Rhône River Cruise with Avalon Waterways

After recently experiencing an Avalon Waterways river cruise through France, I came away genuinely impressed by both the overall onboard experience and the quality of the excursions included throughout the journey.
The cruise offered an excellent balance of comfort, service, and immersive regional experiences, with a particularly strong focus on small-group activities and more active excursion options each day. From guided hikes and biking tours to culinary experiences and cultural visits, the itinerary felt engaging and varied throughout.
For travelers who enjoy staying active while traveling, appreciate food and wine experiences, and are looking for a more immersive way to explore regions like Provence and the Rhône Valley, I believe this style of river cruise is a fantastic option worth considering.


Why I Chose This Cruise

In September 2025, I had the opportunity to experience one of Avalon Waterways’ “Adventure” river cruise itineraries through southern France, and it turned out to be a wonderful way to explore the Provence region.
What stood out most was the balance the itinerary offered between active experiences and relaxed scenic cruising. Throughout the journey, there was an excellent variety of included excursions focused on outdoor activities, local culture, art and history, as well as exceptional food and wine experiences.
The cruise also made traveling through Provence incredibly seamless and comfortable, allowing guests to explore multiple towns and regions without the hassle of constantly changing hotels or arranging transportation between destinations.

.
Getting There

Most passengers fly into Marseille, which is located about one hour from Arles by train or transfer.
If traveling from Paris, you can either:

• Take the high-speed train to Arles (approximately 4 hours), or
• Fly directly to Marseille in about 1 hour and 20 minutes

Transfers are included if flights are booked through Avalon. Otherwise, they are not automatically included, but can easily be arranged for approximately USD 100 per person.
The cruise itself is a northbound itinerary sailing upstream along the Rhône River, beginning in Arles and ending in Lyon. Upon disembarkation in Lyon, airport transfers can also be arranged, with the airport located around 30–45 minutes away.

Why Provence Is Such a Great River Cruise Destination


Provence really feels like the postcard version of southern France.
The region is filled with rolling vineyards, olive groves, charming medieval towns, colorful local markets, and endless cafés where you’ll want to sit far longer than planned. Depending on the season, you’ll also find the famous lavender fields in bloom.
Places like Avignon and Arles have that relaxed old-world atmosphere that makes you immediately slow down and enjoy the pace of life.
The region is also incredibly rich in history and culture. You’ll find Roman ruins, medieval architecture, and deep artistic heritage throughout the Rhône Valley. Vincent van Gogh famously lived in Arles, where he created some of his most iconic paintings.
And then there’s the food and wine.
This area is close to some of France’s best wine regions, especially the Rhône Valley, known for its reds and rosés. Between the wine tastings, markets, cheeses, seafood, and fresh local produce, the entire trip felt like one long culinary experience.

Life Onboard

One thing I really appreciated about river cruising in general—and especially on this itinerary—is how easy everything becomes.
Instead of constantly changing hotels, unpacking, taking trains, or arranging transfers, your hotel simply moves with you.
Every morning, you wake up in a completely different town, ready for another excursion.
The onboard atmosphere felt relaxed and upscale without being overly formal. The excursions were surprisingly varied and much more active than I expected, with options including:

• Guided biking
• Kayaking
• Hiking
• Culinary walks
• Cooking classes
• Wine tastings
• Cultural tours

There was honestly a good balance between activity and downtime.

A Quick Note About River Locks


One of the interesting things about sailing rivers like the Rhône is how ships navigate changing water levels along the route.
To do this, they use something called locks—which are basically elevators for boats.
The ship enters a gated chamber, the doors close behind it, and the water level either rises or lowers depending on the direction of travel. Once the ship reaches the correct level, the gates open and the journey continues.
It’s actually fascinating to watch, especially the first few times.

The Itinerary: A Perfect Mix of Active & Cultural Experiences

Arles & The Camargue

The cruise begins in Arles, one of the most charming towns in Provence.
From there, the itinerary explores the Camargue region, known for its wetlands, flamingos, wild horses, and Mediterranean scenery. Excursions included biking through nature reserves, visiting oyster farms, and even traditional black bull ranches.
Arles itself was one of my favorite stops. Between the Roman ruins, local cafés, and connections to Van Gogh, it felt artistic, historic, and very authentically Provençal.

Avignon

Avignon was another highlight.
Excursions here ranged from kayaking near the Pont du Gard aqueduct to visiting Provençal farms producing essential oils and local products. The guided tour of the Palace of the Popes was especially impressive and gave great historical context to the region.
This was also a fantastic area for wine lovers, with optional visits to the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine region.

Viviers & Ardèche

One of the more adventurous days included activities around the Ardèche region.
Guests could choose between kayaking in the Ardèche Gorges, underground cave wine tastings, truffle farm visits, or walking tours through the medieval village of Viviers.
This part of the itinerary felt a little more rural and off-the-beaten-path, which I really enjoyed.

Tournon & Tain-l’Hermitage

This stop combined beautiful scenery with food experiences.
Options included:

• Riding rail-bikes through the countryside
• Touring the famous Valrhona chocolate factory
• Medieval walking tours
• Cooking demonstrations onboard

This day really highlighted how much Avalon focused on interactive experiences rather than just traditional sightseeing.

Lyon

The cruise ended in Lyon, which is widely considered France’s gastronomic capital.
Activities included culinary walking tours, cooking classes, and guided urban hikes through the city’s hidden passageways known as traboules.
Lyon felt like the perfect finale to the trip—beautiful, lively, and incredibly food-focused.

Final Thoughts

This itinerary offered a very different river cruise experience than what many travelers may traditionally expect. Rather than feeling passive or overly focused on sightseeing from the ship, the journey felt immersive, active, and incredibly varied from day to day.
For travelers seeking a combination of culture, gastronomy, wine experiences, scenic cruising, and outdoor activities—all while enjoying the convenience of unpacking only once—I believe this style of itinerary works exceptionally well.
Overall, I came away very impressed by the quality of the experience, particularly the balance between onboard comfort and the wide variety of included excursions. For those considering a more active-style European river cruise, especially in France, Avalon Waterways’ Adventure itineraries along the Rhône River are absolutely worth considering.