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Contact one of our Tour Specialists for more information. Offer valid on new bookings only. Savings vary per cabin category on select river cruises. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Capacity controlled and may be removed at any time without notice. Certain restrictions may apply; ask at time of booking.
La Belle Vie – it's the good life en Français – and it is the life you experience on a cruise along the River Rhône that takes you from the beautiful waters of the Côte d'Azur to Geneva and the Swiss Alps...On one of the most enjoyable river cruises in France, journey from the jet-setting capital of Cannes on the Riviera into Provence to Arles to board ms Emerald for a cruise along the Rhône River to Lyon and then along the Saône – and on to Geneva. Travel into the countryside past vineyards where some of the world's best grapes become some of the world's best wines, stopping to taste some of them. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets, experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue, and sample the pleasures of regional cuisine and wine throughout your trip. Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. You'll find something new, something wonderful every day. As your cruise along the Rhône continues, so does your exploration of history throughout the ages – and concludes in Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architecture and culinary traditions. Your travels continue to Geneva, Switzerland, for two nights where you'll have an opportunity to spend a day in the Alps. C'est magnifique .
Tour begins: 6:30 PM Geneva. A transfer is included to InterContinental Gèneve from Geneva Airport or Gare de Genève. We invite you to join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.
Today is a day of choice as to how you'll explore. You can join us for a walking tour of Geneva that includes a visit to the Old Town, followed by travels outside the city to the lovely medieval village of Yvoire. Alternatively, travel to the world-renowned resort town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc; travel by cable car from Chamonix town (3,396 feet / 1,035m) to the top of Aiguille du Midi at 12,605 feet for breath taking views of the Alps and Chamonix below, followed by time at leisure in Chamonix. Your third option is to travel to Chamonix and enjoy a scenic 3.2 mile (5km) long cog train ride up the forested slopes of the Mont Blanc massif to the viewing point of the famous glacier called Mer de Glace ("Sea of Ice"). Featuring a beautiful refuge hotel built in 1880 to welcome the first mountaineers and travelers who came to visit the Mer de Glace (and renovated in 2017), Mer de Glace offers stunning views of a glacier, the dramatic valley that it carved out, and the jagged snow covered mountain tops that feed the glaciers – the Mer de Glace valley is regarded as the longest and largest glacier in France, and the second longest in the Alps. Everyone returns to Geneva late afternoon.
En route to Lyons where your river cruise begins, visit the alpine town of Annecy, known for its lake and its mountains – its setting is where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. The town itself is amazing, like something out of a storybook; the word "picturesque" doesn't do it justice. Join a local guide for a walking tour along its cobblestone streets, viewing the Old Town set beside flower-bordered canals and boasting colorful houses; 2,000 years of history unfold. Mid-afternoon, following some free time to explore, arrive in Lyons and embark. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.
Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame – this is considered the birthplace of photography. So you have local inventor Nicéphore Niépce, who started it all with several photographic firsts right here in the 1820s, to thank for the great photos of the town's Romanesque churches and other monuments. Visit the walled city of Beaune – the "wine capital" of the famous Burgundy wine-producing region, and one of France's most important wine centers. A walking tour includes a visit to Hospices de Beaune or Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, considered one of the best-preserved examples of 15th-century French architecture; you may also see the old market (les Halles), the Beffroi (clock tower), parts of the medieval walls and ramparts, and more. This afternoon you have a choice of wine tasting in Burgundy or a walking tour (and tasting tour) of Chalon-sur-Saône.
With your riverboat docked in Tournus this morning, head out to explore the beautiful wine producing region of southern Burgundy, where history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), and vineyards are everywhere. Picture in your mind what a typical French vineyard looks like... and then picture the most amazing landscape that surrounds you for miles and miles. Vineyards, gently rolling hills, orchards, red-tiled farmhouses, medieval cathedrals... and historic country estates like the 17th-century Château de Cormatin, which you'll explore on a visit today. With its moat, drawbridge, turrets, gilded rooms and parklike grounds – including the mazes and fountains of its completely restored "pleasure garden" that's now among the finest in France – this classic Burgundy château takes you back through the centuries. Return to the riverboat for lunch, and continue your cruise to Mâcon. There is an opportunity to follow the ship to Mâcon by bicycle for a 20-mile ride along the Saône River.
