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Savoring France: Lyon, Provence & Paris
Northbound
Tour Description:
Depart on a 7-night Rhône River cruise aboard ms Emerald through vineyard country that's home to some of the world's most exceptional wines and cultural treasures.
Tauck's epicurean delights begin in Lyon as you taste your way through Les Halles, Lyon's famed covered food market with its eye-popping vertical garden... cruise in search of culinary adventures along the Rhône... sip Beaujolais in Beaujolais... sample Provençal specialties for lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue... attend a memorable evening at the Duchy of Uzès... and learn secrets at a cooking demonstration at an award-winning cooking school in Valence. Then it is back to Lyon and off via high-speed TGV through the French countryside to the soul of France, the capital city of Paris. Enjoy a pastry class especially for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris – a food walking tour with a visit to a pastry shop, a creperie and a champagne bar – and a farewell reception and dinner at Fouquet's, the celebrity hotspot on the Champs Élysées.
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Dates & Pricing
| Thursday 08 Aug 24 — Saturday 17 Aug 24 | Starting at $6,490 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
Depart on a 7-night Rhône River cruise aboard ms Emerald through vineyard country that's home to some of the world's most exceptional wines and cultural treasures.
Tauck's epicurean delights begin in Lyon as you taste your way through Les Halles, Lyon's famed covered food market with its eye-popping vertical garden... cruise in search of culinary adventures along the Rhône... sip Beaujolais in Beaujolais... sample Provençal specialties for lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue... attend a memorable evening at the Duchy of Uzès... and learn secrets at a cooking demonstration at an award-winning cooking school in Valence. Then it is back to Lyon and off via high-speed TGV through the French countryside to the soul of France, the capital city of Paris. Enjoy a pastry class especially for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris – a food walking tour with a visit to a pastry shop, a creperie and a champagne bar – and a farewell reception and dinner at Fouquet's, the celebrity hotspot on the Champs Élysées.
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Evening at the 12th-century Duché d'Uzès
All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4,513
Pastry class for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Food walking tour in Paris featuring visits to a pastry shop, creperie, and a wine or champagne bar
Provençal lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue
Reception and dinner at Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysées in Paris
Private wine tastings in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape
A walking tour of historic Vieux Lyon and a tasting at Les Halles de Lyon
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Evening at the 12th-century Duché d'Uzès
All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4,513
Pastry class for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Food walking tour in Paris featuring visits to a pastry shop, creperie, and a wine or champagne bar
Provençal lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue
Reception and dinner at Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysées in Paris
Private wine tastings in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape
A walking tour of historic Vieux Lyon and a tasting at Les Halles de Lyon
ITINERARY
ITINERARYArrive Lyon
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, ms Emerald. A transfer is included from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport or Lyon Part Dieu train station to ms Emerald, docked in Lyon; embark any time after 9:00 AM. We invite you to join us for a briefing and welcome reception followed by a welcome dinner in The Compass Rose.
Lyon, Les Halles & a Beaujolais tasting
Lyon is considered the "culinary capital of France," which is quite a compliment in a country famed for its cuisine and fine vintages. You'll discover why during a tasting at the famous Les Halles de Lyon, the celebrated indoor food market that's been a fixture in Lyon since 1850 and offers an unbelievable array of breads, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, sausages, wines, chocolates... the list goes on. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it's said that the best chefs in Lyon shop here! But Lyon is also a city with a venerable history and considerable charm, as you'll discover when you also visit Vieux Lyon, the old Renaissance part of the city that is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first protected historic district in France, and the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, built atop the ruins of an ancient Roman forum. This afternoon, it's off to the celebrated wine-growing region of Beaujolais for a tasting in the countryside before continuing your Rhône River cruise to Viviers. Enjoy dinner in the Compass Rose tonight followed by entertainment in the lounge.
Medieval Viviers & cruising along the Rhône
ms Emerald cruises this morning to Viviers, a walled city with origins in the 5th century on the right bank of the Rhône. If medieval history and authentic period architecture are your thing, Viviers is your kind of place... because it's one of the best-preserved medieval towns that you're likely to see in all of France. Its narrow streets and lanes reveal what life might have been like here in the Middle Ages. Your choices today include a walking tour of Viviers with your local guide including views of the 12th-century Cathedral of Notre Dame de Rhône and the richly detailed façade of the Maison des Chevaliers, followed by a lively game of petanque with the locals; or a drive to Grignan for a walking tour of town and a truffle farm tour and tasting. Join us for a gala dinner in The Compass Rose this evening as we sail for Arles in Provence.
