Itinerary
- Day 1
Nice
You'll arrive in France and have the day to yourself along the French Riviera. The coastline stretches from Toulon toward the Italian border, giving you plenty of room to check out this Mediterranean region at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera
- Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice, showing off the old town's narrow streets and baroque churches. Vieux Nice has stayed much the way it looked back in the 1700s, so walking around feels like stepping back in time through this historic area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
- Explore Vieux Nice old city with narrow, winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
You'll board your Avalon Suite Ship today after a motorcoach transfer to meet the vessel. From there, you cruise south to Arles and dock overnight, giving you time to settle into your cabin as you travel down the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
In Arles, you can choose between a power walk with your Adventure Host, a workshop where you'll learn Van Gogh painting techniques, or a guided walking tour covering the Roman Amphitheater. Later you stop at Café Van Gogh for wine before sailing to Avignon. Crepes are served for lunch onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Crêpes lunch onboard), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Adventure Center for activity selection
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host OR Painting Workshop learning Van Gogh techniques OR Guided Walking Tour of Arles featuring Roman Amphitheater
- Free time at Le Café Van Gogh
- Crêpes lunch onboard
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
The guided tour in Avignon shows you the fortress city's ramparts and the Palace of the Popes. Free time lets you wander through art galleries, museums, and theaters, or photograph the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet bridge. Optional excursions visit the Pont du Gard aqueduct or Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars. Live entertainment happens onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
- Free time to explore Avignon's art, culture, theatres, and museums
- Free time to photograph Pont Saint-Bénézet
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard (ancient Roman aqueduct)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for Rhône wine region tasting
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont Saint-Bénézet Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 6
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
During the morning sail to Viviers, you pick between a guided hike up to the hilltop Cathedral or a walking tour through the Old Town with local food tastings included. The afternoon brings optional excursions before you cruise overnight to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Leisurely morning sail to Viviers
- Walk up to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host OR Guided walk through Viviers Old Town with included local culinary delights tasting
Optional Activities
- Optional Excursions in the afternoon (specific options not detailed)
Landmarks/POIs Viviers hilltop Cathedral Viviers Old Town - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
In Tournon, your Adventure Host leads either a morning hike or a walking tour showing the medieval city, its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins. Early afternoon you sail to Lyon. A French chef demonstrates pastry-making onboard, then dinner features French cuisine paired with wine hosted by a 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 exploring 16th-century castle and Roman ruins
- Early afternoon cruise to Lyon
- Pastry demonstration hosted by French chef onboard
- French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing hosted by Master of Wine
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon to Tournus
Lyon's reputation as France's gastronomic capital comes into focus through either a culinary walk or a guided tour from Fourvière Hill viewing the Old Town's medieval alleyways and monuments. Free time lets you bike through town squares and along the riverbanks where two rivers meet. Dinner inspired by chef Paul Bocuse is served onboard with live entertainment 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 from Fourvière Hill exploring Old Town medieval alleyways
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares, bridges, and riverbanks
- Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse onboard
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 real medieval castle's cellars. Back onboard, a cheese tasting happens before live entertainment and docking in Chalon-sur-Saône.
- 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 region vineyards - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
A drive takes you to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443, which houses Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting and ranks among France's architectural highlights. This afternoon you take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris, board your Suite Ship, and cruise overnight to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune (built 1443) with Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys to Caudebec
At Vernon's Adventure Center, you select between exploring Chateau des Tourelles on foot, a guided tour of Giverny visiting Claude Monet's home and gardens, or a guided visit to Bizy Castle. Traditional French crepes and a pastry demonstration happen while sailing. Afternoon options include a guided hike to Château Gaillard ruins or a walking tour of Les Andelys before evening cruising to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Adventure Center for activity selection
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot with Adventure Host OR Guided Tour of Giverny (Claude Monet's home and gardens) OR Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes onboard
- Pastry Demonstration onboard
- Cruise to picturesque town of Les Andelys
- 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
Choose between a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host or a guided trip on the Normandy Abbeys Route, where over 100 medieval abbeys and churches dot the Seine. Optionally, a guided excursion visits the seaside town of Honfleur this afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host OR Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route featuring medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to old seaside town of Honfleur
Landmarks/POIs Normandy Abbeys Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
Three guided tour options are available. Explore Normandy's WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, visit British and Canadian commemorative sites along the coast, or do a brandy tasting in Calvados for authentic local traditions. Live entertainment happens onboard before cruising to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches with Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery OR Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites with Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery OR Guided Tour of Normandy traditions with Calvados brandy tasting
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
In Rouen, either take a guided bike tour discovering famous monuments and hidden corners, or walk through the historic city where Joan of Arc lived. The medieval quarter has the 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. An evening cruise takes you to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen discovering monuments and hidden gems OR Guided Walking Tour of Rouen featuring Joan of Arc history, medieval quarter, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Options include relaxing on a bike ride with your Adventure Host, visiting Auvers-sur-Oise to see Vincent van Gogh's home and burial site, or touring the opulent Château de Malmaison where Napoléon Bonaparte lived with his wife Josephine. You can optionally join a guided excursion to the Palace of Versailles. Evening cruise brings you to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along Seine with Adventure Host OR Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise (home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh) OR Guided tour of Château de Malmaison (home of Napoléon Bonaparte and Josephine)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
With your Adventure Host, you can walk along the Seine, explore ancient Paris through the Palais-Royal and Louvre, or take a guided tour hitting the major sites like the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and Champs-Élysées. Strolling independently or relaxing with wine in a Left Bank café are also options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seine river walk with Adventure Host OR Guided Walk through ancient Paris featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter OR Guided City Tour of iconic Paris sites including Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées
- Free time to stroll Paris independently or visit literary cafés on Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Left Bank Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 17
Paris to London
After breakfast, you say goodbye to the Avalon river cruise. An included transfer takes you to the train station for the high-speed Eurostar train to London in Standard class.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Included transfer to train station
- Day 18
London
Arriving in London, a guided morning tour covers the city's famous landmarks. You'll drive past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted guards, Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. St. Paul's Cathedral (closed Sundays) shows off Sir Christopher Wren's iconic dome.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing tour of London covering Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall mounted horseguards, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Houses of Parliament Big Ben Westminster Abbey Buckingham Palace Piccadilly Circus St. Paul's Cathedral - Day 19
London
The day is yours in London. Consider riding the London Eye for city views, touring Windsor Castle's State Apartments, catching a West End show, dining at a traditional pub, or taking a nighttime Thames River cruise. Plenty of options exist to make your time here feel special.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Flight on London Eye
- Tour of Windsor Castle State Apartments
- West End theatre show
- Dinner at traditional London pub
- Nighttime cruise on Thames River
Landmarks/POIs London Eye Windsor Castle Thames River - Day 20
London
Your vacation wraps up this morning with breakfast before you head out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
