16 Day Road, Rail and River Cruise Holdiay in France
From AU$4,715* + 2,500* credits per person, twin share
Owner Exclusive! Get up to $550 per person Travel by Wyndham Dollars^
Exclusive to Club Wyndham South Pacific owners. You will get Travel Club by Wyndham Dollars to spend on travel arrangements in conjunction with this trip. You can spend your travel dollars on flights, extra accommodation, touring, car hire or travel insurance. The choice is yours. See the 'Rates' tab below to find out how much you can receive.
12 August 2022 or 21 October 2022
Few countries inspire travellers quite like France. It is a land of elegant culture and fine cuisine, set against a dramatic backdrop of rolling countryside, rustic villages and chic cities. Itâs no surprise that France has inspired some of Europeâs most famous artists, sculptors, fashion designers and more.
Discover Normandy with your own hire car and explore battlefields, the stunning Mont-Saint-Michelle and the countless villages and historical sites. Make sure to visit Rouen, awarded âUNESCO City of Gastronomyâ Status, and discover local shops and markets.
Then itâs off to Paris where youâre spend 3 nights in this romantic city and indulge yourself in Parisian food and style. Browse the galleries and museums or stroll through the many gardens, visit the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, or take in a show at the famous Moulin Rouge. Youâll leave Paris by First Class high-speed train as you head south towards Lyon, where youâll board your luxury River Ship for a leisurely cruise on the Saone and Rhone Rivers to Arles.
Journeying south along the SaĂ´ne and RhĂ´ne takes you on a trip through Franceâs charming and ever-interesting past. Roman ruins, the sites of the French Revolution, and the former papal residency all contribute to the regionâs enigmatic history.
Cutting a dramatic course through mountain ranges and winemaking regions, the RhĂ´ne is dotted with 16th-century castles and Roman ruins â offering an insight into the incredible past of this part of the world. The fortified city of Avignon is awash with historical intrigue, boasting the remnants of Celtic beginnings, Roman invasions and a 68-year period when the city was the centre of the Catholic church.
The Palais des Papes is a highlight of our RhĂ´ne river cruise. The medieval Gothic palace served as the seat of the papacy from 1309 to 1377. Sat atop ancient Avignon, the Palais des Papes looks protectively over the beautiful old city, which still boasts fortified ramparts, ancient city walls and a medieval old town centre. Your holiday ends in the coastal city of Nice.
Rates
| Prices are Per Person, Twin Share Travel by Wyndham Dollars are per person. Please enquire for Solo rates |
||
| Holiday Dates | From Price | Travel by Wyndham Dollars |
| 12 Aug – 27 Aug 2022 | AU$5,375* + 2,500* credits | $550^ |
| 21 Oct – 5 Nov 2022 | AU$4,715* + 2500* credits | $495^ |
| . | ||
| Bookings subject to availability. Valid for sale until 31 July 2022, Unless Sold Out Prior. 1 Housekeeping Token will apply. | ||
Inclusions
YOUR CRUISE INCLUDES
- 5 Day Automatic car hire from Paris
- 5 Nights accommodation at Club Wyndham Normandy in a 1 Bedroom Deluxe.
- 3 Nights 4-star accommodation in central Paris
- High-speed First-Class TGV rail from Paris to Lyon
- 7 Night Premier River Cruise from Lyon to Nice including:
- Accommodation in a category E Emerald Stateroom with picture window
- The services of a dedicated cruise director
- Port taxes, charges, all tipping and gratuities
- 20 superb meals including 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
- A Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
- Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
- Visit to the Hospices de Beaune
- Guided tour of Lyon
- Guided tour of Tournon
- Guided tour of Viviers
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
- Alternative tours and activities for active travellers
- Cheese and olive tasting on board
- Silk presentation on board
- Regional wine tasting on board
- Provençal dinner hosted by local Chef Fabien Morreale
ITINERARY
Day 1 â 5 âNormandy
Arrive into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and collect your vehicle. Drive to your Club Wyndham Normandy, your home base to explore the stunning and historical Normandy area.
Day 6 â 8 âParis
Drive back to Charles de Gaulle Airport where you will drop off your car and make your own way to your centrally-located Paris hotel using easy public transport links. Youâll have 3 nights to spend exploring the capital. Why not book yourself into a show at the Moulin Rouge, or visit the Palace of Versailles. Whatever you choose to do, Paris will never disappoint â indulge in delicious food, Parisian romance and incredible sightseeing.
