Overview
Our wide array of Classic, Discovery, and Active excursions puts you in the driver’s seat of your vacation – whether that’s a bicycle seat, kayak seat, or a front row seat at a culinary or cocktail workshop where you’ll learn hands-on how to master the delightful delicacies this gastronomic country is known read more for. This is your tour de France. No matter how you choose to journey through it, monumental discoveries and moving experiences await at every turn.
Itinerary
Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5pm.
Your day is free to explore the world's most romantic city before embarking on your cruise on the Seine. Get acquainted with the City of Lights today with some shopping, strolling, or with a croissant and café au lait to watch the world go by amid the Parisian cityscape.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS
Cafés, Cathedrals, and Canvases—The City of Lights Truly Shines.
- Active: Hop on a bike to explore Paris like a local on this enjoyable guided tour through its sights, mesmerizing history, and incredible ambiance, OR:
- Discovery: Immerse yourself on our Food and Cultural Tour of Paris where you will find out why the French food and culinary tradition has been even added to the UNESCO heritage list, OR:
- Classic: Join a Guided Sightseeing, which will show you magnificent must-see sights.
This afternoon, you may want to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles. Alternatively, stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.
EVENING CRUISE TO CONFLANS
Walk in the Footsteps of Van Gogh and Bonaparte
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
- Active: This Guided E-bike Tour will take you to the Château de Maisons - Lafitte where you will enjoy a special snack, OR:
- Discovery: Travel to the Chantilly Castle where the experts of the Confrérie des Chevaliers Fouetteurs de crème Chantilly will show you how to prepare your own Chantilly cream, OR:
- Classic: Join a Guided Tour of Auvers-sur-Oise, and walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh, who lived, worked, and is buried here. See the landscapes and village scenes captured in his paintings, OR:
- Classic: Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
Enjoy an afternoon sailing to La Roche Guyon. This evening, enjoy onboard live entertainment after dinner.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LA ROCHE GUYON
Monet's Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour.
- Active: Spend a fun and active day kayaking. Join an expert guide and paddle your way through areas accessible only by water, OR:
- Discovery: 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:
- Discovery: Take a Guided Tour to one of France's most remarkable castles—Château de La Roche - Guyon, perched on the picturesque chalk cliffs overlooking the village of La Roche - Guyon; during the visit, enjoy a tasting of local products.
- 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's Most Beautiful Riverbends.
- Active: Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart and a masterpiece of medieval military architecture, OR:
- Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France's most picturesque spots on the Seine. Visit Saint Sauveur's Church of Le Petit Andely.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship while sailing to Rouen.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ROUEN
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France
- Active: Pedal your way through hundreds of years of history on this Guided Bike Tour around Rouen, OR:
- Classic: Join a Guided Visit to the magnificent Musée des Beaux - Arts de Rouen to marvel at masterpieces in fine art. Be awed by one of the most outstanding collections of art in France—from the works of Rubens, Monet, Degas, and countless other masters, OR:
- Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—home of the martyred Saint Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
In the afternoon, you're free to explore the city on your own.
- Discovery: Enjoy an Onboard Lecture about the days before and after the Normandy landing of D - Day.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ROUEN
Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions
- Classic: Join a Guided Tour to get a taste of authentic tradition in the beautiful region of Normandy. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados, OR:
- Classic: Join a Guided Visit to the WWII landing beaches of Normandy. Take a full-day tour of 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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LE HAVRE
20th - Century Architecture and White Cliffs of Normandy
Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
- Active: Explore the city as only a local would: by bicycle. Cycle up to the quartier Saint François, OR:
- Discovery: Travel to Fecamp to visit the Palais Bénédictine where the world-famous Bénédictine liquor is made. Enjoy a short Self-Guided Tour followed by a cocktail workshop focused on the famous liquor, OR:
- Classic: Take a Guided Tour to Le Havre and discover the modern architecture of its city center, rebuilt by Auguste Perret and part of the World Heritage of Humanity.
Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the city on your own or enjoy an Optional Excursion in Honfleur.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LE HAVRE
Au Revoir, River Seine. Bonjour, Paris!
Bid farewell to your ship's crew and take a transfer to Paris. Take time to linger in a sidewalk café, shop for mementos, or take photographs of the city's picturesque bridges.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Life On Board
Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships. Read more
With the only Open-Air Balconies in river cruising, experience Europe with a view like no other in a Panorama Suite. Read more
Avalon features all the right inclusions which compliment your luxurious river cruise experience. Read more
Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more
Avalon's Active & Discovery river cruises offer activities for travellers with varying interests & for all energy and fitness levels. Read more
Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more
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Avalon River Cruises (2026)
or rushed schedules, just immersive journeys that keep you in the heart of each destination. Our modern Suite Ships sail
the world’s legendary rivers and waterways, placing you just steps from vibrant cities, charming villages, more and breathtaking scenery. Wake to Vienna at your doorstep, watch Budapest sparkle at night, or take in 360-degree views of the Rhine Gorge and Wachau Valley from the Sky Deck. Cycle through Cologne or Paris, savour fine cuisine in Lyon, or sample sweets in Linz, then retreat to your spacious suite without missing a moment.
From Southeast Asia and Egypt to the Amazon and Galápagos, Avalon offers a front-row seat to the world’s most extraordinary places—all while unpacking once. Backed by nearly a century of Swiss heritage, we infuse precision, care, and timeless craftsmanship into every journey. Welcome aboard the wideopen wonder of Avalon. Your journey begins here.
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Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
