Magic of the Provencal Rhone & the Camargue Cruise

Day 1

UK to Troyes
Crossing the channel by ferry we travel through champagne country, stopping enroute for lunch. We arrive at our overnight hotel in Troyes, the Golden Tulip hotel. Time to freshen up before our evening meal.

Day 2

Troyes to Lyon
After breakfast we visit Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy surrounded by magnificent medieval ramparts for our lunch stop. There are many individual shops to visit and places to eat. Afterwards we head to Lyon and board our ship mid-afternoon. The ship sails towards the South of France this evening. After comfortably settling into our cabins, we will be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner tonight will be followed by entertainment. Our ship will cruise through the night to Arles.

Day 3

Lyon to Collognes-Au-Mont-D’or
After breakfast, a guided tour of Lyon and a tasting of local sausage and cheese, topped off with a lovely glass of wine at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon. We cross through the city and visit the White Basilica, for the best views. Then to Vieux Lyon to see its historical homes and the ‘bouchon’ restaurants that are found throughout the district. We learn about the discrete and strategic doorways leading to traboules, shortcuts that go from street to street. We then join the Saône River toward our next port of call, Collongesau-Mont-d’Or. Tonight, we depart the ship for a gastronomic dinner at Abbaye de Collonges. Paul Bocuse was a three star gourmet chef, known for his innovative approach and his love for fresh ingredients. This will be a culinary experience, in an exceptional setting prepared by some of the most renowned chefs.

Day 4

Tain L’Hermitage to Avignon
Today, a walking tour of the Cité du Chocolat where we indulge in a tasting of course. After lunch we cruise to Avignon.

Day 5

Avignon to Arles
This morning, we travel to the Luberon and Sénanque Abbey. Nestling in the heart of the Vaucluse mountains and the Luberon nature park, Sénanque Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey, is still home to a community of monks. During our visit, we discover the cloister and the abbey church, this sacred site reflects centuries of history and exudes a sense of calm and serenity. We also catch a glimpse of Gordes, one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France', with its characteristic dry-stone houses and limestone cliffs. Enjoy some free time in Avignon before we sail for Arles.

Day 6

Arles to Viviers
This morning, a coach excursion to the Camargue. We visit a ‘Manade’ where bulls are raised and horses are trained, to learn about the various traditions in this area. We spend the afternoon cruising through the gorgeous French countryside, passing by Valence dominated by its cathedral and Montèlimar, known for its nougat.

Day 7

Viviers
This morning a guided tour of Viviers. This city feels like an open air museum where the pages of history are written in stone. We visit the smallest cathedral in France, the House of Knights with its superb Renaissance-style façade, Saint Michel Tower, the Great Seminary, and the Belvedere which gives a lovely view of Viviers. We return to our ship for lunch and in the afternoon we visit the Gorges de l’Ardèche. This panoramic tour shows us the series of gorges in the river known locally as the ‘European Grand Canyon’ which we see from the comfort of our coach. We see the Pont d’Arc, a natural arch almost 1200 feet high carved out by the Ardèche River. We return on board the ship in La Voulte and sail towards Lyon. Tonight is our gala dinner.

Day 8

Lyon to Mâcon to Troyes
We depart the ship and travel to Mâcon, located by the River Saône. The city has a southern character, with its colourful façades and its roofs made of round tiles. The historic centre takes in the charming Herbes Square and its magnificent wooden house; Vieux Saint- Vincent, remains of the former Saint Vincent Cathedral and the Saint- Laurent Bridge with its beautiful view of the quays and the houses of the old town. Afterwards we continue to our overnight hotel in Troyes.

Day 9

Troyes to UK
This morning we retrace our outward journey making suitable refreshment stops and return to home area.

B=Breakfast Included, L=Lunch Included, D=Dinner Included