French Escapade: Paris to the Riviera - Southbound 2021

14 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
80%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

USTOA

River Cruise
Spend two glorious nights in Paris... then cruise from Lyon, along the Saône and Rhône rivers, through some of Europe's most beautiful wine lands and into Provence to Arles... explore Nice and glamorous Monte-Carlo on the Mediterranean... and enjoy a true taste of all things Français on one of our most popular river cruises in France!
From$6,990
See departure dates

Overview

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

Highlights

    • If you’re dreaming of a France river cruise
    • come along with us on a French Escapade aboard ms Emerald along the rivers Rhône and Saône… and visit the 'City of Light' Paris
    • cultural Provence and the jet-setting city of Cannes on the Riviera along the way.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. And during two nights in Paris
    • you'll dine at chic Fouquet's on the Champs-Élysées!

What's this trip about?

    Spend two glorious nights in Paris... then cruise from Lyon, along the Saône and Rhône rivers, through some of Europe's most beautiful wine lands and into Provence to Arles... explore Nice and glamorous Monte-Carlo on the Mediterranean... and enjoy a true taste of all things Français on one of our most popular river cruises in France!

Compare to similar trips

Details

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

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

  • Avignon
  • Cannes
  • Lyon
  • Paris
  • Vienne

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 TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Select departures – After-hours guided visit in Musée du Louvre All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions – $3,850 Value 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 Tasting tour of local food shops in Chalon-sur-Saône

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Paris

Tour begins: 6:30 PM,
InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel.

Day 2 Paris sightseeing and a choice of museum

Your day begins with an orientation tour to help you get your bearings and consider all the ways that you can enjoy the "City of Light" at your leisure and as you please for the rest of the day. The remainder of the day is free. We’ve incl...

Note:
select departures join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided visit to Musée du Louvre. A showcase of Impressionist paintings. the museum is housed in a former royal palace, astounds with an incomparable collection of some of the world's greatest a...
Day 3 A high-speed TGV train to Lyon... and your river cruise begins!

A free morning in Paris gives you an opportunity to do those last few things that will make your time in Paris memorable. Say au revoir to one of the world's great cities as you board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon, home to a boun...

Day 4 Tastings in Chalon-sur-Saône & Rully

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 5 A day well spent in the south of Burgundy

With your riverboat docked in Tournus this morning, 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 vineyards...

Day 6 Mâcon & Cluny – Horses, an abbey & more

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 7 Spend the day in Lyon, culinary capital of France

Ahh, Lyon. If you’re a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! Regarded as the culinary capital of France, there are more restaurants here per capita than anywhere else in the country. But of course, there is more to this 2,000-y...

Day 8 Roman 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 wel...

Day 9 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...

Day 10 Avignon, Saint-Remy & Châteauneuf-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 11 Arles and a trip to a working farm 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 – still hosts performances and bul...

Day 12 Disembark in Arles then on to Aix-en-Provence and Cannes

The France river cruise portion of your journey ends as you disembark ms Emerald in Arles, and bid farewell to the Captain and crew. Travel to lovely Aix-en-Provence; it's not hard to imagine great artists like Vincent van Gogh or P...

Day 13 A day in the magic of Monte-Carlo

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 bay… the ...

Day 14 Journey home

Tour ends: Cannes.
A transfer from Hotel Martinez to the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, Nice Ville Train Station and Nice Riquier Train Station is included. Fly home anytime, but be sure to allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Cannes, 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 $6,990
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

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

4.2/5  Great
Excellent
16
Great
4
Average
0
Disappointing
4
Terrible
1
Write a Review

Other Tauck Reviews

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...

H

Harry

Sep 2022

Written on

Tauck/Aon terrible travel insurance

Tauck partners with Aon for travel insurance. We bought this insurance through Tauck specifically to cover us in case of a positive for test for Covid and could not ...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

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

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
Trip ID
tauck-RPS2021

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 >