French Riviera and Rhône Cruise

We meet at London St Pancras International before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. From here, we continue by rail to Nice on the French Riviera and check in to our hotel ready for the adventures that await us on this fantastic holiday.

Our French Riviera experience begins with a guided tour of Nice, the glittering jewel of coastal Provence. This fabulous city overlooks the Mediterranean coastline, close to Italy, and has attracted visitors and travellers for centuries. We walk through the enchanting streets, seeing the opulent mansions and gardens of Mont Boron, the historical Old Town, including details like the chequered floor of the Place d’Opera.

In the afternoon, we travel by coach to the medieval town of St-Paul-de-Vence, where we have free time over lunch to either grab a bite to eat or explore this charming town that has been the retreat of choice among artists for centuries. Afterwards, we meet a local pétanque player for a lesson in this characteristically Provençal pastime under the shade of plane trees.

Returning to Nice, the evening is free to explore independently, perhaps stopping for dinner at a local restaurant for some fresh seafood.

With a free day, you might like to look around Nice’s Musée Matisse, take the train to glamorous Cannes or the pretty coastal town of Antibes. For something more relaxing, maybe walk along the Promenade des Anglais – a popular activity with locals – or wander through the flower market in the Old Town. However, perhaps, you would prefer to spend some time beside the sea on the sun-drenched pebble beach.

Today we visit the glitzy city-state of Monaco, long known as a retreat for the rich and famous. Taking a coach, we begin our day in the district of Monte Carlo, where we stop at the entrance of the iconic casino to admire its palm tree-lined fountains. There is free time here to view the grand windows of the Place de l’Opéra and the beautiful Old Town. On our return to Nice, we stop at the elegant Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, seaside home of the Rothschild banking family that stretches out across a hill and contains nine fantastically manicured gardens that we can view at our leisure.

After a free morning, we board our train to Lyon, bidding farewell to the south of France. Arriving into the city’s colourful old town, we board your luxurious ship, the MS Amadeus Provence. We have time to settle into our cabins before we enjoy a welcome cocktail which, weather permitting, you may like to take on the sun deck as we admire Lyon’s colourful townhouses and lively streets. Later, we enjoy dinner with drinks, before setting sail for Beaune.

We arrive in Beaune early this morning ready for a guided sightseeing tour of this historic town deep in the heart of the wine region of Burgundy. Beaune is a classic French medieval town with impressive town walls, terracotta roofs and fascinating historical buildings. We embark on a sightseeing tour, discovering the sights as we wander the enchanting streets. We enjoy a tasting of some delectable wines which make this town, and the Burgundy region so famous. Beaune is one of the most important of France’s wine centres and is surrounded by fields bedecked by vineyards growing Pinot noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay grapes. Back on board in time for lunch, we enjoy a leisurely afternoon as we cruise back to Lyon.

Arriving in Lyon this morning, we disembark for a guided tour. One of France’s iconic cities, Lyon sits on the meeting point of the Rhône and the Saône rivers. The beautiful pinks, oranges, reds and whites of the buildings on Lyon’s riverfront give a hint of the city’s elegance. We explore some of the city’s highlights and extensive history here. The Old Town is a World Heritage site, and the small shops and traditional businesses lend a truly French flair to our surroundings. After returning to the ship for lunch, we enjoy an afternoon at leisure as we cruise to Tournon sur Rhône. This is one of the most scenic and panoramic sections of the river, and it’s well worth taking the time to admire the scenery from the spacious sun deck. Rolling hills and verdant vineyards rise and fall under the gaze of numerous châteaux and stately homes.

Early this morning, we travel by coach to Tournon sur Rhône’s railway station to board the wonderful Train de l’Ardèche. We take a memorable journey through the spectacular Gorges du Doux region, as the railway winds through the scenic foothills and valley. Stone bridges criss-cross the brooks and rivers which snake under the trees, and our charming locomotive takes us to sections of the gorges which no other form of transport can access. We return to our ship in time for lunch and relax as it continues its course to the ancient city of Avignon.

In Avignon today, we set out on a guided tour of this stately city, known as the seat of the Pope in the 14th century. Its striking white papal palaces and majestic cathedral are just some of the highlights we see on a walking tour through Avignon’s historic centre, which earned World Heritage status in 1995. We also enter the Pope’s Palace, the seat of western Christianity during the 14th century, admiring its spectacular interiors and a collection of holy and religious artefacts. After lunch on board our ship, you are then free until early evening to discover the city at your own pace. After dinner tonight, our ship sets sail for Arles.

We begin the day with a guided tour of pretty Arles, the inspiration for many of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. Van Gogh produced more than 180 pieces during his time in Arles, including ‘Starry Night over the Rhone’ and ‘Café Terrace at Night’, the location of which can be found in the Place du Forum.

This afternoon, you have the choice of two excursions. Your first option is a visit to the beautiful Camargue Delta, where the Rhône opens out into the Mediterranean. This is a treat for nature lovers, as the wetlands and parkland are home to hundreds of bird species, including pink flamingos and wild horses which may be seen roaming freely. Your second option takes you to the iconic arches of the Pont du Gard, an ancient Ro-man aqueduct which spans the Gardon river, another World Heritage site. Later, we return to our cruise ship and sail for Chateauneuf du Rhône.

Today our holiday ends and we are transferred either to the airport to board a flight home, or to the station to travel by rail to Paris. From the French capital we join the Eurostar service back to London.