Embark on an 8-day cruise from Paris to Le Havre aboard the MS Amadante. Explore iconic landmarks in Paris and key sites along France’s Seine River that inspired Impressionist artists. Visit the Gardens d’Acquigny and Monet’s former home and gardens in Giverny—sample regional specialties such as Norman chocolate, cheese, and cider. Participate in guided bike tours through cities like Le Havre and Rouen. This itinerary also includes visits to castles, chateaux, and scenic landscapes, offering a balanced mix of cultural enrichment and leisure. Designed for travelers seeking immersive experiences, this cruise provides insight into the artistic heritage and the charm of Normandy’s countryside.
Highlights
Tour Chateau d’Anet, a Renaissance gem built for Diane de Poitiers
Stroll Monet’s gardens in Giverny, a vision of color and calm
Visit medieval Rouen and see where Joan of Arc met her fate
Taste Mantes-la-Jolie’s famed cider, calvados and local cheeses
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Discover Paris from a fresh perspective aboard a modern riverboat departing from Port de la Bourdonnais along the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy open-air seating and viewing platforms during a one-hour cruise beneath the city's elegant bridges. Take sweeping views of iconic landmarks such as the Musee d'Orsay and Notre Dame Cathedral along the way.
Watch the scenery go by as you sail to Mantes-La-Jolie, a historic center where French creatives produced musical instruments and visual art. Experience the world through your taste buds and join a tasting tour during which you can try the region’s famous apple-based calvados, cider, and cheese. Alternatively, go on a city tour during which you may see some of Mantes-La-Jolie’s beautiful religious structures, like the Gothic Notre Dame de Mantes, followed by a unique visit to a local bee farm. Or visit the distinctive Chateau d’Anet, an elegant Renaissance chateau built in the 16th century by King Henri II for his mistress, Diane de Poiters.
Take in the scenery on a scenic cruise before disembarking the ship to experience the colorful splendor of Claude Monet’s magnificent gardens at his former home in Giverny, admiring the water lilies, Japanese bridges, and graceful willow trees immortalized in his paintings. Pedal through Vernon on a guided bike tour for a more active adventure. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Monet’s home and garden, exploring the grounds of Giverny with plenty of time to smell the roses. Or journey to Chateau, the beautiful Gardens d’Acquigny, boasting waterfalls, bridges, canals, and a wide variety of trees and plant life. As part of your excursion, you can also venture within the borders of Vexin Francais Regional Nature Park to Chateau de la Roche-Guyon, a castle built against a cliff perched above the Seine that encompasses several centuries of architectural styles, with the ruins of its medieval tower dominating the village beneath it.
Spend the morning enjoying medieval Rouen with a choice of several excursions. Join a walking tour past the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, painted numerous times by Monet, and see the square where Joan of Arc was martyred and the Medieval Quarter and Great Clock. Alternatively, delve into the once “haunted” Chateau de Bonnemare, a 16th-century medieval castle housing a historic cider press, a kitchen rotisserie inspired by the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, and the inspiration for a tragic love poem written by Marie de France. Or go on the “Tastes of Normandy” tour, where you can be treated to the delicious flavors of the region, including chocolate, macaron, Norman cheese and cider. Later in the day, cruise through Rouen’s history-filled streets by bicycle to discover sites like the ossuary of Saint-Maclou, the grand Gothic Rouen Cathedral, and the idyllic trails along the city’s moat and through its parks before concluding your peaceful ride back to the ship.
Visit Bayeux, with a medieval city center and the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion of England, followed by a visit to Caen, where one of the top sites is the Chateau de Caen, an 11th-century castle built by William the Conqueror. Or instead, admire the 30-acre Harcourt Arboretum, with its nearly 3,000 trees, the palatial Chateau du Champ de Bataille, and the commune of Le Bec-Hellouin, known for its 11th-century abbey. Then immerse yourself in the enchanting history of Chateau d’Etelan, the first Italian Renaissance Chateau built in France in 1494, where you may see a wonderful chapel with original wall paintings and the guard house dating back to 1350 in an amazing landscape.
Depending on your interests, there are several different choices of excursions, both during the morning and afternoon. You can choose between an excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur, renowned for its picturesque harbor and for being an inspirational site for Impressionist painters. You can also choose a full-day excursion to see the historic Normandy Beaches, where you may visit such sites as the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the village of Arromanches, where the remains of the floating harbor used during the WWII landings can be seen. In the afternoon, you can choose a city tour of the UNESCO-designated Le Havre or a bike tour through Le Havre.
Day 8: Le Havre | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark your ship in Le Havre and prepare for your return flight home.
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.
$4,4492-3 travelers
Please confirm embark/disembark locations before reserving flights, as this itinerary operates in reverse on alternating departures.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
