Rhine & Rhône Revealed – Côte d’Azur to Amsterdam

Itinerary Details

Day 1 (Fri) Cote d’Azur.

Travel to Nice where you will be met and transferred to the Cte d’Azur for one night at the Fairmont Monte Carlo (or similar), Monte Carlo.

Day 2 (Sat) Cte d’Azur – Arles ( Embarkation )

This morning, enjoy free time to explore further or join an optional excursion to Nice, the Queen of the Riviera. In the early afternoon, transfer by coach to Arles in the Provence region, where youll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception, then (daylight permitting) sail toward the mouth of the Rhne, with a unique opportunity to experience the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park. (B, D)

Day 3 (Sun) Arles.

Included today: Arles guided sightseeing.
In Arles, capital of the Provence, join your LOCAL GUIDE for a tour of the city. See the church of St. Trophime, dating from the 12th century, and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE. Still used today, the amphitheatre dates to the 1st century, and was constructed to hold over 20,000 spectators. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. (B, L, D)

Day 4 (Mon) Camargue Region – Avignon.

Included today: Avignon guided sightseeing.
During the night, set sail for Avignon, where you arrive during breakfast. During your GUIDED TOUR you may choose to join an included visit of the PALACE OF THE POPES, built in the 14th century as the sovereign popes residence. With a living space equivalent to four gothic cathedrals, it is the largest gothic fortress in the world. Alternatively, you may opt for only city sightseeing and more free time to explore on your own, or to join an optional outing to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Chteauneuf-du-Pape. (B, L, D)

Day 5 (Tue) Cruising – Viviers.

Included today: Viviers guided walk. A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise. After lunch, join your Local Guide for a walk in the charming town of Viviers, which was developed around its Romanesque cathedral. The old town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman and medieval influences. (B, L, D)

Day 6 (Wed) Tournon & Tain l’Hermitage – Vienne.

Included today: Guided walks in Tournon and Vienne.
The twin cities of Tournon and Tain lHermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhne River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Enjoy a GUIDED WALK of Tournon, one of Frances oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. Arriving in Vienne in the late afternoon, a GUIDED WALK shows you the charming little town surrounded by steep hills. Explore the town centre to see the Roman Theatre, which once held 13,000 spectators, and the Augustus and Livia Temple, built around 20 BC and converted into a church in the Middle Ages. (B, L, D)

Day 7 (Thu) Lyon.

Included today: Guided sightseeing.
Lyon is Frances third-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the citys prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight visitors. You are joined by a LOCAL GUIDE as you survey the city from Fourvire Hill and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafs, monuments, and the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Be sure to sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region. (B, L, D)

Day 8 (Fri) St. Jean de Losne

Today is a leisurely day! A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available, or simply relax on board. While sailing to St. Jean de Losne, enjoy an on-board CHEESE TASTING. (B, L, D)

Day 9 (Sat) St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)BeauneBasel, Switzerland (Embarkation):

Included today: Visit Htel Dieu or sample Burgundy wines. After breakfast, disembark the Avalon Poetry II and transfer by coach to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cte d’Or area and Burgundy’s wine capital. Although life here centers around wine, Beaune offers much more with its ramparts, medieval houses, cobblestone streets, and historical monuments. Visit the Htel-Dieu charity hospital, built in 1443 and paid for by the chancellor of Burgundy after the Hundred Years’ War left many of the town’s population destitute. Today, it houses Van der Weyden’s painting of The Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights. After lunch, continue to Basel, and this evening, meet the crew of the Avalon Tranquility II at a welcome reception. (B, D)

Day 10 (Sun) Breisach, Germany. Excursion to the Black Forest

Included today: Guided sightseeing. Excursion to the Black Forest, visit a woodcarver’s workshop or visit a Black Forest open-air museum. Located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border, Breisach is the gateway to Germanys BLACK FOREST region, an area of unrivaled natural beauty with its forests of thick pine trees. The area got its name because the forests are so dense that local residents described them as black. Surely the most well-known products from this region are Black Forest ham, Black Forest cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. You may opt for a visit to the workshop of a local woodcarver who produces clocks and other carvings, or to the open-air Museum of Vogtsbauernhof to see how life was lived in this area centuries ago. (B, L, D)

Day 11 (Mon) Strasbourg

Included today: Guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral
Situated on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is without a doubt an important city, yet it manages to retain its historic charm. In fact, on your walking tour you will discover Europe at its most quintessential. Visit the monumental red-sandstone GOTHIC CATHEDRAL with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock, as well as the magical LA PETITE FRANCE district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade. Also spend time exploring Place Klber, a large historic square in the heart of the city, and Place Gutenberg in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, which features a statue of the inventor of the printing press. This afternoon, optional excursions into the Alsace wine country or to the Black Forest are available. (B, L, D)

Day 12 (Tue) Excursion to Heidelberg – Mainz

Guided visit of the castle, see the Great Vat in Heidelberg; visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz Today an excursion takes you to Heidelberg, home to the oldest university in Germany, which was founded in 1386. Visit the imposing ruins of HEIDELBERG CASTLE, towering magnificently over the city and among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Youll also see the famed GREAT VAT, the Worlds Largest Wine Barrel. At nearly 23 feet high and 28 feet wide, the cask holds over 58,000 gallons of wine and has a dance floor built on top of it! In the afternoon, arrive in Mainz. Strategically located at the confluence of the Rhine and Main Rivers is Mainz, with civilized origins dating back to around 38 BC. Today, this is Germanys largest and most important wine market. The Altstadt (Old Town) has many intriguing shops and the whimsical Fastnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain) on the Schillerplatz, a tribute to the jesters at the citys annual Carnival celebration. Gutenberg, father of modern printing, was born here and during a GUIDED WALK youll visit the captivating GUTENBERG MUSEUM. (B, L, D)

Day 13 (Wed) Rdesheim Rhine Gorge – Koblenz

Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum and enjoy a special treat in Rdesheim cruise through the Rhine Gorge; guided walk in Koblenz. This morning dock in pretty Rdesheim, a typical Rhine Valley wine town. Visit SIEGFRIEDS MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM, where youll see and hear a large collection of self-playing calliopes and music boxes from the 18th to the early 20th centuries and enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT. Downstream from Rdesheim is the dramatic RHINE GORGE, the most beautiful stretch of river. Here, ancient castles stand sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the waters. Cruise past the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where echoes of enchanted siren song lured unwitting sailors to their doom. Then, arrive at the place where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meetthe Deutsches Eck (German Corner) with its impressive equestrian statue of German Emperor William I. Join your Local Guide for a WALKING TOUR of the 2,000-year-old city of Koblenz, which reveals an eventful past through its castles, fortress walls, towers, squares, and monuments. (B, L, D)

Day 14 (Thu) Cologne.

Included today: Choice of guided city walk or Jewish Cologne tour. Cologne is one of Germany’s largest cities, with a river skyline dominated by the soaring twin spires of its magnificent gothic cathedral. This afternoon, choose between an included guided city walk or a ‘Jewish Cologne’ tour. The Old Town offers up a great choice of cafs, shops and taverns so be sure to try a Klsch, the favourite local beer and shop for a bottle of 4711, the original ‘eau de cologne’. (B, L, D)

Day 15 (Fri) Amsterdam.

Included today: Canal cruise. Holland’s delightful 700-year-old capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum. There is no better way to see Amsterdam than by canal boat, cruising along elegant grachten lined by stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s ‘Golden Age’. (B, L, D)

Day 16 (Sat) Amsterdam – UK.

Disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)