly decorated staterooms, including rare 15th-century painted wooden ceilings.
Narbonne is also a great addition to your journey, with a lively southern French atmosphere and rich heritage. Must-sees include the Archbishop’s Palace, with its tower views and museums, the soaring Gothic cathedral, and the famous Les Halles market – a wonderful place to browse local produce and stock up for on-board picnics and barbecues.
This itinerary is a suggestion only
This suggested itinerary is an indication of what could be accomplished, and your ability to accomplish it, is not a contractual obligation of Le Boat. Le Boat is unable to guarantee when your pre-departure briefing will take place and in some cases it will not be given until the morning after your arrival. In these instances, you will need to adapt the itinerary outlined to accommodate a later departure. All cruising distances and times are approximations and are subject to local navigation restrictions at the time you cruise, planned or otherwise, which may also require you to deviate from the itinerary shown. Please check advertised opening times of sights, attractions and restaurants to avoid disappointment – some may need to be booked in advance. All meals, entry fees and tour tariffs are payable at your own expense. Attractions, restaurants and even locks and/or stretches of the waterway may be closed or can close without notice.
We’d love to hear from you
We’ve tried our very best to ensure the accuracy of the information we’ve provided. If you have followed all or some of this itinerary and have found something isn’t quite right, or perhaps you have some helpful tips and pointers that we could add which might be useful to your fellow boaters, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at: itineraries@leboat.com
Image Credits
La Guinguette d’Argens – laguinguette-restaurant.com | L’Oulibo – loulibo.com/lodyssee-de-lolivier/ | Les Tonneliers – lestonneliers.fr