Have you ever thought about a houseboat vacation? Cruising through nature and mooring wherever you like: traveling on the water is pure relaxation for all the senses. And the best thing is: you don't need a boat license for our houseboat tours.

Houseboat vacation in Germany: enchanting Müritz

The "Little Sea" and heart of the Mecklenburg Lake District boasts extensive forest, field and meadow landscapes. You can even spot cranes, ospreys and white-tailed eagles here. For a houseboat vacation, gently curving canals connect Germany's largest inland lake with numerous smaller lakes.

• The bungalow boats from "MV Hausboot" in Buchholz an der Müritz look like floating mini-holiday homes - but are very maneuverable on the water. Boat for two to four people from 750 euros/week . www.mv-hausboot.de, Tel.: 039923/71688.
• The "Charterpoint Müritz" in Waren offers a large fleet of houseboats for two or more people from 600 euros/week. www.charterpoint-mueritz.de, Tel.: 03991/165559.
• Highlights: Castle Island in Mirow, Müritz National Park, Granzow, Waren, the harbor towns of Priepert, Flecken Zechlin, Rheinsberg and Kleinzerlang.

Houseboat vacation in France: enchanted Loire

Majestic Renaissance castles and historic towns, embedded in lush green vineyards and extensive parks - on the Loire and its side canals, you will quickly feel like God in France on a houseboat vacation. The section between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire is even a Unesco World Heritage Site.

• Original pénichettes, the elegant French houseboats, can be hired from "Locaboat Plaisance" in Briare from 900 euros/week. www.locaboat.com, Tel.: 0761/207370.
• Nicols Yacht's" offers five charter bases on the Loire, making one-way houseboat tours possible. From 900 euros/week. www.hausboot-nicols.de, Tel.: 07851/8851980.
• Highlights: Amboise, Angers, Chinon, Orléans, Nevers, Saumur, Tours, the wine villages of Poilly and Sancerre, Briare canal bridge.

Houseboat vacation in Holland: Cozy Friesland

Countless canals connect extensive lakes, plassen (large ponds) and the Ijsselmeer. You sail past lush meadows and lovingly restored windmills to the many small old villages and towns that invite you to stroll around.

• The houseboats from "Yachtcharter Sneek" are particularly low-built and are guaranteed to fit under any bridge. From 625 euros/week. www.yachtchartersneek.nl, Tel.: 0031/ 515/438383 (both German-speaking).
• You can start from four Frisian towns with "Holidays on the water", one-way tours are also possible. From 510 euros/ week. www.ferien-auf-dem-wasser.de, Tel.: 07464/9891370.
• Highlights: Sneek, Lemmer, Workum, Woudsend, Grouw, Akkrum, Makkum, Harlingen, nature reserve near Princenhof.

Houseboat vacation in England: Magnificent Thames

During a houseboat vacation, you can immerse yourself in England's history on the lush green Thames between London and Oxford: Tudor-style towns with Victorian flair invite you to take a stroll. The park at Hampton Court is enchanting, and Windsor Castle impresses with its magnificent chambers.

• In Chertsey, just 20 kilometers from London Heathrow Airport, the boats of "Nautic Tours" are moored. From 675 euros/week. www.nautic-tours.de, Tel.: 02364/5088990.
• The family business "Kris Cruisers" in Datchet offers its charter customers lots of insider tips. From 800 euros/week. Via: www.hausboot-boeckl.de, Tel.: 089/401010.
• Highlights: Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, Eton, Cookham, Marlow, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford.