Burgundy & Provence 2013
(Arles to Lyon)

Day 1: Marseille airport, transfer to Arles (embark)
Arrive at Marseille International Airport where you will be transferred to your ship docked in Arles. (D)

Day 2: Arles
Featured Excursion: Arles walking tour

Vincent van Gogh found inspiration in the charming town of Arles and you will, too. Under the spell of the Provençal light and the vivid colors of nature, he spent a period of intense and impassioned work under these bright sunny skies. In fact, he produced more than 300 paintings and drawings in 15 months, including Starry Night. During your walking tour, discover Van Gogh’s Arles as well as a fascinating wealth of Roman monuments, such as the Amphitheater and Constantine’s baths. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Gala)

Day 3: Avignon
Featured Excursions: Choice of Avignon walking tour and Palace of the Popes OR exclusive “Back Streets of Avignon” tour

Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brims with history, culture, art, and life, and you will capture all of that on your walking tour of the “City of the Popes.” Start at the Medieval ramparts and continue to Clocktower Square, where the colorful café terraces face the magnificent City Hall, the Opera Theatre, and the classic mansions. Then, it’s on to Popes’ Palace Square for an inside view of the maze of galleries, chambers, and chapels that make up the grand Palace of the Popes, where seven 14th-century popes resided during a turbulent period in church history. Or opt for a tour of Avignon’s back streets, with a walk through hidden alleys, secret squares with sparkling fountains, and the flower market. You will have leisure time to enjoy more of this magical city on your own. Check out the cheese shops, where you may find 50 kinds of chevre for sale, or linger on the shady terrace of a courtyard cafe with a cool drink. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Viviers
Featured Excursion: Viviers walking tour and organ concert

Lovely Viviers, developed around its Romanesque cathedral, retains much of its historic charm. Your tour of Viviers starts in Old Town with an introduction to the city. You will take the Rue Chévrerie to Porte Riquot, then climb Rue du Château to reach St. Vincent Cathedral, where you will enjoy an organ concert. Finally, you will walk through the Medieval streets of this delightful town on your way back to the ship. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Tournon, Tain l'Hermitage
Featured Excursions: Tournon walking tour with wine tasting

Nestled among famous vineyards, the twin cities of Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage are an ideal destination for those who are true connoisseurs of wine. Celebrate the region by indulging in some Côtes du Rhône mid-valley wines. Then cross the Marc Seguin suspension bridge and visit Tournon and its historic castle. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Lyon
Featured Excursions: Choice of Lyon city tour OR exclusive “See Lyon as the Lyonnais Do”

Lyon is the country’s lively and creative capital of gastronomy. The city’s origins date to the first century, when it was founded by the Romans, but it didn’t become an economic power in the region until the 15th century, when it was the center of France’s printing industry. A couple of centuries later, Lyon’s silk looms employed half the city’s population, who produced textiles that were famous the world over. Now France’s second largest conurbation, the city is a commercial powerhouse and the proud possessor of a UNESCO World Heritage-designated Old Town. Your tour starts with a drive to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s hallmark church, for a dramatic view of the town, which was built at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. From the motorcoach, you will view Terreaux Square, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and the Opera House. Or opt for an intimate exploration of Lyon on foot, venturing into the alleyways, courtyards, and traboules (historic passageways) of the St. Jean old quarter. Some of these passageways were constructed by the Romans, but most owe their existence to 19th-century silk weavers—and WWII resistance fighters found them pretty handy. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 7: Chalon sur Saône (Beaune)
Featured Excursions: Beaune, Hospices de Beaune, and open-air food market visit

Located in the heart of Burgundy, Chalon sur Saône is an important center for France’s wine trade. From here, you will journey to nearby Beaune to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a charitable hospital founded by the Chancellor of Beaune in 1443. Marvel at the multicolored roofs of this architectural jewel, which has become one of the symbols of Burgundy. The hospice monks were given some vineyards in the 15th century so they could make wine to auction in order to help support charities, and to this day, the tradition continues. Sample local delicacies for lunch on your own at the open air market. (BB, D)

Note: The open-air food market visit will take place in Arles on reverse direction cruise (Chalon sur Saône to Arles).

Day 8: Lyon (disembark), transfer to the airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to the Lyon airport for your return flight home, or extend your stay in Paris, the “City of Light.” (CB/BB)

Cabin aboard River Royale

Aix-en-Provence
3 days - $949 per person (single supplement $349)

Experience the joie de vivre of the South of France in Aix-en-Provence—famed home of Paul Cezanne and Emile Zola. With its abundance of revered fountains, charming squares, quaint streets, and gourmet delights, this classical Provençal town provides an inspirational starting or ending point for your “Burgundy & Provence” river cruise.

Extension will be offered between May 5 and November 3 sailings.

• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Prices exclude additional port charges of $140.
• A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.