Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You'll arrive in France with your whole day ahead on the French Riviera. The Mediterranean coastline stretches before you from Toulon all the way to the Italian border, and you have the freedom to explore however you like. Take your time checking out the beaches, wandering through coastal towns, or just soaking in the scenery along this celebrated stretch of southern France.
Optional Activities
- Discover the beauty of the French Riviera
- Day 2
Nice
This morning you'll head into Nice on a guided tour to see the old city, Vieux Nice. The narrow streets and baroque churches here have stayed pretty much the same since the 1700s, so walking through feels like stepping back in time. Your guide will point out the details and history as you move through this tight maze of alleyways and historic buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
- Explore Vieux Nice with its narrow, winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
A motorcoach picks you up and takes you to your Avalon Suite Ship. From there your river cruise kicks off as you travel inland to Arles, where the ship docks overnight. You'll have time to settle in and get familiar with your floating home before exploring this historic Provençal town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
In Arles you've got options for the morning. Join an Adventure Host for a power walk through the town, take a workshop on Van Gogh's painting techniques, or go on a guided walking tour to see the Roman Amphitheater. Later, you'll have free time at Le Café Van Gogh before the ship sails toward Avignon in the afternoon.
- 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 - visit the Roman Amphitheater
- Free time at Le Café Van Gogh
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
You'll explore Avignon's ramparts and the Palace of the Popes on a guided tour. If you want something extra, there are optional trips to see Pont du Gard (a Roman aqueduct) or visit wine cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After lunch, you can wander through the city on your own, checking out the art and cultural sites. Evening brings entertainment back onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon
- Visit to Palace of the Popes
- Free time to explore Avignon's art and culture
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion - visit to Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct
- Guided Optional Excursion - wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 6
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
After a relaxed morning sail, you'll arrive at Viviers. You can either hike up to the hilltop cathedral with your Adventure Host or take a guided walk through this charming village with its pale-stone buildings and old town that blends Christian, Roman, and medieval history. From there the ship continues cruising to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk up to Viviers' hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers
- Explore pale-stone buildings and Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
Starting the day in Tournon, you'll pick between a morning hike with your Adventure Host or a guided walking tour of this medieval city. You'll see a 16th-century castle and Roman ruins nestled between the Rhône River and granite slopes. By early afternoon you're sailing to Lyon, where you'll spend the night docked.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Explore 16th-century castle and Roman ruins
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon
Lyon gives you choices. Bike through the architectural district with your Adventure Host or join a guided tour starting from Fourvière Hill with views over the city's churches and old town. The guided tour includes medieval alleyways, cafés, monuments, and Place des Terreaux. Free time lets you bike more along the rivers or explore further. You'll have evening entertainment 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 from Fourvière Hill
- Explore Old Town medieval alleyways
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares and along river banks
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Basilica Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll travel into the Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and taste wine in a medieval castle. After that, cruise along the Saône River at a leisurely pace. Back onboard, you'll taste cheese and enjoy live entertainment in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards
- Wine-tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Leisurely afternoon cruise along Saône River
- Cheese Tasting on board
- Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Vernon
A drive takes you to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443, where you'll see Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. This afternoon you board a high-speed train to Paris from Dijon, then get on your Suite Ship for an evening cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
- View Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgment
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys to Caudebec
Vernon offers several morning activities: explore Chateau des Tourelles on foot, take a guided tour of Giverny where Claude Monet lived and gardened, or visit Bizy Castle. During the sail you'll have a traditional French crêpes lunch and pastry demonstration. In the afternoon you reach Les Andelys where you can hike to Château Gaillard ruins or take a guided walking tour, then continue to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French crêpes lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot
- Guided Tour of Giverny - Claude Monet's home and gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle (Normandy's Versailles)
- Traditional French crêpes lunch on board
- Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 12
Caudebec
Choose a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host or a guided trip on the Normandy Abbeys Route to see over 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches built along the Seine. This afternoon there's an optional guided excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur if you want to head out again.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
You can select a WWII history tour visiting Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, explore British and Canadian commemorative sites, or experience Normandy traditions with a brandy tasting in Calvados. Live entertainment happens onboard before the evening cruise to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, 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 tradition with brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
Explore Rouen either by bike on a guided tour discovering monuments and hidden spots, or walk the medieval quarter and see the 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral holds memories of Joan of Arc. An evening cruise takes you to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen exploring famous monuments and hidden gems
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen - medieval quarter
- Visit 16th-century Astronomical Clock
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Notre-Dame Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
The morning lets you choose between a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, visiting Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh lived and is buried, or touring the opulent Château de Malmaison where Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine lived. There's also an optional guided excursion to the Palace of Versailles. You'll cruise to Paris in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise
- Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
Paris offers multiple ways to spend your day. Walk the Seine with your Adventure Host, take a guided walk through ancient Paris including the Louvre, Île de la Cité, and the Latin Quarter, or join a city tour hitting the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. You'll have free time to wander at your own pace or relax with wine at a literary café on the Left Bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Experience the Seine by foot with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk through ancient Paris featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, and Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour featuring Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
- Free time to explore Paris
Landmarks/POIs Louvre Museum Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Palais-Royal Île de la Cité Latin Quarter - Day 17
Paris to London
After breakfast you'll say goodbye to your Avalon river cruise. An included transfer takes you to the train station where you board a high-speed Eurostar train heading to London in Standard class.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Included transfer to train station
- Day 18
London
You'll have a guided sightseeing tour of London's famous landmarks this morning. The tour drives past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards, Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. You'll also visit St. Paul's Cathedral (closed Sundays) to see Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece with its iconic dome.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of London's famous landmarks
- Visit St. Paul's Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Houses of Parliament Big Ben Westminster Abbey Whitehall Downing Street Buckingham Palace Piccadilly Circus St. Paul's Cathedral - Day 19
London
Your day in London is free to do what you like. Consider a flight on the London Eye for city views, visiting Windsor Castle's State Apartments, catching a West End show, or having a traditional pub dinner. Another option is a relaxing nighttime cruise on the Thames River if you prefer something more low-key.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Flight on the London Eye
- Tour of Windsor Castle State Apartments
- West End show
- Dinner at traditional London pub
- Nighttime cruise on Thames River
Landmarks/POIs London Eye Windsor Castle Thames River - Day 20
London
Your vacation ends this morning after breakfast. Time to head home with memories from your river cruise through France and a few days exploring London.
- Meals
- Breakfast
