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France River Cruise Tours & Trips
717 France trips. Tours from 33 tour companies. 2,159 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.
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264 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Onboard welcome reception
- Choice of canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour
- Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
12 days$411 / day
By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Onboard welcome reception
- Choice of guided tour in Luxembourg or wine walk or bike with your Adventure Host
- Choice of guided tour in Bernkastel or hike to its Castle Ruins with your Adventure Host; wine tasting
8 days$487 / day
By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Onboard welcome reception
- Guided walk in Tournus; onboard cheese tasting
- Choice of guided sightseeing with picture stop on Fourvière Hill or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture
10 days$446 / day
By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Welcome to Italy
- Guided walking tour and boat ride on Lake Como to Bellagio
- Day at leisure
26 days$573 / day
By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Welcome to France
- Guided tour
- Transfer to the ship; onboard welcome reception
12 days$467 / day
By Avalon Waterways
none
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsLodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Highlights
- Welcome to Switzerland
- Guided walking tour with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
- Excursion to Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); onboard welcome reception
17 days$525 / day
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264 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Best France Tours by Duration
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France Reviews & Ratings
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Walking French riverra
Excellent guide, Sandrine. Exodus must retain her!! Routes, excellent variety, interest and length. Good hotel. Below average breakfast. I had a very good room, b...
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Menton
This was another delightful walking trip with a good group. The leader Jessica was born locally and is passionate about the history of her region, so that we now ...
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Walking the French Riviera
Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently challenging. Views and visiting Eze which was optional at lunch stop...
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Walking The French Riviera 2017
Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We had a good week and walked to some super places. We enjoyed great ...
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Wonderful hiking trip, great guide Stephanie
The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfyi...
France Tour Selection Trips
- France is so rich in cultural opportunities and activities of all sorts that you can’t expect to see it all in one trip. Pick a tour that visits a region or two and get to know that area well, then return to other regions you want to visit on subsequent tours.
- On a tour of France, you can choose anything from luxury on down to basic accommodations, dining, and transportation -- something to fit every budget.
- Specialty tours are a good way to experience France: culinary, wine, art and architecture, walking, biking, World War II history, even religious pilgrimages are all available.
- Don’t overlook river and barge cruises, which offer a convenient, leisurely way to see the country, stopping both at important ports such as Rouen and Lyon and small villages as well.
- Don’t be put off from visiting France by the reputation of French people -- especially Parisians -- as rude to visitors. A simple greeting such as “bonjour, madame,” and a smile will almost always win you good service and a return
- When planning your tour, keep in mind that almost all of France goes on vacation during the entire month of August, so for the full French experience you may want to pick a different month.
Additional details
Weather in France
The geographic diversity of the French regions, as you might imagine, lends itself to diverse weather patterns. In general, it will be temperate with summer averages ranging 61-75°F and winter averages ranging 32-46°F.
Winter weather is gray although milder in the south uness the wind is blowing; colder and wetter in the north. Snow could be an issue during the winter months if you are in higher elevations.
As for the summer, recall the record heat France sweated out during the summer of 2019 when temperatures reached 115°F in Verargues, Southern France while even further north in Paris, thermometers hit 108°F!
There are four climate zones in France:
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Oceanic (Atlantic) climate of western France - Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley, Western Loire - average rainfall spread over many days and modest average temperature variations
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Continential, or transitional, climate of central and eastern France - Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Ile de France (Paris) - cold winters, hot summers
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Mediterranean climate of southeastern France - Provence, Cote d’Azur, Corsica - hot, dry summers and while damp but mild, rainfall between October and April
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Mountain climates above 2,000’ see heavy rainfall with snow falling 3-6 months a year
Best Time to Visit France
Late Spring and Fall
Late Spring and Fall is the time to avoid crowds while still being relatively assured of good weather. You will miss the summer festivals but for those that are crowd averse, this may not be a factor.
Note that a few National Holidays fall in May: Labor Day and WWII Victory Day are May 1st and 8th respectively; Ascension Day falls 39 days after Easter Sunday.
July or August
Traveling in July and August? Be prepared for hoards of crowds in the Riviera, coast of Brittany, Dordogne and Alps as these are hot spots for vacationing Europeans. In August, businesses often close although not to the degree noticed by tourists. If you enjoy festivals, there are plenty to choose from!
Winter
Winter has its own beauty but during the winter months, some tourist sites and information offices might not be open or they might have limited hours. Smaller towns and villages might also be hunkered down with closed restaurants and shops.
Is France Expensive?
If you’re wondering how much it costs to vacation in France, like anywhere you may travel, it depends on how you plan your trip. France is one of the top destinations in the world and Paris, in particular, does have a reputation for being expensive.
But so does New York and just like France, traveling there for the budget minded can be accomplished.
Some things to consider when traveling to France on a budget:
- Factor in the time of year you’re traveling - shoulder seasons are less costly for air and hotel; regardless, book flights well in advance
- Factor in your mode of travel: barge, river ship, self-guided, cycling, train, etc.
- Exchange rates
- To avoid inflated tourist rates while dining out, first look at the menu posted outside then take note: if locals are eating there, it’s most likely a good choice
- Sit at the bar, where prices are cheaper, not at a table
- Most expensive French cities: Nice, Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon
- Most expensive French regions: the Dordogne, Meditteranean and the Loire Valley
- Less costly: central France
- Shop at local open air markets and second hand flea markets (brocantes)
France tours on Stride features per day costs. Using the price filter from lowest to highest you’ll find 4 day trips for as low as $71/day and on the higher end, ultra luxury 7 day trips costing over $7,000/day.
Who Will Enjoy Traveling to France
Perhaps the question is, who wouldn’t enjoy traveling to France?! There is so much for the French traveler to experience, it’s no wonder that France is a top worldwide destination.
Beaches, mountains, valleys of grapes and lavender, rivers to cruise, 45 natural and cultural world heritage sites, Disneyland Paris, gastronomy, wine and shopping...there’s something for just about everyone.
If mobility and / or walking on uneven ground is a concern, speak with your tour operator as many of the smaller towns and villages have uneven cobblestone which may not be suitable, depending on your situation. If traveling through subways, they involve quite a bit of stair climbing and while many of the accommodations are historically charming, they might not be fully accessible for those using a walking aid.
While it’s hard to go wrong with a trip to France, if you’re not curious about the language, people and its customs you might have a harder time making meaningful connections. Of course, this isn’t unique to France. Be respectful and courteous. Say “hello” and even better, “Bonjour” (“hello” in French) to start a conversation.
Make an effort to speak the most basic of phrases - this can go a long way. Just as Americans don’t expect a foreigner visiting America to speak English, we shouldn’t expect the French to speak to us in English. Many do speak English by the way, especially in Paris, so be mindful - if you are complaining about something, a local might be listening. And do keep in mind that Americans have their own reputation, one that isn’t always positive.
Learn some French etiquette, a word derived from French after all. Doing so will give you a much deeper appreciation - and connection to - the country and its people, as will learning some common phrases.
Always Find the Best
On Travelstride you can find 717 trips to France and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.