La Belle Vie: The Rhone, Geneva & the Riviera

Tour begins: 6:30 PM, InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu. A transfer is included from Marseille Province International Airport or Marseille train station to InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu. Join us for a cocktail reception and dinner this evening at the hotel.

Start your day in Marseille, France's vibrant Mediterranean gateway, with an engaging introduction to its rich history and lively culture. A guided tour provides you with views of the city's iconic highlights, from the striking Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde with its sweeping harbor views to the atmospheric Old Port, where colorful fishing boats and bustling cafés set the scene. Afterward, the remainder of the day is spent as you please to pursue what interests you most at your own pace – perhaps exploring the charm of Le Panier, the historic heart of Marseille, with its narrow streets and artistic flair. strolling along the Corniche, visiting museums, or indulging in the city's renowned Provençal cuisine.

Travel to lovely Aix-en-Provence; it's not hard to imagine great artists like Vincent van Gogh or Paul Cézanne at work amidst the spectrum of colors found in Provence as you view Mont Ste-Victoire and join your local guide for a walking tour among the fountains, squares and medieval center. Early afternoon, travel to Arles, where you'll board ms Emerald and begin your journey in France along the Rhône and the Saône. The crew welcomes you aboard with a reception followed by dinner this evening.

Although the fortified city of Avignon was undoubtedly a pleasant place before they arrived, the 14th-century popes, who spent less than a century here when Rome became "tedious" for them, really put it on the map, and cultivated the local wine industry (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and an appreciation for good food. This morning, choose a visit to the fortress-like home that the pontiffs built for themselves, the Palais des Papes, a guided tour that brings you along the streets of Avignon for an exploration of the city's history and Jewish heritage dating back to the 13th century or an exploration of Avignon via mini train. After a free afternoon aboard ship, travel to the Duchy d'Uzès – a medieval city dating back to the 11th century, often called the "First Duchy of France," that forms the heart of the town of Uzès – for a guided visit followed by a cocktail reception and a Tauck Exclusive gala dinner at the recently restored Chateau.

With your riverboat docked in Avignon for the morning, you can spend more time exploring the medieval city or take a morning excursion to Saint-Remy-de-Provence – home to the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum, as well as the Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent van Gogh was a patient. After returning to the ship for lunch onboard, head out again for an afternoon wine tasting at one of the select vineyards permitted to produce Châteauneuf-du-Pape – literally "the New Castle of the Pope" – the most famous of the Côtes du Rhône wines; your host reveals secrets of the terroir as you sample estate-crafted red and white wines from a region that's been producing wine for more than 2,500 years! Catch up with the riverboat in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and spend the evening onboard.

Arrive this morning in Tain L'Hermitage, deep in the heart of Cote du Rhône wine country, where you'll have a choice of two sightseeing excursions this morning. Visit a local orchard (with tastings), take a mini-train through the Tain L'Hermitage heritage vineyards. Or, go on a fascinating 2.5 mile hike through the heritage vineyards of Tain L'Hermitage where you'll learn about the history of the region's wine. Reboard the riverboat midday and spend the remainder of the day cruising to Macon.

Your riverboat arrives in Mâcon on the Saône River this morning, for exploration in Cluny. During the reign of Charlemagne (742 - 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture; today you'll visit one of the great monasteries of the period when you tour the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. Founded in 910, it was at the center of this major monastic reform movement and was also the largest Christian building in the world until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. After some free time to explore Cluny on your own, reboard your riverboat and cruise to Chalon-sur-Saône.

Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame – this is considered the birthplace of photography. So you have local inventor Nicéphore Niépce, who started it all with several photographic firsts right here in the 1820s, to thank for the great photos of the town's Romanesque churches and other monuments. Visit the walled city of Beaune – the "wine capital" of the famous Burgundy wine-producing region, and one of France's most important wine centers. A walking tour includes a visit to Hospices de Beaune or Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, considered one of the best-preserved examples of 15th-century French architecture; you may also see the old market (les Halles), the Beffroi (clock tower), parts of the medieval walls and ramparts, and more. This afternoon you have a choice of wine tasting in Burgundy or a walking tour (and tasting tour) of Chalon-sur-Saône.

After cruising the Saône overnight, ms Emerald calls on Tournus this morning, from which you'll head out to explore the beautiful wine producing region of southern Burgundy, where history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), and vineyards are everywhere. Picture in your mind what a typical French vineyard looks like... and then view the most amazing landscape that surrounds you for miles and miles. Vineyards, gently rolling hills, orchards, red-tiled farmhouses, medieval cathedrals, the occasional village to stop in... and historic country estates like the 17th-century Château de Cormatin, which you'll explore on a visit today. With its moat, drawbridge, turrets, gilded rooms and parklike grounds – including the mazes and fountains of its completely restored "pleasure garden" that's now among the finest in France – this classic Burgundy château takes you back through the centuries. Return to the riverboat in Tournus for lunch, and continue your cruise this afternoon and evening to France's culinary capital, Lyon.

Ahh, Lyon. If you're a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! But of course there is more to this 2,000 year-old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, than food. Your day includes getting a panoramic view of Lyon from the hilltop district of Fouvière; a visit to the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière – built in the 1870s on "the hill that prays," it features exquisite marble work, stained glass windows, colorful mosaics and gilt galore; a tour of medieval Vieux Lyon; and a free afternoon to explore more of the city as you please. As your riverboat spends the night docked in Lyon, join us aboard ship for our farewell reception followed by dinner and onboard entertainment.

Today you'll experience the timeless appeal of Geneva on a sightseeing journey that highlights its charm and sophistication. View the city's Old Town, where cobblestone streets and historic architecture offer glimpses into its storied past – and the serene beauty of Lake Geneva, a backdrop to this cosmopolitan city's vibrant cultural life, inspires. Your afternoon is free to spend as you please in Geneva, providing time to for a variety of sightseeing such as a stroll along Lake Geneva's scenic promenade, exploring the Jet d'Eau, a visit to a diverse array of museums including such as Patek Philippe Museum, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, the Museum of Art and History and more, or exploring the cobblestone lanes of Old Town where you'll find St. Peter's Cathedral, charming hidden courtyards and boutique shops offering a variety of items from antiques to artisanal goods and fine jewelry. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel along the promenade.

Tour ends: 8:00 AM Geneva. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel President Wilson to Geneva Airport or Gare de Genève is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.