Description

ITINERARY

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DAY 1 DAY 1 ARRIVE PARIS
On arrival, you are met by your driver and transferred to the hotel.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore Paris on own, suggest visit a charming café, local markets, or take a walk through the artistic streets of Montmartre.

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DAY 2 PARIS (B/D)
This morning, enjoy a half day tour of Paris to cover the iconic landmarks and main Parisian tourist attractions: the Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Invalides, the Latin Quarter, Place de la Concorde, Place de l’Opera, and Place Vendome.

Enjoy a Seine River Cruise with a glass of Champagne and then visit the famous monument of all with skip-the-line entry to the Eiffel Tower. Your tour is disbanded here and enjoy free time to discover more on own.

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DAY 3 PARIS (B)
Full day at leisure to explore Paris on own or take OPTIONAL tours.

You may immersing yourself on own in the ethereal beauty of Sainte-Chapelle, a jewel of Gothic architecture in the heart of Paris. Marvel at the resplendent stained-glass windows that adorn the chapel, the vibrant colours depicting biblical stories and scenes of historical significance.

Tonight, enjoy dinner aboard Bustronome – a luxurious double- decker bus with a fully glazed roof, savour gastronomic food and wine while take in the night view of Paris, the city of lights.

OPTIONAL TOUR TO VERSAILLES
Versailles is one of the most-visited places in all of France. You will have skip-the-line access to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles, tour guide will take you through the State Apartments to see the Hall of Mirrors as well as the King’s and Queen’s Bedroom, giving insight into the history or Versailles and its role in modern day France.

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DAY 4 PARIS – DIJON – BEAUNE(B/L)
After breakfast, check out and we take a TGV high speed train from Gare de Lyon railway station for Dijon.

On arrival, you are met at the station and transferred to Beaune, the centre of Burgundy wine production in France.

Check in the hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. Take a walk of Beaune along its cobblestone streets and past medieval buildings, historic squares, and quaint boutiques to the Place Carnot, the lively central square. See the Hôtel Dieu, also known as the Hospices de Beaune dating back to the 15th Century. This medieval charity hospital was administered by the church and intended to serve the poor for free.

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DAY 5 BURGUNDY WINE & GOURMET (B/L)
Today, enjoy a full day private tour of Burgundy combining good food and great wines, including Landscape reading in Côte de Nuits.

This morning, we will discover a human-sized estate specialising in the production of long-keeping wines (Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Coteaux Bourguignons) where you will have the privilege of private tasting of 6 long-keeping wines.

A special Lunch in a gourmet restaurant ideally located on the Gevrey-Chambertin wine route, in the heart of the capital of the Grands Crus. A moment of relaxation with the restaurant’s oenologist who will introduce you to their prestigious cellar, and their selection of exceptional wines. What better way to spend a moment of rare quality at the table!

After lunch, we continue to visit the cellar with private tasting of 6 wines at a Château producing Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune appellations. Each bottle expresses all the nobility of its terroir. It is the fruit of meticulous work in the vineyard and genuine expertise in the cellar, where it is vinified and matured. A measured effort, adapted to each plot, to extract the very best…

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DAY 6 DIJON – LYON – ONBOARD THE CRUISE (B/D)
This morning we’ll travel to Dijon to tour Les Halles Gourmandes, where the specialties of Burgundy are showcased. Here we’ll meet with local producers who will share with us their passion for their products. From here we proceed to the Palace of Dukes situated in Liberation Square in the heart of Dijon. It is a fascinating stately structure with a rich history entwined with royalty, tombs, and politics. Now, it is home to a museum of fine arts that displays a wide selection of artistic works as well as a comprehensive history of the palace.

Afterwards, we travel by train to Lyon and on arrival, transfer to the port to board our cruise.

Around 17:00, board a Cruise ship for a 7 day cruise to admire the beautiful scenery of the Rhône Valley.

After settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner tonight will be followed by an evening of entertainment.

Featured Ships

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DAY 6 DIJON – LYON – ONBOARD THE CRUISE (B/D)
This morning we’ll travel to Dijon to tour Les Halles Gourmandes, where the specialties of Burgundy are showcased. Here we’ll meet with local producers who will share with us their passion for their products. From here we proceed to the Palace of Dukes situated in Liberation Square in the heart of Dijon. It is a fascinating stately structure with a rich history entwined with royalty, tombs, and politics. Now, it is home to a museum of fine arts that displays a wide selection of artistic works as well as a comprehensive history of the palace.

