PROVENCE RIVER CRUISE

FROM AIGUES MORTES TO AVIGNON

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Depart London St Pancras 0853 on Eurostar for Lille, then by TGV to Nîmes, arriving 1629. Embark Phénicien at Aigues Mortes for six nights. Welcome reception and overnight at Aigues Mortes.

DAY 2 Aigues Mortes (Tour Constance, walk around ramparts) followed by excursion through Camargue (wetlands, pastures, dunes and salt flats) with private visit to working ranch (Camargue horses, bulls). Cruise to quiet village of Gallician for overnight.

DAY 3 Cruise along Grand Rhône, Petit Rhône and Rhône to Sète Canal to Arles. Afternoon: excursion to fortified village of Les Baux de Provence. Overnight at Arles.

DAY 4 Arles: walking tour including Les Arènes (first century BC amphitheatre), Roman theatre, St Trophîme (Romanesque church with famous Last Judgement carving). Early evening dinner cruise through lock of Beaucaire and past dramatic castle of Tarascon to charming small port of Vallabrègues for overnight.

DAY 5 Morning: excursion to Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct with outstanding museum) followed by lunch cruise to Avignon for overnight.

DAY 6 Whole day in Avignon: Petit Palais Museum (residence of first two Avignon popes), 12th century Notre Dame des Doms Cathedral, 14th century Palais des Papes, 12th century Pont St Bénezet. Evening dinner cruise to Villeneuve lès Avignon for overnight.

DAY 7 Disembark Phénicien for visit to Châteauneuf du Pape (guided tour and wine tasting in one of region's finest cellars) then continue to Villeneuve lès Avignon (Tour Philippe le Bel, Fort St André) for overnight at Hôtel La Magnaneraie.

DAY 8 Depart Avignon on 1230 TGV for Lille, then by Eurostar to St Pancras, arriving 1903.