Provence & the Elegant Rhône

Your holiday begins today as you meet the Tour Manager and travel group at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. As we arrive in the French capital, we switch trains and continue onwards on the regional service, with our destination set as the picturesque city of Lyon.

On arrival this afternoon, a coach transfer takes us to the waterfront, where our luxurious ship, the MS Amadeus Provence, awaits. We have time to settle into our cabins before we enjoy a welcome cocktail, which you could take on the sun deck while admiring Lyon's colourful townhouses and cosmopolitan streets. Later, we enjoy our first five-course dinner together, complete with drinks package, before setting sail for Tournon-sur-Rhône.

• Dinner

A day of incredible scenery and steam train nostalgia lies ahead as we travel by coach to Tournon sur Rhône's railway station to board the Train de l'Ardèche. Aboard the train, we take a memorable journey through the spectacular Gorges du Doux region as the railway winds through the scenic foothills and valley. Stone bridges crisscross the brooks and rivers, which snake under the trees, and our charming train takes us to sections of the gorges only accessible aboard the Train de l'Ardèche.

Upon returning to Tournon sur Rhône by train, we reboard our ship and have lunch while proceeding along the river to the city of Avignon. Enjoy the ship's amenities or find a comfortable place on the Sun Deck to socialise or savour the views.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on the ship, we set out on a guided tour of Avignon, a stately city that was the seat of the Pope in the 14th century. Le Petit Train d'Avignon greets us as we step off the ship and takes us into the centre of Avignon, where our excursion begins.

The city's 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.

We take Le Petit Train d'Avignon back to the ship for lunch, and then you are free to discover Avignon at your own pace until early evening. After our five-course dinner tonight, our ship sets sail for Arles.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following a night moored in Arles, we step ashore and begin our day with a guided tour of the city that inspired many of Vincent Van Gogh's most famous paintings, including 'Starry Night over the Rhone' and 'Café Terrace at Night'. On our walking tour, we wander through the pretty streets and enjoy entrance to the Arles Arenas and St Trophyme Cathedral.

We return to the ship for lunch, and then you have the choice of two excursions. Your first option is to visit the beautiful Camargue Delta, where the Rhône opens into the Mediterranean. This excursion is ideal for nature lovers, as the wetlands and parkland are home to wild horses and hundreds of bird species, including pink flamingos. Alternatively, you could travel by coach to the arches of the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that spans the Gardon river - another World Heritage site.

Later, we return to our cruise ship for dinner and drinks and an overnight sailing to Châteauneuf-du-Rhône.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A highlight of our holiday awaits today as we visit the stunning Ardèche Gorge, known as the 'Grand Canyon of Europe'. An area of snaking rivers and deep gorges, this region is a dramatic example of the natural world. Sheer cliffs rise above waterways and deep green forests. Our tour takes us to some of the most impressive sights in the gorge, including the Pont d'Arc.

We wrap up our excursion with entrance to the Lavender Museum before re-joining the ship at Le Pouzin in time for lunch. Relax on board as we continue cruising towards Lyon.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mooring in Lyon over the night, we step ashore this morning after breakfast for a guided tour. Lyon is one of France's iconic cities and sits at the meeting point of the Rhône and the Saône rivers.

On our tour, we explore some of Lyon's highlights and extensive history. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the city was historically renowned for its silk weaving industries. However, Lyon has reinvented itself as the capital of French gastronomy. Lyon is perfectly placed at the centre of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, providing access to incredible local produce. We get a taste of the culinary offerings as we conclude our tour with a praline tasting.

We return to the ship for lunch and then enjoy an afternoon at leisure as we cruise to Chalon sur Saône. This is one of the most scenic sections of the river, with rolling hills and vineyards sitting under the gaze of châteaux and stately homes. It is well worth visiting the spacious sun deck to soak up the scenery before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake to new surroundings this morning as we arrive into Beaune. 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 have breakfast onboard before disembarking for a guided city tour, that allows us to discover the sights and wander the enchanting streets.

As our tour comes to an end, we enjoy a tasting of some of the wines that make this town, and the Burgundy region as a whole, so famous. Beaune is one of France's most important wine centres and is surrounded by fields bedecked with vineyards growing pinot noir, pinot blanc and chardonnay grapes.

We return to the ship in time for lunch and settle in for a leisurely afternoon and evening cruising back to Lyon. We begin our return sailing to Lyon and have a leisurely afternoon aboard the MS Amadeus Provence to soak up the scenery of southern France.

This evening, we are invited to attend the captain's gala dinner for our final night on the ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is served onboard this morning before we say goodbye to the ship and the wonderful crew and disembark for the final time in Lyon. A coach transfer takes us to Lyon's railway station, where we board the train to Paris.

On arrival, we catch the Eurostar back to London St Pancras International, enjoying a final look at the scenery as we say au revoir to France and its splendours. Our holiday draws to a close this afternoon as our train arrives in London.

• Breakfast