Still trying to plan a holiday this year? Let the Press and Journal help with this beautiful Rhône cruise to Provence
Winding through the sun-kissed vineyards of Burgundy and the lavender-scented countryside of Provence, to the sparkling shores of the Mediterranean, the Rhône Valley is a melting pot of scenery and culture which you can enjoy on this fantastic river cruise.
Staying aboard the four-star MS Excellence Rhône, there will be plenty of time to relax within the attractive interiors of the ship and enjoy an intimate environment combined with the excellent service delivered by the friendly and professional crew.
All of the comfortable cabins have a river view with a large picture window and are well furnished with twin beds, air conditioning, radio, TV, mini bar, safe, hair dryer and en suite shower and WC.
There is the opportunity to step ashore and explore beautiful ports of call, including the magical kingdom of Avignon and the gastronomic heart that is Lyon, or you can choose from a variety of optional excursions each day.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Regional rail departure from Aberdeen, Dundee or Inverness with overnight stay in London on the outward and return journey
Return Eurostar from London to Lille
Return TGV from Lille to Lyon
Return coach transfers from Lyon to Chalon-sur-Saône
En suite cabin accommodation aboard the MS Excellence Rhône
Full board during your cruise
Visits to Chalon-sur-Saône, Trévoux, La Voulte, Viviers, Arles, Port St Louis, Avignon and Lyon
Services of a tour manager from St Pancras International
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
Cluny and Burgundy with wine tasting
Ardèche River Canyons
Arles city walking tour and amphitheatre
The Camrague and Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer
Avignon city walking tour and the Pope’s Palace
Beaujolais and Oingt with wine tasting
Guided tour of Lyon
ITINERARY
DAY ONE: LOCAL TRAIN STATION TO LONDON
Travel from your local train station to London where you have an overnight hotel stay.
DAY TWO: LONDON TO CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE
We journey aboard Eurostar from London to Lille and continue by TGV to Lyon, where we join our coach for the transfer to the town of Chalon-sur-Saône, Burgundy.
Here, we board the MS Excellence Rhône which offers the ultimate in comfort and sophistication, with large staterooms, a lounge bar with floor to ceiling windows and a unique sky lounge up on the sun deck. The rest of the day is free to relax as we begin our cruise down the Saône River.
DAY THREE: TRÉVOUX
Step ashore after breakfast and explore the little town of Trévoux, which lies on the edge of the Saône. Highlights include the castle with its octagonal keep, the former Parliament of Dombes and The Drawplates Museum (entrances not included).
Alternatively, you can join our optional excursion to visit the towns of Cluny and Burgundy and enjoy some wine tasting. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing on board our ship as we cruise towards La Voulte on the Rhône River.
DAY FOUR: LA VOULTE AND VIVIERS
Today, we have a full day cruising on the Rhône or you can join our optional excursion to see the spectacular Ardèche Gorges, hailed as the Grand Canyon of Europe with spectacular cliffs towering up to 1,000 feet above the river. Our excursion returns to our ship in Viviers, a small cathedral city, and we continue our cruise along the Rhône.
DAY FIVE: ARLES AND PORT ST LOUIS
We arrive in Arles early this morning. This little city is widely regarded as the heart of Provence and was where Vincent van Gogh produced some of his most famous paintings.
Enjoy free time or join our optional walking tour which includes a visit to the amphitheatre, an incredibly well-preserved Roman arena used for chariot races and gladiator combats. In the afternoon, you can experience the beauty of Provence on our optional excursion visiting Roussillion, which is renowned for its bright red hills. We rejoin our ship at the historic Port St Louis, where the Rhône meets the Mediterranean Sea, and cruise back upriver towards Avignon.
DAY SIX: AVIGNON
The graceful city of Avignon is best known for the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in the world, where Pope Clement V took up permanent residence in the 14th century.
The city walls are accessed by one of seven doors, which lead you into a beautiful web of papal architecture, charming streets and attractive courtyards. You can explore at leisure or join our optional walking tour, which includes entrance to the Palais des Papes. The afternoon is spent relaxing on board our ship as we continue cruising upriver to Lyon.
DAY SEVEN: LYON
We reach Lyon this afternoon, where you can join our optional excursion visiting the pretty village of Oingt – the only village in the region to have been awarded the prestigious French accolade Most Beautiful Village. Its hilltop location gives far-reaching views of the surrounding Beaujolais vineyards, so we have also arranged a tasting session of the light, fruity wine produced here, before we return to our ship and spend the evening in Lyon.
DAY EIGHT: LYON
Lyon is the second-largest Renaissance city after Venice, so there is much to see. Join our optional guided tour to ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights such as the Basilica Notre Dame, which sits high upon the Fourvière Hill overlooking the Saône River
There’s also the Hôtel Dieu, with its long façade and dome that overlook the Rhône, and the elaborate city hall. We cast off for the final time this afternoon and cruise along the Saône, back towards Chalon-sur- Saône.
DAY NINE: CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE – LONDON
We disembark our ship after breakfast and retrace our route to meet the Eurostar for the return to London and an overnight hotel stay.
DAY 10: LONDON TO LOCAL TRAIN STATION
Today, after a night on dry land, you travel home to your local train station, full of memories from your time aboard the MS Excellence Rhône.
THE HOLIDAY
Rhône Cruise to Provence, departing July 10, 2015, 10 days from £1,417pp.
A FREE excursion package worth £147pp now available, please see the panel on the right hand side of this page for details.
For a brochure call 01224 338004 quoting AB878 or IV878.
To book, call 0844 409 9537 quoting AB to secure the free excursions.