Afterwards, we travel by train to Lyon and on arrival, transfer to the port to board our cruise.

Around 17:00, board a Cruise ship for a 7 day cruise to admire the beautiful scenery of the Rhône Valley.

After settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner tonight will be followed by an evening of entertainment.

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DAY 7 LYON – COLLONGES-AU-MONT-D’OR (B/L/D)
In the morning, join a guided tour of the city and a tasting at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon.

We’ll cross through the city and go up Fourvière Hill to the white basilica, the best place to take in the view. Then we’ll head over to Vieux Lyon to have a look at its historical homes and the “bouchon” restaurants that are found throughout the district. Learn about the discrete and strategic doorways leading to shortcuts, known as traboules, that go from street to street.

Don’t miss the tasting of fine food at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon, a huge, three-story, indoor market where close to 50 shops offer the finest gourmet food. We’ll enjoy a snack of local sausage and cheese, topped off with a lovely glass of wine*.

We’ll then join the Saône River and head towards our next port of call, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or.

Join an extraordinary French gastronomic experience at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges. Paul Bocuse was a three-star gourmet chef who was known for his innovative approach to cuisine and his love for fresh ingredients of the highest quality. This will be a singular experience in an exceptional setting where you’ll be able to relish in out-of-this-world courses prepared by some of the most renowned chefs. At the end of our delicious evening, we’ll return on board the ship and start sailing.

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DAY 8 TAIN L’HERMITAGE – AVIGNON (B/L/D)
We’ll leave on foot for the tour of the Cité du Chocolat in Tain L’Hermitage.

Come and explore, smell, and taste chocolate in all of its forms at the Valrhona discovery center. Lastly, we’ll indulge in a tasting of course!

We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Avignon, the UNESCO-inscribed city is regarded for its architectural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Enjoy an evening of onboard entertainment as we reaching Avignon in the evening.

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DAY 9 AVIGNON – ARLES (B/L/D)
This morning, we will set out on foot for a tour of Avignon,

With our guide, we tour of the Papal Palace, an imposing fortress and luxurious palace that symbolizes the power of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages,

Onto the Place de l’Horloge, which has always been the beating heart of Avignon where Cafés and restaurant terraces are now spread out where the Roman forum once stood.

Or, join an excursion to the Luberon and a tour of the 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. This majestic edifice is one of the region’s most emblematic treasures.

During your visit, you’ll discover the cloister and the abbey church. This sacred site, whose architectural beauty reflects centuries of history, exudes a sense of calm and serenity.

You’ll also catch a glimpse of Gordes, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”, with its characteristic dry-stone houses and limestone cliffs.

We’ll start sailing towards Aries,

Enjoy some free time before returning on board for an evening of entertainment.

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DAY 10 ARLES(3) – VIVIERS (B/L/D)
This morning, join an excursion to the Camargue. The epitome of traditional Provençal culture, this immense flatland is home to exceptional wildlife and plants which thrive in its marshes, ponds, and seashore. We’ll visit a manade, where bulls are raised and horses are trained, to learn about the various traditions in the area.

We’ll spend the afternoon cruising through the gorgeous French countryside, passing by Valence—dominated by its cathedral—and Montélimar, known for its famous nougat.

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DAY 11 VIVIERS – the Gorges de l’Ardèche (B/L/D)
This morning, join us for a guided tour of Viviers. This city feels like an open-air museum where the pages of history are written in stone.

We’ll visit the smallest cathedral in France, the House of Knights with its superb Renaissance-style facade, Saint Michel Tower, the Great Seminary, and the overlook which gives a lovely view of Viviers.

Set out on a visit to the Gorges de l’Ardèche with us this afternoon. This panoramic tour will bring you to the heart of the treasures found in the area. The 18-mile canyon (30 km) was carved by turbulent waters that left behind steep cliffs, deep valleys, dense vegetation, and stunning limestone formations. We’ll see the Pont d’Arc, a natural arch almost 100-feet high carved out by the Ardèche River, and its namesake village, stopping at an overlook to take in the splendid views.

We’ll return on board the ship in La Voulte and start sailing towards Lyon. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

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DAY 12 LYON – HOME (B)
Enjoy buffet breakfast on board.

The time for disembarking is at 9:00 am. Say good bye to the crew and then you are met by your driver and you will be transferred to Lyon Airport for home bound flight

(Please book the departure flight no early than 12:00).

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