Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You arrive in France with the day ahead to explore on your own. The French Riviera stretches along the Mediterranean coast, so you'll have time to wander the coastline, find a café, and get a feel for the region before things get more structured.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera coastline from Toulon to the Italian border
Landmarks/POIs French Riviera - Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice's old city, where narrow streets and baroque churches have barely changed since the 1700s. You'll walk the winding passages of Vieux Nice and see the architecture that makes this part of the Riviera so distinct from the modern resort areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Nice
- Explore Vieux Nice (Old City) with narrow streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice (Old City) - Day 3
Nice to Arles
You board your Avalon Suite Ship via motorcoach transfer and settle in. The ship heads toward Arles, where you'll dock for the night, giving you time to get comfortable with your floating hotel before exploring the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
In Arles, you choose your morning activity: a power walk to get oriented, a Van Gogh painting workshop, or a guided walking tour of the city with its famous Roman Amphitheater. Later you visit Le Café Van Gogh at your own pace, then the ship sails to Avignon with jazz music in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop - Learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles with visit to Roman Amphitheater
- Live entertainment - Jazz Band
Optional Activities
- Stop at Le Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles - Day 5
Avignon
Avignon's fortress walls and the Palace of the Popes get explored during a guided tour of this historic city. Optional excursions include the Pont du Gard aqueduct or wine cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape if you want to venture further. Afterward, free time lets you visit museums or wander the old streets before evening entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon
- Visit Palace of the Popes
- Explore Avignon on your own for art, culture, theatre, and museums
- View Pont Saint-Bénézet bridge
- Live entertainment onboard
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
Arles to Viviers to Tournon
The ship sails leisurely toward Viviers, where you can either hike up to a hilltop cathedral or take a guided walk through this charming village with its Romanesque cathedral and medieval old town. Back on the ship, you'll taste local specialties before sailing to Tournon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk up to Viviers Hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers
- Explore Viviers Old Town with Romanesque cathedral and historical influences
- Tasting of Local Specialties onboard
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tournon to Vienne
At Tournon, choose between a morning hike or guided walking tour to see the 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. The ship then sails to Vienne, where you explore a hill town with a cathedral and archaeological gardens. Tonight brings the Vienne Jazz Festival entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Explore Tournon's 16th-century castle and Roman ruins
- Jazz entertainment during sailing to Vienne
- Guided walk through Vienne
- Visit Vienne Cathedral
- Visit Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle
- Visit Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia
- Vienne Jazz Festival attendance
Optional Activities
- Explore Vienne Jazz Festival bars and pubs featuring music
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle Vienne Cathedral Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia - Day 8
Vienne to Lyon
Lyon's tour starts from Fourvière Hill and works through the old town's medieval alleyways, cafés, and monuments like Place des Terreaux fountain. You can rent a bike to ride through town squares and along the riverside where two rivers meet. Gypsy Jazz plays this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourvirère Hill
- Explore Fourvirère Hill churches
- Explore Old Town with medieval alleyways
- Visit Place des Terreaux fountain
- Gypsy Jazz (Jazz Manouche) entertainment
Optional Activities
- Bike through Lyon's town squares, bridges, and riverside areas
Landmarks/POIs Fourvirère Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You travel into Mâconnais wine country to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and participate in a wine tasting in a medieval castle's cellars. Back on the ship sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône, you'll taste cheese while relaxing, and entertainment fills 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
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais Wine Region - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Beaune to Dijon to Paris
A drive takes you to Beaune to see the 1443-built Hôtel-Dieu hospital with its impressive Van der Weyden painting and unique architecture. Later, you catch a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris and board another Suite Ship for an overnight cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
- View Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Vernon to Les Andelys
Vernon offers choices: Chateau des Tourelles, a guided tour of Monet's Giverny home and gardens, or Bizy Castle. You'll have a traditional French lunch with crêpes and watch a pastry demonstration while the ship sails to Les Andelys. There, hike to Château Gaillard ruins or join a guided walking tour of this riverside village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles on foot
- Guided Tour of Giverny - Claude Monet's home and gardens
- Visit Monet's residence, flower gardens, and water gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Traditional French lunch of authentic French crêpes
- Pastry Demonstration
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Chateau des Tourelles Giverny - Claude Monet's House and Gardens Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 12
Caudebec
Pick between a relaxing riverside bike ride or a guided tour along the Normandy Abbeys Route, where more than 100 medieval abbeys and churches line the Seine. Honfleur, a seaside town, is optional. An onboard lecture covers the history of D-Day and the Normandy landing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route
- Onboard Lecture about D-Day Normandy landing
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur (seaside town)
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 13
Normandy to Rouen
Three tour options focus on different aspects of WWII: Omaha Beach and American sites, British and Canadian memorials, or authentic Normandy tradition with Calvados brandy tasting. After your choice, live entertainment plays onboard before the ship sails to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches
- Visit Omaha Beach
- Visit Pointe du Hoc monument
- Visit American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites
- Visit British cemetery
- Visit Pegasus Memorial
- Visit Arromanches seaside town
- Visit Juno Beach Center
- Visit Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Guided Tour of Normandy authentic tradition
- Brandy tasting in Calvados
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Juno Beach Center Arromanches Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 14
Rouen to Conflans
In Rouen, you select either a guided bike tour finding famous monuments and hidden spots, or a guided walking tour through the medieval quarter. You'll see the 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral, then the ship sails to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen
- Explore Rouen's medieval quarter
- Visit 16th-century Astronomical Clock
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen Astronomical Clock of Rouen - Day 15
Conflans to Paris
Three options await: a relaxing bike ride along the Seine, a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh lived and is buried, or a guided tour of Château de Malmaison, Napoleon's home. The Palace of Versailles is optional if you want to add more. Live entertainment happens onboard before cruising to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise
- Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles Château de Chantilly - Day 16
Paris
Paris exploration with your Adventure Host offers three paths: a scenic Seine river walk, a guided walk of ancient Paris through Palais-Royal and Louvre to Île de la Cité, or a city tour hitting the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Free time lets you explore further or sit in a literary café.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seine river walk with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk of ancient Paris featuring Palais-Royal
- Explore Louvre pyramid and ancient sites
- Explore Île de la Cité
- Explore Left Bank and Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris
- View Louvre Museum
- View Arc de Triomphe
- View Eiffel Tower
- View Opéra Garnier
- Explore Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Paris on your own
- Linger over 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
Departure from Paris
Your trip ends after breakfast in Paris this morning before you disembark and head home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
