Le Boat
Le Boat brings European elegance and luxury to the unique houseboating experience in Ontario. Houseboating is essentially the combination of two of Ontario’s favourite pastimes: cottaging and cruising. And with our boundless, fresh, clean and connected lakes, rivers and waterways, it’s no surprise that houseboating has become increasingly popular.
Le Boat is a well-established French holiday company that’s been providing amazing aquatic adventures throughout Europe for decades. In recent years they crossed the pond and opened their first North American headquarters in Smith Falls, along Ontario’s famed Rideau Canal.
Smith Falls is about an hour’s drive south from Ottawa, and it’s just one of the picturesque communities alongside the canal. With its historic significance, heritage landmarks and quaint villages and communities, the Rideau Canal is the perfect waterway for the upscale European fleet. The Rideau is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that connects Ottawa, Canada’s capital, with Kingston, the nation’s original capital city.
Navigate this waterway in style. Le Boat’s sleek and modern vessels feature full bedrooms with private ensuite washrooms, full kitchens and roomy sundecks. And the best part is they are very easy to captain, no prior boating experience or licence is required. Staff will show you the ropes and equip you with all the necessary instruction you’ll need to set out, pilot, dock and moor, as well as onboard safety protocols.
Just bring an adventurous spirit and a crew of family or friends ready to make lifelong memories together.
For up-to-date information and details on Le Boat, we recommend you visit their website. For information about other places of interest to explore nearby, keep scrolling to see what Destination Ontario recommends.
More about Le Boat
Cruise the world famous Rideau Heritage Route with Le Boat. The Rideau Canal is a 202 km waterway that connects the city of Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River via the Rideau and the Cataraqui Rivers, a number of lakes and a series of man-made canals, locks and stations. Its original purpose was to provide an alternative post War of 1812 passage between Kingston and Montreal. Its construction was completed in 1852, making it the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. And it is still considered an architectural marvel today, although its function has changed. The canal serves as an ideal recreational cruising and paddling route past picturesque rural and forested landscapes, and through small communities like Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Westport.
To ensure the preservation of this outstanding canal system, the Rideau Heritage Route is a UNESCO designated Heritage Site and a National Historic Site of Canada.
In other words, it’s a really big deal!
Having operated high end self-guided sailing holidays throughout Europe for years, Le Boat recently charted a new course for Canada, bringing a premium Horizon fleet of houseboats to cruise the Rideau Canal.
Enjoy spacious and modern vessels designed for ultimate comfort and ease of handling, plus cool features like the oversized windows, sunbathing area, fully-equipped kitchen, accessibility allowances and a fundeck perfect for enjoying sundowners. Choose from a 3-4 night short break, a one week adventure or 10+ days to truly unwind and escape your everyday.
Whether you’re a beginner on the water or a seasoned boater, the novelty of houseboating will surely become a tradition after experiencing the difference with Le Boat.
Are you on board?
Last updated: August 18, 2023