Discover a wealth of history, outstanding natural beauty and regional delicacies on this exceptional cruise holiday to the heart of Provence.
This unique holiday begins with rail travel to Paris and an overnight hotel stay in the university city of Clermont Ferrand, where you'll board a train for an incredible journey. The La Ligne des Cevennes passes through remote and wild countryside including the spectacular Gorges de l'Allier and the serene Cevennes National Park.
Your thrilling rail experience comes to an end in the pretty town of Nimes, from where you'll travel to the cultural centre of Arles to embark your stylish 22-passenger hotel barge. Discover the magnificent Roman ruins and enjoy an olive oil tasting, before setting sail along the Rhone River and the Rhone a Sete Canal. Discover the beauty of the stunning Camargue, a region renowned for its Mediterranean sunshine and wild horses, and take a stroll through the fortified city of Aigues-Mortes, nestled in the middle of salt marshes.
Enjoy a traditional Camargue experience as you visit a manade and learn about the life of herders, before heading to the picturesque Etang De Thau and its oyster farms. Described as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert is a delight to explore, hidden in the heart of the wild Hérault Gorges. Reflect on your incredible holiday as you travel by rail back to Paris, and on to the UK.
E887 Operated by CroisiEurope
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Springtime in Provence Itinerary - AVF_AIPP
Day 1 - UK - Paris (France) - Clermont Ferrand
Travel by train to Paris. Take a transfer to embark the train from Paris to Clermont Ferrand, where you'll transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 2 - Clermont Ferrand - Nimes - Arles
Transfer from the hotel to the train station, and embark your train for a journey on La Ligne de Cevennes to Nimes. This line passes through awe-inspiring scenery including the spectacular Gorges de l'Allier and serene Cevennes National Park. The wild and remote Cevennes were explored by Robert Louis Stevenson and his donkey Modestine in 1878. Disembark in Nimes and transfer to Arles to join your hotel barge. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner.
Day 3 - Arles - Gallician
Discover this cultural center and its Roman ruins, and then travel inland to find out about olive oil production in Provence. We'll finish up our tour with a tasting of some local products. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship and spend the afternoon cruising to Gallician. We'll travel on the Rhône River and the Rhône à Sète Canal.
Day 4 - Gallician - Aigues-Mortes
This morning we'll have an excursion to the Camargue. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in the splendid city of Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer, where we recommend a visit to its fortified church. We'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Aigues-Mortes, arriving in the early evening.
Day 5 - Aigues-Mortes - Palavas-Les-Flots
Join us for a tour of Aigues-Mortes. This old, fortified city with a rich heritage is located in the middle of the marshes and is one of the most beautiful sites in Provence. We'll board a tourist train and tour the salt marches and visit the salt museum. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship. We'll spend the afternoon cruising to Palavas-Les-Flots. Spend some free time discovering the spa resort of Palavas-Les-Flots, whose rich identity reaches back for more than three centuries.
Day 6 - Palavas-Les-Flots - Sete
We'll set out on a tour to discover a manade and the life of its herders during a visit by wagon, and take part in a bull sorting. Before returning to the boat, we'll have a delicious snack with products coming from the farm. We'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Sète, arriving in the early evening.
Day 7 - Sete
We'll leave on an excursion to the Étang De Thau, famous for its shellfish. We'll visit the Étang de Thau Museum, where we'll discover the shellfish farmers and fishermen. You'll be able to taste some of the shellfish while taking in the beauty of the basin from a terrace. The afternoon will be dedicated to a tour of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the most beautiful villages in France. We'll return on board for our gala dinner and evening.
Day 8 - Sete - Paris - UK
Disembark your hotel barge and transfer to Sete train station, to embark your train to Paris. Transfer to the Eurostar station, then take the train back to the UK
The Captain reserves the right to modify the itinerary in the light of conditions. Fly-cruise itinerary is available - please contact us for details