Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You're arriving in France and heading to the French Riviera. This morning and afternoon are yours to spend however you like along the Mediterranean coast. The shoreline runs from Toulon toward Italy, so there's plenty of ground to cover if you want to get out and explore the region on your own.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera coastline from Toulon to the Italian border
- Day 2
Nice
Today focuses on Nice, which sits as the main city along this stretch of coast. You'll take a guided tour through Vieux Nice, wandering the narrow streets and past baroque churches. The old city here hasn't changed much since the 1700s, so you're walking through centuries of history when you move through these lanes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice - explore Vieux Nice with its narrow, winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
A motorcoach picks you up and takes you to board your Avalon Suite Ship. From there, the boat heads to Arles where you'll spend the night docked. This is your transition day from land exploration to river cruising.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
The Adventure Center offers several options this morning in Arles. You can do a power walk with your Adventure Host, try a painting workshop focusing on Van Gogh techniques, or take a guided walking tour that includes the Roman Amphitheater. Later, stop at Café Van Gogh for wine tasting before the ship sails toward Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host (choice of activity)
- Painting Workshop - learn Vincent van Gogh techniques and create your own painting (choice of activity)
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles - visit the Roman Amphitheater (choice of activity)
Optional Activities
- Stop at Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
Avignon appears today with its impressive ramparts surrounding the city and the Palace of the Popes as the main draw. You'll get a guided sightseeing tour covering both. If you want more, optional excursions head to the Pont du Gard aqueduct or wine cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The rest of the day is free to check out art galleries, museums, theaters, or the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet bridge. Tonight brings live entertainment on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon - explore ramparts and Palace of the Popes
- Free time to explore Avignon - art, culture, theatre, museums, medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet
- Live entertainment on board
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion - visit ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard
- Guided Optional Excursion - visit wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for Rhône wine region tasting
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Pont Saint-Bénézet Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 6
Viviers to Tain l'Hermitage
You sail leisurely toward Viviers this morning. Once there, choose between a walk up to the hilltop Cathedral or a guided tour of the village itself, which has pale stone buildings and a Romanesque cathedral blending Christian, Roman, and medieval styles. Back on the ship in the late afternoon, there's a tasting of local specialties before sailing continues to Tain l'Hermitage by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host (choice of activity)
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers - explore Romanesque cathedral and Old Town (choice of activity)
- Tasting of Local Specialties on board ship
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tournon to Lyon
The morning at Tournon gives you options through the Adventure Center. Either hike with your Adventure Host or join a guided walking tour of this medieval city featuring a 16th-century castle. By early afternoon, the ship cruises to Lyon. You'll have live entertainment on board tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host (choice of activity)
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon - explore one of France's oldest medieval cities and 16th-century castle (choice of activity)
- Cruise to Lyon
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 8
Lyon to Tournus
Lyon offers a bike tour with your Adventure Host crossing bridges along the Rhône and Saône rivers, or a guided sightseeing tour starting from Fourvière Hill and moving through the Old Town's medieval alleyways, cafés, and monuments. You'll pass Place des Terreaux fountain and have free time to bike through town squares. As the sun sets, the ship sails to Tournus with live entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike tour of Lyon's architectural district with Adventure Host - over bridges and along Rhône and Saône rivers (choice of activity)
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Fourvière Hill, Old Town with medieval alleyways, Place des Terreaux (choice of activity)
- Free time - bike through Lyon's town squares and along river banks
- Live entertainment while sailing to Tournus
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux Old Town Lyon - Day 9
Mâconnais to Chalon-sur-Saône
Today takes you into the Mâconnais wine region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards. You'll attend a wine tasting in a medieval castle while you're there. Back on the ship later, there's a cheese tasting as you sail toward Chalon-sur-Saône. Live entertainment happens this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Mâconnais region - learn about Chardonnay vineyards and wines
- Wine tasting in a medieval castle
- Cheese Tasting on board ship while sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
The bus takes you to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital built in 1443. Inside you'll see Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgment, considered one of France's major architectural and artistic highlights. After exploring Beaune, you catch a high-speed train from Dijon heading to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune - built in 1443, features Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu - Day 11
Paris
Paris is your destination now. Pick between a guided walk through the ancient heart of the city covering Palais-Royal, the Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, and Latin Quarter, or a guided city tour hitting iconic spots like the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Free time afterward lets you stroll the Champs-Élysées, explore the Louvre, or visit Montmartre's Basilica.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Walk of Paris - Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter (choice of activity)
- Guided City Tour of Paris - Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Champs-Élysées (choice of activity)
Optional Activities
- Free time strolling Champs-Élysées for café au lait and croissants
- Explore exhibits at the Louvre
- Visit Montmartre's Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Landmarks/POIs Palais-Royal Louvre Museum Île de la Cité Left Bank Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur - Day 12
Paris
Your trip wraps up this morning with breakfast. After that, you head home with memories of France from the coast through the river valleys and into Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
