Boat trips on the Loire: where to board from the Sologne

Where can you board on the Loire near Romorantin?

In Blois, 40 min from the cottage: it is the nearest landing stage. Four other ports lie 47 to 82 min away. All times are door to door from the house.

• Observatoire Loire in Blois (40 min, 42 km): departures from the port of La Creusille in traditional boats, April to November depending on river conditions.
• Les Marins du Port de Chambord in Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire (47 min, 46 km): daytime, dusk or picnic trips from the old port where the stone for Chambord was landed.
• Millière Raboton in Chaumont-sur-Loire (58 min, 56 km): guided trips all year round, booked by phone.
• La Rabouilleuse, École de Loire in Rochecorbon (71 min, 105 km): sailing on toue boats, 1 hour 30 in the daytime or 2 hours 30 at dawn and dusk.
• Passeurs de Loire in Sigloy (82 min, 75 km): a 1 hour 30 discovery trip, or a 3 hour picnic outing with a stop on an island.

What are a toue, a futreau and a gabare?

They are the working boats of the Loire, all flat-bottomed to clear the sandbanks. The toue was used for fishing and sand dredging; with a cabin at the stern it is called a toue cabanée. The futreau is a smaller boat, the gabare a cargo boat. Boatmen's associations have rebuilt them and sail them today.

Do you need to book?

Yes, always. The boats carry about a dozen passengers, departures depend on the river level and the weather, and some crews require a minimum number of people. Book on the operator's website or by phone, and check the boarding point, which can change when the water is low.

Which trip should you choose?

• With Chambord: Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire is a few kilometres from the château. Visit in the morning, boat in the late afternoon.
• With the Garden Festival: the port of Chaumont-sur-Loire lies at the foot of the estate.
• On your own: Loire Kayak in Vineuil near Blois (43 min) hires out canoes and kayaks in season, from a one-hour paddle to a multi-day trip.
• At sunset: see our guide to sunset and aperitif trips on the Loire.

On the Cher, the cruise passes under Chenonceau: see cruising under the Château de Chenonceau. The Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site: Mission Val de Loire explains why. To stay, the house sleeps 6 in Romorantin (allow €130 a night for 4 guests, taxes and fees included): see rates and booking.