Sunday - Lyon.
Board the barge moored in Lyon for your cruise along the River Rhône. A champagne reception welcomes you and gives you a chance to meet the crew. A cocktail cruise through the center of Lyon is a wonderful introduction to river cruising.
Monday - Cruise to Les Roches de Condrieu. Visit Lyon.
Shortly after breakfast your guide will take you on a walking tour of Lyon - a cultural, historic, gastronomic, and commercial center, little known outside of France. There is free time to enjoy the many great shops of this famous city, or perhaps to simply sit in a pavement café and watch the world go by. Return to the barge for a cruise down the river to Condrieu. The River Rhône is a fast flowing important river where you you will see many commercial boats, private house boats and pleasure craft navigating its waterways. Relax on the deck and watch the beautiful scenery of the Rhône Valley glide by.
Tuesday - Cruise to Tain l'Hermitage/Tournon. Wine Tasting.
This morning enjoy a cruise down the Vallée du Rhône with the magnificent vineyards of the Côtes Rôties and the Côtes du Rhône that seem to descend right to the river. In the afternoon, enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery, just steps from where the barge moors. Take time to explore Tain l'Hermitage which includes the famous Valrhona chocolate shop.
Wednesday - Cruise to Viviers. Visit Château de Grignan. Lunch and truffle tasting.
Visit the Château de Grignan where the daughter of Madame de Sévigné resided. The collection of letters of the Marquise de Sévigné to her daughter is widely recognized as a masterpiece of French literature. We have lunch today in this pituresque little town. Afterwards we visit the truffle farm to discover the delight of these sought after mushrooms. The boat will continue its course downstream to Viviers, a charming medieval town.
Thursday - Cruise to St. Étienne-des-Sorts. Visit Orange.
Leaving Viviers the scenery continues to change as the broad basin that is known as the "fruit basket of France" opens up. Lunch is served during the cruise to St. Étienne. We pass through one of the largest locks (Ecluse) in Europe, with a drop of over 23 metres, a truly impressive sight. The afternoon's excursion is to Orange, an important Roman city dating back to 100 BC. This historical town contains two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe. Tonight we moor in the small village of St Étienne des Sorts.
Friday - Cruise to Avignon. Visit Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Avignon.
Cruise to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the summer home for the Popes of Avignon, for a tour of Château la Nerthe and a tasting of the famous wines of the region. Rejoin the barge for a lunch cruise to Avignon. Cruise past Le pont St. Bénézet (the famous Pont d'Avignon) to the mooring at the quay opposite the gate to the walled city. Home of the Popes from 1309-77, Avignon is a magnificent and historical town. Today includes a guided tour of the Palace of the Popes and afterwards there is some free time for you to meander the streets. Meanwhile your chef is busy back on board preparing for your farewell gala dinner.
Saturday - Avignon.
After breakfast disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangement.
