Itinerary
- Day 1
Nice
You'll start exploring the French Riviera's Mediterranean coastline with free time to wander along the beautiful stretch of water from Toulon toward the Italian border. This gives you the chance to see the region at your own pace and find what interests you most.
- Day 2
Nice
Today focuses on Nice, the major city of the French Riviera. A guided tour takes you through Vieux Nice's narrow, winding streets and baroque churches. The old city here hasn't changed much since the 1700s, so you're walking through some real history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
A motorcoach transfers you to board your Avalon Suite Ship, and your river cruise gets underway. The ship docks overnight in Arles, so you'll settle in and get ready for exploring this historic town starting tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
At the Adventure Center in Arles, you choose your activity: a power walk, a painting workshop focused on Van Gogh's techniques, or a guided walking tour of the Roman Amphitheater. After stopping by Le Café Van Gogh for lunch, the ship sails to Avignon. Later, there's an optional wine lecture from your Master of Wine onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop - Van Gogh techniques
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles
- Visit to Roman Amphitheater in Arles
- Lecture about wine hosted by Master of Wine
Optional Activities
- Stop at Le Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater - Day 5
Avignon
Avignon, known as the City of Popes, is your destination. You can take a guided tour through this fortress city and see the Palace of the Popes, or head to the famous wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape to taste Rhône wines. There's live entertainment onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon
- Visit to Palace of the Popes
- Trip to wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 6
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
After a leisurely morning sail to Viviers, you pick between hiking up to the hilltop Cathedral or joining a guided walking tour through the pale-stone buildings and Romanesque cathedral in the Old Town. An optional food and wine pairing dinner with your Master of Wine happens this evening before you cruise to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk/hike to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers
- Visit to Romanesque cathedral and Old Town of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by Master of Wine
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
In Tournon, your Adventure Host offers activities like a morning hike or guided walking tour of this medieval city, where you can see the 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. The ship cruises to Lyon in the early afternoon, and an onboard chocolate and wine tasting happens while sailing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Visit to 16th-century castle in Tournon
- Visit to Roman ruins in Tournon
- Onboard chocolate and wine tasting hosted by Master of Wine
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon
Lyon, known as the Gastronomy Capital of France, gives you options: biking through the architectural district along the river banks where the Rhone and Saône meet, or a guided sightseeing tour from Fourvière Hill that covers churches and the Old Town's medieval alleyways. Visiting the Beaujolais wine region is optional. Live entertainment plays while you sail to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour through Lyon's architectural district with Adventure Host
- Guided Sightseeing Tour from Fourvière Hill
- Exploration of Old Town medieval alleyways
- Visit to Place des Terreaux
- Guided tour of Beaujolais area and wine
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Basilica Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll cruise leisurely along the Saône River into the rolling Mâconnais region, learning about its Chardonnay vineyards. There's a wine tasting in the cellars of a real Medieval castle, and later your Master of Wine hosts a cheese and wine tasting. Live entertainment is on the schedule this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Mâconnais region
- Wine-tasting in Medieval castle cellars
- Cheese and wine tasting hosted by Master of Wine
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Vernon
A drive takes you to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital built in 1443, which houses Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. Later, you board a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris, then transfer to your Suite Ship for an overnight stay in Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys to Caudebec
With your Adventure Host, you can explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot, take a guided tour of Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny, or visit Bizy Castle in Normandy. A traditional French crêpes lunch and pastry demonstration happen while sailing to Les Andelys, where you either hike to Château Gaillard's ruins or take a guided walking tour. The ship continues to Caudebec for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French crêpes luncheon), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Giverny
- Visit to Monet's charming residence
- Visit to Monet's flower and water gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French crêpes luncheon
- Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to castle ruins of Château Gaillard
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Giverny Monet's House and Gardens Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 12
Caudebec
Your Adventure Host provides activities, and you can choose between a relaxing bike ride along the river or a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route covering more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches. In the afternoon, you have an optional guided excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur
Landmarks/POIs Normandy Abbeys Route Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
Multiple guided tour options explore Normandy's WWII history or traditional culture. Tour the D-Day landing beaches with U.S. sites like Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc, or visit British and Canadian commemorative sites. Another option is exploring Normandy traditions with a brandy tasting in Calvados. Live entertainment happens onboard before sailing to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches
- Visit to Omaha Beach
- Visit to Pointe du Hoc monument
- Visit to American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites
- Visit to British cemetery
- Visit to Pegasus Memorial
- Visit to seaside town of Arromanches
- Visit to Juno Beach Center
- Visit to 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 Normandy Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
In Rouen, home of Joan of Arc, you can choose a guided bike tour discovering famous monuments and hidden spots, or a guided walking tour of the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The ship then cruises to Conflans for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen
- Visit to 16th-century Astronomical Clock
- Visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral, Rouen
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
With your Adventure Host or guided tours, you can enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine, 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. The Palace of Versailles is another optional stop. The ship cruises to Paris for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- 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, the City of Lights, offers multiple ways to explore with your Adventure Host or through guided tours. Walk along the Seine, explore the ancient heart of Paris with the Palais-Royal and sites on Île de la Cité, or join a guided city tour hitting major sites like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and Champs-Élysées. You can stroll on your own or spend time in a literary café on the Left Bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk of ancient heart of Paris
- Visit to Palais-Royal
- Visit to Louvre pyramid
- Visit to sites on Île de la Cité
- Visit to Left Bank
- Visit to Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris
- Visit to Louvre Museum
- Visit to Arc de Triomphe
- Visit to Eiffel Tower
- Visit to Opéra Garnier
- Visit to Champs-Élysées
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
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning, and you disembark in Paris to head home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
