Personalised Luxury Tours - Paris, Lyon and Rhone River Valley ULFR13

Personal Highlights:

• A private Parisian walking tour of the gourmet shops stretching from Place de la Concorde to le Madeleine
• Spend the day with your private guide as you explore the Romanesque villages and vineyards of the Beaujolais wine trail
• Enjoying the fine wines of Cote de Rhone and Chateauneuf-de-Pape at their source
• A nostalgic steam train ride through the woods of Ardeche and the scenic banks of the Doux River
• Following the footsteps of Van Gogh in the town or Arles in Provence

Day 1 Depart USA

We board our overnight flight to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France and the gateway to our exploration of France and a little bit if Italy and Switzerland

Day 2 Welcome to Paris…A Moveable Feast

Upon arrival in Paris you are met by your guide and driver as you take an orientation tour of Paris. Whether this is your first or fifteenth trip to Paris it is impossible not to be impressed as you see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, L'arc de Triomphe or the Champs Elysees and know that you are truly in Paris. You will view many of these sites in detail later on but for now we absorb it all. After the tour, your guide takes you to your centrally-located hotel where you have the afternoon to relax or explore the neighborhood around your hotel. Dinner is at the hotel's superb restaurant this evening

Day 3 A Culinary Walk from Place de la Concorde to Le Madeleine

Today you meet your guide to explore an entire district dedicated to the glory of French gastronomy. While enjoying the food however, you will also be learning about the history of the area. Your journey starts at Place de la Concorde now well-known as the final stage of the Tour de France but in earlier times the site of the infamous guillotine established during the French Revolution. In the center is an obelisk given in the 1830's to the then King of France by the King of Egypt. Your tour will end at the Madeleine Church but during your walk you will have tasted a variety of Basque foods, pork from the Loire Valley regional cheeses and some good regional wine. It only remains to indulge in some sweet pastries and you have completed both your walk and your lunch. Only in France can you eat and exercise at the same time. The afternoon is at leisure and your guide can suggest the best shopping areas. Tonight, you dine from a selection of restaurants in various parts of the city through our Concierge dining offer and put together through collaboration with your hotel's concierge.

Day 4 Experiencing…and Tasting Montmartre

Perhaps no other place best captures the bohemian and artistic side of Paris than the hilltop village of Montmartre. You will spend the day with your guide exploring this unusual area. While located within Paris, this area has one of the few remaining vineyards in Paris and two windmills one of which was " Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette" painted by Renoir. At various times Montmartre has been home to Monet, Renoir and Picasso and even today you can have your portrait sketched in the Place du Tetre. Your host is knowledgeable about the area and will take you down some narrow alleyways to absorb the true flavor of Montmartre. After your exertion (Montmartre is a hill after all) you stop for lunch at one of our favorite bistros in Montmartre. Following lunch you make your way through streets lined with shops offering a selection of the most famous and amazing sweet specialties in France. Of course, you indulge, knowing that you have walked off many of the calories.

Day 5 Lyon, the Gastronomic Capital of France

You have the morning free to do some shopping or sightseeing on your own. After lunch your guide is waiting to take you to the station where 1st Class seats are reserved for the trip to Lyon. Upon arrival in Lyon you are met by your driver who will deliver yoiu to your luxury chateau hotel located on the outskirts of Lyon. Upon arrival you have the opportunity to stroll the grounds before enjoying a delightful dinner with wine.

Day 6 Following the Beaujolais Wine Trail

Today you will spend the day exploring the Beaujolais wine trail where Romanesque villages give their names to the great Beaujolais Crus including Brouilly, Saint-Amour, Fleurie, Chenas, Morgan and Moulin-a-vent. You will have lunch along the way before returning to the chateau for dinner, a tasting menu accompanied by the appropriate wines.

