Itinerary
- Day 1
Nice
Start your time on the French Riviera with a day to yourself along the Mediterranean coast. The shoreline runs from Toulon all the way to Italy, so you've got plenty of coastline to check out at your own pace.
Landmarks French Riviera - Day 2
Nice
Head into Nice for a guided tour through Vieux Nice, where narrow streets and baroque churches have stayed mostly unchanged since the 1700s. This part of town gives you a real feel for how the city looked centuries ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice - explore Vieux Nice with its narrow winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks Vieux Nice (Old Town Nice) - Day 3
Nice to Arles
Board your Avalon Suite Ship and get settled in. The ship stays docked in Arles tonight as your river cruise kicks off, so you'll have time to get comfortable before sailing begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles to Avignon
In Arles, pick from a power walk, a Van Gogh-style painting workshop, or a guided walking tour that includes the Roman Amphitheater. Later in the day the ship sails to Avignon, and you'll spend the night docked there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Crêpes lunch onboard), Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop - learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh and create your own painting
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles - visit the Roman Amphitheater
- Free time at Le Café Van Gogh
- Crêpes lunch onboard
Landmarks Roman Amphitheater of Arles Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
Take a guided tour of Avignon's fortress walls and the Palace of the Popes. If you want more, there are optional trips to the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct or wine cellars near Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Spend part of your day on your own, then catch live entertainment back on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon - fortress city with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
- Free time to explore Avignon - art, culture, theatre, museums, and Pont Saint-Bénézet
- Onboard live entertainment
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion - visit Pont du Gard ancient Roman aqueduct
- Guided Optional Excursion - visit Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars with Rhône wine region tasting
Landmarks Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 6
Viviers to Tain l'Hermitage
In the morning, sail leisurely to Viviers. Either walk up to the hilltop Cathedral or do a guided walk through the Old Town with local food tastings. The ship sets sail again in the evening toward Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk up to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided walk through Viviers Old Town with included tasting of local culinary delights
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tournon to Lyon
Start your morning in Tournon with either a hike led by an Adventure Host or a guided walking tour of the medieval city and its 16th-century castle. The ship heads to Lyon early afternoon. Back onboard, watch a pastry demonstration by a French chef, then sit down for a French cuisine dinner with wine pairings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing)
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon - medieval city with 16th-century castle
- Pastry demonstration hosted by French chef onboard
- French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing on board
Landmarks Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon
In Lyon, the gastronomic capital, choose between a culinary walk or a guided tour starting from Fourviere Hill that covers churches and the Old Town's medieval alleyways, cafes, and monuments. Spend free time biking through town squares and along the rivers. Later, enjoy dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse before the ship sails to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse)
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon
- Guided Sightseeing Tour - Fourvière Hill with churches, Old Town exploration, Place des Terreaux
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares, bridges, and riverside areas
- Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse
- Live entertainment while sailing to Tournus
Landmarks Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Mâconnais to Chalon-sur-Saône
Travel into the Maconnais wine region to see Chardonnay vineyards and do a wine tasting in a medieval castle's cellars. Back on the ship, you'll have a cheese tasting and catch live entertainment as you arrive in Chalon-sur-Saone.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Mâconnais region - learn about Chardonnay vineyards and attend wine-tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Cheese tasting onboard
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks Mâconnais Region - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Lyon Airport
Your river cruise ends after breakfast. From here, you'll need to arrange your onward travel plans.
- Meals
- Breakfast
