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Savoring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence 2024

From Paris, France to Lyon, France
Length: 10 Days - Departs: Wed, Apr 10, 2024
Operator
Ship
Departure
Apr 10, 2024
Arrival
Apr 19, 2024

Please see below brochure cabin pricing

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Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Mention Promo Code: PT1572
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Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement on all European River Cruise

Promotion Details
Tauck is now offering solo travelers in Category 1 cabins - no single supplement on all European river cruises. Solo travelers also enjoy savings of $1000 per cabin in select categories on select river cruises. (Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking).
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›

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.


River Cruise Itinerary

Depart on a 7-night Rhône River cruise aboard ms Emerald  through vineyard country that's home to some of the world's most exceptional wines.Tauck's epicurean delights begin in Paris with a reception and dinner at Fouquet's, the celebrity hotspot on the Champs Élysées, a pastry class especially for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and a food walking tour with a visit to a pastry shop, a creperie and a champagne bar. Ride the high-speed TGV through the French countryside to Lyon to taste your way through Les Halles, Lyon's famed covered food market with its eye-popping vertical garden... cruise in search of culinary adventures along the Rhône... sip Beaujolais in Beaujolais... sample Provençal specialties for lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue... attend a memorable evening at the Duchy of Uzès... and learn secrets at a cooking demonstration at an award-winning cooking school in Valence. It's the ultimate Rhône River cruise to the soul of French haute cuisine!

  1. Day 1
    Paris, France
    Wed, Apr 10, 2024

    Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel.  A transfer is included from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gare de Lyon Station, Charles de Gaulle Station or Gare du Nord to InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel in the heart of the city. Join us this evening for our specialwelcome cocktail reception and dinner at le Fouquet's on theChamps-Elysées, an iconic landmark for celebrity dining for over acentury.


    Meals: Dinner
  2. Day 2
    Paris, France
    Thu, Apr 11, 2024

    Enjoy a moveable feast and an introduction to the delights of Parisian cuisine today as you take a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, where you'll learn firsthand the tips of the pâtisserie trade – including how to make an original pastry followed by a food walking tour. A Paris orientation tour by coach familiarizes you with many iconic landmarks before you embark on a walking and tasting tour that inspires with the fragrances and flavors of French food. The French capital is home to the masters of the pastry universe, dating back to Marie-Antoine Carême, who in the early 1800's popularized elaborate confections including the millefeuille, the croquembouche, strawberries Romanov and many more. Discover the history behind some of France's beloved specialties as you "taste" your way through a local neighborhood. Tonight, enjoy free time to explore Paris on your own.


    Meals: Breakfast
  3. Day 3
    Paris, France
    Fri, Apr 12, 2024

    Enjoy a morning at leisure before catching the TGV high-speed train and enjoying the views en route to Lyon, set at the confluence of the rivers Saône and Rhône. In Lyon, you'll board ms Emerald for your Rhône River cruise and settle into your cabin before joining us for a briefing and welcome reception followed by a welcome dinner in The Compass Rose. 

     
    Meals: Breakfast
  4. Day 4
    Lyon, France
    Sat, Apr 13, 2024

    Lyon is considered the "culinary capital of France," which is quite a compliment in a country famed for its cuisine and fine vintages. You'll discover why during a tasting at the famous Les Halles de Lyon, the celebrated indoor food market that's been a fixture in Lyon since 1850 and offers an unbelievable array of breads, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, sausages, wines, chocolates... the list goes on. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it's said that the best chefs in Lyon shop here! But Lyon is also a city with a venerable history and considerable charm, as you'll discover when you also visit Vieux Lyon, the old Renaissance part of the city that is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first protected historic district in France, and the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, built atop the ruins of an ancient Roman forum. This afternoon, it's off to the celebrated wine-growing region of Beaujolais for a tasting in the countryside before continuing your Rhône River cruise to Viviers. Enjoy dinner in the Compass Rose tonight followed by entertainment in the lounge.


    Meals: Breakfast
  5. Day 5
    Viviers, France
    Sun, Apr 14, 2024

    ms Emerald cruises this morning to Viviers, a walled city with origins in the 5th century on the right bank of the Rhône. If medieval history and authentic period architecture are your thing, Viviers is your kind of place... because it's one of the best-preserved medieval towns that you're likely to see in all of France. Its narrow streets and lanes reveal what life might have been like here in the Middle Ages. Your choices today include a walking tour of Viviers with your local guide including views of the 12th-century Cathedral of Notre Dame de Rhône and the richly detailed façade of the Maison des Chevaliers, followed by a lively game of petanque with the locals; or a drive to Grignan for a walking tour of town and a truffle farm tour and tasting. Join us for a gala dinner in The Compass Rose this evening as we sail for Arles in Provence.


    Meals: Breakfast
  6. Day 6
    Arles, France
    Mon, Apr 15, 2024

    It may seem that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Arles is no exception, as is witnessed by the triumphal arch, circus and baths they left behind – and an arena in which gladiators fought and is still a venue for performances and bullfights today – as you explore the city on a walking tour and time on your own. Do take time to look beyond the city walls at the incredible quality of the light here that so enraptured Vincent van Gogh – and the landscapes of yellow rocks, red soil and lilac mountains that inspired in the Dutch artist a newfound creativity, and led to his creating hundreds of paintings while a patient at a nearby asylum, one of the most productive periods of his short life. Lunch today is a real treat, as you visit a private ranch in La Camargue for a private banquet of farm-grown Provençal specialties, a musical serenade, and a chance to see the region's iconic white horses, fleet-footed gardians (cowboys) and famous black bulls. As you continue your Rhône River cruise to Avignon this evening, try your hand at painting a chocolate art piece during an onboard demonstration before dinner aboard the riverboat.