Lyon, Les Halles, a Beaujolais tasting & more
It may seem that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Arles is no exception, as is witnessed by the triumphal arch, circus and baths they left behind – and an arena in which gladiators fought and is still a venue for performances and bullfights today – as you explore the city on a walking tour and time on your own. Do take time to look beyond the city walls at the incredible quality of the light here that so enraptured Vincent van Gogh – and the landscapes of yellow rocks, red soil and lilac mountains that inspired in the Dutch artist a newfound creativity, and led to his creating hundreds of paintings while a patient at a nearby asylum, one of the most productive periods of his short life. Lunch today is a real treat, as you visit a private ranch in La Camargue for a private banquet of farm-grown Provençal specialties, a musical serenade, and a chance to see the region's iconic white horses, fleet-footed gardians (cowboys) and famous black bulls. As you continue your Rhône River cruise to Avignon this evening, try your hand at painting a chocolate art piece during an onboard demonstration before dinner aboard the riverboat.
Avignon, Palais des Papes & Uzès evening
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 the local wine industry (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and an appreciation for good food. This morning, choose a bicycle excursion in Avignon, a visit to the fortress-like home that the pontiffs built for themselves, the Palais des Papes or a guided tour that brings you along the streets of Avignon for an exploration of the city's history and Jewish heritage dating back to the 13th century. Later, visit the Pont du Gard – a famous Roman aqueduct over the River Gardon. Join us this evening ashore for a sparkling Tauck Exclusive event – a special evening including a tour, reception and dinner at the restored château and grounds of the medieval Duchy of Uzès.
Roussillon & Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Venture deeper into Provence today on a visit to the yellow-and-brown town of Roussillon, in the Luberon region. This place is all about color, from the ochre cliffs surrounding the town to the purple of the lavender during its blooming season and the lush, green pine forests, as you'll discover for yourself on a walking tour. Have lunch on the riverboat as you cruise to Châteauneuf-du-Pape; over 200 days of sunshine per year and rain-bearing mistral winds enable the soil to store water for the long summer, meaning that vineyards thrive here. Since medieval times, the life of this hillside village has centered around growing and producing wine of the same appellation; its residents have benefitted from the proceeds of flourishing vineyards as early as the 13th century, when the village was adjacent to a summer palace for the popes of Avignon. You will get an opportunity this afternoon to taste some of the area's acclaimed wines before returning to the riverboat for dinner and onboard relaxation as your cruise continues.
A day in Tain l'Hermitage
The riverboat docks in Tain l'Hermitage for the final day of your Rhône River cruise. You'll have a choice of sightseeing including: a wine and cheese tasting at a local winery, with a mini-train ride through the hillside vineyards of Tain l'Hermitage; a chocolate truffle-making workshop with a pastry chef at the acclaimed Valrhona chocolate company, along with a mini-train ride through the hillside vineyards of Tain l'Hermitage; or a guided hike through the hillside vineyards of Tain l'Hermitage. Reboard the ship for tonight's farewell reception followed by dinner as ms Emerald begins her return to Lyon.
To Paris by high-speed TGV
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Lyon before catching the TGV high-speed train to Paris. Upon arrival, check in to InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, set in a fabulous location in the heart of the city. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy Paris as you please.
Parisian pleasures
Enjoy a moveable feast and an introduction to the delights of Parisian cuisine today as you take a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, where you'll learn firsthand the tips of the pâtisserie trade – including how to make an original pastry followed by a food walking tour. A Paris orientation tour by coach familiarizes you with many iconic landmarks before you embark on a walking and tasting tour that inspires with the fragrances and flavors of French food. The French capital is home to the masters of the pastry universe, dating back to Marie-Antoine Carême, who in the early 1800's popularized elaborate confections including the millefeuille, the croquembouche, strawberries Romanov and many more. Discover the history behind some of France's beloved specialties as you "taste" your way through a local neighborhood. Join us this evening for our special farewell cocktail reception and dinner at le Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysées, an iconic landmark for celebrity dining for over a century.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gare de Lyon Station, Charles de Gaulle Station and Gare du Nord is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