Today you're off for sightseeing in Cluny. During the reign of Charlemagne (742 - 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture; visit one of the great monasteries of the period when you tour the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. Founded in 910, it was at the center of this major monastic reform movement and was also the largest Christian building in the world until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. After some free time to explore Cluny on your own, travel to Pruzilly for a visit to 17th-century Château Prizilly, built around 1620 on the borderline between Beaujolais and Southern Burgundy; it sits on the top of the hills, amidst fields of grapes and forests with a magnificent view on the Saône Valley, the Jura and the Alps. Although technically not the residence of royalty, the locals called it "Castle of Pruzilly" – and you'll see why when you have lunch at the Château in this lovely setting. Later this afternoon, back aboard your riverboat, cruise to Lyon.
It seems that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Vienne (which they called "Vienna" in their day) was no exception. During your time on a walking tour here this morning, look for the theatre and temple they left behind, as well as other sights straight out of history. Alternatively, you may instead choose to join a guided bicycle tour following part of the ViaRhona cycling path system along the River Rhone. Return to the riverboat this afternoon to continue your cruise.
The fortified city of Avignon was probably a much more peaceful place before Rome became "inconvenient" for the popes who moved the papacy here about 700 years ago. Although they stayed for less than a century, they kept busy during those years... as you'll see on your visit to the impressive Palais des Papes that they built for themselves during this morning's sightseeing in this key medieval city. After a free afternoon aboard ship, travel to the Duchy d'Uzès – a medieval city dating back to the 11th century, often called the "First Duchy of France," that forms the heart of the town of Uzès – for a guided visit followed by a cocktail reception and a Tauck Exclusive gala dinner at the recently restored Chateau.
With your riverboat docked in Avignon for the morning, you can spend more time exploring the medieval city or take a morning excursion to Saint-Remy-de-Provence – home to the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum, as well as the Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent van Gogh was a patient. After returning to the ship for lunch onboard, head out again for an afternoon wine tasting at one of the select vineyards permitted to produce Châteauneuf-du-Pape – literally "the New Castle of the Pope" – the most famous of the Côtes du Rhône wines; your host reveals secrets of the terroir as you sample estate-crafted red and white wines from a region that's been producing wine for more than 2,500 years! Catch up with the riverboat in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and spend the evening onboard, bound for Arles.
It may seem strange to encounter Roman ruins in Provence but Arles was, after all, once a Roman city; while the gladiators are gone, the arena they left behind – just one of the town's many Roman remnants – still hosts performances and bullfights today. You have a choice today of exploring Arles' medieval streets and city walls on a walking tour or embarking on a challenging, 2-hour bicycling excursion across the countryside surrounding Arles (which van Gogh found so enchanting). After lunch, it's off to La Camargue, France's "wild west." Visit a working farm to see an exciting demonstration by gardians (local cowboys) and the black bulls they raise here – not something usually experienced on a France river cruise; you'll also enjoy lunch and traditional Provençal entertainment. Join us this evening for the ship's farewell reception followed by dinner.
Tour ends: Cannes. A transfer from Hotel Martinez to the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, Nice Ville Train Station and Nice Riquier Train Station is included. Fly home anytime, but be sure to allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
La Belle Vie – it's the good life en Français – and it is the life you experience on a cruise along the River Rhône that takes you from the beautiful waters of the Côte d'Azur to Geneva and the Swiss Alps...On one of the most enjoyable river cruises in France, journey from the jet-setting capital of Cannes on the Riviera into Provence to Arles to board ms Emerald for a cruise along the Rhône River to Lyon and then along the Saône – and on to Geneva. Travel into the countryside past vineyards where some of the world's best grapes become some of the world's best wines, stopping to taste some of them. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets, experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue, and sample the pleasures of regional cuisine and wine throughout your trip. Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. You'll find something new, something wonderful every day. As your cruise along the Rhône continues, so does your exploration of history throughout the ages – and concludes in Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architecture and culinary traditions. Your travels continue to Geneva, Switzerland, for two nights where you'll have an opportunity to spend a day in the Alps. C'est magnifique.
The entire experience on my recent holiday from booking to coming home was absolutely fabulous! The ship's crew and Tauck staff were friendly and efficient. I think for most of us the interaction with all the staff made our journey wonderful. The ship "Swiss Emerald" was superlative and the tours were informative and interesting.
This was a exciting and wonderful trip.
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Truck as usual did a superb job