France's Finest

15 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
41 reviews  
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River Cruise
Explore Paris, Burgundy & Provence Pay your respects at Normandy’s World War II beaches. Walk in Joan of Arc’s footsteps at Rouen. Luxuriate in Paris’s sophistication. Savor Lyon’s culinary heritage. Toast the Beaujolais vineyards. Explore Avignon’s Palace of the Popes. Celebrate the Provençal lifestyle. Art, cuisine, style, joie de vivre—if you love ev...
From$3,998
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • See the fantastic Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral,
    • Get an opportunity to see historic beaches of Normandy
    • Explore France
    • Discover Lyon a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Enjoy cruising to Les Andelys, known for its imposing castle

What's this trip about?

    Explore Paris, Burgundy & Provence Pay your respects at Normandy’s World War II beaches. Walk in Joan of Arc’s footsteps at Rouen. Luxuriate in Paris’s sophistication. Savor Lyon’s culinary heritage. Toast the Beaujolais vineyards. Explore Avignon’s Palace of the Popes. Celebrate the Provençal lifestyle. Art, cuisine, style, joie de vivre—if you love everything Français, this is for you: a 15-day journey that combines our popular Paris & the Heart of Normandy and Lyon & Provence cruises into one tour de force.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range50 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityParis
End CityAvingon

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Activities

  • Historic sightseeing
  • River cruise
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • 15-day cruise with river-view stateroom
    • 13 guided tours with audio headset
    • All meals: 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 14 dinners, featuring regional specialties and including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner
    • Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with onboard dinner and lunch
    • Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
    • Culture Curriculum: Learn about & sample a variety of French cheeses; try some Burgundian wines; see how silk printing is done today; attend lectures on Jeanne d’Arc & French Impressionists; learn to say a few words en Français; enjoy a concert of popular French tunes; visit a local market
    • All port charges
    • Free Wi-Fi, connection speed may vary

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Paris (Le Pecq), France

Meals: Dinner

Arrive in Paris, romance capital of the world. Transfer from the airport in Paris to your ship.* After boarding, take free time to explore Paris, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and get oriented.

Note: The Paris port authori...

Day 2: Paris (Le Pecq), France

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, embark on a tour of this dazzling city and take in its most remarkable sights, including the iconic Eiffel Tower. You’ll also see the École Militaire, Orsay Museum and Latin Quarter and the magnificent Notre Dame Cat...

Day 3: Vernon, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arrive in Vernon before breakfast; take a short ride into the town of Giverny, where Claude Monet resided from 1883 until his death in 1926. Visit the beautiful gardens and charming stone farmhouse where he lived and worked; s...

Day 4: Rouen, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Indulge in leisurely morning cruising along the Seine. You’ll spend the afternoon in the medieval city of Rouen, preeminent capital of Normandy. Begin with a walking tour through the center of Old Town, where you see the spect...

Day 5: Normandy, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, begin your full-day tour to the historic beaches of Normandy. Drive past Gold Beach, Courseulles sur Mer and Juno Beach on your way to visit such World War II landmarks as Omaha Beach, the American Military Ce...

Day 6: Les Andelys, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely morning cruise to the small town of Les Andelys, known for its imposing castle, Château Gaillard, built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart. After lunch, join a guided walk to this fatally flawed masterpiece of Middle Ages architecture. Return aboard for scenic cruising and dinner.

Day 7: Paris (Le Pecq), France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, disembark for a visit to Chateau de Malmaison, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final days in France. Along with the Tuileries, this elegant manor house, purchased by the emperor’s wife Josephine in 1799, se...

Day 8: Lyon, France

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, disembark and enjoy a leisurely ride from Paris through the countryside of east central France to Lyon to board your second ship, where a Welcome Dinner is served.

Day 9: Mâcon, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, take a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Beaujolais, where viticultural tradition runs deep. See the legendary Moulin-à-Vent, the windmill that gives its name to one of the most prestigious wines of th...

Day 10: Lyon, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Wake up in Lyon this morning and take a tour of this city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a drive to the top of Fourvière Hill for marvelous views. Visit the Basilica of Notre Dame and drive through town past the mag...

Day 11: Tournon, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning take a walking tour of Vienne, a beautiful town with an ancient Roman past. Visit the Temple of Augustus and Livia, the Roman amphitheater and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Maurice; then spend some time discovering ...

Day 12: Viviers, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

All aboard the Train de l’Ardèche this morning for a locomotive ride through the deep gorges of the Ardèche plateau, cut by the Doux River. You’ll return to your ship and enjoy lunch aboard as we cruise to Viviers, an engaging...

