Arrive in Paris and check in to your hotel. The day is yours to start exploring this beautiful city.

Spend your first day in Paris getting acquainted with it on a city tour. 

Today is yours to enjoy however you wish. Explore Paris’s multitude of landmarks, museums, cafes, and shops.

After checking out of your hotel, board the TGV train through the French countryside to Lyon, France’s culinary capital. Upon arrival, enjoy free time before being treated to an exclusive hands-on cooking lesson. Later, transfer to your luxurious ship. 

Discover dynamic Lyon, starting in Fourvière Hill, part of the city’s historical region, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to the 19th-century basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Continue to the old town of Lyon, followed by a guided walk through the St. Jean district, where you are introduced to the city’s unique covered walkways, known as “traboules.” During the afternoon, enjoy leisure time or join a guided bike tour through the city designed with cyclists in mind. 

Travel to the Beaujolais wine region, known as the Pays d’Or or “land of the golden stones.” Indulge in a wine tasting at a traditional winery and learn about the history and techniques of their vineyard. After rejoining the ship, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure before sailing to Vienne.

Situated between the wine regions of Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône lies Vienne, with a Roman past that can be seen in its marvelously preserved ruins. Take a walking tour to see the amazingly well-preserved Augustus and Livia Temple, the Saint Maurice Cathedral, a Gothic church that took more than 500 years to build, and St. Pierre Abbey—one of the oldest surviving churches in France, and now an Archaeological Museum. You can either take a guided bike tour along a portion of the ViaRhôna bike route or a guided hike from the ship to the Monastery at Mount Pipet for those wishing to be more active. 

You have a choice of three excursions. Take a train ride past magnificent landscape carved along the Gorge du Doux, stopping at the charming little station of  Colombier le Vieux­Saint Barthélemy le Plain, where the train maneuvers in preparation for its return journey. Alternatively, lovers of wine and chocolate may visit Le Château de Tournon for a presentation and tasting on the pairing of red wine and chocolate. For a more active adventure, cycle through the French countryside or take a hike through the vineyards of Tain l’Hermitage, followed by a visit to a local winery to sample some of the wines.

Provençal town Tarascon is known for its medieval architecture and charming tales – especially the legend of the Tarasque monster. Join a guided walking tour to visit the Roman ruins of Arles, such as its Roman Amphitheater and the Church of Saint Trophime, famous for its Romanesque architecture. Alternatively, you can enjoy a bike ride along the Rhône, through town to the Langlois Bridge, a renowned subject from several Vincent Van Gogh paintings. And for those who wish to delve further into Van Gogh’s Arles, join a special walking tour along with a visit to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, showcasing his legacy. During the afternoon, visit the beautiful medieval fortress, the Castle of Tarascon – a fortress designed to protect but surprises all with its elegant interior fit for royalty. Delve deeply into the Carrières de Lumières, be treated to a spectacular presentation of art, sound, and history projected on the walls of caves. Afterward, venture to the medieval hilltop village, Les Baux de Provence. In the evening, enjoy an illuminations cruise around Avignon. 

Avignon, aptly named the “City of Popes,” was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century when its “Palais des Papes” was the equivalent of today’s Vatican. Discover the history of Avignon on a guided walking tour that includes the Papal Palace and the well­preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depending on your interests, you have two choices of excursions for the morning. You can enjoy a bike tour along the Rhône to see Avignon ramparts or visit three venues around Avignon to taste regional specialties, including macarons, cheese and wine, and tapenades. During the afternoon, you can go to the magnificent hilltop village, Grignan. After visiting this enchanting Provençal town, go searching for the highly prized “Black Diamond” truffles with a farmer and his trustworthy canine companion. Alternatively, you can go to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the impressive Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct, a masterpiece of ancient engineering. 

 Disembark your ship in Avignon and board the TGV high­speed train to the city that inspired Antoni Gaudí and is certain to inspire you.

Barcelona, the bustling capital of Catalonia, is an artist’s, architect’s, foodie’s, historian’s and culturist’s dream. Tour the cobblestoned lanes of the Gothic Quarter in the medieval city center and Las Ramblas. Visit Montjuïc Hill and see some of Antoni Gaudí’s imaginative architectural creations, including Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and La Sagrada Familia. 

Spend a full day at leisure to discover the vast treasures of this eclectic city. 

Bid farewell to Barcelona and prepare for your homeward flight.