Rhône River Cruise 2012, France

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We leave St Pancras International by Eurostar for Lille, with a light meal and drinks served on board. At Lille we join the TGV to Lyon, where we will board on the MS Amadagio, and we will enjoy a gala welcome dinner. The ship offers excursions and facilities on board to their guests.

This morning we will visit Lyon, which old town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will enjoy two guided tours: one of the main sights of Lyon, and the second one in Trévoux.

The first stop today is Beaujolais country, where we will enjoy a tasting of the local wine. After this, we will have the chance to relax on board while we sail to Vienne, a city with great Roman history, reflected in its ruins. 

In today's guided tour in Vienne, we will have the opportunity to visit the Toman Amphitheatre or the medieval cathedral, among others. During the afternoon, we will cruise to Tournon, the heart of the winegrowing region known as Côtes du Rhône, where we will spend the night. 

In this morning's schedule we enjoy an excursion to a local winery, where we will have the opportunity to taste some of the famous wines of the region. We cruise to Viviers during the afternoon, where we enjoy a "ghost walk" through the medieval town, after dinner.

The first visit today will be in Grignan, known for its medieval castle. Avignon is our next stop. We will discover this city known as the "City of Popes" with a walking tour, which includes the Papal Palace and the Pont St Bénezet.

This morning we head towards the town of Arles, situated at the mouth of the Rhône delta, where we will travel by coach to the village of Les Baux. Here we will enjoy the view of the lavender-covered hills.

After a final breakfast on board, we'll get to Arles Station by coach. We'll arrive to Marseilles by train where we'll change trains to Lille, to finally join the Eurostar service to London. In this last one a light meal and drinks will be served.

More about the trains

Eurostar: The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris, Lille and Brussels. In your dedicated Standard Premier (the highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers) carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

TGV: Introduced in 1981, France's TGV was the original European high-speed train. First linking Paris to Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer the best option. The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

Where you'll stay

MS Amadagio: the deluxe 5-star ship offers elegant cabins and common spaces, as well as excursions that are included, quality cuisine and wine with dinner. The cabins offer all the comforts of a fine hotel, but also include white-on-white bedding, a sitting area, hairdryer, safe, terry bathrobes, individually controlled airconditioning and ample wardrobe space, as well as in-built entertainment system for music, films, television and internet access.

Customer Comments

"What could be more relaxing... stand on the deck of a river cruise boat early, before breakfast, before fellow-passengers are up and about...  green banks drift by... swans and cygnets bob sedately in the wash... herons rise..." Mr and Mrs Brinsmead