Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris with the day ahead of you to explore at your own pace. The city has plenty to offer whether you're interested in walking past famous buildings, trying local food, browsing boutiques, or checking out the art museums. This is your chance to get a feel for the city without any scheduled activities.
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris architecture and iconic sites independently
- Visit cafes and boutiques
- Enjoy Parisian cuisine
- Day 2
Paris
A guided tour this morning takes you through Paris's major sights like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. After that, the afternoon and evening are yours to do what you'd like. You could shop along the big avenues, spend more time in museums, wander through Montmartre's narrow streets, or just sit at a café with a coffee and people watch.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided City Tour of Paris showing the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Champs-Élysées for cafe au lait and croissants
- Explore exhibits at the Louvre
- Visit Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre
- Browse Paris's classic shopping avenues and literary cafes
- Have portrait sketched by artist at Place du Tertre
Landmarks/POIs Louvre Museum Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur Place du Tertre - Day 3
Paris to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll take a high-speed train from Paris to Dijon, then drive to Beaune where you'll see the Hôtel-Dieu, a 15th-century hospital with Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting inside. Later you'll head to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your river cruise ship. The ship docks overnight in Tournus so you can settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, featuring Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgment
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 4
Tournus
A local guide shows you around Tournus, one of Burgundy's oldest monastic towns in the region's southeast. You'll get a sense of the town's character and history during the morning. Before dinner, there's a cheese tasting onboard the ship. You'll dock overnight in Trévoux.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournus highlighting this historic monastic center
- Cheese Tasting on board ship
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar
- Guided Optional Excursion to the Castle of Cormatin
Landmarks/POIs Tournus Castle of Cormatin - Day 5
Lyon
The ship sails to Lyon this morning. You can choose between biking through the city's neighborhoods and crossing the bridges over the Rhône and Saône rivers, or taking a guided tour from Fourvière Hill down through Old Town with its medieval streets and busy cafes. Later there's a WWII and French Resistance lecture onboard, followed by live entertainment after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride through Lyon's architectural district with Adventure Host, over bridges and along the banks where Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourvière Hill through Old Town with medieval alleyways, cafes, monuments, and Place des Terreaux
- WWII & French Resistance lecture on board ship
- Live entertainment after dinner
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Vieux Lyon (Old Town) Place des Terreaux - Day 6
Lyon to Tournon
A culinary walk guides you through Lyon, known for its food scene. The rest of the day is open for you to explore, shop, or relax in France's third largest city. You can bike from the ship to local markets and parks, or take a tour of the city's many murals. By evening the ship cruises toward Tournon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon
Optional Activities
- Explore local produce markets and parks by bike
- Leisurely tour of Lyon's murals
- Shop and explore the city independently
- Day 7
Viviers - Avignon
Your guide walks you through Tournon, an old medieval city with a 16th-century castle. After lunch you'll sail to Viviers for a late afternoon tour of the village with its Romanesque cathedral and historic Old Town. There's live entertainment onboard before cruising overnight to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon highlighting the 16th-century castle
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers showing its Romanesque cathedral, Old Town with historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle Viviers Viviers Romanesque Cathedral - Day 8
Avignon
A guided tour takes you around Avignon's fortress walls and the Palace of the Popes. After that you have time on your own to see the art, museums, theaters, and get photos of the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet and other historic spots. Live entertainment happens onboard before you sail to Arles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
- Live entertainment on board
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard
- Guided Optional Excursion to wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Explore Avignon's art, culture, theatre, and museums independently
- Visit the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Avignon City Ramparts Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 9
Arles
You can pick what you'd like to do this morning: a brisk walk through Arles, a painting class where you'll learn van Gogh techniques and make your own piece, or a guided walk through this Provence city past the Roman Amphitheater. The rest of the day is free, so you could head to Café Van Gogh for wine and relaxation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host, OR Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh and create your own painting, OR Guided Walking Tour of Arles visiting the Roman Amphitheater
Optional Activities
- Visit Le Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles Le Café Van Gogh - Day 10
Arles to Nice
After breakfast you'll drive to Nice on the French Riviera. The drive takes you along the Mediterranean coast, which runs from Toulon east to the Italian border and is known for its seaside beauty.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 11
Nice
A guided tour shows you Nice's narrow streets and baroque churches in Vieux Nice, the old part of town that looks much like it did back in the 1700s. You'll get a sense of how the city has maintained its character over the centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Nice exploring the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice (Old City)
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice (Old Town) - Day 12
Nice
Your trip ends this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