Day 7 The Medieval Charm of Perouges and Oingt

Today you will spend the morning exploring two charming villages. Perched on its hill, Perouges is a perfect example of a French medieval town. The village boasts an unequalled unity with its houses of the nobility and the modest craftsmen's' houses on the unevenly paved streets offering a picturesque setting. You will also visit the village of Oingt with its remnants of the old walls still visible. The village is, today, home to many artists. The afternoon is at leisure until you meet your guide to return to Lyon where your deluxe river boat is waiting. This evening you join the other guests for a welcome aboard cocktail party and Welcome dinner accompanied by the appropriate French wines.

Day 8 Old Lyon and the Charming Village of Trevoux

Lyon marks the meeting point of the Saone and Rhone Rivers. Its rich ancient history includes Roman ruins and early Christian sites. This morning's tour includes a stunning panoramic view of the entire city from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. You'll also explore the Renaissance charm of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) with its cobble stone streets. You return to the ship for lunch as she sets along the Saone River to the small town of Trevoux. You have free time to walk off lunch and enjoy the town's charm before returning to the ship.

Day 9 A Trip Through the “Land of the Golden Stones”

This morning you pass through the Village of Trevoux and through Beaujolais, the Pay D' Or, or land of the golden stones" so named for the ochre limestone of its homes and castles. You will visit a local wine maker along this wine road and taste the world renowned Beaujolais Nouveau before retuning to the ship. You cruise south from the Saone to the Rhone River and on to Vienne. Before and after dinner you have the chance to stroll along by the sidewalk cafes of this rural walking town.

Day 10 In the Heart of the “Cote du Rhone”

Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne, like Lyon has a significant Roman history, which is highlighted by its marvelously preserved ruins and remains. During this morning's walking tour you will see the 1st Century Roman Temple of Augustus, and the medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre, before you cruise on to Tournon and Tain L' Hermitage. These twin towns face each other across the Rhone River and are linked by a 19th Century suspension bridge. The fertile soil and ideal climate of the region has made Tain L' Hermitage the premier producer of the Cote du Rhone wines. you have an afternoon at leisure and you can decide to visit the 16th Century Castle, now the town hall or try some of the chocolates produced in this area. After dinner this evening you will have a wine tasting on board

Day 11 A Steam Train along the Doux River

After breakfast you disembark and are taken to a steam train designated as "Monuments Historiques" These 19th Century locomotives are virtual time capsules and will transport you from the vineyards of the valley to the woods of Ardeche along the Doux River. you enjoy lunch back on board the ship as you cruise to Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Day 12 The Popes of Avignon

The origin of its namesake wine, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, or "new castle of the Pope" is also home to the remains of the fortress which gives the village its name. On this morning's walking tour you will see the remains of this 14th Century palace, which was built as a summer residence for Popes during their exile in Avignon, as well as the many squares and beautiful fountains that this medieval village has to offer. After tasting this famous wine, you re-board the ship and cruise to Avignon while you enjoy lunch. Your afternoon tour of the "City of Popes" will take you through the narrow streets and elegant squares to the Papal Palace, which served as fortress, church and residence to a number of Popes

Day 13 Arrival in Arles

As you enjoy breakfast you arrive in Arles, a Mediterranean city situated at the mouth of the Rhone delta. You bathe in the Provencal morning light and imagine how Vincent Van Gogh worked to capture the richness of every hue on this morning's walking tour. While Van Gogh's homes are no longer standing, you may glimpse the locales and vistas that inspired " Starry Night" or "Terrace de café le Soir" as you pass Constantine's Baths, the Romanesque cathedral and the Roman amphitheatre, which is still in use today as a bull ring. After lunch you'll take an excursion to the villages of St. Remy and Les Baux. During your tour of St. Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus, and also where Van Gogh retired to the asylum St Paul de Mausolee, we will enjoy the rich floral colors and amazing views from this village perched 900 feet on a hill

Day 14 Return to USA

After breakfast, you will disembark and meet your driver who will take you to the airport where you begin your return journey to the USA.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round