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Provence and The Elegant Rhône

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3.8 stars(4 reviews)
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Discover the timeless elegance of France's beautiful Rhône

You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
8 days From £2,795 per person

2024 Tour code: LRZ24

About the tour

Discover the timeless elegance of France's beautiful Rhône on board the MS Amadeus Provence. Experience a relaxing cruise, enchanting cities, and many natural wonders. Visit dynamic Lyon, Avignon and charming Beaune, and admire the wonderful Ardèche Gorge as you drift down this peaceful river.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London to Lyon

We meet at the airport for our flight to the elegant French city of Lyon. Here we board our luxurious ship, the MS Amadeus Provence. We have time to settle into our cabins before we enjoy a welcome cocktail, which you may like to take on the sun deck as we admire Lyon's colourful townhouses and lively streets. Later, we enjoy a 5-course dinner before setting sail for Beaune.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Beaune and a wine tasting

We arrive into Beaune this morning. Deep in the heart of the Burgundy wine region, 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. Back on board later, we enjoy a leisurely afternoon cruising back to Lyon.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Lyon on a guided tour

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 of Lyon's riverfront give a hint of the city's elegance. On our tour we explore some of Lyon's fantastic highlights and extensive history. The Old Town is a World Heritage site, and the small shops and traditional businesses lend a truly French flair to our surroundings.

We return to the ship for lunch, then 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 various châteaux and stately homes.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Train de l'Ardèche

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. Later, our ship continues its course to the city of Avignon.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Exploring 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 walking through Avignon's historic centre, which earned World Heritage status in 1995. We also enter the Pope's Palace, admiring its spectacular interiors and a collection of holy and religious artefacts. You are then free until early evening to discover the city at your own pace. After dinner tonight, our ship sets sail for Arles.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Arles, the Camargue Delta or Pont du Gard

We begin the day with a guided tour of pretty Arles, the inspiration for many of Vincent Van Gogh's most famous paintings. 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 Roman aqueduct which spans the Gardon river, another World Heritage site. Later, we return to our cruise ship and sail for Chateauneuf du Rhône.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - The Ardèche Gorge

Today we visit the stunning Ardèche Gorge, also known as the 'Grand Canyon of Europe'. An area of snaking rivers and deep gorges, this is a dramatic example of the natural world. Sheer cliffs rise above waterways of sparkling emerald and deep green forests. Our tour takes us to some of the most impressive sights in the gorge, including the Pont d'Arc. Afterwards, we re-join the ship at Le Pouzin, where we begin our return sailing to Lyon. This evening we are invited to attend the captain's gala dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - London

Today, we disembark in Lyon and are transferred to the airport for our flight back to London.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Optional shore excursions are not included in the price of your tour and are payable on board the ship.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Ship

MS Amadeus Provence

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Upgrades

Flight upgrades
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Reviews

3.8 stars3.8 / 5 · 4 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (2)
  2. 4 stars
    (1)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

J Lees

5 stars

Submitted 18 Sep 2022

Everything came up to expectations except travel with no shuttle from Manchester to Heathrow

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs. Helen Davis

1 stars

Submitted 09 Sep 2022

See letter to Mr Dave Riley CEO GRJ which he should receive to-day

Collected by Trustpilot

AL

5 stars

Submitted 08 Sep 2022

Fabulous experience on Amadeus with wonderful staff. There was an issue with delay at Lyon Airport coming back - too long to wait and not able to book in on line. Overall excellent with really good food.

Collected by Trustpilot

Fred Wharton

4 stars

Submitted 01 Jul 2022

Flights ok although outbound flight changed to a much earlier time hence the boat was not ready for us and we had to wait around eventually boarding at 4pm. Cabin fine, would have preferred buffet style meals to dine at anytime. Excursions generally good but the Camargue was very disappointing. Only saw a few horses in fields. Expected to see the wild horses. Left to ourselves at a small seaside resort for almost 3 hours. Public toilets locked. Staff excellent and helpful.

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