Day 13: Avignon, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, set out on a guided walk of Avignon, nicknamed “City of Popes” because it was home to seven popes from 1309 to 1377. Stroll through the historic center, stop at the picturesque Pont d’Avignon and walk the Place d...

Day 14: Arles, France

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Disembark after breakfast and take a walking tour of Arles with its diverse architectural highlights. Experience the city’s vibrant colors and striking quality of light that have inspired artists. Arles is also the site of som...

Day 15: Avignon, France

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the Marseille airport for your return flight.*

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,998
Price per day$267
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Viking River Cruises.

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.

Viking River Cruises Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
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Tour Operator

Viking River Cruises

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Inspiring destinations, thoughtfully designed itineraries, immersive cultural explorations, state-of-the-art ships, fine cuisine, excellent service and remarkable value. All created with personal attention to every detail.

We call this the Viking Experience. It’s the way your bartender has your drink prepared at just the right moment. The gentle guidance from your tai chi master during your lesson in China. Or the handwritten directions from your concierge to the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna. Every aspect of your time with Viking, from expertly prepared meals to carefully created enrichment programs and beautifully appointed ships, is planned to bring you closer to experiencing the most from your destination.

With more itineraries in more destinations worldwide, we offer behind-the-scenes insights and opportunities that set us apart from other travel companies.

While we deliver the expected and iconic, such as visits to museums and landmarks, we also go beyond. On every itinerary, you can experience local life through such excursions as home-hosted visits or trips to local markets. We also offer the opportunity to see the working world of bakers and artisans, and the option for our guests to experience priviledged access to museums, private collections and after-hours events that we thoughtfully curate.

DISCOVER YOUR DESTINATION

Our daily shore excursions include must-see highlights and delightful surprises. These expertly guided tours bring you closer to the art, architecture, history and people of the land.

GAIN GREATER INSIGHT

Watch a local German glassblower or learn about French Impressionism. Our Culture Curriculum, an enriching onboard program, infuses every cruise and brings history to life.

CAPTURE THE CULTURE

Accompany us on a shopping trip to the local market. Walk through the door of a centuries-old cathedral or visit a contemporary art museum. Meet local fine food and wine purveyors. Our tastings and demonstrations expand your mind and satisfy your senses.

EXPLORE ASHORE

Have you yearned to visit the vaults of the famed Hermitage Museum? Attend a classical concert in Vienna? Enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show in Xian? Your Program Director can organize a variety of optional tours.

PERSONALIZE

An appointment at the best spa in Prague or dinner at one of Lyon’s Michelin-star restaurants? Our onboard Viking Concierge is there to assist you with special requests.

 Tweets by VikingRiver

What they’re known for
Classy European and Asian river cruises with premium offerings like personal excursions and private access to attractions.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
Viking Longships Delling
Sailing our most popular itineraries, our award-winning Viking Longships showcase innovative engineering, streamlined design and understated elegance for the most comfortable river cruise experience available. See the 360° Longship Walking Tour See the 360° Longship Tour
Explorer Suite (Es) Features Suite size: 445 sq. ft. Hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration) Private wraparound veranda off the spacious living room offers 270-degree views Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, known as a French balcony, in the bedroom Large bathroom with shower, heated mirror & floor, premium bath products Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily Bathrobe and slippers available upon request Individual climate control Space under bed for storing suitcases Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers Voltage: 220V and 110V in stateroom Two Sony 40-inch flat-panel TVs with premium entertainment package including: BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, videos on demand and “View From the Bridge” View the Explorer Suite in our 360° Longship Tour
Deck Plans:
Cancellation policy

For any cruise/land booking, whether under deposit, partially paid, or paid in full and air-inclusive packages paid in full, the following travel agent or guest-requested situations are considered cancellations and penalties will apply as noted below: changes to departure date; substitutions of itinerary; substitution of another person for original booked guest(s); or changing to a promotional fare. All cancellations must be in writing. For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be processed only after the return of airline ticket to Viking. The following cancellation charges will be assessed for all written cancellations received prior to departure up to the scheduled time of departure.

 

Cancellation received | Following charges will apply: (Broken out by days before departure) 121 days or more is $100 per person | 120-90 days is 15% of full fare | 89-60 days is 35% of full fare | 59-30 days is 50% of full fare | 29-0 days is 100% of full fare.

Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking.

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 .
Meals Included

14 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches and 14 Dinners

Age Requirements
50 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
viking-FraFinVik

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