Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You arrive in France along the French Riviera with the day open for you to wander around this Mediterranean coastline however you'd like. It's your chance to get oriented and start exploring on your own.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera (free time)
- Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice, starting with the old city's narrow, winding streets and baroque churches. You'll walk through Vieux Nice, the historic area that hasn't changed much since the 1700s. After the tour, you have free time to explore more of the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice - explore Vieux Nice (Old City) with narrow winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice (Old Town) - Day 3
Nice to Arles
You head to the port and board your Avalon Suite Ship by motorcoach. The ship then sails toward Arles, where you'll dock for the night, giving you an evening to settle in onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
At the Adventure Center, pick one of three options: a power walk with your Adventure Host, a painting workshop focusing on Van Gogh techniques, or a guided walk through Arles covering the Roman Amphitheater. Later you'll have free time to visit Le Café Van Gogh before the ship sails to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop - learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles - Roman Amphitheater and historic city
Optional Activities
- Visit Le Café Van Gogh (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles - Day 5
Avignon
A guided tour shows you Avignon's ramparts and the Palace of the Popes. You can add optional excursions to either the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct or the wine cellars at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The rest of the day is free for checking out the city's art, culture, theaters, and museums. Evening brings live entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon - ramparts and Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars
- Explore Avignon on your own - art, culture, theatre, museums
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 6
Viviers to Tain l'Hermitage
In Viviers, choose between a guided hike up to the hilltop cathedral or an afternoon walking tour through pale-stone buildings and the Old Town. After exploring the village, the ship cruises to Tain l'Hermitage where you'll stay overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers - Romanesque cathedral and Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Vivier's Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
Pick either a morning hike with your Adventure Host around Tournon or a guided walking tour of this medieval city with its 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. The Rhône River and granite slopes frame the town. Early afternoon brings you onboard for the cruise to Lyon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon - medieval city, 16th-century castle, Roman ruins
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon
In Lyon, choose a bike tour with your Adventure Host across bridges and along the riverbanks through the architectural district, or a guided tour from Fourvière Hill covering churches and the Old Town's medieval alleyways and cafes. You'll have free time biking through town squares. Live entertainment plays as the ship sails to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with Adventure Host
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Fourvière Hill, churches, Old Town, Place des Terreaux
Optional Activities
- Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon's town squares and along the rivers
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You travel into the Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and taste wine in a medieval castle's cellars. Back onboard, you have a leisurely afternoon cruising the Saône River, followed by a cheese tasting. Live entertainment wraps up the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour to Mâconnais region - learn about Chardonnay vineyards
- Wine tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Cheese Tasting on board ship
- Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
After driving to Beaune, you visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital, a 1443 architectural highlight with Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. Later a high-speed train takes you from Dijon to Paris, where you board your Suite Ship and cruise overnight toward Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune - built 1443, features Van der Weyden's Last Judgment
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys
You choose from three options: exploring Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot, a guided tour of Giverny including Monet's residence and gardens, or visiting Bizy Castle. A traditional French lunch features authentic crêpes and a pastry demonstration while sailing. Later pick between a guided hike to Château Gaillard ruins or a walking tour of Les Andelys before cruising to Caudebec overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French lunch of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot 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
- Traditional French lunch - authentic French crêpes with Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 12
Caudebec
Select either a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host or a guided tour of the Normandy Abbeys Route, where more than 100 medieval abbeys and churches line the Seine. In the afternoon, you can add an optional excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route - medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur (old seaside town)
- Day 13
Normandy D-Day Beaches to Rouen
Three guided tour options are available: a WWII tour of U.S. landing beaches including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, a British and Canadian commemorative sites tour with Pegasus Memorial and Juno Beach Center, or a brandy tasting in Calvados featuring authentic Normandy traditions. Live entertainment plays onboard before sailing to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII U.S. landing beaches - Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites - British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Guided Tour of authentic Normandy tradition - brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
Pick between a guided bike tour exploring Rouen's monuments and hidden gems, or a guided walking tour through the medieval quarter. The walking tour covers the 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral, which holds Joan of Arc's legacy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen - famous monuments and hidden gems
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen - Joan of Arc, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Cathedral - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Three activities are available: a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh lived and was buried, or a guided tour of Château de Malmaison, Napoleon's residence. You can also add an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles before the ship sails to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise - Vincent van Gogh's home and burial place
- Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison - Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine's home
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
In Paris, you choose between three options: walking the Seine with your Adventure Host, a guided walk through ancient Paris covering the Palais-Royal, Louvre, Île de la Cité, Left Bank and Latin Quarter, or a guided city tour of iconic sites including the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Free time lets you stroll Paris or linger in a literary café with wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Experience the Seine river by foot with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk of Paris - Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris - Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Paris on your own
- Linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Louvre Museum Arc de Triomphe Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Palais-Royal Île de la Cité - Day 17
Paris
Your tour concludes this morning with breakfast before you disembark in Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
