Grand France with 3 Nights in London (Northbound)

18 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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River Cruise
This French river cruise vacation highlights France’s charm, breathtaking views, and rich history. Your incredible European river cruise through France begins on the Rhône River with a visit to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. Then, sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the w...
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Overview

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

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes
    • Guided walk, visit Old Town and the cathedral or walk with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided walk in Tournon or hike with your Adventure Host
    • Guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill
    • Chardonnay excursion with tasting; Cheese tasting on board
    • Visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to Paris; 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; crêpes tasting on board and Pastry Demonstration
    • Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host

What's this trip about?

    This French river cruise vacation highlights France’s charm, breathtaking views, and rich history. Your incredible European river cruise through France begins on the Rhône River with a visit to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. Then, sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the way, explore Avignon, delightful Viviers, medieval Tournon, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, and fascinating Beaune. Take a high-speed train to Paris, and embark your second Avalon Suite ship® to begin your cruise on the Seine River into the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys, home of dramatic Château Gaillard, then on to Caudebec, for your choice between an excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy” tour. Next up is Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen; and in Conflans, choose between excursions to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison. Return to Paris for guided sightseeing and take in the most famous sights of this magnificent city. Then, transfer to London for three exciting nights. Your vacation in London includes guided sightseeing of the must-see sights—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more, including VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

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Details

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

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Arles
  • Avignon
  • Burgundy
  • Dijon
  • Giverny
  • London
  • Lyon
  • Normandy
  • Paris
  • Rouen
  • Vienne

Activities

  • Culture
  • River Cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: ARLES, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding

Flights into Marseille must arrive by 3 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES

(Dinner)

Day 2: ARLES

A Brush with Genius

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

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 o...

Day 3: AVIGNON

The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence 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. Guided Optional Excursions include a visit to the ancient R...

Day 4: VIVIERS

World History in a Charming French Country Village

Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.

ACTIVE Walk your way up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on an afternoon G...

Day 5: TAIN L'HERMITAGE

A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Explore Tournon by foot as you follow your Adventure Host for a morning hike in this beautiful town along the Rhone, OR: CLASSIC Take a mor...

Day 6: LYON

La Vie En Rose in Lyon CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des T...

Day 7: TOURNUS–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE

Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône

DISCOVERY Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards, the wines produced here, and to attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real medieval castle!

...
Day 8: CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (DISEMBARKATION)–BEAUNE–DIJON–PARIS (EMBARKATION)

On to Paris

Drive to Beaune and take a High-Speed Train from Dijon to Paris. CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural hi...

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 Giver...

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 buil...

Day 11: CAUDEBEC. EXCURSIONS 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 fu...

Day 12: ROUEN

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, 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—home of the martyre...

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 Gu...

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 Guide...

Day 15: PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)–LONDON

On to London

Say goodbye to your Avalon portion of your vacation after breakfast. An included transfer delivers you to the train station. Travel to London by high-speed Eurostar train (Standard class).

(Breakfast)

Day 16: LONDON

England’s Exciting Capital

CLASSIC Enjoy a morning Guided Sightseeing including all of London’s famous landmarks. Drive past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were marr...

Day 17: LONDON

Free Time on the Thames

Enjoy a free day to explore this spectacular city at your own pace. You could take a flight on the London Eye for fantastic views over the city, or visit Windsor Castle for a tour of the magnificent State Apartments. In the evening, see ...

Day 18: LONDON

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,785
Price per day$488
Last Updated: 3/12/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
01 Apr 2025
18 Apr 2025
$9,485
15 Apr 2025
02 May 2025
$9,855
13 May 2025
30 May 2025
$10,255
27 May 2025
13 Jun 2025
$10,255
24 Jun 2025
11 Jul 2025
$10,295
08 Jul 2025
25 Jul 2025
$10,055
05 Aug 2025
22 Aug 2025
$9,985
19 Aug 2025
05 Sep 2025
$10,155
16 Sep 2025
03 Oct 2025
$10,455
30 Sep 2025
17 Oct 2025
$10,155

Gateway city for arrivals is Marseille. Port charges: $462 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...

Write a Review

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Logistics

Accommodation

Park Plaza County Hall

Ideally located just south of Westminster Bridge and overlooking the River Thames, this hotel is within walking distance of London's most famous attractions. Stylish dining options are available at the hotel: LItaliano offers authentic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine list and Spectrum Bar & Café is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as Afternoon Tea and late-night drinks. The hotel also provides a fitness room as well as steam and sauna facilities, and Aurora Spa is available for beauty treatments or massages. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout.

London

United Kingdom

1 Addington St SE1 7RY

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-WLP3

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