French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris - Northbound 2018

14 days
From $471/day
$6,590
4.4/5 Great
23 reviews  
87%
Trip last updated: 1/1/2018
Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule
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Overview

Highlights

    • 9-night cruise of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings; Provençal lunch & cowboy demonstration on a family-owned ranch in La Camargue; exclusive gala evening at the Duchy d'Uzès; tasting tour of local food shops in Chalon-sur-Saône; visits to Cluny Abbey
    • Palais des Papes
    • and Haras National de Cluny equestrian center; 2-night stays in Paris and Monaco
    • with choice of art museum visits in Paris and a farewell dinner at Fouquet's brasserie on the Champs-Élysées.

What's this trip about?

    From Monte-Carlo on the Mediterranean, travel to Arles... cruise the Rhône and then the Saône rivers through Provence and into rich wine lands... and on to Lyon... and then overland to the magical city of Paris. Enjoy a true taste of all things Français on one of our most popular river cruises in France!
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeOperator does not provide
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityNice, France
End CityParis, France

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

    • Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions - $4,236 Value! TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Private gala evening at the recently restored Chateau of the medieval Duchy d'Uzès TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - La Camargue excursion to meet the family of a working farm for a Provençal lunch & a cowboy demonstration with prized black bulls Farewell dinner in Paris at the famous Fouquet's brasserie on the Champs-Élysées Exploration of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Mercurey Tasting tour of local food shops in Chalon-sur-Saône Visits to historic Cluny Abbey, Avignon's Palais des Papes, and France's renowned Haras National de Cluny equestrian center Choice of art museum visits in Paris, including the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Rodin Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship now include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 32 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Nice and Monte-Carlo
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Fairmont Monte Carlo. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, the Nice Ville Train Station (TGV) or the Nice Riquier Train Station to the Fairmont Monte Carlo, approximately a 45-minute drive that follows the coast to Monaco. Your hote...
Day 2 A wonderful day in Monte-Carlo
Few places are as sophisticated as Monte-Carlo, a favorite playground for jet setters and celebrities from around the world. Here mega-yachts anchor in the harbor, an amazing fleet of cars... think Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris à la James Bond... park in front of t...
Day 3 A day in Nice and on to Arles to embark your riverboat
Today you'll discover why Nice is a perennial favorite of sophisticated travelers. Go on a city orientation walking tour this morning, followed by time to explore as you please. Early afternoon, travel to Arles, where you'll board ms Emerald and begin one of Tauck's most...
Day 4 Discover van Gogh's Arles and meet the cowboys in the Camargue
Wake up in Arles and walk into town with our local guide. See firsthand what drew the Romans and artists like van Gogh to this riverfront town and visit sites they immortalized while they were here. Explore the Roman arena, built in the 1st century BC and still in use to...
Day 5 Avignon & a gala dinner in Uzès
The fortified city of Avignon was probably a much more peaceful place before Rome became "inconvenient" for the popes who moved the papacy here about 700 years ago. Although they stayed for less than a century, they kept busy during those years... as you'll see on your v...
Day 6 St. Remy & Chateauneuf du Pape
With your riverboat docked in Avignon for the morning, you can spend more time exploring the medieval city or take a morning excursion to Saint-Remy-de-Provence - home to the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum, as well as the Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent van Gogh was a...
Day 7 Vienne or a bike tour along the Rhône
It seems that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Vienne (which they called "Vienna" in their day) was no exception. During your time on a walking tour here this morning, look for the theatre and temple they left behind, as well as other sights straight out o...
Day 8 A historic abbey & the equestrian life along the Saône
Your riverboat arrives in Mâcon on the Saône River this morning, for exploration in Cluny. During the reign of Charlemagne (742 - 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture; today you'll visit one of the great monasteries of the peri...
Day 9 Chalon-sur-Saône and beyond
Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame - this is considered the birthplace of photography. So you have local inventor Nicéphore Niépc...
Day 10 Tournus & a day in beautiful Burgundy
After cruising the Saône overnight, ms Emerald calls on Tournus this morning, from which you'll head out to explore the beautiful wine producing region of southern Burgundy, where history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), and vine...
Day 11 A day in Lyon, where food is king
Ahh, Lyon. If you're a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! But of course there is more to this 2,000 year-old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, than food. Your day includes getting a panoramic view of Lyon from the hilltop district of Fouvière; a visit to the s...
Day 12 Disembark in Lyon & on to Paris via TGV
As all river cruises in France must, the cruise portion of your vacation ends today as you disembark in Lyon and bid a fond farewell to ms Emerald. Board the TGV (a high-speed train) for two nights in the capital city of Paris. Whether you explore on- or off-the-beaten-p...
Day 13 Paris as you please & dinner at Fouquet's
Ernest Hemingway called Paris a "moveable feast" - and even if you've been here many times, today might be the day that you discover something about the city that you didn't know before. The day is free to explore and enjoy as you please. We've included admission to your...
Day 14 Journey home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel to Charles de Gaulle Airport or the Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle or Gare du Nord train stations is included; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. MEALS : B PORTOFCALL : Paris, France

Dates & Availability

Price from
$6,590
Price per day
$471

French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris - Northbound 2018 Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Trip Excludes:

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