Start your vacation in France with a visit to Paris, “The City of Lights.” Choose between classic guided sightseeing, or a guided bike tour to see the highlights of Paris from a unique point of view.After your stay in Paris, join us for an Active Discovery river cruise on the Rhône River. You’ll find a wealth of activities and excursions that speak to your interests! Begin in Lyon—the gastronomic capital of France—where the choice is yours: join a cooking, or take a guided hike tour to see the impressive urban park, or enjoy a Culinary Walking Tour.In the twin city of Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage, experience a rail-bike, or join a cooking class, or visit a chocolate museum to create your own chocolate bar. You’ll see natural wonders along the way, with choices during your cruise through Viviers and Lock Bollène. Explore spectacular River canyons for canoeing, the natural reserve at Circque d’Estre, and even wine-tasting in a cave. You may choose to check out a crocodile farm, and take an evening ghost-story tour of Viviers. Sail to Avignon for e-bike riding, or a visit to a perfume museum.Next, your Active Discovery cruise on the Rhône River takes you to the inspirational locale of Arles—a subject of Van Gogh’s paintings, and home to hiking trails, light shows, and painting workshops. Sail to Port-Saint-Louis for a jam-packed day of active tours and opportunities for discovery, including a hike or bike through the Camargue Regional Nature Park, or you can even discover the art of oyster farming at a local farm. See France in another light on your scenic river cruise on the Rhône River. Bring your interests and passions along to enjoy the variety of Active Discovery experiences that speak to you!
City Highlights
Day 1 Paris: welcome to France! Day 2 Paris: choice of city sightseeing, or bike tour in ParisDay 3 Paris–Lyon (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception Day 4 Lyon: choice of culinary tour, or traditional Saucisson brioché culinary workshop, or guided hike in Parc de la Tête d’OrDay 5 Tain l’hermitage/Tournon–Viviers: choice of rail-bike tour along the Gorges du Doux, or guided hike in the vineyards, or guided tour of Tournon, or tour of the Valrhona factory and museum with workshop and chocolate tasting; Lyonnaise specialties cooking demonstration; evening guided tour in ViviersDay 6 Viviers–Avignon: in Avignon choice of guided canoe trip down the Gorges de l’Ardèche, or guided hike in the Natural Reserve of Cirque d’Estre, or visit lock Bollène and its power plant, or guided speleological excursion with wine tasting in the caves, or visit a Crocodile Farm Day 7 Avignon: choice of guided tour, or guided bike tour with wine tasting, or guided tour at the Museum of Aromas and Perfume Day 8 Arles: choice of guided tour in Arles, meet a bullfighter, or guided hike through the Hell Valley with a visit to Carrières de Lumière, or painting workshopDay 9 Port-Saint-Louis: choice of excursion to a local oyster farm with tasting, or either guided hike or bike tour through the Camargue Regional Natural ParkDay 10 Arles (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning
Notes
In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WYLE-2019