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Grand France with 3 Nights in London for Wine Lovers (Northbound)
Operated by Avalon
Tripcode: WLP3-T7
Overview
Destination:
Start:,
Finish:,
Finish:,
Duration:18 days
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Travel Period
November 2025 - November 2026
18 Day River Cruise Arles to London
This French river cruise vacation highlights France’s charm, breathtaking views, and rich history. A Master of Wine will accompany you on your cruise on the Rhône River with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. Your incredible European river cruise through France begins on the Rhône River with a visit to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. Then, sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the way, explore Avignon and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. Continue to delightful Viviers, and medieval Tournon. In Lyon, take a guided tour to Beaujolais and the following day to Chardonnay, where you will have the opportunity to taste local wines. Cruise to Mâcon for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. Disembark your ship in Chalon-sur-Saône and take a high-speed train to Paris and embark your second Avalon Suite ship® to begin your cruise on the Seine River into the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys, home of dramatic Château Gaillard, then on to Caudebec, for your choice between an excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy” tour. Next up is Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen; and in Conflans, choose between excursions to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison. Return to Paris for guided sightseeing and take in the most famous sights of this magnificent city. Then, transfer to London for three exciting nights.Your vacation in London includes guided sightseeing of the must-see sights—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more, including VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral.About Masters of Wine Seldom do travelers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honored to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!
This French river cruise vacation highlights France’s charm, breathtaking views, and rich history. A Master of Wine will accompany you on your cruise on the Rhône River with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. Your incredible European river cruise through France begins on the Rhône River with a visit to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. Then, sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the way, explore Avignon and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. Continue to delightful Viviers, and medieval Tournon. In Lyon, take a guided tour to Beaujolais and the following day to Chardonnay, where you will have the opportunity to taste local wines. Cruise to Mâcon for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. Disembark your ship in Chalon-sur-Saône and take a high-speed train to Paris and embark your second Avalon Suite ship® to begin your cruise on the Seine River into the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys, home of dramatic Château Gaillard, then on to Caudebec, for your choice between an excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy” tour. Next up is Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen; and in Conflans, choose between excursions to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison. Return to Paris for guided sightseeing and take in the most famous sights of this magnificent city. Then, transfer to London for three exciting nights.Your vacation in London includes guided sightseeing of the must-see sights—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more, including VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral.About Masters of Wine Seldom do travelers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honored to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allARLES, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for BoardingFlights into Marseille must arrive by 3 pm.Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES(D)
ARLES
A Brush with GeniusVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR:DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city. Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, before sailing to Avignon. DISCOVERY Join a lecture about wine hosted by your Master of Wine.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON(B,L,D)
AVIGNON
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.DISCOVERY Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region.Later, enjoy live onboard entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON(B,L,D)
VIVIERS
World History in a Charming French Country VillageEnjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.ACTIVE Walk your way up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.DISCOVERY This evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TAIN L’HERMITAGE (B,L,D)
TAIN L'HERMITAGE
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and VineyardsJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Explore Tournon by foot as you follow your Adventure Host for a morning hike in this beautiful town along the Rhone, OR:CLASSIC Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.In the early afternoon cruise to Lyon. DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard chocolate and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Lyon.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON(B,L,D)
LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.DISCOVERY Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine.Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Tournus.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS(B,L,D)
TOURNUS–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE
Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône Enjoy a leisurely afternoon cruising along the majestic Saône River.DISCOVERY Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards, the wines produced here, and to attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real Medieval castle! DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious cheese and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine. Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE(B,L,D)
CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (DISEMBARKATION)–BEAUNE–DIJON–PARIS (EMBARKATION)
Drive to Beaune and take a High-Speed Train from Dijon to Paris. CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights.This afternoon, take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris to board your Suite Ship®.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON(B,D)
VERNON
Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du JourVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.DISCOVERY While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. Serenity on the SeineACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC(B,L,D)*Monet’s House is closed in March and November. During this period this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche-Guyon and its castle
CAUDEBEC
Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine.This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC(B,L,D)
CAUDEBEC. EXCURSIONS TO NORMANDY
Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to get a taste of authentic tradition in the beautiful region of Normandy. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN(B,L,D)
ROUEN
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—home of the martyred Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS(B,L,D)
CONFLANS
The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS(B,L,D)*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly
PARIS
Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the City of Light Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Experience the Seine River by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS(B,L,D)
PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)–LONDON
Bid Adieu to your Avalon portion of your vacation after breakfast. An included transfer delivers you to the train station. Travel to London by high-speed Eurostar train (Standard class).(B)
LONDON
England’s Exciting CapitalCLASSIC Enjoy a morning Guided sightseeing including all of London’s famous landmarks. Drive past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were married; Whitehall’s mounted horseguards; the Prime Minister’s Downing Street; Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus. Then, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (except on Sundays). Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece with its world-famous dome is an iconic feature of London’s skyline. (B)
LONDON
Free Time on the Thames Enjoy a free day to explore this spectacular city at your own pace. You could take a flight on the London Eye for fantastic views over the city or visit Windsor Castle for a tour of the magnificent State Apartments. In the evening, see one of the dozens of celebrated West End shows, or enjoy dinner at a traditional London pub, followed by a relaxing nighttime cruise on the Thames River. There are so many possibilities to make your stay unforgettable. (B)
LONDON
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Avalon Waterways
Designed from the bottom up for comfort, space, and room to dream, each Avalon Suite Ship consists of 80% Panorama Suites—offering the widest view in river cruising. Larger suites result in fewer passengers, so you’ll never feel crowded anywhere on board. From reclining on the open-air Sky Deck, relaxing in the spacious Panorama Lounge, or feeling the wind over the bough In the Observation Lounge, there’s never a shortage of comfortable spots to stretch out, day dream, or just watch the world go by. From our inception, Avalon Waterways has cast a light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – inviting wayfarers and wanderers like you to bask in their glory, intrigue and wonder. Along the way, we’ve helped travellers uncover ancient traditions while meeting the locals dedicated to preserving them; to meander historic hallways while giving back to the societies that safeguard them; and to put down the guidebooks and pick up a greater understanding of the world and its people.
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