Tango

Aboard Tango, soak in all the gourmet luxury, historic charms, and postcard-worthy scenery of the French countryside as you cruise the meandering waters of the Garonne and Dordogne in the fabled French wine region of Bordeaux. 

With an experienced tour guide to tailor the week’s excursions to the interests of you and your group, you can follow the wine-focused itinerary detailed below or opt for activities like golf, kayaking, hot-air ballooning, vineyard bike rides, antique shopping, airplane tours, and even visits to see prehistoric cave paintings during your enchanting week on the water.

This boutique style barge offers romantic cabins, polished teak flooring, gleaming brass portholes, and luminous ceramic tiled baths. Owner and Chef, Daniel Sak, is a perfectionist and has made sure his barge captures all the senses of the south. This beautiful barge has modern-inspired decor and divine French country cuisine. Daniel’s cooking uses the freshest ingredients and is flexible to any taste or requirement.

The Captain’s cabin has its own entrance onto the main deck, and is exquisitely fitted with the original mahogany panelling and cabinets. It features a separate bedroom with king-size bed, dressing room and ensuite bath. The Captain’s cabin is available for private charters of eight passengers, or on individual cabin weeks.

The Van Gogh, Cezanne and Renoir cabins can be made up with twin or queen beds. The ensuite bathrooms in all cabins feature hand made Provencal tiles and contain all amenities.

Tango’s décor is a delight in all its details. Large brass portholes and opening skylights throughout the vessel provide fresh circulating air and light. French art decofixtures, provincial ivory linens, and rich teak wall panelling recreate the atmosphere of 1930’s French passenger liners. Up on deck, two terraces provides the perfect space for congregating for after dinner drinks and conversation.

Click here to take a virtual tour!

Cabin

• 4 unique cabins
• 2 x equal sized cabins (Cezanne and Renoir) 1 x bow cabin (Van Gogh) in twin split or king size bed option
• A Captain cabin is released only for 8 person charter
• All with stunning provincial tiled ensuite bathrooms
• Individually air-conditioned/heated
• Captain and Van Gogh cabins are 15 m2.
• Renoir and Cezanne cabin are 12 m2.
  

Public area

• Large brass portholes and open skylights
• French art deco fixtures and rich teak wall panelling all make for a chic 1930’s ambience
• Sun deck with hot tub
• Eight bicycles
• Book and board games
• Open bar
• Coffee machine
• Unlimited Wi-Fi

• 30m x 5m

Aboard the Tango, soak in all the gourmet luxury, historic charms, and postcard-worthy scenery of the French countryside as you cruise the meandering waters of the Garonne and Dordogne in the fabled French wine region of Bordeaux. During your cruise week, a portion of each day is spent navigating aboard Tango, with the remainder of the day on a guided excursion ashore. Tango’s experienced tour guide tailors the week’s excursions to match your interests. Follow the wine-focused itinerary described below, or opt for activities like golf, kayaking, hot-air ballooning, vineyard bike rides, shopping, antiques, airplane tours, and even visits to see prehistoric cave paintings during your enchanting week on the water.

Sunday:
Your tour guide picks you up from your pre-arranged meeting point in Bordeaux and brings you to Barge Tango, where you’re welcomed aboard with a festive glass of champagne. An evening cruise and romantic evening mooring await, as you settle into your spacious and comfortably appointed cabin. Relax on deck over hors d’oeuvres, then sit down to a meal of modern French cuisine prepared by Tango’s onboard chef.

Monday: 
Set off in the morning for a slow-paced and scenic cruise, mooring just outside Bordeaux’s celebrated Cité du Vin. This unique cultural facility brings wine to life through immersive, sensory exhibits, all housed within an evocative modern architectural setting. The tour wraps up with a tasting in the elegant Belvedere room on the eighth floor, with a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding landscape.

With your appetite whetted, head back to the barge to linger over lunch prepared from market-fresh, regional produce. Keep your camera handy for the afternoon’s leisurely cruise to Médoc, where you’ll hop off Tango for wine-tasting at the world-renowned Châteaux Margaux, Return to Tango, admiring the beautiful châteaux along the route, and relax over dinner featuring fresh takes on classic French cuisine.

Tuesday:
Leave the rolling hills of wine country behind for a trip to the sparkling Atlantic seaside and Arcachon Bay. A motorboat whisks you out across the dazzling blue waters of the estuary for up-close views of working oyster farms and the striking Dune du Pilat, a massive mountain of sugar-white sand rising above the pines. Back onshore, you’re treated to a déjeuner sur l’herbe as you enjoy the classic country pastime of picnicking, complete with a round of freshly shucked oysters. Head back to Tango for a cruise across the Gironde Estuary to the ancient village of Blaye, where your evening’s mooring is just a stone’s throw from the stone ramparts of the UNESCO-listed citadel. Dinner is served under the romantically lit canopy on deck.

Wednesday:
In the morning, delve into the area’s centuries’ worth of history with a guided tour of Blaye. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this riverfront village features an impressive 17th-century citadel and fascinating military history. Scope out the architectural treasures in town, and venture out to the prehistoric caves of Pair-Non-Pair. Undiscovered until 1881, this subterranean site contains engravings of animals that are among the oldest in the world. Back on the Tango, savor lunch as you cruise through the afternoon to Libourne. Moored at the foot of the town’s 14th-century clock tower, evening brings a deck-side tasting of fine local Pomerol wines before you sit down to dinner.

Thursday: 
Set off in the morning with Tango’s chef for a stroll into Libourne for market day. Roam among stalls heaped with seasonal produce, local meats and cheeses, and gourmet specialties as you help to select items to take back to the barge for lunch. In the afternoon, make your way through the chateau-dotted countryside to the alluring medieval village of St. Emilion, whose picturesque charms are only matched by the quality of the wines produced here. Discover the wines cultivated in this magical hilltop town during a tasting, and then meet up with Tango as it cruises toward the fairytale village of Bourg, an idyllic setting to moor for dinner.

Friday:
Gain special insight into the winemaking processes and techniques employed in Bordeaux with a visit to a cooperage, where traditional barrels are crafted from fragrant French oak. Watch artisans at work using centuries-old practices to form the barrels, and learn about the importance of everything from shape to materials in wine production. Return to Tango for lunch and a leisurely cruise to your final mooring in Bordeaux. Toast your time aboard Tango and end your week on a high note with a special festive dinner prepared by the chef.

Saturday – Departure for the continuation of your journey.
After breakfast the tourguide will take you to the pre-arranged departure point for the continuation of your journey.

Rates 2019

“Bonjour Sonia,
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous – thats three words we all used to describe our holiday on the Tango.
We have just returned back in Australia from our overseas holiday and I just had to let you know that the highlight  was the 7 day Canal trip on the Tango. It exceeded our expectations (which were reasonably high).  All of us (Mark, me and our 4 adult kids) couldnt have been more thrilled with the way the staff arranged things for all of us –  two of the many highlights being the concert at Carcassonne and the visits to lakes so the kids could swim. It was a perfect blend of relaxation and touring, and nothing we wanted or needed was too much trouble for them (including a visit to the hospital to attend to my daughters eye problem).  

The food was a highlight too, especially the specialty cheeses of the region which differed every day. Unfortunately out of the 6 of us only 3 were drinkers, so the beautiful wines that were paired with the food was only enjoyed by half of us!! Whatever we wanted the staff  attempted to supply for us,  they were friendly and attentive and we all enjoyed their company.

The barge was spacious and it was great that we all had our own ensuite. We felt like royalty when we sat in the spa drink in hand, waving to the people on other barges as our captain navigated our barge through the locks (a bit decadent – but it added to our experience). I don’t know what more to add except that we all would like to do this trip again and again and again, I think it was an absolutely brilliant concept and we all loved it.

Thank you for introducing us to this type of holiday (we’ll be back)!

Au revoir
Adele”