Itinerary Details
Day 1 Cte d’Azur.
Travel to Nice where you will be met and transferred to the Cte d’Azur for one night at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo (or similar).
Day 2 Cte d’Azur – Arles.
This morning, enjoy free time or join an optional excursion before driving to Arles in the Provence region to board your cruise ship. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception Later, cruise toward the mouth of the Rhne for a unique opportunity to experience the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park (daylight permitting). (B, D)
Day 3 Arles.
Included today: Arles guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre.
On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of Provence and was once known as the ‘Little Rome of Gaul’. Your guided tour takes in the church of St Trophime and visits the Roman Amphitheatre. Still used today, the amphitheatre dates to the 1st century, and was constructed to hold over 20,000 spectators. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the beauty of Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Camargue Region – Avignon.
Included today: Avignon guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes.
Arrive in Avignon this morning during breakfast. The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region and one of the most picturesque regions of Provence. Dominated by the grandiose Palace of the Popes, the city is often referred to as the ‘City of Popes’ and was the centre of the Catholic Church in the 14th century. During the guided tour, you can choose to join an included visit to Palace of the Popes or you may opt for further city sightseeing and either time at leisure or one of the optional excursions to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Chteauneuf-du-Pape. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Cruising – Viviers.
Included today: Viviers guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedral.
A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise. After lunch, join your Local Guide for a walk in the charming town of Viviers, which was developed around its Romanesque cathedral. The old town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman and medieval influences. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Tournon & Tain l’Hermitage – Vienne.
Included today: Guided walks in Tournon and Vienne.
The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhne River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. Enjoy a walking tour before cruising to Vienne, a charming little town surrounded by steep hills. Explore the town centre on a guided walk to see the Roman Theatre and the Augustus and Livia Temple, built around 20BC and converted into a church in the Middle Ages. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Lyon.
Included today: Guided sightseeing.
Lyon is France’s third-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial and banking activities. Today Lyon offers up a wealth of Roman ruins, excellent museums and Renaissance architecture. With a Local Guide, survey the city from Fourvire Hill and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with a famous fountain. Be sure to sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region. Before dinner tonight, attend an onboard lecture and learn more about French culture. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Cruising – St. Jean de Losne
Included today: Cheese tasting. A leisurely day today or if you prefer, there’s a choice of optional excursions available including a visit to a wine cellar. Whilst sailing to St. Jean de Losne, enjoy an on board cheese tasting. (B, L, D)
Day 9 St. Jean de Losne ( Disembarkation ) – Beaune – Dijon – Paris.
Included today: Visit Htel Dieu.
After breakfast, disembark your cruise ship and drive to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cte d’Or area and Burgundy’s wine capital. Although life here centres around wine, Beaune offers much more with its ramparts, medieval houses, cobblestone streets, and historical monuments. Enjoy n included excursion to Htel Dieu charity hospital, the area’s most famous historical site which now houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement. After lunch, continue to Dijon and board the TGV to Paris and the Pullman Paris Montparnasse Hotel or Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe (or similar) for two nights. (B)
Day 10 Paris.
Included today: Guided sightseeing or ‘Heart of Paris’ walk.
During your included city sightseeing tour of Paris, see the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its contrasting modern glass pyramid and striking Renaissance architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural masterpiece of its age. Alternatively you may wish to join a guided walk through historic Ile St Louis and Ile de la Cit. In your free time, perhaps stroll the Champs-Elyses, visit the world-famous Louvre or head to Montmartre to enjoy its gleaming white Sacr Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on the Place du Tertre. The city is well known for its colourful nightlife and an optional outing to one of Paris’ famous cabarets might make the perfect finale to your cruise holiday. (B)
Day 11 Paris.
Transfer to the airport or station for your journey to the UK. (B)
