Riviera Travel Lyon, Provencal Rhone & the Camargue River Cruise

• Visit the beautiful Camargue National Park
• Enjoy two wine tastings
• Explore the region on eight guided tours, including tours of Cluny Abbey, Lyon and Avignon

• Return flights/Eurostar and transfers
• 10nts on board a 5* ship
• Full board dining
• Superior (2025) or all-inclusive (2026) drinks package
• Complimentary on-board tea & coffee
• 16 experiences
• Services of an expert Riviera Cruise Director & Concierge
• All port charges
• Checked luggage

Day 1: Arrive in Lyon
Arrive in Lyon via the airport or train station and transfer by coach to the ship. Spend the rest of the evening settling into your cabin.

Day 2: Mâcon
Arrive in town of Mâcon during lunch. Depart the ship and drive to Cluny Abbey, one of Europe’s most prestigious monastic institutions during the Middle Ages. After a guided tour, visit a winemaker to learn about traditional wine-making, sample some of the produce. Return to the ship and sail north.

Day 3: Beaune
In the morning, visit some of the villages in the area as well as Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital. During a walking tour here, visit the Hotel-Dieu, a museum showcasing famous art. Return to the ship for lunch as it sails back to Lyon. In the afternoon, enjoy a cheese tasting onboard.

Day 4: Lyon
Take a short walking tour of Lyon before having some free time to explore under your own steam. Return to the ship for lunch and another afternoon of cruising, which takes you past the Roman town of Vienne.

Day 5: Ardèche Gorges
Overnight, the ship will have arrived in Le Pouzin from where you’ll drive to Ardèche Gorges. Here, marvel at sweeping limestone cliffs, blue waters and caves and grottoes. While here, visit either a lavender farm or the Grotte de la Madeleine (involves a demanding trek). Return to the ship for an afternoon of sailing. After dinner, enjoy a performance by a local accordionist.

Day 6: Avignon, Pont du Gard & Uzès
This morning, explore the city of Avignon, visiting the Pont Saint-Bénézet which spans the Rhone. After, you’ve got the choice to visit the Pope’s Palace for a tour, or ride the petit train to through the city. After lunch on the ship, visit the immense Pont de Gard aqueduct. From here, continue to Uzès for a walking tour to see its cathedral and the Duke’s Palace. Return to the ship.

Day 7: Camargue, Ornithological Park & Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
After breakfast, choose from two tours into the Camargue. Both take you to the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau to observe and learn more about the colonies of bird species, including the famed pink flamingos. Following a short guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore. Then  you’ll drive to the seaside town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer for a short orientation tour followed by free time before rejoining the ship in Arles for lunch. Or you can choose to extend your time in the Park and Saint-Maries-de-la-Mer with lunch at leisure and returning to Arles in the late afternoon.

Day 8: Arles & Baux-de-Provence
This morning, explore Arles on one of the two guided tours, focusing either on its Roman history or on Van Gogh’s time in the city. After lunch, drive to Les Baux-de-Provence in the Alpilles mountains. You can explore independently before visiting a olive oil farm to learn about its production and a tasting session.

Day 9: Orange & Chateauneuf-du-Pape
After breakfast, drive into the heart of the Rhone Valley, arriving in the Roman city of Orange, home to two magnificent monuments: the Triumphal Arch and the Roman theatre. Next, drive to the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, renowned for its wine. Enjoy a wine tasting before driving back to the ship. Spend the afternoon sailing back to Lyon.

Day 10: Lyon
Spend the morning cruising, arriving in Lyon just before lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure in the city or on the ship before the Chef’s Dinner this evening.

Day 11: Return Home
Transfer to the airport or train station for your return journey to the UK.

MS Lord Byron

MS Thomas Hardy

Fact File

• Currency: Euro
• Flight Time: Approx. 1 hr 50 mins to 2 hrs
• Eurostar & TGV Journey Time: Approx. 7 hrs
• Language: French
• Time Zone: GMT+1
• Country: France

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic