Take a wondrous journey through beautiful France along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing in the well-known French treasures and some hidden gems too! Begin with an overnight on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.

On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater, which hosts plays and concerts to this day. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest gothic fortress in the world–and, later on join an excursion to the wine region of Châteauneuf du Pape. Travel to the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, beautifully nestled among vineyards, and on to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. Visit the popular Place des Terreaux and stand in front of the famous fountain you’ve seen on postcards. Take a guided tour to Beaujolais, followed by the next day’s excursion to Chardonnay to taste delightful local wines.

A Master of Wine will travel with you on this cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to food and wine pairing. After disembarkation, taste some of Burgundy wines before reaching Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! The “City of Lights” is home to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum. A city tour will show you all the must-see sights and you’ll have free time to relax in the lavish cafés, sip French wine, and perhaps attend a famous cabaret show.

Your Wine Lovers experience gets even better with a trip to Bordeaux. Enjoy a 2-day excursion to sample world-famous wines from the region, and try your hand at wine-making!

City Highlights

Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to FranceDay 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising in the Camargue region (daylight permitting)Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman AmphitheatreDay 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du PapeDay 5 Cruising–Viviers: onboard lecture; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Vienne; onboard food & wine pairing dinnerDay 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to BeaujolaisDay 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: Chardonnay excursion; wine & cheese tasting on boardDay 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris: choice of visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune or visit a wine cellar; TGV train from Dijon to ParisDay 10 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame CathedralDay 11 Paris-Bordeaux: take a TGV train to Bordeaux; guided sightseeingDay 12 Bordeaux: St.Emillion area full day excursionDay 13 Bordeaux: your vacation ends this morning

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WLJE-2019