Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll board your river cruise ship in Marseille after your flight arrives by 3 pm. Get settled into your cabin by 5 pm when the ship departs, then head to dinner as you dock overnight in Arles.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Arles to Avignon
Start the day in Arles with your pick of activities: take a power walk, join a painting workshop inspired by Van Gogh, or do a guided walking tour of the Roman Amphitheater. Stop by Le Café Van Gogh for wine before sailing to Avignon. You'll have crepes for lunch onboard, then dock for the night.
- 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 with visit to Roman Amphitheater
- Crêpes lunch onboard
Optional Activities
- Glass of wine at Le Café Van Gogh
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 3
Avignon
Explore Avignon on a guided tour covering the Palace of the Popes and the city ramparts. You can add optional excursions to Pont du Gard aqueduct or Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars, or wander on your own to find art galleries, museums, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Catch live entertainment onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon - fortress city with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard - ancient Roman aqueduct
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape - wine cellars and Rhône wine region tasting
- Self-guided exploration of Avignon's art, culture, theatre, and museums
- Photography of Pont Saint-Bénézet and countryside
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 4
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
Sail leisurely to Viviers where you'll choose between hiking to the hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host or taking a guided walk through the Old Town with local food tasting included. The afternoon offers optional excursions. You'll sail in the evening to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk up to Viviers' hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk through Viviers Old Town with included local culinary tasting
Optional Activities
- Optional Excursions in Viviers (afternoon)
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 5
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
In Tournon you can either hike along the Rhone with your Adventure Host or do a guided walking tour of the medieval city, 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins. Cruise to Lyon in early afternoon, then attend a pastry demonstration and French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairings from your Master of Wine.
- 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 and Roman ruins
- Pastry Demonstration hosted by a French chef onboard
- French Cuisine Tasting Dinner with Wine Pairing hosted by Master of Wine
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 6
Lyon to Tournus
Learn why Lyon earned its reputation for food on a culinary walk, or take a guided tour from Fourvière Hill through churches, Old Town alleyways, and Place des Terreaux. Free time lets you bike through town squares and along the rivers. Later, enjoy a special dinner inspired by chef Paul Bocuse before sailing to Tournus with live entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Unique Dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse)
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon discovering the gastronomic capital
- Guided Sightseeing Tour - Fourvière Hill churches, Old Town medieval alleyways, Place des Terreaux
- Unique Dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse
Optional Activities
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares, bridges, and riverside areas
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 7
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
Head into the Mâconnais region to tour Chardonnay vineyards and taste wine in a medieval castle's cellars. Back on the ship, you'll have a cheese tasting and live entertainment before docking overnight in Chalon-sur-Saône.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mâconnais region - world-famous Chardonnay vineyards and wine tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Cheese Tasting onboard
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais Region - Day 8
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
Drive to Beaune to see the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443 with Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. Take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris in the afternoon to board your ship for an evening or overnight cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune - built 1443, home of Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 9
Vernon to Les Andelys
In Vernon choose between exploring Chateau des Tourelles on foot, taking a guided tour of Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny, or visiting Bizy Castle. You'll have traditional crepes and a pastry demonstration while sailing to Les Andelys. Either hike to Château Gaillard ruins or do a guided walk through town, then cruise overnight to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Hike exploring Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Giverny - Claude Monet's home, residence, and gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle - Normandy's Versailles with magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes onboard
- Pastry Demonstration onboard
- Guided Hike up to Château Gaillard castle ruins - historic home of King Richard the Lionheart
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys - one of France's most picturesque spots on the Seine
Landmarks/POIs Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 10
Caudebec
Relax on a bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, or take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route to see where medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys were built along the Seine. An optional excursion to seaside Honfleur is available in the afternoon. You'll stay docked overnight in Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route - over 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches along the Seine
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur - old seaside town
Landmarks/POIs Normandy Abbeys Route Honfleur - Day 11
Normandy Region to Rouen
Choose from three guided tour options exploring Normandy's WWII history or tradition: US D-Day sites including Omaha Beach, British and Canadian commemoration sites including Juno Beach Center, or Norman traditions with Calvados brandy tasting. Live entertainment happens onboard before cruising to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches - US D-Day sites including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc monument, and American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites - British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, and Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Guided Tour of authentic Normandy traditions with brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 12
Rouen to Conflans
Explore Rouen's famous monuments on either a guided bike tour finding hidden spots or a guided walking tour through the medieval quarter with Joan of Arc history, the Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. You'll sail overnight to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen - famous monuments and hidden gems
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen - home of Joan of Arc, medieval quarter, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame Cathedral Rouen Astronomical Clock - Day 13
Conflans to Paris
Choose a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, visit Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh lived and is buried, or take a guided tour of Château de Malmaison where Napoleon and Josephine lived. A guided optional excursion to Versailles is also available. Cruise to Paris in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise - home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh
- Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison - opulent home of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles - home of succession of French kings
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 14
Paris
Experience Paris with choices including a scenic Seine walk with your Adventure Host, a guided walk through the city center with Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, and Latin Quarter, or a city tour hitting the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Stroll on your own or relax with wine at a Left Bank café. You stay docked overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seine river walk with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk through ancient heart of Paris - Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris - Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Self-guided stroll through Paris
- Wine at a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 15
Paris
Have breakfast onboard in Paris this morning before disembarking and ending your river cruise experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
