Grand France with 3 Nights in London (Northbound) 2024 - 18 Day River Cruise Arles to London

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Grand France with 3 Nights in London (Northbound) 2024

18 Day River Cruise Arles to London



Tour Description:

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.

Map for Grand France with 3 Nights in London (Northbound) 2024 - 18 Day River Cruise Arles to London
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Dates & Pricing



Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Arles (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Arles: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host
Day 3 Avignon: Guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes
Day 4 Viviers: Guided walk, visit Old Town and the cathedral or walk with your Adventure Host
Day 5 Tain l'Hermitage: Choice of guided walk in Tournon or hike with your Adventure Host
Day 6 Lyon: Guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill
Day 7 Tournus–Chalon-sur-Saône: Chardonnay excursion with tasting; Cheese tasting on board
Day 8 Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris (Embarkation): Visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to Paris; onboard welcome reception
Day 9 Vernon–Les Andelys: 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
Day 10 Caudebec: Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 11 Caudebec: Choice of full-day excursions to Normandy landing beaches or "A Taste of Normandy" excursion
Day 12 Rouen: Choice of guided walk, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral or bike tour
Day 13 Conflans–Paris: Choice of guided excursions to Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 14 Paris: Choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host
Day 15 Paris (Disembarkation)–London: Transfer to London by high-speed Eurostar train (Standard Class)
Day 16 London: Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul's Cathedral (except on Sundays)
Day 17 London: Full day at leisure
Day 18 London: Your vacation ends this morning
Notes:
  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
  • During the Olympics and Paralympic games some venues and areas might be closed or not accessible to groups, therefore the program might be subject to change.

ITINERARY

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 ARLES-WINDOW-DETAIL.jpg

Day 2
ARLES Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights 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 of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city. Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, before sailing to Avignon. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON ARLES-PAINTING-CLASS.jpg
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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 Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region. Explore Avignon on your own for the city’s art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON AVIGNON-BRIDGE.jpg
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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 a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TAIN L’HERMITAGE VIVIERS.jpg
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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 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. In the early afternoon cruise to Lyon. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON TOURNON.jpg
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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 Terreaux. Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon’s town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Tournus. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS LYON-CAFE.jpg
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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! Enjoy a leisurely afternoon cruising along the majestic Saône River. DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship. Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE TOURNUS.jpg
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Day 8
CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (DISEMBARKATION)–BEAUNE–DIJON–PARIS (EMBARKATION) 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 highlights. This afternoon, take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris to board your Suite Ship®. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON BEAUNE-HOTEL-DIEU.jpg

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, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables. DISCOVERY While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration. This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. LES ANDELYS Serenity on the Seine ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC *Monet’s House is closed in March and November. During this period this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche-Guyon and its castle VERNON.jpg
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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 the Seine. This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC CAUDEBEC.jpg
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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 full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Join “A Taste of Normandy” Guided Tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery. Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN NORMANDY-OMAHA-BEACH.jpg
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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 martyred Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS ROUEN.jpg
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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 the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS *Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly CONFLANS.jpg
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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 featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Stroll through Paris on your own, or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS PARIS-EIFEL-TOWER.jpg
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Day 15
PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)–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). LONDON-BIG-BEN.jpg

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 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were married; Whitehall’s mounted horseguards; the Prime Minister’s Downing Street; Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus. Then, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (except on Sundays). Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece with its world-famous dome is an iconic feature of London’s skyline. LONDON-TOWER-BRIDGE.jpg
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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 one of the dozens of celebrated West End shows, or enjoy dinner at a traditional London pub, followed by a relaxing nighttime cruise on the Thames River. There are so many possibilities to make your stay unforgettable. LONDON-PUB.jpg
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Day 18
LONDON Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. LONDON-BIG-BEN.jpg
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Accommodations

London
Park Plaza County Hall
Moderate Deluxe

Hotel as shown or similar

1 Addington St SE1 7RY London United Kingdom

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.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

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Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.