Hiking Cruise: Discover everything the Rhône and Saône regions have to offer

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We’ll enjoy dinner on board. Our ship will begin to cruise to Mâcon. Don’t miss Lyon lit up at night as we depart!

In the morning, excursions included:

NON-HIKERS: A guided tour of Mâcon. With its colored facades, Mâcon feels like it should be part of Provence. Learn more about this Burgundy city on a tour highlighting its major sites.

HIKERS: Trek to the Roche de Solutré. The Roche de Solutré is a rare geological feature that has become a symbol of southern Burgundy. We’ll hike through the surrounding vineyards, with each stop giving us one extraordinary view after another. If the weather is clear, you’ll be able to see the Alps in the distance from the top.

This afternoon, excursions included:

FOR ALL: Beaujolais vineyards. The Beaujolais wine region is tucked in between Lyon and Burgundy. Wines range from the young Beaujolais Nouveau to high-quality crus. Red wines are made mostly from Gamay grapes that create a vibrant, fruity taste. Light and fresh white wines come predominantly from Chardonnay varieties.

After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship. We’ll cruise to Lyon, arriving in the evening.

In the morning, excursions included:

NON-HIKERS: Join us for an optional guided tour of Lyon and learn about the discrete and strategic doorways leading to shortcuts, known as traboules, that go from street to street.

HIKERS: Urban hike through Lyon. Discover the off-the-beaten-path secrets in “Only Lyon.”

We’ll cruise to Tain-l’Hermitage in the afternoon, arriving in the evening.

In the morning, excursions included:

NON-HIKERS: Tour the Vercors. The Vercors Massif contains impressive sites and breathtaking views. We’ll discover many of these on a trip through its natural park. Peaks, trails, rushing streams, steep cliffs, and rolling mountain pastures await. The Vercors Massif was also a strategic location for the French Resistance during World War II. We’ll visit the quaint town of Die, known for its delicious sparkling wine, and enjoy a tasting.

HIKERS: Soyons in the Ardèche. This hike leaves from the village of Soyons and takes you to the splendid bird's-eye view of the Rhône River, valleys, and mountains—including the Mont Blanc summit. (An approximate 2.25-hour hike over 3.1 miles (5 km) with a 525-foot elevation gain (160 m)).

After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Avignon, arriving during the evening.

In the morning, excursions included:

NON-HIKERS: Avignon and the Papal Palace.

HIKERS: Hike along the pont du Gard, memories of the Garrigue.

Return on board and our ship will cruise to Arles, arriving in the middle of the afternoon.

In the afternoon, excursion included:

FOR ALL: Guided walking tour of Arles.

In the morning, excursions included:

NON-HIKERS: Coach tour of the Camargue. Sit back and admire the rivers, marshes, ponds, pink flamencos, black bulls, and the famous, indigenous Camargue horses. Discover the salt and rice fields that make the area so well known. We’ll visit a manade—where bulls are raised and horses are trained—to learn about the various traditions in the area.

HIKERS: The Alpilles Mountains and Les Baux-de-Provence. The Alpilles are a small range of low, limestone mountains.  Join us for a hike through the most famous hills in Provence. This is an approximate 2- to 2.5-hour tour for 3.1 miles (5 km) with a 492-foot elevation gain (150 m).

This afternoon, our ship will cruise to Martigues. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. Transfer by coach to Lyon or Marseille(2). End of our services.