Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll land at Marseille airport where the tour team meets you for the drive to Arles. After getting settled on the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, there's a welcome reception and dinner with other guests to get everyone acquainted for the week ahead.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner with fellow guests)
- Day 2
Arles
This morning you'll see the Arles Amphitheatre, a 2,000-year-old Roman arena that once hosted chariot races. The afternoon includes learning about Vincent van Gogh's connection to the city and how Arles inspired works like 'Starry Night Over the Rhône'. You've got free time afterward to walk around and check out the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with olive farm 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)
- Provencal Soap Making Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre - Day 3
Avignon
Head into Avignon for a guided walk through the Old Town, where seven Popes lived consecutively back in the 1300s. You'll see the Palais des Papes with its Gothic architecture and learn about the city's important role in French history. Later that evening, there's a classical concert as part of the EmeraldPLUS program.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Classical concert in Avignon)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon with market visit
Optional Activities
- Canoeing excursion in Avignon (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
- Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont du Gard 
- Day 4
Viviers
The ship takes you to Viviers, a medieval town with pastel buildings and narrow cobblestone streets that feel like stepping into another era. A guided walking tour shows you around the Old Town so you can soak in the French countryside character this place has.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
- Day 5
Tournon
You'll sail into Tournon, where a 16th-century castle sits above the village and old watchtowers surround the area. You can either join a guided tour to learn about the town's background or pick the EmeraldACTIVE hike option through the local vineyards instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Day 6
Vienne
Vienne sits along the Rhône with roots going back to ancient Gaul and Roman times. During a walking tour, you'll see Roman and medieval monuments scattered throughout the town. Back on the ship, there's a cheese and olive tasting to try local flavors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cheese and olive tasting on board)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne
- Day 7
Lyon
Lyon is one of France's largest cities and was once a Roman capital. You can choose between a walking tour that includes the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière or a guided bike tour through the city's architecture and historic sites. The local Lyonnaise cuisine is known for its quality, so food options around the city are worth your time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tastes of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Lyon by Night (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviére - Day 8
Lyon to Lausanne
After breakfast, you'll leave the river cruise in Lyon and transfer into Switzerland. The journey takes you to Lausanne, a lakeside city where you'll be staying for the next four nights in your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Lausanne
Your Tour Director leads a guided walk through Lausanne's historic old centre and along the waterfront. From there, you board a boat cruise on Lake Geneva to see mountain and lake views. The day also includes a visit to Chateau Chillon, a medieval castle on the lake's shore with a lot of history behind it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Visit to Chateau Chillon & Lake Geneva cruise)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lausanne
Landmarks Chateau Chillon Lake Geneva - Day 10
Gstaad - Glacier 3000
You'll take a train from Montreux to Gstaad in the Swiss Alps, with panoramic views the whole way up. In Gstaad, a cable car takes you to Glacier 3000, where you can do the Peak Walk by Tissot and see Alpine animals at the Glacier Garden, plus take in the views from way up high.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Train from Montreux to Gstaad & visit to Glacier 3000
Landmarks Glacier 3000 - Day 11
Lausanne
Today is yours to spend however you'd like in Lausanne and the surrounding French-Swiss region. Wander through the medieval city centre with its small streets, cafés, and shops, or visit the 12th-century cathedral considered one of Switzerland's finest Gothic buildings. The Olympic Museum and lakeside Olympic Park are also options if those interest you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit to Gruyere & Maison Cailler (extra expense)
Landmarks Lausanne Cathedral Olympic Museum - Day 12
Lausanne Departure
You're leaving Lausanne this morning, taking with you memories of the Swiss city, its Old Town, and the Alpine scenery from your time there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
