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Autumn in Provence, Burgundy, and Beaujolais

Program Overview

Discover the world-famous Burgundy and Beaujolais wine regions of Provence at the height of the harvest season. Cruise round-trip from historic Lyon, France, along the storied Rhône and Saône rivers. Dock in the heart of each port and visit the historical Hotel-Dieu in Beaune; the medieval Papal Palace of Avignon; the Roman Amphitheater in Arles; the Roman city of Orange; and the ancient Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct. Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Beaujolais wine region’s Château Montmelas, guided by a member of the family, with a specially arranged fortepiano concert and wine tasting. Enhance your experience with the Geneva Pre-Program Option.

Program Details

September 6 to 14, 2023 (Amadeus Provence)
From $3,895 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Exclusively chartered, deluxe small river boat.
  • Specially designed, one-of-a-kind itinerary cruising France’s storied Rhône and Saône Rivers during autumn, the height of harvest season.
  • One port call every day, often docking in the very heart of each charming French city, town or village—all excursions included.
  • Visit six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • Exclusive tour of the Beaujolais wine region’s Château Montmelas, guided by a member of the family, with a specially arranged fortepiano concert and wine tasting.
  • Walking tours of historic Old Lyon, Avignon, Arles, and Vienne, featuring stops at the iconic Pont d’Avignon, the Roman Amphitheater, the Temple of Augustus, and the medieval Cathédrale de Saint-Maurice.
  • Complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner aboard boat.
  • Specially arranged educational lectures.
  • Geneva and the French Alps Pre-Program Option.

Day 1 - Depart home city

Day 2 - Lyon, France / Embark Amadeus Provence

Day 3 - Tournus for Beaune / Mâcon for Beaujolais

Day 4 - Lyon

Day 5 - Avignon

Day 6 - Arles

Day 7 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape for Orange / Pont du Gard

Day 8 - Vienne

Day 9 - Lyon / Disembark river boat / Return to home city

View detailed program itinerary >

Amadeus Imperial

Exclusively Chartered, Deluxe River Boat

The elegant and meticulously crafted Amadeus Provence features all the comforts of a refined and traditional hotel. The 70 stylish staterooms and suites are among the most spacious of any European river boat (172 to 284 square feet). Suites include a private balcony, and select staterooms feature a unique floor-to-ceiling window that lowers to French-balcony height at the touch of a button.

Learn more about the Amadeus Imperial >

Geneva and the French Alps Pre-Program Option

Delight in the mountainous beauty of the Savoie Mont-Blanc region at the convergence of France, Switzerland, and Italy. Visit the world-class city of Geneva, ideally located on the crystalline shores of the largest lake on the coast of the Rhône, fed by the waters flowing through the valleys of the Swiss Alps. Enjoy a private tour of the Patek Philippe Watch Musuem and stroll through the city’s charming Old Town, seeing the Town-House, the Cathedral, the House of Travel, and the gun barrels.

Explore the picturesque French village of Chamonix, the historic capital of Alpine skiing and host of the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. Ascend to the highest of Chamonix’s needles, l’Aiguille du Midi, via cable car. Board the famous Montenvers cog railway train to the legendary Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), the largest glacier in France and its La Grotte. Here, the Ice Cave allows you to walk right into the heart of the four-mile-long glacier. 

Enjoy a visit to Annecy, the “Venice of the Alps,” for a guided walking tour. This medieval town is noted for its crystal-clear canals, pastel-toned houses, and old-world ambiance. Accommodations are for three nights in the elegant Hôtel Bristol Genève, located in the heart of the city, just steps from the lake.

The Pre-Program Option is available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

Program Rates

Gohagan & Company reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees, promotions and surcharges at any time.

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Departure

Your trip will begin by departing your home city.

Day 2 Lyon, France

Arrive in the captivating city of Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and embark the Amadeus Provence. Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception on board this evening. 

Day 3 Tournus for Beaune / Mâcon for Beaujolais

Visit enchanting Beaune, founded in the fifth century B.C. and the longtime capital of Burgundy wines. See the magnificent 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu and then take an excursion to the vineyards of Beaujolais to tour the 10th-century Château de Montmelas, where a member of the resident family will greet you. 

Enjoy a private, specially arranged performance of fortepiano music, accompanied by a wine tasting and local canapés. 

Day 4 Lyon

From Lyon’s Fourvière Hill, enjoy views of the neo-Byzantine Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Walk the tree-lined streets of restored Old Lyon, where well-preserved Gothic and Renaissance mansions attest to the wealth of the city’s long-standing silk industry. Stroll through the ancient quarter of Saint-Jean and its narrow, covered pedestrian passageways, called traboules.

Day 5 Avignon

Visit the ancient, UNESCO-inscribed city of Avignon to tour the grand papal palace, the largest château-fort built in Europe during the Gothic era and a testament to Avignon’s golden age. 

At the river’s edge, see the remaining four arches of the Pont d’Avignon (also known as Pont Saint-Bénézet), the only bridge built across the Rhône during the Middle Ages.

Day 6 Arles

Tour the magnificently restored amphitheater in the Provençal city of Arles, built in the first century B.C. for 20,000 spectators, and the 12th-century Église Saint-Trophime, a former cathedral known for its “Last Judgment”-themed portal. 

The city’s colorful houses inspired Vincent van Gogh, who produced over 200 works during his 14-month stay in 1888, including The Sunflowers and The Café Terrace at Night. 

Day 7 Châteauneuf-du-Pape for Orange / Pont du Gard

Traverse the pastoral French countryside, passing colorful fields and stucco houses en route to Orange. Explore the Roman city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including a visit to the ancient Roman Theater and a stop to see the Triumphal Arch, built in the late first century in testimony to Augustus Caesar. Conclude your tour with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct that triumphs as one of Europe’s most impressive archaeological sites.

Day 8 Vienne

See Vienne’s pristinely preserved Temple of Augustus and Livia, built around 10 B.C. in honor of Rome’s greatest emperor, and the beautifully restored amphitheater at the foot of Mont Pipet, seating up to 13,000 spectators and still in use today.

The town’s most notable medieval landmark is the Romanesque-Gothic Cathédrale de Saint-Maurice, constructed between the 12th and 16th centuries. Enjoy a specially arranged wine and Valrhona chocolate tasting with a well-known French oenologist on board the ship and attend the Farewell Reception this evening. 

Day 9 Lyon / Return to home city

Disembark the river boat and transfer to the airport for your return flight to your home city.