Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You'll start in France along the Mediterranean coast where the French Riviera stretches from Toulon toward the Italian border. This first day gives you free time to get oriented and see what this coastal region has to offer on your own terms.
- Day 2
Nice
A guided tour takes you through Nice, walking the narrow streets of Vieux Nice with its baroque churches and old city layout that's stayed much the same since the 1700s. You'll get a real feel for how this part of town has preserved its character over the centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
- Explore Vieux Nice with narrow, winding streets and baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Vieux Nice - Day 3
Nice to Arles
You'll board your Avalon Suite ship after a motorcoach transfer and head out to sea, docking overnight in Arles. It's your first night on the water after settling into your cabin and getting comfortable with the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to board Avalon Suite Ship
- Day 4
Arles
In Arles, pick what interests you most: a power walk with your Adventure Host, a painting workshop where you'll learn van Gogh techniques, or a guided tour through the city including the Roman Amphitheater. Later you'll visit Café Van Gogh for wine, then sail to Avignon with live jazz playing as you move along the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Adventure Center
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop - learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh and create your own painting
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles including Roman Amphitheater
- Live entertainment - Jazz Band
Optional Activities
- Stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
Avignon, known as the City of Popes, comes into focus through a guided tour of the fortress ramparts and the Palace of the Popes. You can choose optional excursions to either Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct, or Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars. Later you'll have free time wandering the city's art and historic spots, and live entertainment happens onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon
- Visit Palace of the Popes
- Explore Avignon's ramparts, art, culture, theatres, and museums
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 tasting
- View medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 6
Avignon to Tournon
The ship sails leisurely toward Viviers while you decide whether to hike up to the hilltop cathedral with your Adventure Host or take a guided walk through town exploring pale-stone buildings and the Romanesque cathedral. Before the evening cruise to Tournon, you'll taste local specialties onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers
- Explore Viviers' Romanesque cathedral and Old Town
- Tasting of Local Specialties onboard
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tournon to Vienne
Choose between a morning hike or a guided walk through Tournon's medieval streets and 16th-century castle. The ship then moves to Vienne where you'll walk through the hill town visiting the cathedral and Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia, with jazz playing onboard during the sail. After dinner, the Vienne Jazz Festival happens at local bars around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Tournon by foot or morning hike with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon with 16th-century castle
- Jazz entertainment during sailing to Vienne
- Guided walk through Vienne
- Visit Vienne cathedral
- Visit Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle
- Visit Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia
Optional Activities
- Attend Vienne Jazz Festival - bars and pubs featuring music during festival
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle Vienne Cathedral Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia - Day 8
Vienne to Tournus
Lyon's guided tour shows you Fourvière Hill with its churches and the Old Town's medieval alleyways, plus Place des Terreaux with cafés and its famous fountain. During free time you can bike through town squares and along the riverbanks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Gypsy Jazz entertainment plays this evening before an overnight cruise to Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourvière Hill
- Explore Fourvière Hill churches
- Explore Old Town with medieval alleyways
- Visit Place des Terreaux and its fountain
- Gypsy Jazz entertainment
Optional Activities
- Spend free time biking through Lyon's town squares, over bridges, and along the Rhône and Saône rivers
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 9
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
You'll travel into Mâconnais wine country to learn about Chardonnay vineyards and taste wines in a medieval castle's cellars. Back onboard, you'll try local cheeses while sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône, and live entertainment fills the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mâconnais wine region
- Wine tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Learn about Chardonnay vineyards and wine production
- Cheese tasting onboard
- Live entertainment onboard
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais wine region - Day 10
Chalon-sur-Saône to Paris
A drive takes you to Beaune to see the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital from 1443 with its famous van der Weyden Last Judgment painting. From there you'll catch a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
- View Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgment
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 11
Paris
In Paris, you can choose between a guided tour of the ancient heart featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, and Île de la Cité, or an iconic sites tour covering the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées. Free time lets you visit cafés, museums, and Montmartre's Basilica of the Sacré Cœur.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Walk featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Latin Quarter, and ancient sites
- Guided City Tour showing Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Stroll through 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 Latin Quarter Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Basilica of the Sacré Cœur - Day 12
Paris
Your trip ends this morning with breakfast before you head home, having traveled through two distinct regions and seen everything from Roman ruins to modern Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
