Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll arrive at Marseille airport where the Emerald Cruises team meets you for the transfer to Arles. After settling into your contemporary river ship, there's a welcome reception and dinner with your fellow travelers to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner with fellow guests)
- Day 2
Arles
A guided tour takes you through Arles to see the Roman and Romanesque sites, including the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre that's been standing for two millennia. You'll learn about Van Gogh's connection to the city and what inspired works like 'Starry Night Over the Rhône'. The afternoon and evening are yours to wander the streets on your own and get a feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
Optional Activities
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
- Provencal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre - Day 3
Avignon
Avignon comes next, where you'll walk through the medieval old town to see the Palais des Papes and other historic landmarks from when seven Popes lived here consecutively during the 1300s. By evening, you'll attend a classical concert as part of your EmeraldPLUS program.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
Optional Activities
- Canoeing excursion in Avignon
- Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
- Private hidden Gems tours of Avignon (extra expense)
- Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)
Landmarks Palais des Papes 
- Day 4
Viviers
The ship arrives in Viviers, a medieval town with pastel-colored buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. You'll take a guided walking tour through the Old Town and get a sense of traditional French charm in this smaller, quieter setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
- Day 5
Tournon
Cruising down the Rhône brings you to Tournon, where you'll see a 16th-century castle and ancient watchtowers from the ship. For your time here, you can either join a guided tour learning about local history or take an EmeraldACTIVE hike through the vineyards if you prefer something more active.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards
- Day 6
Vienne
Vienne is your stop today, an important historic town dating back to Roman times and the Allobroges Gaul tribe. A walking tour covers significant Roman and medieval monuments that shaped the town's development over centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne
- Day 7
Lyon
You'll explore Lyon, one of France's largest cities and a former Roman capital known for its food culture. Choose between a walking tour that includes the UNESCO-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviève or a guided bike tour if you'd rather see the architectural highlights and historic sites that way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tastes of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Private Culinary Charms of Lyon (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière - Day 8
Lyon to Lausanne
After breakfast, you disembark the river cruise in Lyon and transfer to Lausanne in Switzerland for a 4-night stay by the lake. This transition marks the shift from your Rhône River journey to the Alpine region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Lausanne
Your Tour Director leads a guided walking tour through Lausanne's historic old centre and waterfront area. From there, you'll take a boat cruise on Lake Geneva to see the surrounding mountains and water scenery, then visit Chateau Chillon, a medieval castle on the lake's shore with centuries of history and local legends attached to it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lausanne
Landmarks Chateau Chillon Lake Geneva - Day 10
Montreux to Gstaad to Glacier 3000
A charming train takes you from Montreux to Gstaad, climbing higher into the Swiss Alps with panoramic views throughout the journey. Once in Gstaad, a cable car lifts you to Glacier 3000, where you can walk the Peak Walk by Tissot, see Alpine animals at the Glacier Garden, and take in the glacial landscape and distant vistas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Train from Montreux to Gstaad & visit to Glacier 3000
Landmarks Glacier 3000 - Day 11
Lausanne
This day is yours to spend however you'd like in Lausanne and the surrounding French-Swiss region. Wander the medieval city streets with cafés and small shops, visit the 12th-century cathedral considered Switzerland's finest early Gothic architecture, or head to the Olympic Museum and the lakeside Olympic Park if you're interested in that.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Visit to Gruyere & Maison Cailler (extra expense)
Landmarks Lausanne Cathedral Olympic Museum - Day 12
Departure from Lausanne
You'll leave Lausanne this morning after your stay, taking with you memories of the Swiss city, its historic old town, and the Alpine scenery you've experienced over the past few days.
- Meals
- Breakfast
