Burgundy & Provence 2010 (Paris to Côte d'Azur)

Day 1: Depart
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2: Paris, France
Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine and the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air!

Day 3: Paris
Paris’ well-known sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you specatacular Notre Dame Cathedral, the remarkable Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. (B)

Day 4: Paris–Beaune–Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation)
After breakfast, drive south past the forest of Fontainebleau, favorite hunting grounds of a long line of French kings, and into Burgundy. Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area—which produces the region’s finest vintages—owes its wealth to the production, aging, and selling of fine wines. Its most famous historical site, the HÔTEL-DIEU charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. Enjoy a TASTING of Burgundy wines before continuing south to Chalon-sur-Saône, where you’ll board your riverboat. Before dinner, meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (B,D)

Day 5: Chalon–Tournus–Mâcon
A GUIDED WALK after breakfast today shows you the highlights of this quaint French town situated on the Saône River. Explore the NICÉPHORE NIÉPCE photography museum at your own pace before returning to your ship in time for its departure for Tournus. After lunch, enjoy leisure time in this lovely town. The cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. Later, cruise to Mâcon, a city with a rich history that plays an important role in the wine trade. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Beaujolais Region–Lyon
Enjoy a relaxing morning cruising on the Rhône. Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from FOURVIÈRE HILL and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place Terraux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the “Beaujolais Nouveau” is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year. An optional dinner gives gourmets insight into the local haute cuisine. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Lyon
A day at leisure in this fascinating city to explore on your own. Early risers might like to visit the local produce market. Your Cruise Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Viviers
The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie situated among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. Another charming town, Viviers, was developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Avignon
The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the “City of Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. A photo of the bridge of the popular song is a must, and optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available this afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Arles
On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of St. Trophime, “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road, and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The “Foundation Vincent Van Gogh” is a tribute to the artist. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Arles (Disembarkation)–Côte d’Azur
After breakfast, transfer by motorcoach along the Côte d’Azur to Nice. An afternoon stroll through Nice’s narrow, winding streets will acquaint you with the OLD TOWN of this sophisticated city, also known as the “Queen of the Riviera.” This evening an optional excursion to Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco is available. (B)

Day 12: Côte d’Azur
Your homebound flight from Nice arrives the same day. (B)

• Paris: Guided sightseeing
• Beaune: Orientation walk; Hôtel Dieu
• Lyon: Guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill
• Tournon: Orientation walk
• Viviers: Guided walk; visit the cathedral
• Avignon: Guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes
• Arles: Guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheater
• Nice: Orientation walk of Old Town

See France at its scenic best on this charming getaway. Guided sightseeing acquaints you with lively Paris and with vibrant Nice, the “Queen of the Riviera,” while a deluxe 7-night cruise along the Saône and Rhône Rivers takes you into the heart of this beautiful country. Enjoy orientation walks in Tournon and Beaune, and see the sights with Local Guides in Avignon, Arles, and Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. Opportunities abound on this grand vacation to learn about and to taste the sumptuous wines and local cuisine.

• Buffet breakfast (B) in Paris and Côte d’Azur (plus Provence region on WCAE)
• Superb dining with all meals on board featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, welcome dinner, Captain’s dinner, one sitting with open seating arrangements
• Quality wines from France’s most famous wine regions with every dinner on board
• Deluxe cruise in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds
• Services of a professional Cruise Director
• Onboard lectures, activities & nightly piano music
• Sightseeing with Local Guides
• Headsets for all guided shore excursions
• Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges, where applicable

Paris: Le Méridien Montparnasse (SF) or Hilton Arc de Triomphe (SF)
Cote d’Azur: Boscolo Plaza, Nice (SF)
Cruising: A Category E outside cabin on the Indigo Deck onboard the Avalon Scenery

Extra nights per person in Paris:
in single room $440, in twin room $259

Extra nights per person in Nice:
in single room $350, in twin room $220

Cruise-Only Option From $2,049
Day 4 Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation) - Day 11 Arles (Disembarkation)

• Oberammergau Cruise Extension (WJ), 4 nights, starting from $1,849 per person, land only
  
  Day 1 Arrival in Innsbruck, Austria. (Wed.)
  Transfer from the Nuremberg port or Munich airport is available. At 6pm, meet your Avalon host for a welcome briefing at your hotel.
  
  Day 2 Innsbruck. (Thu.)
  This morning, a guided sightseeing tour of Innsbruck will include a visit to ST. JAMES CATHEDRAL and the HOFKIRCHE. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own, or you may choose to join the optional excursion to the Swarovski Crystal World in Wattens. (B)
  
  Day 3 Innsbruck-Excursion to Oberammergau, Germany. (Fri.)
  This morning while en route to Oberammergau, visit one of King Ludwig II’s castles. After an early lunch, the highlight of the vacation: the original PASSION PLAY. Dinner will be served during intermission. A late-evening transfer will take you back to Innsbruck. (B,L,D)
  
  Day 4 Innsbruck-Excursion to Bolzano & Merano, Italy. (Sat.)
  This morning, a comfortable motorcoach ride will take you across the famous Brenner Pass to Bolzano. After free time for lunch, a short guided walking tour will give you the opportunity to learn about the mixture of Tyrolean and Italian culture in this bilingual region. In the afternoon, visit the mountain resort town of Merano before returning to Innsbruck. (B)
  
  Day 5 Innsbruck-Munich, Germany. (Sun.)
  This morning, transfer by scenic Railjet Train to Zürich, or depart for Germany’s lively city—Munich. Transfer to Munich Airport is available. If you are continuing on one of Avalon’s cruises starting in Nuremberg, an afternoon transfer will take you to your ship for embarkation. (B)
  
  What's included: Passion Play tickets, Meals: 4 buffet breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 1 dinner (D), Welcome Briefing, Services of a professional Avalon Host, Innsbruck: Guided sightseeing walk, Inside visit of St. James Cathedral and the Hofkirche , Bolzano: Orientation walk, Merano: Orientation visit
  
  Superior Hotels:
  Innsbruck: The Hilton Innsbruck

• Wine River Cruise Departures: Departures on August 21 and October 30, 2010 are offered as exclusive Wine River Cruises, including special lectures and tastings, available at no additional cost.
• In the event of water level problems on stretches of any river, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motorcoach.
• Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.
• Cruise-only option allows you to participate in just the river cruise portion of the vacation, removing the overnight stays at the beginning or end of the cruise itinerary. Ask your Travel Consultant for details at the time of booking.
• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Port charges of $98 per person are not included in the prices shown above.
• Please call for single accommodation. Triples not available.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more details.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive prices are displayed, these prices do not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.