Take a wondrous journey through beautiful France along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing of the well-known French treasures and some hidden gems too! And as this is a cruise with a wine theme, you’ll be joined on board by our Master of Wine who will share his expertise at lectures and tastings.

Begin with an overnight on the captivating Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area before heading for the Rhône River and Arles—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes, the largest gothic fortress in the world, and later visit the famous Châteauneuf du Pape wine cellars. As you cruise to Viviers, chocoholics will delight in an onboard chocolate and wine tasting! The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage are beautifully nestled among vineyards and you’ll go on a guided walk of Tournon, a medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. During your stay, enjoy an excursion into the Beaujolais region for a sampling of the wine before you prepare your taste buds for an onboard food and wine-pairing dinner, hosted by our Master of Wine. And as you cruise to St. Jean de Losne, enjoy a tasting of cheese and wine. Before heading for Paris, visit Beaune and perhaps opt for a tasting of Burgundy wines!

This river cruise vacation in France would not be complete without a stay in Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! A city tour will show you the must-see sights and you’ll have free time to bask in the lavish cafés and explore on your own.

For specific details on this special interest river cruise, please view the day-by-day itinerary.

City Highlights

Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to FranceDay 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; sail into the Camargue region (daylight permitting)Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman AmphitheaterDay 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes and a winery in Châteauneuf du PapeDay 5 Cruising–Viviers: onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; guided walk in VienneDay 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill; excursion to Beaujolais; onboard food and wine pairing dinnerDay 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: day at leisure; onboard cheese and wine tastingDay 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris: visit the Hôtel-Dieu or wine tasting in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to ParisDay 10 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame CathedralDay 11 Paris: your vacation ends this morning

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.In the event that a high-speed train is unavailable due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be operated by motorcoach.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WLJ-T2-2018