Things to do in Amiens: guided outings with Jules, on the water and on foot
Amiens can be discovered in several ways: from the water, in the heart of the Hortillonnages, or on foot, through the lanes of Saint-Leu and around the cathedral. Jules, a naturalist guide with a master’s degree in ecology and the founder of Ecologik, offers guided outings for every wish and every audience: as a couple, with family, with friends, as a group, with a class or with a team. This page brings together what you can do with him, and sends you to the page that details each format.
On the water: the boat in the heart of the Hortillonnages
The boat getaway is the signature activity: a loop from the Île au Fagot footbridge, in the heart of the Hortillonnages, aboard a boat with a silent electric motor. Ten seats at most, a calm pace, and a guide who tells the story of the waterways, the market gardens and life on the water.
The boat is booked online from the calendar; the length and the current prices are shown on each offer. Babies under 3 travel free in a parent’s arms and dogs are welcome. To be alone on board, the whole boat can also be booked: it is an option, never an obligation.
On foot: Saint-Leu, the cathedral and the citadel
To visit Amiens on foot, Jules leads guided tours from Place du Don: Saint-Leu and the area around the cathedral (an outside visit), or a longer route that climbs up to the citadel. Groups are limited to 15 people, so that everyone can hear and ask questions.
A combined format links the boat in the Hortillonnages and a walk through Saint-Leu: the town from the water, then from the stone, in the same outing. The boat tour through Saint-Leu returns in 2027; this season, Saint-Leu is discovered on foot.
As a group, with colleagues or with a class
An association, a birthday, an extended family outing, a company or a works council: group outings are prepared on a quote, with a reply within 48 working hours. The boat takes 10 seats at a time, the walking tours up to 15 people, and beyond that Jules offers several departures or an adapted format.
For a company, a seminar or a team outing, the nature team building page details the possible formats. For a school, a holiday centre or an educational institution, the nature school trip page explains the educational aims and how to get in touch.
With children: observe, listen, make
The boat and the walking tours welcome children, with a child rate. Jules adapts what he tells: you watch the birds, listen to the water, look for what grows along the banks.
The Ecologik workshops extend the outing, such as the plant ink workshop that turns local plants into pigments. For a group of children, a birthday or a class, the workshop is prepared on a quote.
On a rainy day
The weather in Picardy changes quickly. Jules follows the forecast for every departure and keeps the decision in his hands: if conditions are difficult, he offers to postpone. A walking tour often copes better than an outing on the water with an uncertain sky.
For a truly rainy day, the page on visiting Amiens when it rains gathers ideas under cover, to combine with a guided outing once the sky clears.
A day in Amiens: an example
In the morning, a walking tour of Saint-Leu and the area around the cathedral from Place du Don. At lunchtime, a meal on the Saint-Leu quays. In the afternoon, the boat getaway in the heart of the Hortillonnages, from Île au Fagot. At the end of the day, a stroll along the canals.
To eat, have a drink or stay the night, Jules’s local tips recommend places around Saint-Leu and the town centre. Drinks and meals are paid directly to the venues: Ecologik charges for the guided outing, never for the products of the places it recommends.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Amiens in one day?
Combine a walking tour of Saint-Leu and the area around the cathedral in the morning, lunch in Saint-Leu, then the boat getaway in the heart of the Hortillonnages in the afternoon. The combined format brings the boat and the walk together in a single guided outing.
What to do in Amiens with children?
The boat and the walking tours welcome children, babies under 3 are free in a parent’s arms, and workshops such as plant ink suit a young audience well. For a class or a holiday centre, a school trip is prepared on a quote.
What to do in Amiens when it rains?
Jules decides according to the weather for each departure and offers to postpone if conditions are difficult. For a rainy day, the page on visiting Amiens when it rains gathers ideas under cover.
What to do in Amiens as a group or with colleagues?
Associations, birthdays, works councils, seminars and team outings are prepared on a quote, with a reply within 48 working hours. The boat takes 10 seats at a time and the walking tours up to 15 people; beyond that, Jules offers several departures.
Can the guided outings be booked online?
Yes for the boat, the walking tours and the combined format: the calendar shows the open departures and payment is made online. Groups, companies, schools and workshops go through a quote request.