Spectacular South of France with Paris

Welcome to Paris where you will check in to your luxury hotel.

The glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the night sky meandering along the banks of the Seine as you see local life passing by and chic cafes lining the Champs-Élysées are just some of the images conjured when thinking about Paris.

After breakfast, explore Paris with your choice of Scenic Freechoice excursions.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Guided tour of Paris: Journey via coach through the City of Light. You'll see some of the city's most mesmerising districts and monuments. Drive along the banks of the beautiful Seine River and pass Palais Garnier, the 19th century opera house, the Louvre, one of the world's largest art museums, and the impressive Les Invalides complex.
• Secrets of Montmartre: Step back in time as you trapse the winding cobblestone streets of the district that has been home to many famous artists for centuries and once you see the beauty of this district you will understand why. See some of the quirky characteristics of the district including the greenspace in the middle of the city, the vineyard of Montmartre that produces some 27 varieties of wine.

After breakfast, transfer via high speed train to Lyon where you will embark the Scenic Sapphire. Our friendly crew will be excited to welcome you on board ready for your 10 night cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers.

Cruising upstream on the Saône this morning, enjoy the vistas from your Scenic Space-Ship as you arrive in Macon, gateway to exploring the south Burgundy region.

Scenic Freechoice: Choose from today's Scenic Freechoice activities:

• Beaujolais wine region: Drive through the rolling hills of the world-famous Beaujolais wine region and meet a local vintner. Discover how this wine is produced and enjoy sampling some of the region's best drops.
• Georges Blanc cooking demonstration: Learn the story of the village of Vonnas, a gourmet destination home to Michelin-star chef George Blanc. Visit one of his famed restaurants for an interactive cooking demonstration featuring classic French dishes.
• Excursion to Cluny and Cluny Abbey: Step back in time to the medieval town of Cluny, which is famous for its Benedictine Abbey, once the largest Christian buildings in the world. Tour the impressive town, learn about its history and soak up its charm during some free time.
• Berzé-le-Châtel Castle - 13 Towers & Medieval Heritage: Discover Château de Berzé-le-Châtel, a magnificent medieval fortress in the heart of Burgundy, renowned for its impressive architecture and rich history. Explore its remarkably preserved keep, thirteen towers, ramparts and fortified walls encircling picturesque gardens.

Tonight, sit down to an exclusive dinner on board prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Didier Goiffon. This intimate dining experience in Crystal Dining allows you to experience authentic flavours in exquisite regional dishes that showcase the best of French gastronomy.

Cruise overnight to Chalon-sur-Saône.

This morning, wake up in Chalon-sur-Saône, a charming Burgundy town of waterfront promenades, historic facades and gently stirring café terraces along the banks.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Beaune & Its Hospice - A Heritage Journey: Travel through vineyard-lined Burgundy hills to the beautiful town of Beaune, capital of Burgundy wines, where cobbled streets, charming cellars and lively squares showcase its rich heritage. Your visit culminates at the iconic Hôtel-Dieu, the Hospices de Beaune, a 15th-century medieval hospital famed for its flamboyant Gothic architecture, colourful tiled roofs and atmospheric halls that reveal the town's enduring legacy of wine, philanthropy and art.
• Capital of Burgundy Wines - Tour & Tasting: Discover Beaune, the charming historic heart of Burgundy's wine country, as you stroll its medieval streets and soak in the town's rich heritage. Visit a renowned wine cellar, a fascinating underground space steeped in tradition, where your experience concludes with a guided tasting of elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, an unforgettable treat for wine lovers.

This afternoon enjoy the picturesque landscapes as we cruise along the Saône River to Tournus.

Wake in the historic town of Tournus for a day of exploration with your choice of Scenic Freechoice to suit your pace and taste.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Excursion to Château de Cormatin: Transfer by coach to the historic Château de Cormatin, built in 1606. The castle boasts a fascinating history and has been lovingly restored back to its original glory. Admire the castle's gilded rooms, moat, water features and more than 10 hectares of manicured gardens on a guided tour.
• Truffle tasting: Meet a local truffle farmer and his hound to learn the tricks and techniques of truffle farming. Afterwards, enjoy tasting of truffle butter plus chocolate mousse with truffles.
• Tour of Tournus: Stroll through the picturesque, narrow streets lined with pastel-coloured buildings on a captivating journey through Tournus' rich historical and cultural heritage. Highlights include the remarkable Hôtel-Dieu, a beautifully restored hospital from the 18th century, and the stunning Saint-Philibert Abbey, dating back to the 12th century.
• From oak tree to barrel: perhaps stay on board and enjoy a cooperage demonstration. A skilled artisan will show you the secret of this ancient art and learn how it still plays a crucial role in wine and spirit making.

