All the must-see sites on the Rhône between Lyon, Provence, and the Camargue with a dinner at Paul Bocuse's Abbaye de Collonges Restaurant OFFERED (port-to-port cruise)

Set off on a panoramic tour by coach to the Ardeche Gorges, an area which abounds with wonderful dramatic and unspoilt natural scenery. Your breath will be taken away by the views of the mountain relief, with steep valleys, dense vegetation, the ever present granite and volcanic rocks, and much more. The Ardeche is a wild untamed river until it reaches Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Here it bore its way through the rock, creating a huge natural archway - the "Pont de l'Arc” which is some 34 metres high. After a photo stop at an appropriate viewing point, the panoramic tour continues to the Madeleine Cave, where the coach will stop for you to visit the cave. Located in the heart of an area of pure natural beauty, and awarded 3 stars by the famous Michelin Guide, the beauty of the caves has captivated even the most experienced of travellers. The Madeleine Cave is surely one of the most amazing worlds created by underground waters millions of years ago. Return by coach to the boat.

PLEASE NOTE

• As a warning for those suffering from travel sickness, the route during the panoramic tour includes many twists and turns.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.

You will set out on foot for the guided tour of the old town of Avignon. With the Pope's Palace, classed as a world heritage site by UNESCO and a testimony to the city's past when it was known as the capital of Christianity back in the Middle-Ages, Avignon offers an impressive array of monuments. Along the Passage de l'Oratoire, you'll be able to admire the exteriors of the chapel, classified as a historic monument, where many events take place during the famous Avignon Festival. We'll move on to St Agricol street where you'll get to see the diocesan Church, the oldest in the city. We'll then stop by the Place de l'Horloge, which has always been the beating heart of Avignon. Cafés and restaurant terraces are now spread out where the Roman forum once stood. Right across, you will see the walls of the Town Hall and the theater that was built in the 19th century. We'll continue to the Place du Palais. This square is roughly 800 ft long and 160 ft wide. To the East stands the Pope's Palace which faces the baroque sculptures of the Papal mint. A large golden Virgin seems to be watching the Notre Dame des Doms cathedral while the elegant Renaissance inspiration on the outside walls of the Petit Palais are showing further back. Then, discover the Pope's Palace, the most important monument in the city. It's made of two parts: the old Palais of Pope Benedict XII (1334 - 1342), and the new Palais of his successor Pope Clement VI (1342 - 1352). Our visit will take you through the staterooms where numerous ceremonies and feasts took place, the chapels, the Pope's private apartments and the terraces which offer a wonderful panorama on Avignon and the Rhône river. Return on board on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

• It is forbidden to take pictures inside the Pope's Palace.
• It is necessary to climb up 500 steps inside the Pope's Palace.
• Bags would be left in the luggage office.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.

Enjoy a panoramic guided tour of the Camargue. Sit back and admire the rivers, marshes, ponds, pink flamingoes, black bulls and the famous, indigenous Camargue horses. Discover the salt and rice fields that make the area so well known. We'll visit a manade (bull breeding farm) and learn about the work of a manadier as we watch a demonstration of how they work with the animals they raise. Our visit will include a cocktail on the patio. At the end of our visit, we'll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Join us on a guided tour of Lyon. We’ll cross through the city and go up Fourvière Hill to the white basilica, the best place to take in the view. Then we’ll head over to Vieux Lyon to have a look at its historical homes and the "bouchon" restaurants that are found throughout the district. Learn about the discrete and strategic doorways leading to shortcuts, known as traboules, that go from street to street. Don’t miss the tasting of fine food at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon, a huge, three-story, indoor market where close to 50 shops offer the finest gourmet food—a veritable feast for the eyes and palates. We’ll enjoy a snack of local sausage and cheese, topped off with a lovely glass of wine.* Enjoy some free time before returning to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• Please wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
• You must be properly dressed to enter the basilica.
• Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse are closed on Sundays and Mondays. In this instance, arrangements will be made so as to maintain the tasting of local products.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.
• *Alcohol can be dangerous to your health. Please drink in moderation.

Leave by coach for an optional tour of interesting sites in the Luberon area. You will see the village of Gordes, awarded the label "One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France." Located in the heart of the Vaucluse hills and the Luberon Regional Natural Park, Gordes and its majestic château dominate the valley. Admire the beauty of the village dotted with stone houses perched atop limestone cliffs. Arrival at the Sénanque Abbey, a fantastic example of Cistercian work. The abbey was founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks from Mazan, located in the Ardèche region. The abbey church forms a tau cross, and rather unusually, its traditional liturgical east end actually faces north. The monastery took 60 years to build, and the oldest parts of the complex were built with local stones. The monks of today continue to uphold their monastic tradition of lives dedicated to prayer and labor as dictated by the Rule of Saint Benedict. The community gathers in the church seven times a day to celebrate collectively. Each monk performs a duty within the structure of the monastery, which itself is focused on the cultivation of lavender. After the flower is harvested in July and August, the monks extract the scent as an oil, which they then use to produce various products, including perfume.

In the case of unavailability, the visit to the abbey will be replaced by a visit to the Lavender Museum:
The Lavender Museum is located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, near Gordes. This picturesque museum, in the form of a traditional local dry-stone farmhouse, houses a veritable conservatory of fine Provençal lavender. More than 346 exhibits retrace the history of lavender in Provence from the 16th century to the present day. You'll be plunged into the spellbinding world of this plant that is so emblematic of Provence. The tour begins with an introduction to the history of lavender, where you'll discover how it has been used throughout the ages, both culinarily and medicinally. Interactive exhibits will enable you to learn more about the different varieties of lavender and their specific characteristics. Next, you can explore the various stages in the distillation of lavender essential oil, and to round off this sensory experience you'll have the chance to smell and test the lavender essential oil.

At the end of our tour, we’ll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll leave on foot for the Cité du Chocolat in Tain l'Hermitage. Come and explore, smell and taste chocolate in all of its forms at the Valrhona discovery center. During the tour of our virtual factory, you'll be invited to take part in short activities about chocolate, and you'll hear from the women and men who help build Valrhona's reputation. Lastly, we'll indulge in a tasting of course! We'll return to the ship on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

• PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE, STURDY SHOES AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

You will leave the boat on foot for a guided tour of Viviers. The third largest protected sector in the Rhône Alpes regions, residence of bishops since the 5th century, Viviers, a small town with a population of 3,500 is like an open-air museum, where every stone contains a page of history. You will be able to admire France's smallest Cathedral in this sumptuous medieval town. Among other things you will see the House of Knights with its superb Renaissance facade, the Tower of St Michel, the great seminary and the Belvedere with an unobstructed view of Viviers at night. Return to the boat on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• An effort is required to go up to the Belvedere.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.