The Beautiful Saone & Rhone

Day 1: UK/Lyon
Your holiday starts with a flight to Lyon where you will board your ship this evening. Meet the crew over a welcome cocktail before dinner then enjoy the on-board entertainment. Your ship moors here tonight.

Day 2: Lyon/Macon
This morning we offer an optional tour of Lyon by coach. France’s second city and gastronomic capital is noted for its Roman remains and medieval quarters. During lunch the ship sets sail for Macon. Admire the scenery as you cruise through the beautiful Burgundy countryside, one of France’s most famous wine-growing regions. Before mooring at Macon, enjoy dinner and an evening of dancing and entertainment.

Day 3: Macon/Vienne
Our optional excursion today visits the Benedictine Abbey at Cluny, one of the most magnificent in France. Lunch will be served on board the ship as it heads to Vienne. Spend a relaxing afternoon and evening on board the ship before arriving in Vienne to moor overnight.

Day 4: Vienne/Avignon
After breakfast join our optional tour of Vienne. With a history dating back some 2,000 years, there are many historical monuments to admire, including a host of relics left by the Romans and the Cathedral of St Maurice. Return to the ship and set sail for Avignon. Cruising along the Rhone, take in the beautiful scenery as dinner is served. Your journey continues through the night.

Day 5: Avignon/Arles
After an early arrival in Avignon, you’ll have the opportunity to join our optional excursion to the City of the Popes and the Papal Palace, a fortress set high on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by city walls. The palace dates from the 14th century and is the formal residence of the sovereign pontiffs. The ship then sails to Arles, where you may join our optional excursion through the Camargue, an exceptional nature reserve. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is built on an island in the heart of the Camargue where the Petit Rhône joins the sea. It is the location of a twice-yearly pilgrimage by gypsies from all over Europe and home to the fortified church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer. Enjoy some free time here making your own discoveries. Back on the ship, enjoy a Provençal Folklore evening after dinner.

Day 6: Arles/Viviers
After breakfast, you may choose to join our optional tour of Arles. The town dates back to the 7th century BC and boasts Roman treasures including the Arena and the Theater. We will then head into the country where we learn how Provençal olive oil is made before heading back to the ship for lunch. Setting sail for Viviers enjoy a relaxing afternoon afloat. This evening you will be entertained by the ship’s crew. We moor in Viviers overnight.

Day 7: Viviers/Tournon
This afternoon we arrive in Tournon, where you can join an afternoon optional tour (bookable on board only). You’ll take an audio-tour on board a tourist train passing all of the town’s main attractions, stopping at the Castle Museum. Tournon’s imposing castle was built on high granite rock overlooking the town and beneath it is a pleasant walk among the town’s historic centre, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Your tour concludes with a tasting of regional food and wine. Your ship sets sail for Lyon this evening.

Day 8: Lyon/UK
After breakfast you’ll disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight back home to the UK.

Please note
To maximize your enjoyment of this holiday a certain amount of walking is essential.

MS Van Gogh
Facilities include lounge-bar with a dance floor, bar, restaurant, large sundeck with deckchairs, library, gift shop, 220V electricity and air-conditioning. All cabins have satellite TV, radio, safe, hairdryer and a private bathroom.

This cruise is operated by CroisiEurope.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Optional excursions

Lyon visit
Abbey at Cluny
Vienne tour
Arles tour
City of the Popes and Papal Palace
Camargue region
Viviers tour

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
7 nights’ accommodation on a full-board basis including drinks with meals (wine, beer, fruit juice, coffee)
Captain’s Gala Dinner
Evening entertainment
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager
Porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”