Later we return to Lyon where the city illuminates against the night sky

Greet the day in Lyon. You may like to arrange for your butler to deliver a coffee to your suite and enjoy it in your private Scenic Sun Lounge before venturing out for the day. Sitting at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon was founded by the Romans in 43BC. Since the mid-1500s it has been a financial and industrial powerhouse and today is recognised as France's culinary capital. The city is home to more than 4,000 restaurants – including 20 that hold Michelin stars – and eating well is a way of life.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Guided tour of Lyon: Discover Lyon's historic significance as you traverse its hidden traboules and secret passageways that date back to the fourth century. Then visit the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière, offering a fabulous vantage point for views across Lyon.
• Excursion to Pérouges: Visit this medieval walled village, located atop a hill overlooking the Ain River. It has been beautifully preserved, featuring vine-covered stone buildings, cobbled laneways and a market square centred around a centuries-old lime tree. Please note: Due to uneven surfaces and a lot of walking both up and down hill, this tour is recommended only for guests with a high degree of fitness.
• Silk painting workshop: Lyon has a rich heritage of silk production that dates back almost five centuries to when Louis XI chose the city as a potential base for the silk weaving industry. In the 19th century, silk was one of the city's largest industries. During this workshop, you'll learn about the history and process of silk painting.

Scenic Enrich:

• Choral concert at Chapelle de la Trinite: Tonight, admire the beauty of one of the city's grand Baroque buildings, Trinity Chapel. Built in the 17th century, the interior is decadently covered in Carrara marble. Exclusive to Scenic guests, you will be immersed in a breath-taking acapella choir performance in this wonderful setting.

Arrive in the picturesque town of Tournon this afternoon. This hillside village is known for its terraced vineyards, enchanting castle dating back to the 10th century and quaint cobblestoned streets.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Walking tour of Tournon: Explore the town on foot. Learn its fascinating history and visit the castle, built between the 10th and 16th centuries, that still dominates this town. Enjoy free time afterwards. You may like to cross France's oldest suspension bridge to the neighbouring town of Tain l'Hermitage, home to prestigious chocolatiers Valrhona.
• Hiking through the vineyards in Tournon: Get close to nature as you hike through the sloping vineyards that overlook the Rhône River above Tournon. Learn about the local wine production and taste some of the delicious drops of the region.
• Biking along the Rhône: Cycle the picturesque banks of the Rhône River past charming villages and spectacular scenery to the nearby village of Glun.

Back on board this evening, indulge in an exquisite dessert buffet, where the artistry of a local pastry chef brings classic French cakes to life. Savour a variety of beautifully displayed desserts, each slice a masterpiece that pairs perfectly with fine coffee or a glass of dessert wine.

This morning you will arrive in Viviers, often described as an open-air museum thanks to its rich medieval heritage and architecture. The town was founded in the fifth century, and as you walk down the narrow, zig-zagging lanes, you will feel as though little has changed in the past 1,600 years. At its peak in the Middle Ages, Viviers was home to 30,000 people, today less than 4,000 people live here, happily secluded in their own world.

Scenic Freechoice: The choice is yours with this morning's Scenic Freechoice:

• Walking tour of Viviers: Join a local guide to explore Viviers on foot. Admire its many monuments and architectural treasures such as the Cathedral of St. Vincent – first built in the 11th century, it is now resplendent in 18th century Gothic style with a Renaissance facade. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore Viviers at your leisure.
• Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum: Explore the mountains and medieval fortress ruins of this sprawling park. Then be immersed in the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, the largest decorated Palaeolithic cave replica in the world. The original site was deemed too fragile for public access, so this replica cave was built only a few kilometres from the actual cave.
• Excursion to Grignan de Provence: Join your local guide on an exploration of the beautiful provincial town of Grignan. See the mighty castle that dominates the town as well as the Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour before enjoying some time at leisure.

This afternoon, we cruise towards Avignon.

Wake in the ancient city of Avignon. Known as the ‘City of the Popes', Avignon is rich in history and astounding medieval architecture. At the same time, it also has a youthful energy and a buzzing arts scene. Encompassed by fortified walls, the former papal capital is home to the World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace), one of the largest surviving Gothic palaces in Europe, and the remaining four arches of the famous Pont d'Avignon bridge, which was once the only way to cross the Rhône between Lyon and the Mediterranean Sea.

