Educational River Cruise
River Cruises - Train Treks - Walking Journeys
Lyon – Macon – Vienne – Viviers – Avignon – Arles
 
River cruising is considered an easy going and worry free way to travel. We cruise past castles, vineyards, ruins of thousand year old cities, farmland and cities. Step off the boat to learn of ancient cultures, knights, popes, battles, royal marriages and artistic endeavors. Exciting ports-of-call await the adventurous spirit and inquisitive mind.

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Day 1 We arrange the overnight flight from your gateway to Lyon, France.

Day 2 Arrive in Lyon and our friendly representative will escort us to our home for the next 7 nights. Climb aboard our luxury cruiser and settle in for the next 7 nights. Unpack, knowing we won’t have to pack again for 7 days.

Day 3 Van Gogh and Cezanne loved the provinces of Burgundy and Provence and so shall we. We tour Burgundy and visit a winery and farmlands until arriving in scenic Macon.

Day 4 Cruise the area that produces Beaujolais wine to Lyon. Step into the Fabrics Museum to learn about textiles and silk. The Fine Arts Museum is housed in a palace and St. Johns Cathedral dates back 800 years. Traboules are narrow, seemingly secret, passageways dating from the Middle Ages which wind through the old districts.

Day 5 Feast on our delicious breakfast as we cruise south through the Rhone Valley region. This area is famous for its Cote de Rhone wines. The comparable Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines were so named because they were grown on estates owned by the pope. Disembark for a walking tour of the ancient Roman ruins. Sail through the Gorge of St. Vallier, with its massive granite cliffs carved by the Rhone over millions of years. At Tain L’Hermitage see the 16^th century castle and the Roman ruins here. Dinner on board once more.

Day 6 An exciting train journey delivers us into the Ardeche Region famous for its natural wonders. A steam locomotive is a splendid way to savor the French countryside. The afternoon cruise carries us past beautiful vistas.

Day 7 Depart Viviers for Avignons. Starting in the 14^th century the popes ruled their Christian world from Avignons. Rome was too dangerous. Eventually Avignons elected an anti-pope and the fate of the city was sealed. The Romans took the city and reunited it with the empire. Visit the Petit Palais Museum (1317) which is in the enormous Palace of the Popes. It is medieval and claims to be unique in France. The Aubanel Museum has been in the same family of printers who have worked here for 250 years. Enjoy the tour and return to the ship to relax.

Day 8 Our deluxe motor coach picks us near Avignons as our ship continues on to Arles. We visit St. Remy de Provence and motor through the Alpilles Hills to Les Baux. Arles fascinated both Constantine the Great and Roman Emperor Honorius. It was a major trading center and capital city of the three Gauls. Founded around 600BC by the Greeks who inhabited Marseilles. Julius Caesar completed the Grand Canal to Marseille from here which you can still see today. Now it is a quieter place perfect for sightseeing and exploring. We shall visit the arena (46BC). The arena still enthralls fans of bullfighting when the bulls are brought from Spain. Visit the Theater, Church of St. Trophine, Baths of Constantine and the Museum of Pagan Art. Board ship once more.

Day 9 We disembark and are transferred to the airport in Marseilles for the journey home.

Extend the journey by visiting Nice and Monte Carlo. Here we can visit the Castle, Jacques Cousteau Museum, Monte Carlo Casino, and more. The very colorful Loubiere Caves north of Marseilles seem to go on for miles and make a great adventure.

Please call for a customized program and prices.