    Meals: Breakfast
  7. Day 7
    Avignon, France
    Tue, Apr 16, 2024

    Although the fortified city of Avignon was undoubtedly a pleasant place before they arrived, the 14th-century popes, who spent less than a century here when Rome became "tedious" for them, really put it on the map, and cultivated the local wine industry (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and an appreciation for good food. This morning, choose a bicycle excursion in Avignon, a visit to the fortress-like home that the pontiffs built for themselves, the Palais des Papes or a guided tour that brings you along the streets of Avignon for an exploration of the city's history and Jewish heritage dating back to the 13th century. Later, visit the Pont du Gard – a famous Roman aqueduct over the River Gardon. Join us this evening ashore for a sparkling Tauck Exclusive event – a special evening including a tour, reception and dinner at the restored château and grounds of the medieval Duchy of Uzès.


    Meals: Breakfast
  8. Day 8
    Roussillon, France
    Wed, Apr 17, 2024

    Venture deeper into Provence today on a visit to the yellow-and-brown town of Roussillon, in the Luberon region. This place is all about color, from the ochre cliffs surrounding the town to the purple of the lavender during its blooming season and the lush, green pine forests, as you'll discover for yourself on a walking tour. Have lunch on the riverboat as you cruise to Châteauneuf-du-Pape; over 200 days of sunshine per year and rain-bearing mistral winds enable the soil to store water for the long summer, meaning that vineyards thrive here. Since medieval times, the life of this hillside village has centered around growing and producing wine of the same appellation; its residents have benefitted from the proceeds of flourishing vineyards as early as the 13th century, when the village was adjacent to a summer palace for the popes of Avignon. You will get an opportunity this afternoon to taste some of the area's acclaimed wines before returning to the riverboat for dinner and onboard relaxation as your cruise continues.


    Meals: Breakfast
  9. Day 9
    Tain l'Hermitage, France
    Thu, Apr 18, 2024

    The riverboat docks in Tain l'Hermitage for the final day of your Rhône River cruise. From here you're off on a choice of excursions; a wine & cheese tasting at a local co-op, recognized for its prestigious "cru" of wines; a visit to world renowned chocolate producer, Valrhona, where you'll learn about the history of the chocolate maker, taste the difference between a few different types of chocolate and take part in a chocolate truffle making class with one of Valrhona's top pastry chefs; or, embark on an active hike through the vineyards of Tain I'Hermitage, learning about the region's rich wine history and indulging in a jaw-dropping view at the top of the hill, one that warranted a visit from future president Thomas Jefferson back in 1788. Join us aboard the ship for tonight's farewell reception followed by dinner as ms Emerald begins her return to Lyon.


    Meals: Breakfast
  10. Day 10
    Lyon, France
    Fri, Apr 19, 2024

    Tour ends: Lyon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the ms Emerald to Lyon Airport or Perrache or Part Dieu train stations. Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.


    Meals: Breakfast

Countries Visited

France

Rivers Visited

Rhone

OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019

Inclusions

Depart on a 7-night Rhône River cruise aboard ms Emerald through vineyard country that's home to some of the world's most exceptional wines.Tauck's epicurean delights begin in Paris with a reception and dinner at Fouquet's, the celebrity hotspot on the Champs Élysées, a pastry class especially for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and a food walking tour with a visit to a pastry shop, a creperie and a champagne bar. Ride the high-speed TGV through the French countryside to Lyon to taste your way through Les Halles, Lyon's famed covered food market with its eye-popping vertical garden... cruise in search of culinary adventures along the Rhône... sip Beaujolais in Beaujolais... sample Provençal specialties for lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue... attend a memorable evening at the Duchy of Uzès... and learn secrets at a cooking demonstration at an award-winning cooking school in Valence. It's the ultimate Rhône River cruise to the soul of French haute cuisine!

  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Evening at the 12th-century Duché d'Uzès 
  • All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
  • Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4,513
  • Pastry class for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris 
  • Food walking tour in Paris featuring visits to a pastry shop, creperie, and a wine or champagne bar
  • Provençal lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue
  • Reception and dinner at Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysées in Paris
  • Private wine tastings in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape
  • A walking tour of historic Vieux Lyon and a tasting at Les Halles de Lyon

OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-342-0019

Ship Information

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Cabins

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Life on Board

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Questions & Answers

Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?

Yes, the river cruise itineraries may change due to reasons such as inclement weather or unforeseen events. Your safety is the number one concern aboard and all precautions necessary will be taken in order to ensure passenger safety, including changing itineraries. Please note that when itineraries do change, the ship staff will do their best to substitute any missed port with an alternative destination.

Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?

The river cruise will be conducted in English only.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4.5
Accommodations
4.1
Itinerary
4.9
Professional Staff
4.9
Repeat with Operator
4.7
Value for Money
4

Ratings based off 14 reviews - currently showing 3 reviews with comments only

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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