Romantic Rhône with Paris

Be met at the airport and transfer to your hotel in the historic centre of Paris. Later this evening, you’ll have the chance to get to know your fellow travellers and Tour Director at a Welcome Reception. 

Paris is the perfect city to begin your journey through France. This morning, open the door to some of the city’s best-loved sights on a guided tour, including the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy the afternoon to further explore Paris at your leisure. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Today is yours to enjoy the romance and character of Paris during a full day of discovery. Begin with a special Insider Experience, with the afternoon and evening at leisure. You may also wish to join one of the optional experiences available.

Insider Experience – Musée du Fromage

Visit the Musée du Fromage and discover one of France’s most cherished culinary traditions. Learn about the history and craft of cheesemaking during a live demonstration, then enjoy a guided tasting paired with carefully selected wines.

Enhance Your Journey – Culinary Walking Tour

Set out on a walking tour through the charming Marais district, one of Paris’s oldest neighbourhoods, and sample a selection of local specialties along the way.

Enhance Your Journey – Moulin Rouge

Spend an evening at the iconic Moulin Rouge, enjoying dinner and a classic Parisian cabaret show featuring spectacular costumes and the famous French Cancan.

Travel to Giverny, the former home of the French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Here, visit Monet's House and Garden. As you wander the gardens, take in lovely scenes that inspired many of Monet's famous paintings. See the water garden with its Japanese bridge, water lilies, wisteria and azaleas.

Farewell Paris after breakfast and board your coach for a scenic drive to Lyon to embark your ship MS Van Gogh. Explore the impressive social spaces and settle into your suite this evening. Later, enjoy meeting your fellow travellers and dedicated crew at a welcome cocktail reception.

This morning, embark on a guided tour of Lyon, a city renowned for its delectable cuisine. Traverse the city and ascend Fourvière Hill to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, affectionately known by locals as the upside-down elephant. Next, visit Vieux Lyon to admire the alluring buildings of the Old Town. Indulge in a tasting at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon and savour the best regional fare, including local sausage, cheese, and a glass of wine. Return to the ship and set sail along the Saône River to Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or for a special Insider Experience later this evening.

Insider Experience – French Gastronomic Experience at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges

Delight in an authentic French meal at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges. Discover the innovative and unique approach to cuisine that earned Bocuse three Michelin stars. Taste exceptional dishes reflecting the gourmet chef’s love for fresh, high-quality ingredients, all meticulously prepared by world-class chefs. Set in a spectacular location, this experience is sure to tantalise your tastebuds.

Arrive in the port of Tain L’Hermitage this morning. Perhaps embark on an optional tour of the Cité du Chocolat. Cruise to the attractive city of Avignon, rich in Provençal character and history. Relish an evening of lively onboard entertainment.  

Enhance Your Journey – Cité du Chocolat 

Delve into the world of chocolate on a tour of the Cité du Chocolat. Learn about this popular treat with interactive exhibits and taste samples at the Valrhona Discovery Centre. 

Today, set out on a guided tour of Avignon, once an integral centre of the Catholic Church. Visit the medieval Palace of the Popes, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site along with Avignon’s historic city centre. Learn about the palace’s history as a fortress, church, and papal residence, and admire its breathtaking architecture. Reboard your ship and continue towards Arles.

Spend time at leisure today in the beautiful city of Arles, a World Heritage-listed site renowned for its rich collection of ancient Roman relics and remarkable cultural heritage. Perhaps embark on a full-day excursion to the Camargue.

Enhance Your Journey – The Camargue

Explore the stunning coastal region of the Camargue, home to diverse flora and fauna. The marshes, ponds, and seashores provide a rich habitat for various species. Visit a traditional manade, a farm where herders train horses and raise cattle, and discover the unique rhythms of life in this wild landscape.

This morning, head out on a guided tour of Viviers, accompanied by an expert. Immerse yourself in the history of this charming city and visit the House of Knights to admire the intricate details of its Renaissance-style façade, despite its title as the smallest cathedral in France. Next, stop at Saint Michel Tower and the Great Seminary before taking in the sensational vista of Viviers from the overlook. After, relax on board as you cruise towards La Voulte-sur-Rhône. Alternatively, join an optional coach tour to the stunning Gorges de l’Ardèche. Enjoy a Gala Dinner on board your ship tonight.

Enhance Your Journey – Gorges de l’Ardèche

Embark on a panoramic coach tour to the Gorges de l’Ardèche, a 30 km canyon carved over millennia by the Ardèche River. Marvel at the powerful forces of nature that have shaped deep valleys, cliffs, and captivating limestone formations. Stop to view the Pont d’Arc, a natural stone arch rising 100 feet above the river, offering extraordinary views of this awe-inspiring landscape.

After breakfast, it is time to depart your Rhône River cruise. Be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.