La Belle Vie: The Rhone, Geneva & the Riviera 2025

14 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
87%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

USTOA

River Cruise
From Cannes 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!
From$8,390
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • La Belle Vie – it's the good life en Français – and it is the life you experience on a cruise along the River Rhône that takes you from the beautiful waters of the Côte d'Azur to Geneva and the Swiss Alps...On one of the most enjoyable river cruises in France
    • journey from the jet-setting capital of Cannes on the Riviera into Provence to Arles to board msEmeraldfor acruise along the Rhône River to Lyon and then along the Saône – and on to Geneva. Travel into the countryside past vineyards where some of the world's best grapes become some of the world's best wines
    • stopping to taste some of them. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets
    • experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue
    • and sample the pleasures of regional cuisine and wine throughout your trip.Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. You'll find something new
    • something wonderful every day. As your cruise along the Rhône continues
    • so does your exploration of history throughout the ages – and concludes in Lyon
    • a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architecture and culinary traditions. Your travels continue to Geneva
    • Switzerland
    • for two nights where you'll have an opportunity to spend a day in the Alps. C'est magnifique.

What's this trip about?

    From Cannes 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!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Cannes, France
End CityParis

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France
  • Monaco

Attractions

  • Avignon
  • Cannes
  • Lyon
  • Paris

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • 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 Sightseeing choices in Geneva include visits to the world-renowned resort town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or a day in Geneva that includes a walking tour of the city and a visit to the lovely medieval village of Yvoire All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions – $5,377 Value Exploration of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive in Cannes

Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Hôtel Martinez.
A transfer is included from the Nice Cote d'Azur International Airport, and Cannes Train Station to Hôtel Martinez. Join us for a cocktail reception and dinner in the Mediterranean playground of Cannes.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hôtel Martinez

PORTOFCALL : Aix-en-Provence, France

Day 2 Choice of Nice and Monte-Carlo or Grasse and St. Paul de Vence

Explore the south of France on a choice of sightseeing excursions today. Your first choice is an excursion that includes walking tours of Nice and Monte-Carlo plus a famed drive... mega-yachts from around the world bobbing in the ba...

Day 3 Aix-en-Provence & embark ship in Arles

Travel to lovely Aix-en-Provence; it's not hard to imagine great artists like Vincent van Gogh or Paul Cézanne at work amidst the spectrum of colors found in Provence as you view Mont Ste-Victoire and join your local guide for a wal...

Day 4 Discover van Gogh's Arles and meet the cowboys in the Camargue

It may seem strange to encounter Roman ruins in Provence but Arles was, after all, once a Roman city; while the gladiators are gone, the arena they left behind – just one of the town's many Roman remnants. You have a choice today of explor...

Day 5 Avignon & a gala dinner in Uzès

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 th...

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-P...

Day 7 Explore the vineyards of Tain L'Hermitage

Arrive this morning in Tain L'Hermitage, deep in the heart of Cote du Rhône wine country, where you'll have a choice of two sightseeing excursions this morning. Visit a local orchard (with tastings), take a mini-train through the Ta...

Day 8 Mâcon & Cluny

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 o...

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 ...

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 c...

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 ...

Day 12 Disembark in Lyon & on to beautiful Annecy and Geneva

Bid your riverboat au revoirs this morning as your travels to Geneva begin. Arrive in the alpine town of Annecy, known for its lake and its mountains – its setting is where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. The town itself is amazing...

Day 13 Day of choice in Geneva or Chamonix

Today is a day of choice as to how you'll explore. You can join us for a visit to the lovely medieval village of Yvoire followed by a walking tour of Geneva that includes a visit to the Old Town. Alternatively, travel to the world-renowned...

Day 14 Journey home

Tour ends:
8:00 AM Geneva. Fly home anytime. A transfer from InterContinental Gèneve to Geneva Airport or Gare de Genève

is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Paris, France

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $8,390
Price per day$599
Last Updated: 11/7/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
17 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$8,990
$8,990
$11,440
19 May 2025
02 Jun 2025
$8,990
$8,990
$11,440
13 Jun 2025
27 Jun 2025
$8,990
$8,990
$11,440
30 Jul 2025
13 Aug 2025
$8,390
$8,390
$10,840
31 Aug 2025
14 Sep 2025
$8,990
$8,990
$11,440
02 Oct 2025
16 Oct 2025
$8,990
$8,990
$11,440

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5  Great
Excellent
16
Great
4
Average
0
Disappointing
3
Terrible
0
Write a Review

Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Tauck

none
View Profile

It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

youtube_video_1


twitter_1

What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
MS EMERALD
MS EMERALD Of the five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, this newly redesigned riverboat debuts in 2017 with a new deck plan optimized for the utmost in spaciousness – with 70% of her cabins measuring 225 square feet or larger – and accommodating no more than 98 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports twenty roomy 225-square-foot cabins, four 183-square-foot cabins and one 182 square-foot cabin, similarly furnished. Eight 150-square-foot cabins are cozy and comfortable, and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries. In addition to our main dining room, The Compass Rose, the ship also features Arthur's, a second dining venue offering casual fare
MS EMERALD
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-QGN2025

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >