From Martigues to Lyon via Arles, the Camargue, Avignon and Tain l'Hermitage, go on an unforgettable cruise. Visit The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave which contains some of the best-preserved figurative cave paintings in the world, as well as other evidence of Upper Paleolithic life. In the coolness and the humidity it offers, you can be fully immersed through sound and olfactory worlds. Discover Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage city, which holds 2,000 years of history through its old cobbled streets.
Highlights
Admire the rivers and the famous, indigenous Camargue horses
Join an optional excursion through Lyon, the second largest city in France
Enjoy an exceptional cruise on the Saône to the mouth of the Rhône River
See Avignon and the Papal Palace with its private apartments
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 4 p.m. Once everyone is on board, we’ll cast off to the south. After you’ve comfortably settled into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board. Our ship will cruise through the night.
We’ll spend the morning cruising through the gorgeous French countryside, passing by Valence—dominated by its cathedral—and Montélimar, known for its famous nougat. Once we arrive in Arles, join us for 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.
Feel free to take a walk around Arles this evening to take in the sites.
We’ll begin to cruise early in the morning towards Avignon. Join us for a guided tour of the Papal Palace, an imposing fortress and luxurious palace that symbolizes the power of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. It is one of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in Europe and the city’s most famous attraction. Take a step back in time as you stroll through the immense halls, contemplate the beauty of the chapels, and visit the papal apartments. Or, join us for an excursion to Gordes and a tour of the Sénanque Abbey(2), located in the heart of the Provençal countryside. Gordes has been awarded the label of “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.” Its cobblestone streets and dry-stone wall homes are typical of the region. The church and castle dominate the lush scenery in the valley.
This evening, join us for a guided tour of the city. Viviers 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 at night. We’ll spend the night on board.
Set out on a visit to the Gorges de l’Ardèche with us this morning. This panoramic tour from the comfortable seat of a coach 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. After our tour, we’ll return on board the ship in La Voulte and continue our cruise towards Tain-l’Hermitage
On arrival, we’ll leave on foot for the Cité du Chocolat. 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! Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Day 5: Tain L'Hermitage | Vienne | Collonges-Au-Mont-D'Or
We’ll spend the morning cruising to Vienne. Enjoy some free time on your own exploring the city, before we set out once again towards Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or.
This cruise will bring us along Lyon and all its emblematic splendor: the painted walls, Fourvière Hill and its white basilica, the modern Musée des Confluences, Vieux Lyon, and the curious Homme de la Roche statue. We’ll then join the Saône River and head towards our next port of call, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or.
Join us for an extraordinary French gastronomic experience at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges (reservation mandatory before departure). (3) 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.
We’ll begin to cruise early in the morning towards Lyon. Enjoy some free time onboard this morning, or set out on foot to explore Lyon on your own.
In the afternoon, join us for a guided tour of the city and a tasting at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon(4). 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*. After our excursion, we will return on board the ship. Join us for dinner and an evening of entertainment.
Day 7: Lyon | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Main Deck- Cat A
34 cabins (31 double cabins, 3 single cabins) equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe. Cabin size: 118 sq. ft.
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Upper Deck- Cat A
20 cabins (19 double cabins, 1 cabin for people with reduced mobility) equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, safe. Cabin size: 118 sq. ft.
Notes
20% discount on children between 2-10 years
30% discount for 3rd person in triple cabin
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
