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 toward the Italian border, giving you plenty of time to wander around and get a feel for this Mediterranean region at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera at your own pace
- Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice's old city, walking its narrow winding streets past baroque churches. Vieux Nice has kept much of its character since the 1700s, so you'll see how the area developed over centuries. This is the heart of what people call the Queen of the French Riviera.
- 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 by motorcoach, and your river cruise begins. The ship heads south and docks overnight in Arles, so you'll settle in and get familiar with your floating hotel for the next stretch of the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
Arles offers choices for the morning with your Adventure Host. You can do a power walk through the city, take a painting workshop focused on Van Gogh techniques, or join a guided walking tour to see the Roman Amphitheater. Later on, stop by Le Café Van Gogh for wine, then the ship sails to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Painting Workshop learning Vincent van Gogh techniques (Discovery option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles including Roman Amphitheater (Classic option)
Optional Activities
- Visit Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
A guided tour takes you through Avignon's ramparts and into the Palace of the Popes. If you want something extra, you can visit the Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard or check out the wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Spend your free time discovering medieval art and monuments like Pont Saint-Bénézet, then catch live entertainment back on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon - fortress city with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard (ancient Roman aqueduct)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for tasting
- Self-guided exploration of Avignon's art, culture, and theatres
- Visit Pont Saint-Bénézet (medieval bridge)
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 6
Avignon to Tain l'Hermitage
You'll sail leisurely toward Viviers and can choose between climbing up to the hilltop Cathedral or taking a guided walking tour of the pale-stone village with its Romanesque cathedral. Before leaving, taste local specialties onboard, and then the ship moves on to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk up to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers - exploring Romanesque cathedral and Old Town (Classic option)
- Tasting of Local Specialties on board ship (Discovery activity)
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Lyon
Morning activities in Tournon include either a hike or a guided walking tour that covers the medieval city's 16th-century castle and Roman ruins along the Rhone. You'll cruise to Lyon in the early afternoon, giving you time to settle in before evening live entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon - medieval city with 16th-century castle and Roman ruins (Classic option)
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon to Tournus
Lyon gives you options to bike across the city's bridges over both the Rhone and Saône rivers, or take a guided tour from Fourvière Hill through the Old Town's medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux. Spend free time exploring town squares by bike, and later the ship sails to Tournus with live entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour through Lyon with Adventure Host over bridges and along Rhone and Saône river banks (Active option)
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourvière Hill including Old Town with medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux (Classic option)
Optional Activities
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares and along river banks
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll travel to the Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and taste wine in a medieval castle's cellars. Back on the ship, relax during an afternoon cruise along the Saône River while enjoying a cheese tasting onboard, then sail toward Chalon-sur-Saône with evening entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Wine tasting excursion in Mâconnais region - learn about Chardonnay vineyards and taste in medieval castle cellars (Discovery activity)
- Cheese Tasting on board ship while sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône (Discovery activity)
- Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
The morning takes you to Beaune to see the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital built in 1443, where you'll find Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. Later you'll take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris and board your Suite Ship for an evening cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune - built 1443, features Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting (Classic activity)
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys
Vernon offers morning choices including exploring Chateau des Tourelles by foot, taking a guided tour of Giverny to see Claude Monet's home and gardens, or visiting Bizy Castle. You'll have a traditional French crêpes luncheon and pastry demonstration while sailing, then explore Les Andelys either by hiking to Château Gaillard ruins or on a guided walking tour before cruising to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French crêpes luncheon), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Tour of Giverny - Claude Monet's home, residence and flower/water gardens (Classic option)
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle - "Normandy's Versailles" with magnificent courtyard, water garden and stables (Classic option)
- Traditional French crêpes luncheon on board ship (Discovery activity)
- Pastry Demonstration on board ship (Discovery activity)
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins in Les Andelys (Active option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys - picturesque Seine town (Classic option)
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 take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route where over 100 medieval abbeys and churches line the Seine. This afternoon, you can optionally visit Honfleur, and there's an onboard lecture about D-Day and the Normandy landing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route - more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches (Classic option)
- Onboard Lecture about the days before and after Normandy D-Day landing (Discovery activity)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur - old seaside town
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec to Rouen
Pick from three guided tour options: explore WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, visit British and Canadian commemorative sites like Pegasus Memorial, or discover Normandy traditions with a brandy tasting. After, you'll have live entertainment before an evening cruise to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches - Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc monument, American Cemetery (Classic option)
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites - British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery (Classic option)
- Guided Tour of authentic Normandy traditions - brandy tasting in Calvados (Classic option)
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery Calvados - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
Rouen lets you choose between a guided bike tour discovering famous monuments and hidden corners, or a guided walking tour through the medieval quarter to see the Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. This was Joan of Arc's city, and you'll cruise to Conflans in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen - discover famous monuments and hidden gems (Active option)
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen - medieval quarter with 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral, home of Joan of Arc (Classic option)
Landmarks/POIs Rouen Notre-Dame Cathedral Astronomical Clock - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Several activities are available: a relaxing bike ride along the Seine, visiting Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh lived and is buried, or a guided tour of Château de Malmaison where Napoléon and Josephine lived. The Palace of Versailles is also optional. Live entertainment happens onboard before you cruise to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise - home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh (Classic option)
- Guided tour of Château de Malmaison - home of Napoléon Bonaparte and wife Josephine (Classic option)
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles - home to succession of French kings
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
You'll discover Paris with options including a riverside walk, a guided tour through the city's ancient heart with Palais-Royal and the Louvre pyramid, or a guided city tour covering the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Wander at your own pace or relax with wine in a literary café.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seine river walk by foot with Adventure Host (Active option)
- Guided Walk of Paris's ancient heart - Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter (Classic option)
- Guided City Tour of Paris - Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées (Classic option)
Optional Activities
- Self-guided stroll through Paris
- Relax with wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées - Day 17
Paris to London
After breakfast on the Avalon cruise, you'll transfer to the train station. The high-speed Eurostar train takes you to London in Standard class, crossing the Channel and arriving in a new country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Included motorcoach transfer to train station
- High-speed Eurostar train to London (Standard class)
- Day 18
London
Your morning guided tour covers London's landmarks including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey where Prince William and Catherine married, Whitehall's mounted horseguards, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus. Then you'll visit St. Paul's Cathedral (closed Sundays) to see Christopher Wren's masterpiece dome.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing of London - Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's horseguards, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral (except Sundays)
Landmarks/POIs Houses of Parliament Big Ben Westminster Abbey Whitehall Downing Street Buckingham Palace Piccadilly Circus St. Paul's Cathedral - Day 19
London
You have a free day to explore London however you'd like. Options include a flight on 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 cruise on the Thames River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Flight on London Eye for views over the city
- 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
End
Your vacation ends this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
