Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You'll arrive in France and have the day to yourself along the French Riviera. The coastline stretches from Toulon eastward toward Italy, and you'll have time to get oriented with the Mediterranean setting before things get more structured.
- Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice's old city, where narrow streets and baroque churches have stayed pretty much unchanged since the 1700s. You'll walk around Vieux Nice and see how the area still holds onto its historic character from centuries back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
- Explore Vieux Nice and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
You'll transfer by motorcoach to board your Avalon Suite Ship, then sail toward Arles. The ship docks overnight in this charming Provençal city, giving you time to settle in and get your first feel for the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles to Avignon
Start at the Adventure Center where you pick between a power walk, a painting workshop covering Van Gogh's techniques, or a guided tour hitting the Roman Amphitheater. You'll stop by Le Café Van Gogh before the ship sails to Avignon. Lunch is crepes onboard as you travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Crêpes lunch onboard), Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host OR Painting Workshop (Van Gogh techniques) OR Guided Walking Tour of Arles with Roman Amphitheater visit
- Crêpes lunch onboard
Optional Activities
- Glass of wine at Le Café Van Gogh
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
Explore Avignon on a guided sightseeing tour, checking out the fortress ramparts and the Palace of the Popes. After that you can either wander on your own or take optional trips to Pont du Gard or Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars. There's live entertainment onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon
- Visit Palace of the Popes
- Explore Avignon independently - art, culture, theatre, museums, Pont Saint-Bénézet
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard (ancient Roman aqueduct)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont Saint-Bénézet Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 6
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
The ship sails leisurely toward Viviers where you'll have choices: either a guided hike up to the hilltop Cathedral or a walk through the Old Town with local food tastings included. Optional excursions are available in the afternoon, then you'll cruise to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk up to Viviers' hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host OR Extraordinary Guided Walk through Viviers Old Town with local culinary delights tasting
Optional Activities
- Optional Excursions available in afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
Your Adventure Host leads a morning hike in Tournon, or you can take a guided walking tour of this medieval city with its 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. Back onboard there's a pastry demonstration by a French chef, then you'll sail to Lyon for a 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 OR Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Pastry demonstration by French chef onboard
- French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing onboard
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon to Tournus
In Lyon you have options: a culinary walk to see why it's France's food capital, or a guided tour from Fourvière Hill and through medieval Old Town. You'll have free time to bike around town squares and along the rivers. Dinner onboard features dishes inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse as you sail to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse)
Included Activities
- Culinary Walk through Lyon OR Guided Sightseeing Tour (Fourvière Hill, Old Town, Place des Terreaux)
- Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse onboard
Optional Activities
- Bike ride through Lyon's town squares, bridges, and riverbanks
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll head into the Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and do a wine tasting in a real medieval castle's cellars. Later there's a cheese tasting onboard and 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
- Cheese Tasting onboard
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais vineyards - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Vernon
Drive to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443, which houses Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting and stands as one of France's major architectural treasures. That afternoon you'll take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris, then board your Suite Ship and sail to Vernon overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys to Caudebec
The Adventure Center offers morning choices: Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles, a guided Giverny tour with Monet's residence and gardens, or Bizy Castle known as Normandy's Versailles. You'll have traditional crepes and a pastry demonstration while sailing to Les Andelys. Then choose between a hike to Château Gaillard ruins or a town walking tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles with Adventure Host OR Guided Tour of Giverny (Monet's home, residence, flower and water gardens) OR Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes
- Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard ruins OR Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 12
Caudebec
Pick between a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host or a guided trip on the Normandy Abbeys Route, where you'll see over 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches along the Seine. Later there's an optional excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host OR Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
You'll choose from three guided tour options: visit WWII landing beaches like Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc with the American Cemetery, see British and Canadian commemorative sites including Pegasus Memorial, or experience Normandy traditions with a brandy tasting in Calvados. Live entertainment plays onboard before you cruise to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches (Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery) OR Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites (British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery) OR Guided Tour of authentic Normandy tradition 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 14
Rouen to Conflans
Either take a guided bike tour discovering Rouen's monuments and hidden corners, or do a guided walking tour of this historic city. You'll learn about Joan of Arc and explore the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The ship then cruises to Conflans overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen OR Guided Walking Tour of Rouen
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Choose between a bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh lived and is buried, or a tour of Château de Malmaison where Napoleon and Josephine lived. There's an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles if interested. You'll cruise to Paris this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise (Van Gogh's home and resting place) OR Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison OR Bike ride along Seine with Adventure Host
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 guided options with your Adventure Host: a walking exploration of the Seine riverfront, a tour through ancient Paris hitting Palais-Royal and the Latin Quarter, or a city tour covering major sites like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and Champs-Élysées. You'll have free time to stroll or sit at a Left Bank café with wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Experience Seine river by foot with Adventure Host OR Guided Walk of ancient Paris (Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter) OR Guided City Tour (Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées)
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Latin Quarter - Day 17
Paris
Your trip ends this morning with breakfast before you depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast
