Rhône River Cruises & Saone, France:
Lyon to Avignon, Provence + Wine Tasting
Rhône River cruises and trips along its tributary, the Saone, are all about food and wine, as you sail from Lyon to Avignon (or vice versa), passing through glorious Provence or Burgundy - two of the country's top wine-making regions and the gastronomic heartland of France.
Visit the medieval city of Vienne, with its spectacular Roman amphitheatre and historic Avignon, with its papal legacy. But most of all enjoy French food and wine tasting along the way.
Your cruise is likely to end in the artistic town of Arles, north of the Camargue Delta, where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted his most famous works, including ‘The Langlois Bridge at Arles’.
Price: from £1,599 pp sharing
No. nights: 7
Starts: Lyon / Finishes: Marseille
Best Time: June to September
Reference Code: RRV3
SAMPLE ITINERARY
The Rhône River flows from the Swiss Alps through southern France, travelling 505 miles to the Mediterranean Sea, west of Marseille. Rising in France, the Saone is the chief tributary of the Rhone, with the two rivers merging in Lyon.
Cruises along the Rhône are all about food and wine, as you will sail through Provence – one of the country's top wine-making regions and the gastronomic heartland of France. You will cruise past acres of vineyards and have ample opportunity to taste the local wines. You will also visit the medieval cities of Vienne and Avignon.
A typical cruise from Lyon to Avignon or Arles (or vice versa) takes one week. Some cruises depart from Chalon-sur-Saone, just north of Lyon. You can fly directly to Lyon, or take the Eurostar via Paris, where you can take advantage of being in France by adding on a couple of nights in this fabulous capital city. Enjoy all the highlights, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe.
Continue by high speed TGV train to Lyon, which is the capital of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its historic Old Town (Vieux Lyon) reflects 2,000 years of Roman, Greek, medieval and Renaissance history, ranging from the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls to the modern Confluence district on the Presqu'île Peninsula, where the two rivers meet. A series of ‘traboules’ (secret covered passageways) wind their way through Lyon’s old buildings and courtyards, linking Vieux Lyon with La Croix-Rousse hill.
Embark on your cruise and enjoy impressive views of the Rhône-Alpes region, before sailing through the beautiful landscapes of Provence with its sun-baked vineyards, charming villages and fields of wildflowers.
Disembark in Vienne, which was a major centre of the Roman Empire, situated at the confluence of the Gère River and the Rhône. Here you can visit the ruins of a 14,000 seat amphitheatre and temple built in 25 BC to honour the Roman Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia.
Continue to historic Avignon, which was the seat of the Catholic popes from 1309 to 1377. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791 and this legacy can be seen in the massive Popes' Palace in the centre of the city, which is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.
Your cruise is likely to end in the artistic town of Arles, where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted his most famous works, including ‘The Langlois Bridge at Arles’. The Rhône delta south of the town gave us the famous Camargue horses, and this region still has plenty to offer wildlife enthusiasts.
At the end of your cruise transfer 1 hour to Marseilles for your flight or high speed train home.
PRICING
Price is based on two adults sharing a twin cabin on a full board basis, including morning and afternoon tea. An optional drinks package is available on request. Airport and port transfers are included but not flights, which can be arranged on request.
We offer a choice of river cruises at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All cruises and cabin classes are subject to availability.
It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.