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

Day 1: Depart
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2: Côte d’Azur, France
Welcome to France! Time at leisure to get acquainted with your new surroundings. This evening an optional excursion to Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco is available.

Day 3: Côte d’Azur–Arles (Embarkation)
This morning, enjoy a guided stroll through the narrow, winding streets of Nice’s OLD TOWN. After lunch, transfer by motorcoach to Arles in the Provence region, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION. (B,D)

Day 4: 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 5: 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 6: Cruising - Viviers
A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you glide gently by. The charming town of 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 7: Tournon/Tain l'Hermitage - Vienne
The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled 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. This afternoon, enjoy Vienne, another charming little town surrounded by steep hills. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Lyon
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 9: Macon - Tournus - Chalon-sur-Saône
Wake up this morning in Mâcon on the Saône River, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. There’s free time for exploring after breakfast, then enjoy a short cruise to Tournus. Here, the cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. Before dinner, arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Paris
After breakfast, head for Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area which produces the Burgundy region’s finest vintages. 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. After lunch, continue north past the forest of Fontainebleau to Paris, the “City of Light.” (B)

Day 11: Paris
Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique 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 12: Paris
Your homebound flight 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 vibrant Paris and with 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

Cruising: A Category E cabin on the Indigo Deck onboard the Avalon Scenery

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

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

Cruise-Only Option From $1,949 per person
Day 3 Arles (Embarkation) - Day 10 Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)

• Jazz River Cruise Departure: The July 4, 2010 departure is offered as an exclusive Jazz River Cruise and includes special music features at no additional cost.
• Cruise-only option is available for this vacation and 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.
• Cabin upgrades are available.
• Port charges of $98 are not included in the prices shown above.
• Please call for single accommodation price. 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.