European Masterpiece: the Rhine, Seine and Rhône Revealed

22 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Experience the best of German and French culture on an unforgettable European river cruise along the Rhine, Seine, Saône, and Rhône rivers. Capture the romance and splendor of this magical journey with your camera as you revel in spectacular views. Your cruise commences in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the breathtaking Black Forest. Strasbourg, situated o...
From$12,497
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or sightseeing of Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host, or visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz
    • Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; free time in Koblenz
    • Choice of “Cologne Highlights” walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Travel from Amsterdam to Paris by high-speed train; onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk or guided hike in Les Andelys; onboard crêpe tasting and Pastry Demonstration
    • Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host

What's this trip about?

    Experience the best of German and French culture on an unforgettable European river cruise along the Rhine, Seine, Saône, and Rhône rivers. Capture the romance and splendor of this magical journey with your camera as you revel in spectacular views. Your cruise commences in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the breathtaking Black Forest. Strasbourg, situated on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both nations. Sail through the awe-inspiring Rhine Gorge, witnessing ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Discover Cologne, Germany, renowned for its gothic architecture and iconic twin-spired cathedral. Continue to Amsterdam, the modern capital of Holland, before transferring to Paris via a high-speed train for your Seine River cruise. Savor wine, cheese, and the scenic beauty of the Seine River, with stops in charming and historic regions of France. Before bidding adieu to the Seine, immerse yourself in the romantic city of Paris, exploring its rich history and iconic landmarks. Embark on a high-speed train to Dijon, then transfer to your Suite Ship® on the Saône River. Sail to Lyon, nestled at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône Rivers. Explore the medieval treasure of Tournon, featuring Roman ruins and a captivating 16th-century castle. In historic Avignon, marvel at the 14th-century Palace of the Popes, the largest gothic fortress in the world. Conclude your cruise in Arles, renowned for inspiring Van Gogh's paintings and hosting captivating plays and concerts in its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CityBASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
End CityARLES (DISEMBARKATION)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Arles
  • Avignon
  • Basel
  • Dijon
  • Heidelberg
  • Koblenz
  • Lyon
  • Normandy
  • Paris
  • Rouen
  • Rudesheim
  • Strasbourg

Activities

  • Culture
  • River Cruise

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Switzerland.

Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Zürich or Basel must arrive by 3 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.

EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (Dinner)

Day 2: BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST

German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Tour...

Day 3: KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE

A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France

ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as we...

Day 4: MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG

Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure to...

Day 5: RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR: DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; ...

Day 6: COLOGNE

Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage si...

Day 7: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Canals of Colorful Amsterdam

ACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:

DISCOVERY Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a ...

Day 8: AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)–PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)

Off to Paris

This morning, board a high-speed train for Paris to embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® and enjoy dinner onboard this evening.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 9: VERNON

Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, ho...

Day 10: CAUDEBEC

Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine

ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along...

Day 11: CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY

Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Take a full...

Day 12: ROUEN

The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France

ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of A...

Day 13: CONFLANS

The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV

ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of ...

Day 14: PARIS

Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the city of Light

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk...

Day 15: PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)–DIJON–BEAUNE–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (EMBARKATION)

On to Dijon

Take a High-Speed Train from Paris to Dijon, to drive on to Beaune.

CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement. This afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your Suite Ship®.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TOURNUS

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 16: TOURNUS

Pearl of Southern Burgundy

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

CLASSIC Tucked away in the southeast corner of Burgundy, Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in the region, Our Local Guide...

Day 17: LYON

La Vie En Rose in Lyon

Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.

ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour...

Day 18: LYON

Adventures in Food and Wine

DISCOVERY Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France. The rest of your day is free to explore, relax, or shop in France’s third largest city. Take a bike from the ship an...

Day 19: TOURNON

A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards

CLASSIC Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.

<...
Day 20: AVIGNON

The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes...

Day 21: ARLES

A Brush with Genius

ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, ...

Day 22: ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Marseille airport before 10 am.

(Breakfast)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $12,497
Price per day$568
Last Updated: 3/12/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
06 May 2025
27 May 2025
$13,097
20 May 2025
10 Jun 2025
$13,097
17 Jun 2025
08 Jul 2025
$12,997
01 Jul 2025
22 Jul 2025
$12,897
29 Jul 2025
19 Aug 2025
$12,897
12 Aug 2025
02 Sep 2025
$13,097
09 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025
$13,697
23 Sep 2025
14 Oct 2025
$13,397
07 Apr 2026
28 Apr 2026
$12,497
05 May 2026
26 May 2026
$13,297

Gateway city for arrivals is Zürich. Port charges: $693 are included. Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability). Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
1,559
Great
145
Average
48
Disappointing
16
Terrible
47
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Other Avalon Waterways Reviews

c

crezet kickartz

Feb 2025

Written on

My husband and I went on our first trip from Amsterdam to Basel. It was so great and as it was my first big OE the sights were very breath-taking.

The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lo...

J

James Allen

Jan 2025

Written on

Great Staff

The staff was interactive, polite, and memorable. We were lucky enough to have met and interacted with the staff on 2 different boats. Avalon handled the necessary c...

J

Janis Lloyd

Jan 2025

Written on

Avalon consistency—good!

Cabins always great. Food very good. I wish there were semi-dry white wine offered at dinner. (Rieslings, not dry). Christmas market in Colmar was not enjoyable, way...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Radisson Blu Airport

This modern, stylish hotel 330-room property conveniently offers direct access to the airport terminal, the perfect location for arrivals & departures. Dining options include an Italian restaurant specializing in fresh Italian dishes crafted with a modern twist and a Grill restaurant offering seafood and steaks dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The atrium bar has a 16m-high glass wine tower with over 4,000 bottles of wine and champagne and the outdoor terrace is the place for cocktails and light bites. Other amenities include two fitness centers (one on site and one at the airport), a hammam, as well as a sauna set in a plane's cockpit. Free internet access is available throughout the entire hotel.

Zurich

Switzerland

Zuerich Flughafen

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
AVALON-WZL

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