With 8,200 km of navigable waterways, it offers Europe's largest network of canals and rivers suitable for boating vacations without a license.
For our European neighbors, France is a privileged destination for those wishing to discover this original type of vacation, far from the crowds and mass tourism.
If river vacations have the wind in their sails, it's also because they meet a growing demand in the Western world: all year round, we live at a frenetic pace, and we long for more peaceful moments, to take the time to recharge our batteries.
Barge vacations offer this luxury: the luxury of taking your time!
And with good reason: when you're cruising at 8 or 10 km/hour (the speed limit on most canals), you take the time to do things, to navigate, to maneuver, to observe your surroundings... Even a simple weekend river cruise is a unique experience, to be shared by two, with friends or family. Are you a fan of SLOW TOURISM? Don't hesitate to choose a barge vacation!
If Nicols is recognized in the world of river tourism, it's first and foremost because we have the dual skills of builder and rental company. For 35 years, we've been building our boats in Cholet, Maine et Loire (49). Our central booking office offers them for rental, and after each of our customers' boat trips, we collect their opinions on their recent cruise.
Listening to their comments and suggestions for improvement enables us to constantly improve our products, so that we can offer boaters boats that perfectly meet their expectations.
As a result, Nicols has gained a reputation in Europe as a specialist in river tourism, with boats renowned for their comfort and safety: enough to satisfy all crews, with young children as well as senior citizens on board!
The design of a river boat without a license features a flat bottom, unlike a sea boat with a V-shaped hull.
This optimizes interior layout.
The volumes are similar to those found in a motor home or camper van, with bedrooms, bathrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen...
In addition, many boats offer an outside terrace for outdoor dining, and a double helm (inside + outside) to enjoy the sun!
NICOLS boats are renowned for their maneuverability and ease of access (single-storey decks for the Sedan and Estivale ranges).
What's more, made in France, our NICOLS boats comply with French safety legislation, and feature double-rail balconies and handrails to facilitate movement around the boat and limit the risk of falling. This is a major advantage, making NICOLS one of the preferred brands for river tourism enthusiasts, especially families with young children.
On board your boat, the only source of power is the boat's battery (except for top-of-the-range models equipped with a generator).
If you sail for 4 to 5 hours a day, your battery will recharge sufficiently to ensure the boat's autonomy in terms of light, or to run the domestic pump (for water supply), fridge (if electric), etc...
If you need to connect electrical equipment during your cruise, there are several solutions:
If you absolutely must use 220V with a high power consumption (e.g. electrical resistance device) or a permanent connection (e.g. breathing apparatus at night), plug in to the electrical terminals in the harbors in the evening - generally listed in your river guide - using the extension cord provided free of charge on board your boat. Or plug directly into your boat's shore power socket (for more recent models).
Choosing a Nicols cruise also means choosing a vacation that's just like you. Each cruise aboard one of our boats is unique, and your crew is free to choose not only your departure base, but also the itinerary and activities you'll enjoy along the way. But since it's not easy to choose your point of departure, don't hesitate to consult our thematic inspirations.
Here you'll find not only the starting point for your next adventure, but also a host of activities to satisfy every member of your crew:
By choosing to rent a boat without a Sp. license, you've made the choice of a holiday in the heart of nature. in the heart of nature. The quality of the environment in which you'll be boating is a major factor in the success of your vacation. Let's protect nature together Our small gestures can have big effects!
Water is a precious resource that must be shared for a variety of uses: drinking water, wildlife, agriculture, fishing, river tourism... To save this resource, we need to limit the number of individual boats passing through locks as much as possible: remember to group together with other boats during lockages.
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