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Home > GRAND FRANCE with PROVENCE EXT (WPAE2010)
GRAND FRANCE with PROVENCE EXT (WPAE2010)
A 19-Day Avalon Waterways tour starting from $5,038
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| Starting Price: | $5,038 |  |
| Tour Length: | 19 Days | |
| Countries Visited: | France | |
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Cities Visited:
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Ship
Avalon CreativityAvalon Scenery®
City Highlights
Cruise:
Deluxe 14-night cruise from Paris to Paris and Chalon-sur-Saône to Arles in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds
Paris:
Welcome reception; Guided sightseeing
Conflans:
Choice of guided excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise or Saint-Germaine-en-Laye
Vernon:
Choice of guided excursion to Giverny or Bizy Castle
Rouen:
Guided sightseeing, Astronomical Clock, visit the Cathedral; choice of excursion to Normandy landing beaches or “A Taste of Normandy”
Les Andelys:
Orientation; Château Gaillard
Beaune:
Orientation walk; Hôtel Dieu; Burgundy wine tasting
Chalon-sur-Saone:
Welcome reception; visit Nicéphore Niépce Museum
Lyon:
Guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill
Tournon:
Orientation walk
Viviers:
Guided walk; visit the cathedral
Avignon:
Guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes
Arles:
Guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheater
Provence Region Extension:
Excursion to Camargue; visit Aigues-Mortes; Nîmes guided sightseeing; lunch stop in Aix-en-ProvenceNotes:In the event of water level problems on stretches of any river, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motorcoach.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change is necessary, a substitute will be offered.
Hotels
Côte d’Azur
Hotel Exedra, Nice (SF),
Provence Region Extension
Imperator Concorde (F) at Nîmes
Meals
Buffet breakfast (B) in Côte d'Azur plus Provence region; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain's reception, and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe's most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements; Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with all onboard dinners; Complimentary coffee and tea available throughout the day
(Mon.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2:
Paris, France (Embarkation). (Tue.) Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (D)
Day 3:
Paris. (Wed.) Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife, including some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. (B,L,D)
Day 4:
Paris–Conflans. (Thu.) Enjoy a relaxing morning on the Sky Deck as your ship slips its moorings and glides gently down the River Seine. This afternoon, dock at Conflans—and now the choice is yours: either join our guided excursion to AUVERS-SUR-OISE, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or the guided visit to SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, which boasts a 14th-century château with views over the Seine Valley toward Paris. (B,L,D)
Day 5:
Vernon. (Fri.) This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at GIVERNY or a visit of BIZY CASTLE with its magnificent courtyard. Relax on board this afternoon or take your pick of a number of optional excursions on offer. (B,L,D)
Day 6:
Rouen. (Sat.) Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy, perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and the Gros Horloge, an intricate ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK. The splendid gothic CATHEDRAL was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. (B,L,D)
Day 7:
Rouen. (Sun.) Make your choice today between an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches—with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “Taste of Normandy” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. This afternoon we explore the Calvados region, famous for apple brandy and cider. (B,L,D)
Day 8:
Les Andelys. (Mon.) The most dramatic sight along the Seine is imposing CHÂTEAU GAILLARD at Les Andelys. Built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château is truly a masterpiece of Middle Ages military architecture. (B,L,D)
Day 9:
Paris (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation). (Tue.) After breakfast today, bid farewell to the crew of the Avalon Creativity and head south into Burgundy. Beaune owes its wealth to the production, aging, and selling of fine wines. Its most famous historical site, the HÔTEL-DIEU charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. Enjoy a TASTING of Burgundy wines before continuing to Chalon-sur-Saône, where you’ll board the Avalon Scenery. Before dinner, meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (B,D)
Day 10:
Chalon-sur-Saône–Tournus–Mâcon. (Wed.) This morning, explore the NICÉPHORE NIÉPCE photography museum in Chalon-sur-Saône at your own pace. After lunch, enjoy free time in Tournus. The cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. Later, cruise to Mâcon. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. (B,L,D)
Day 11:
Beaujolais Region–Lyon. (Thu.) Enjoy a leisurely morning cruising on the Rhône. Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. (B,L,D)
Day 12:
Lyon. (Fri.) A free day in this fascinating city to explore at leisure. Early risers might like to visit the local produce market. (B,L,D)
Day 13:
Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Viviers. (Sat.) The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the River Rhône and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Charming Viviers developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D)
Day 14:
Avignon. (Sun.) Avignon, also referred to as the “City of Popes,” was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, and is dominated by the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. Optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 15:
Arles. (Mon.) Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of St. Trophime; “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road; and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. (B,L,D)
Day 16:
Arles (Disembarkation)–Provence Region. (Tue.) Disembark and follow the remaining stretch of the Rhône into its Delta—the CAMARGUE. Visit the city of AIGUES-MORTES with its impressive towers and defensive walls, embedded in a melancholy landscape of pools, marshes, and salt pans. (B)
Day 17:
Provence Region. (Wed.) Your day starts with a guided tour of NÎMES, the heart of the Provence region and a city of arts and culture. This evening you might like to join an optional excursion to taste some of the local specialties this region has to offer. (B)
Day 18:
Provence Region–Côte d’Azur. (Thu.) This morning is dedicated to AIX-EN-PROVENCE, one of France’s most elegant cities. After lunch, head east past Cézanne’s Mount St. Victoire to the Côte d’Azur. (B)
Day 19:
Côte d’Azur. (Fri.) Your homebound flight from Nice arrives the same day.
Touring Date |
Land Only |
Land + Air |
Single (Land Only) |
Single (Land + Air) |
4/12/2010 - 4/30/2010 |
$5,138 |
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4/26/2010 - 5/14/2010 |
$5,438 |
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5/10/2010 - 5/28/2010 |
$5,638 |
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5/24/2010 - 6/11/2010 |
$5,738 |
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6/7/2010 - 6/25/2010 |
$5,738 |
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6/21/2010 - 7/9/2010 |
$5,638 |
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7/5/2010 - 7/23/2010 |
$5,538 |
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7/19/2010 - 8/6/2010 |
$5,538 |
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8/2/2010 - 8/20/2010 |
$5,538 |
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8/16/2010 - 9/3/2010 |
$5,538 |
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8/30/2010 - 9/17/2010 |
$5,938 |
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9/13/2010 - 10/1/2010 |
$5,938 |
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9/27/2010 - 10/15/2010 |
$5,538 |
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10/11/2010 - 10/29/2010 |
$5,438 |
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10/25/2010 - 11/12/2010 |
$5,038 |
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Airfare Disclaimer Documents |
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Avalon Creativity
The Avalon Creativity, which set sail in July of 2009, is one of the latest additions to the Avalon fleet, with a design that reflects the uniqueness of the area, and which differentiates her from the other Avalon vessels. Carrying a maximum of just 140 passengers with two suites, she will be one of the smallest of the Avalon ships, yet the Avalon Creativity staterooms are equally spacious and well appointed, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two decks. In addition, there is an elevator, and the whirlpool on the Sky Deck allows for a refreshing dip after a day of sightseeing. The rear lounge is perfect for small groups.
Features exclusive to the Avalon Creativity staterooms:
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in most staterooms
- French balconies in most staterooms
- Flatscreen satellite TV & radio
- Private bathroom with shower
- Comfortable, hotel-style beds
- European-style duvets
- Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
- Large closets
- Minibar, hairdryer & safe
- Individual climate control
