DETAILS
Join us for this exclusive nine-day French sojourn through Provence and the wine regions of Burgundy, Beaujolais, and the Rhône Valley during fall harvest season. Cruise for seven nights from historical Lyon to the ancient city of Arles along the fabled Rhône and Saône rivers aboard the deluxe, exclusively chartered Amadeus Provence.
- Pricing from
- $4,045
Reserve early and SAVE up to $1,460!
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International River Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Sep 4, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024
Aix-En-Provence – Pre-Program for Sep. 4 Departure:
September 2 to 5, 2024 (Tour Begins: September 3)
Our 2-day post-cruise extension explores the beautiful, medieval city of Aix-en-Provence—located in the heart of France’s Provençal region—which captures the quintessential élan of all that is Provence. Stroll the Mazarin district and Old Aix with its mansions on Cours Mirabeau. Walk the footsteps of painter Paul Cézanne with a visit to his studio just outside Aix, and drive along the colorful, Provençal “Route Cézanne” to the foot of Saint-Victoire Mountain, the artist’s muse for many of his paintings.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $995
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $1,295
Lyon Optional Extension – Post-Program for Sep. 4 Departure:
September 12 to 14, 2024 (Tour Ends: September 14)
Experience fine cuisine and wine, art and architecture, and Provençal beauty in the captivating, UNESCO World Heritage City of Lyon. Choose from excursions ranging from a tour of local delicacies on display at Les Halles Paul Boucuse covered market, or a bike ride through Lyon and along the river banks one day; and a gourmet French cooking class or an art and architecture tour on another. Indulge in a wine tasting and cheese pairing with a French sommelier to learn about vintages and grape varieties.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $1,795
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $2,395
Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.
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Linda Harper
Linda was on the NTHP National Main Street program’s management team working with over 200 communities. As the director for Exchange Programs for the Countryside Institute she provided oversight for communities in 3 counties to implement sustainable environmental and economic programs. Her time as the Board Chair and Executive Director of Historic Congressional Cemetery saw the property go from being listed on the NT’s 11 Most Endangered to being listed as a National Landmark with a $4M endowment. Most recently she served as the CEO for Cultural Tourism for Washington, DC promoting the embassies, monuments, arts and neighborhoods as an integral part of the city’s economic development plan. Her background in historic preservation, cultural tourism and community engagement will help each traveler better understand the flavor and significance of our stops along the way.
A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions apply
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1 & 2
Depart home city/Marseilles, France/Arles/ Embark river boat
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day 3
Arles/Avignon
Embark on a walking tour of the ancient, UNESCO‑inscribed city of Avignon, regarded for its architectural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Stroll past Gothic churches, beautiful facades of townhouses and Cardinals’ palaces, and the extensive city wall. At the river’s edge, see the remaining four arches of Pont d’Avignon (also known as Pont Saint‑Bénézet), the only bridge built across the Rhône during the Middle Ages. Then, tour the grand Papal Palace, the most grandiose château built in Europe during the Gothic era and a testament to Avignon’s golden age. Re board the ship for lunch. Then, in Arles, take a walking tour of the coastal city brimming with Roman ruins, colorful pastel houses, and artistic inspiration. Enjoy an inside visit to the colossal, Roman Arles Amphitheatre. Pass by Le Café La Nuit, which inspired Vincent Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night, featuring his iconic starry sky.
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day 4
Avignon/Châteauneuf-du-Pape/St Etienne
Traverse the picturesque French countryside, passing colorful fields and stucco houses en route to visit the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Pont du Gard, a 2,000‑year‑old Roman aqueduct that triumphs as one of Europe’s most impressive archaeological sites. Next, travel to Orange to explore the Roman city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including a visit to the ancient Roman Theater and a stop to see the Triumphal Arch, built in the late first century as a symbol of Roman imperial glory. Next, travel to Châteauneuf-du-Pape for time at leisure around the famed wine-making village and surrounding vineyards. Return to the ship, now docked in Avignon.
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day 5
Tournon-sur-Rhône/Vienne
Begin your tour of charming Vienne with a short mini‑train ride to the top of Mount Pipet. Appreciate the stunning view of the village and river, and then continue on a walking tour of the village. See the ornate, medieval Cathédrale Saint‑Maurice d’Angers. Return to the ship for lunch and a special wine and chocolate tasting on board with a local wine expert. Disembark in Tournon to begin your excursion. Choose from walking tour of the picturesque villages of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, with a wine tasting; or choose a historical, scenic train ride through the hills around Tournon aboard the Train de l’Ardèche.
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day 6
Mâcon/Montmerle/Trévoux
Tour the 12th-century, Romanesque Cluny Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery and one of the most significant abbeys of the Christian Middle Ages. Return to the ship and sail to Montmerle‑sur‑Saône. Disembark and journey through the bucolic French countryside during a scenic drive to Ravatys Castle, a wine château in the beautiful Beaujolais region. Enjoy a tour and wine tasting with canapés.
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day 7
Chalon-sur-Saône/Beaune
Visit enchanting Beaune, founded in the fifth century B.C. Visit the medieval fortress, Château de Rully, for a private tour by current owner Count Raoul de Ternay, followed by a wine tasting in the medieval kitchen or wine cellar. Visit the magnificent 15th‑century Hôtel-Dieu, including a viewing of polyptych altarpiece painting, The Last Judgment, by Rogier Van der Weyden at the Hospices de Beaune. After a French pique-nique of baguettes, charcuterie, cheese, and local wine, continue along the Route des Grands Crus, one of the oldest, most celebrated wine routes in France. Stop at Clos Vougeot vineyard to savor a wine tasting.
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day 8
Lyon, France
On a panoramic city tour, stop at the top of Lyon’s Fourvière Hill to appreciate the breathtaking views. Then, stroll the tree-lined streets of restored Old Lyon, where well‑preserved Gothic and Renaissance mansions attest to the wealth of the city’s long-standing silk industry. Walk through the ancient quarter of Saint‑Jean and its narrow, covered pedestrian passageways, called traboules. Return to the ship for lunch and explore more of Lyon at leisure this afternoon.
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day 9
Lyon/Disembark river boat/Return to home city
Everything you need to know about the tour
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