Scenic Freechoice: Select your choice from this morning's Scenic Freechoice:

• Walking tour of Avignon including a visit to the Popes Palace: From the ship, you will be guided on a walk through Avignon, visiting the historic city walls and the Pope's Palace, home to the Papacy and seat of Western Christianity in the 14th century. Avignon is filled with cobblestoned streets and the palace has numerous steps, so a moderate degree of fitness is required for this tour.
• Shop with a Chef & Scenic Culinaire: Join your Scenic chef to visit the local market where you will shop for and sample the best ingredients this region has to offer. Return to the ship for an interactive cooking demonstration at Scenic Culinaire cooking demonstration. (Please note: Avignon Market is closed on a Monday).
• Excursion to Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey: Visit the village of Gordes, considered one of the most beautiful in France. Its stone buildings spiral around the rock on which it is perched, with the church and castle at the apex. Later, visit the picturesque Sénanque Abbey.

This afternoon is at your leisure to further explore Avignon at your own pace. If you're feeling energetic, walk up Le Rocher des Doms. Set 30 metres above the river, it offers excellent views over the city as well as a pretty English-style garden with shady trees, fountains and ponds.

Scenic Enrich:

• Classical concert at the Palais des Papes: When the doors are closed to the general public, you'll have one of the most visited sites in France to yourself. Upon arrival, you will be ushered into the grandiose palace for an exclusive gala dinner and classical concert in the Grand Tinel room where the Pope used to dine. Be immersed in the beauty of famous classical pieces, which gain a new fascinating dimension inside the palace's walls.

Your Space-Ship remains in Avignon overnight.

Explore more of the charming city of Avignon today with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences that feel uniquely French.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Excursion to Pont Du Gard: Visit the ancient Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, on a guided tour. Dating to the middle of the first century, this engineering masterpiece was designed to carry water to the city of Nîmes.
• Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape: The fertile banks of the Rhône are peppered with Côte du Rhône vineyards, including at the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where centuries of wine production make for a fascinating history. Take this opportunity to sample some of the region's most celebrated wines.
• Lavender Museum with visit to the village of Roussillon: One of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, Roussillon and its Ochre Trail are among the main attractions on Luberon's ochre circuit. Take a guided tour through this charming village before a visit to a local lavender producer where you will learn how Lavender is grown, harvested and utilised in this region of the South of France.

Cruise to Arles this afternoon.

Wake up in Arles in the Provence region and close to the Mediterranean coast. Founded around 56BC by Julius Caesar, the city has a rich Roman heritage and is thought to have the largest number of Roman ruins outside the Eternal City itself. The remnants of ancient monuments, theatres, baths and administrative buildings are strewn along the river's left bank. It was also the home of Vincent van Gogh in 1888 and he drew inspiration from the landscape for many of his paintings and drawings.

Scenic Freechoice: Explore the city with one of today's Scenic Freechoice:

• Guided tour of Arles: Join a local guide for an insightful walking tour. Departing from the ship, you'll visit the heart of Arles to see the ancient Roman amphitheatre, Arènes d'Arles, a 20,000-seat arena that was built in 90 AD, that's still in use today. Experience the vibrant colours and striking quality of light that has inspired many artists.
• Visit Les Baux with Carrières des Lumières: Journey to the stunning medieval village of Les Baux. Visit a former quarry that is now the site of Carrières des Lumières, an enormous 7,000 square-metre site that hosts an immersive visual and musical installation highlighting the works of notable artists.
• Ancestry of the Kitchen with olive mill: Visit a local farm where you will learn the techniques of olive oil production. Later, the owner will share their experience of life in this region as well as traditional Provençal recipes.
• Following Vincent – Van Gogh's Arles: Step into the vibrant world of Vincent van Gogh on a walking tour. Trace the artist's journey through the streets and historic sites that inspired some of his most famous works during his 15 months in this charming Provençal town, experiencing the colours and atmosphere that shaped his genius.

Relax on board this afternoon or further explore Arles on own. You could take a seat on the Sun Deck and watch the picturesque landscapes as you enjoy a glass of local wine.

Your journey concludes this morning. Farewell your fellow guests and Scenic crew and transfer to Marseille airport, taking memories that will last a lifetime.

Scenic transfers are only available for flights departing out of Marseille after 11:00 AM.

Scenic transfers are only available for flights departing out of Nice after 1:00 PM. Please contact us if you wish to secure this option.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. Please refer to our terms and conditions.

Please note: Preview itinerary subject to change.