Fly to Marseille and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

A further overnight hotel stay.

After breakfast make your way to the nearby St Charles railway station for your 1 hour direct journey to Arles to embark the boat. Follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gauguin on this exquisite journey through southern France. Cruise the Rhône and Saône rivers, enjoying the region’s incomparable wine and cuisine and discovering its many treasures. Stroll the very streets of Arles made famous by Van Gogh. Visit Avignon’s majestic Palace of the Popes. Experience “Village Day” in enchanting Viviers. And for those who wish for a more active exploration of the area, you can hike the vineyards of the Rhône and pedal through Lyon, a city designed with bike riders in mind. Explore unforgettable “Burgundy & Provence” where tradition is as deeply rooted as the historic grapevines on the hills.

Explore a sun-drenched Provençal town today with an allure all its own. Known for its remarkable Roman ruins, Arles so inspired Van Gogh that he painted some 200 paintings there. Arles has existed since the sixth century BC, when the ancient Greeks founded it and named it Theline. It was here that the Romans built their first bridge across the Rhône River, creating a vital overland route between Italy and Spain.

Included Excurions:

• Arles Walking Tour
• Van Gogh Painting Class

The walled city of Avignon is one of the most fascinating towns in southern France, with a host of historic gems to explore—including the fortress residence of rebellious popes who broke from Rome and once lived and ruled here. You’ll see the Palace of the Popes and much more today, or have the chance to visit a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Choose from the following Included Excursions:

• Avignon Walking Tour with Palace of thr Popes
• Kayak to Roman Ruins
• Biking Avignon
• Pont Di Gard Roman Aqueduct visit

An enchanting village where time seems to have stopped centuries ago, Viviers has a long and storied past that goes back more than 1,600 years—and a splendid architectural heritage to match. At one time, Viviers was divided along religious lines—the clergy lived in the upper part of the town, the laity in the lower part. Your exploration of the town will take you through both parts, as you begin at the crest and make your way to the riverbank.

Included excursions:

• Village day - Ardeche
• Evening private concert

If you love fine wine, you’ll love the twin villages of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage. Tournon may be a small town, but stirring events took place here: A castle was raised on the hilltop in the 10th century to protect the region, and new fortifications were added over the centuries, including two “new” towers built to defend against Protestant attacks in the 16th century. You’ll see the handsome houses constructed by wealthy merchants and garrison officers when you walk through the Rue de Doux area, and you’ll pass the 14th-century church and the oldest secondary school in France.

Choose form the following excursions

• Tournon and tain L'Ermitage twin villages stroll with wine tatsting
• L'Ermitage Terrace Vineyards hike with wine tasting
• Vairhona chocolate workshop

Ancient Lyon is a city of tantalizing contrasts, from Roman roots to stunning modern architecture and plenty of Renaissance flair in between. There's much to explore here, from the city's bike paths to the silk weavers' secret passageways. While you're in town, you might like to have lunch on your own at one of the many traditional bouchons that proliferate in the epicenter of French gastronomy. A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Choose form the following  included excursions:

• Lyon Panaoramic Tour and Traboules Visit
• Silk Weavers wakling tour
• Lyon Peninsula Bike Tour
• Lyon and th Cnema Museum

The pace of life is decidedly more relaxed in Burgundy, where endless rows of grapes hang heavy on the vine. The capital of the region’s wine trade, Beaune is renowned for its history, beauty, and highly prized wine, as well as its medieval-era hospital—the Hospices de Beaune.

Included excruisions:

• Burgundy Landscapes, Beaune and Hospices
• Secrets of Bugindy Scavenger Hunt

Disembark the ship after breakfast and transfer  to the airport for your flight home.