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2023 Season

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris for Wine Lovers (Southbound)


cruise: WJLQ-T1
10 Day River Cruise Paris to Arles
Take a wondrous French river cruise along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing in famous French locales, as well as off-the-beaten-path gems.

This river cruise through France begins in style with two overnights in Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! Explore the “City of Light” with a guided city tour to see its famous landmarks, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum with its elegant glass pyramid contrasting its ancient architecture.

A Master of Wine will accompany you on your French river cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. Board your Avalon Suite Ship® on the Saône in Chalon-sur-Saône, and cruise to Tournus for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. You’ll visit France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon—also a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture where the Rhône and Saône Rivers meet. See Lyon’s wonderful sights, including the popular Place des Terreaux with its famous fountain seen on postcards. Take a culinary walk and enjoy a tour to Beaujolais, the famous wine region. You’ll walk through the city of Tournon, beautifully nestled between the vineyards, on a guided walk with a wine-and-chocolate tasting or a walk in the vineyards. Continue your river cruise to Avignon and see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world – and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. On the Rhône River sits Arles, known for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and site of its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre, which hosts plays and concerts to this day. You’ll revel in the relaxing and inspiring views and culinary delights during your vacation in Paris and river cruise through France.

About Masters of Wine
Seldom do travelers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honored to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!

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Day 1 Paris: Welcome to France

Day 2 Paris: Guided sightseeing

Day 3 Dijon-Beaune-Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation): High-speed train to Dijon; motorcoach transfer to Beaune and visit to the Hôtel-Dieu; onboard welcome reception

Day 4 Tournus: Guided walk in Tournus; onboard lecture about wine; Chardonnay excursion

Day 5 Lyon: Onboard cheese and wine tasting; choice of guided sightseeing with picture stop on Fourvière Hill or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture

Day 6 Lyon: Culinary tour; guided tour to Beaujolais; onboard food and wine pairing dinner

Day 7 Tournon-Viviers: Guided walk in Tournon with wine and chocolate tasting or hike in the vineyards (weather permitting); guided walk in Viviers, visit the Old Town and the cathedral

Day 8 Avignon: Guided sightseeing, visit to the Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape

Day 9 Arles: Choice of guided sightseeing in Arles, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host

Day 10 Arles (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends this morning

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

The “Starting at” or “From” listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on double occupancy and any applicable non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes limited-time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.