Essence of the Rhône - Southbound

Tour Begins: 6:30 PM.  A transfer is included upon your arrival at Lyon Airport or Lyon Part-Dieu train station to your riverboat docked on the Rhône. Settle into your cabin before joining fellow guests for a welcome reception and dinner in Compass Rose, marking the start of your six-day journey through southeastern France. 

Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. France's third-largest city is known for its ancient ruins, Renaissance architecture, hidden traboules – and, perhaps above all, its gastronomy. Long regarded as a capital of French cuisine, Lyon draws culinary influence from its location between northern and southern France, where butter and cream meet olive oil, fresh produce, and wines from the surrounding valleys. After a walking tour, visit Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse – named for the legendary Lyonnais chef – and wander among its stalls, sampling local products along the way. Rejoin the riverboat this afternoon for a scenic cruise toward Viviers.

Today, the choice is yours. Explore Viviers, a living open-air museum divided into upper and lower quarters, its upper town once home to bishops and canons and today crowned by Cathédrale Saint-Vincent. Discover its history – past and present – on a guided walking tour before trying your luck at pétanque with the locals. Alternatively, travel to nearby Grignan, a picturesque medieval village surrounded by the open landscapes of Provence. A walking tour is paired with a visit to a working truffle farm, where you'll discover how specially trained dogs search for these prized delicacies before sampling truffle products accompanied by wine.

Arrive in Avignon, the "City of the Popes," this morning and choose how you wish to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by medieval stone walls. Its nickname derives from a period when popes left Rome amid political instability and resided in Avignon from 1309 to 1377. You may wish to visit the Palais des Papes – one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe and a remarkably preserved testament to Avignon's papal past. Alternatively, set out on a walking tour highlighting Avignon's Jewish history, which dates back centuries. Visit a synagogue and learn about the community known as the "Pope's Jews," who lived under papal authority in this region of southern France. For a more active choice, set out on a guided bike ride around Avignon and through the surrounding countryside. Your final choice is a mini-train ride through the heart of the city. After free time this afternoon, journey to the Duché d'Uzès for a Tauck Exclusive reception and dinner. This 11th-century fortified castle opens just for you for an elegant evening of dining and live music, with a glimpse into the legacy of France's oldest ducal peerage.

Wake up this morning as your riverboat cruises toward the ancient city of Arles, where Roman ruins reveal a time past and city streets and scenic landscapes bring to life the blues and yellows of many Vincent van Gogh paintings. Enjoy a choice of sightseeing experiences today. You may wish to enjoy a guided walking tour of Arles which includes a visit to the well-preserved Arles Amphitheatre, built in 90 AD and once able to hold more than 20,000 spectators. Alternatively, enjoy a scenic but active bike ride through the countryside, cycling past olive groves and open fields en route to the ruins of the Roman Barbegal aqueduct and mill. Enjoy a farewell reception and dinner onboard this evening to conclude your journey on this storied river. As the sun falls, find yourself amid landscapes immortalized by Vincent van Gogh, who found inspiration in Arles for some of his most celebrated works, including Starry Night Over the Rhône.

Tour Ends: Arles. Disembark ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Marseille Provence Airport or Marseille-St-Charles train station.  Please allow 3 hours for international flight check-in.