Itinerary
- Day 1
Zürich/Basel to Breisach
Your flight needs to land by 3 pm so you can board the river cruise ship by 5 pm. Get settled into your cabin, then head to dinner and take some time to walk around the ship before the evening cruise departs toward Breisach.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Breisach
Today you'll pick from several options in the Black Forest and Rhine region. You could take a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine, join a full-day guided tour that includes the Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum and a traditional butter-making demonstration, or explore the medieval streets of Freiburg. Colmar's charming village is available as an add-on if you want it. By evening, the ship sails to Kehl.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour to the Black Forest with Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, water mill, and butter-making demonstration
- Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city center
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
Landmarks Vogtsbauernhof Freiburg Colmar - Day 3
Kehl to Mainz
Strasbourg offers a few ways to spend your time. You can bike through the city or take a guided tour to see the Gothic cathedral with its astronomical clock and wander through La Petite France with its riverside charm. The Maginot Line or Alsace wine country tours are optional add-ons. You'll also have free time to check out museums or just walk around the city center before sailing overnight to Mainz.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral, stained-glass windows, ancient murals, astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace's wine country
- Free time to visit a museum
- Free time to stroll the city center
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France Maginot Line - Day 4
Mainz to Rüdesheim
Choose your activities in either Heidelberg or Mainz. In Heidelberg, you could hike the Philosophers' Way, take a guided castle tour to see the famous World's Largest Wine Barrel, or head to Mainz for the Gutenberg Museum. After your morning and afternoon activities wrap up, sail to Rüdesheim with live entertainment on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Inspiring walk in Heidelberg with Avalon Adventure Host along the Philosophers' Way
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
- Guided City Walk in Mainz including visit to Gutenberg Museum
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Philosophers' Way Gutenberg Museum - Day 5
Rüdesheim to Koblenz
Start with a hike through Rüdesheim's vineyards or visit the Mechanical Music Museum followed by a tasting of authentic Rüdesheimer coffee. As the ship sails through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, you'll pass ancient cliffside castles and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. Arrive in Koblenz with free time to explore before evening entertainment on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Rüdesheim vineyards with Avalon Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
- Sailing through Rhine Gorge
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei Mechanical Music Museum - Day 6
Koblenz to Amsterdam
Cologne has several options for your day. Take a bike ride like locals do, join a guided walking tour of the city's Jewish heritage sites, or walk through the city to see the iconic twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Grab free time to try a local glass of Kölsch pale lager before the afternoon cruise heads overnight to Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride in Cologne with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with gothic cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 7
Amsterdam
Amsterdam offers choices depending on your style. An early morning walk with your Adventure Host gets you started, or you can do an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through cobblestone streets, or take a guided canal cruise past Golden Age stately homes. During tulip season, Keukenhof gardens are available, and Zaanse Schans windmills work year-round. The rest of the day is free to explore colorful neighborhoods, galleries, and shops on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning walk in Amsterdam with Adventure Host
- Off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through cobblestone streets
- Guided Canal Cruise past Golden Age stately homes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans (outside tulip season)
- Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside
- Free time to explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, galleries, and shops
Landmarks Keukenhof Gardens Zaanse Schans - Day 8
Amsterdam to Vernon
Board a high-speed train to Paris this morning, then transfer to your Avalon Suite Ship. Settle in and have dinner on board, followed by an evening cruise toward Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9
Vernon to Les Andelys to Caudebec
Vernon and the Seine valley give you several options. Walk around Chateau des Tourelles on your own, take a guided tour of Giverny where Claude Monet lived and gardened, or visit Bizy Castle. During lunch, try traditional French crêpes and watch a pastry demonstration while sailing. Later, head to Les Andelys for either a hike up to Château Gaillard's ruins or a guided walking tour before sailing to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Giverny with Monet's residence and gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes
- Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks Chateau des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard Les Andelys - Day 10
Caudebec
Spend your day with a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, or join a guided tour along the Normandy Abbeys Route where over 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches line the Seine. In the afternoon, you can add on a visit to the old seaside town of Honfleur if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur
Landmarks Honfleur - Day 11
Caudebec to Rouen
Explore Normandy through either WWII history or French farming traditions. Take a guided tour of the landing beaches including Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc with a stop at the American Cemetery, or visit British and Canadian commemorative sites. Alternatively, experience authentic Normandy with a brandy tasting in Calvados. After your activities, enjoy live entertainment on board before sailing to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches (Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery)
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites
- Guided Tour of Normandy traditions with brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 12
Rouen
Rouen can be explored by bike or on foot. Cycle through the city to find famous monuments and hidden gems, or take a guided walking tour that covers St. Joan of Arc's martyrdom site, the medieval quarter, the 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The ship then sails overnight to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen featuring Saint Joan of Arc martyrdom site, medieval quarter, Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks Notre-Dame de Rouen Rouen Astronomical Clock - Day 13
Conflans to Paris
This region has several historic options. Take a relaxing Seine bike ride, visit Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh lived and was buried, or tour the opulent Château de Malmaison, the former home of Napoleon and Josephine. The Palace of Versailles is available as an optional visit. By evening, cruise back to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise (Van Gogh home and resting place)
- Guided tour of Château de Malmaison
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles Château de Chantilly - Day 14
Paris
Paris offers multiple ways to spend your time. Walk the Seine with your Adventure Host, join a guided tour through the Palais-Royal, Louvre, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter, or take a guided city tour hitting major sites like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Spend free time strolling neighborhoods or relaxing over wine at a literary café.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seine river walk with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris (Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées)
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Paris independently
- Free time to linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 15
Paris
Your river cruise ends this morning with breakfast on board before disembarking.
- Meals
- Breakfast
