Destination:
France,
Italy,
Duration:
26 days
Style:
River/Small ship/Barge,
Travel Period:
June 2026 - October 2026
Overview
26 days from Lucerne to Bordeaux
Immerse yourself in German and French culture on this fabulous Europe river cruise vacation along the Rhine, Seine, Garonne, and Dordogne Rivers. Your extraordinary European vacation begins with a 3-night stay in Lake Como and 1 night stay in Lucerne, with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas. Next, transfer to Breisach, Germany, the gateway to unrivaled beauty of Germany’s Black Forest. Soak in the sights of Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border—perfectly blending the cultures of both countries. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles peer from 400-foot cliffs above the shores. History comes to life in Cologne, Germany—the 2,000-year-old city best known for its Gothic architecture and towering twin-spired cathedral. Continue to Amsterdam and board a canal cruise for an immersive view of the tall, narrow houses in the capital of Holland. Be whisked away via high-speed train to Paris to board your Seine River cruise to be wined, dined, and delighted by French culture, cuisine, and captivating charm. Discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk or see the legendary landmarks of this enchanting city.Your European river cruise vacation gets even better with a captivating cruise on France’s Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Sail through the brilliant Bordeaux region—famed for its legendary vineyards and lovely villages. Be carried away with your choice of Avalon’s included Classic, Active, and Discovery experiences—from the regal histories of castles and Châteaux to the romantic cellars where wine bouquets and bon-vivant cuisine tempt the palate. While the landscapes and lush pastoral treasures are plentiful along the shores of the Garonne and Dordogne, Avalon elevates each immersive experience for a deeper discovery of the cultural and architectural treasures that recall the rich traditions of Southwest France. From unparalleled panoramic drives to forested two-wheel excursions by bike to the delicacies of seaside Arcachon—the world is your oyster on this adventure in la belle vie of Bordeaux!
Immerse yourself in German and French culture on this fabulous Europe river cruise vacation along the Rhine, Seine, Garonne, and Dordogne Rivers. Your extraordinary European vacation begins with a 3-night stay in Lake Como and 1 night stay in Lucerne, with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas. Next, transfer to Breisach, Germany, the gateway to unrivaled beauty of Germany’s Black Forest. Soak in the sights of Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border—perfectly blending the cultures of both countries. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles peer from 400-foot cliffs above the shores. History comes to life in Cologne, Germany—the 2,000-year-old city best known for its Gothic architecture and towering twin-spired cathedral. Continue to Amsterdam and board a canal cruise for an immersive view of the tall, narrow houses in the capital of Holland. Be whisked away via high-speed train to Paris to board your Seine River cruise to be wined, dined, and delighted by French culture, cuisine, and captivating charm. Discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk or see the legendary landmarks of this enchanting city.Your European river cruise vacation gets even better with a captivating cruise on France’s Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Sail through the brilliant Bordeaux region—famed for its legendary vineyards and lovely villages. Be carried away with your choice of Avalon’s included Classic, Active, and Discovery experiences—from the regal histories of castles and Châteaux to the romantic cellars where wine bouquets and bon-vivant cuisine tempt the palate. While the landscapes and lush pastoral treasures are plentiful along the shores of the Garonne and Dordogne, Avalon elevates each immersive experience for a deeper discovery of the cultural and architectural treasures that recall the rich traditions of Southwest France. From unparalleled panoramic drives to forested two-wheel excursions by bike to the delicacies of seaside Arcachon—the world is your oyster on this adventure in la belle vie of Bordeaux!
Notes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
- Departure July 3rd will operate the itinerary on the Seine in a revised order: Day 1 to 12 as per regular program, Day 13 Paris, Day 14 Conflans, Day 15 Les Andelys-Rouen, Day 16 Caudebec, Day 17 Caudebec. Normandy excursions, Day 18 Vernon; from day 19 as per regular program
Start:Milan, Italy
Finish:Bordeaux, France
Finish:Bordeaux, France
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Tripcode:
WZX1
Options and details
Select your preferred date or enquire
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - LAKE COMO, ITALY
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Day 2 - LAKE COMO
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Day 3 - LAKE COMO
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Day 4 - LAKE COMO–LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
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Day 5 - LUCERNE–SWISS ALPS–BASEL (EMBARKATION)
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Day 6 - BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
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Day 7 - KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
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Day 8 - MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
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Day 9 - RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE
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Day 10 - COLOGNE
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Day 11 - AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
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Day 12 - AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)–PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
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Day 13 - VERNON
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Day 14 - CAUDEBEC
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Day 15 - CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY
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Day 16 - ROUEN
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Day 17 - CONFLANS
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Day 18 - PARIS
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Day 19 - PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)–BORDEAUX (EMBARKATION)
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Day 20 - BORDEAUX–PAUILLAC
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Day 21 - CUSSAC FORT MÉDOC
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Day 22 - BLAYE–BOURG
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Day 23 - LIBOURNE. EXCURSION TO SAINT-ÉMILION
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Day 24 - BORDEAUX
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Day 25 - BORDEAUX. EXCURSION TO ARCACHON’S BAY
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Day 26 - BORDEAUX (DISEMBARKATION)
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Travel Partner
Cruise without crowds, explore new cultures with ease, and sail in intimate settings when you cruise the world with Avalon Waterways! If you’re considering trading ocean cruising for river cruising, here are some of the biggest differences you can look forward to!