Cruise and Walk the River Rhône

We wake in Mâcon, at the heart of southern Burgundy’s celebrated wine country. Rolling, vineyard-covered hills surround honey-coloured villages where centuries-old winemaking traditions remain part of everyday life. 

Today’s guided walk leads through a patchwork of vineyards, farmland and wooded hills, passing traditional villages and their charming churches. Along the way, we’ll meet local wine and cheese producers and sample some of Burgundy’s best-known flavours. 

We return to the ship in the late afternoon, with time to relax before sailing onwards. 

This morning, we arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône, attractively positioned beside the river. Our guided walking tour reveals how the city developed from an important Roman port into a medieval cathedral city and the birthplace of photography. We’ll wander through the atmospheric old town, passing half-timbered houses and historic buildings while learning how the riverside setting has shaped Chalon’s story. 

After lunch on board, enjoy a leisurely afternoon sailing past vineyards, meadows and traditional riverside villages. The ship makes a short stop in Tournus before continuing towards Lyon. 

This morning, we return to Lyon, where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Celebrated as France’s gastronomic capital, the city is closely associated with renowned chef Paul Bocuse. 

Our guided walking tour includes a visit to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the city’s famous covered food market. As we browse its stalls, we’ll learn about Lyon’s culinary heritage and taste a selection of produce from local merchants and artisans. 

We return to the ship for lunch, followed by a relaxing afternoon watching the changing scenery as Amadeus Provence sails towards Avignon. 

Today we explore Avignon’s UNESCO-listed historic centre on foot. Our tour includes the magnificent Palais des Papes, the world’s largest Gothic palace, where we’ll see its grand halls, chapels and cloisters. 

We’ll continue through the city’s attractive squares and narrow streets, admiring its handsome architecture before enjoying panoramic views from the Rocher des Doms. Before returning to the ship, we’ll also see the famous Pont d’Avignon. 

After lunch on board, the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. This evening, a traditional band joins us on board for a performance of southern traditional French dance music. 

From our mooring in the Roman city of Arles, we transfer to the Alpilles, a beautiful Provençal landscape of limestone hills, olive groves and picturesque villages that has inspired generations of artists, including Vincent van Gogh. 

We begin in Les Baux-de-Provence, a striking hilltop village perched on a rocky outcrop. There will be time to admire its cobbled streets, historic stone houses and extensive countryside views before setting out on foot. 

Our trail leads through the Provençal landscape to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where shaded boulevards, elegant squares and lively cafés capture the character of the region. We return to the ship before sailing in the early evening. 

This morning we arrive in Châteauneuf-du-Rhône where we disembark for our final guided walk in the Ardèche countryside.

Stretching west from the Rhône, the Ardèche offers a captivating mix of rugged natural beauty and rural charm and on our walk we discover a landscape of rolling vineyards, wooded hillsides and historic villages.

This evening, enjoy a farewell gala dinner on board to celebrate the highlights of your Rhône cruise.

After breakfast, we disembark in Lyon and say farewell to the crew before transferring to the railway station. We travel by TGV to Lille before continuing by Eurostar to London St Pancras International.