Day 9 â Paris â Lyon (Embark River Cruise)
Check out of your Paris hotel and make your way to nearby Gare de Lyon station where you will board your high-speed TGV train and travel in First Class direct to Lyon.
On the confluence of the RhĂ´ne and SaĂ´ne rivers, Lyon can be found set across twin hills. Here, you will be board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship.
Day 10 – Chalon-sur-SaĂ´ne â Beaune
Chalon-sur-SaĂ´ne is known for its art and history. Today, you will have the opportunity to witness the areas architectural heritage and peaceful surrounds as you travel to the quaint village of Beaune and visit the Hospices de Beaune, originally a hospital for the poor, and now home to one of Burgundyâs most popular wine auctions.
Highlight – A cheese and olive tasting on board
Excursion – Visit to the Hospices de Beaune
Day 11 – Lyon
Franceâs third-largest city, Lyon is a former Roman capital, steeped in history and considered to be the gastronomic heartbeat of the country and the home of traditional Lyonnaise cuisine.
Today, enjoy a guided tour of Lyon, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, part of the inscribed historic site of Lyon. Wander through the city and soak in its vividly illustrated history, as buildings from all time periods can be seen adorning narrow cobblestone streets. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour of Lyon.
Active option – A guided bike tour of Lyon
Excursion – A guided tour of Lyon
Highlight – Silk presentation on board
Day 12 – Tournon
The picturesque village of Tournon borders the gently meandering RhĂ´ne, dominated by a 16th-century castle that overlooks the village and a number of iconic landmarks, including a set of ancient watchtowers. Your guided tour of the village will showcase its intangible cultural heritage, granting every opportunity for you to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Alternatively, embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike through some of the local vineyards. Later, a guided bike tour to Glun will showcase rural life in the French countryside.
Highlight – A regional wine tasting on board
Active option – A guided bike tour to Glun or A guided hike through the vineyards
Excursion – A guided tour of Tournon
Day 13 – Viviers
Arrive in Viviers, a town with much Middle Age flair and home to one of Franceâs oldest cathedrals. Your included walking tour of Viviers will showcase some of its numerous listed monuments, along with their ornate windows and lavish façades.
Excursion – A guided tour of Viviers
Day 14 – Avignon
Avignon has a rich history, from Celtic beginnings to being the residence of the Pope and central to the French Revolution. Your included walking tour of Avignon will take you past the ornate beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes, as well as Pont dâAvignon, an ancient stone bridge crossing the RhĂ´ne. This afternoon is yours to explore at leisure.  This evening, return to your Star-Ship for a delightful Provençal dining experience, expertly prepared by Top Chef finalist, Fabien Morreale.
Highlight – Provençal dinner hosted by local Chef Fabien Morreale
Active option – A canoeing excursion in Avignon
Excursion – A guided tour of Avignon
Day 15 – Arles
The past is yours to discover in Arles, once an important Phoenician trading port that was captured by the Romans, who peppered the city with iconic monuments. Today, your included tour of the city will showcase some of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles, showcasing how the city has evolved over the centuries. Visit the 2,000-year-old Arles Amphitheatre and follow in the footsteps of world-renowned artist, Vincent van Gogh. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure, perhaps stopping at a local cafĂŠ or returning to your Star-Ship to relax on board.
Excursion – A guided tour of Arles with arena visit
Day 16 – Arles â Nice
After breakfast, itâs time to bid farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of the idyllic French countryside and delightful cuisine with you.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
Terms & Conditions
*Terms & Conditions:
- Bookings subject to availability.
- Prices are per person twin share, in Australian Dollars.
- Pricing correct as of 6 July 2022 and may fluctuate due to changes in availability, surcharges, fees or taxes.
- Standard Travel Club Terms and Conditions apply.
- The river cruise portion of this holiday is offered and managed by Emerald Cruises and their terms and conditions apply.
- Car hire, rail and accommodation are subjecct to change until final payment has been received.
- Normandy accommodation is basedin Club Wyndham Normandy. 1 housekeeping token will apply to your stay. Club Wyndham South Pacific rules and conditions apply.
- No airfares are included in the featured package, but assistance with booking can be provided.
- Cancellation and change fees apply. Bookings are non-transferable.
- Travel insurance is not included in the package. Please ensure you have valid Travel Insurance, or request a quotation.
^Travel by Wyndham Dollar Terms and Conditions: This offer is exclusively available to Club Wyndham South Pacific owners, and one guest travelling in the same stateroom as the owner, based on twin share occupancy, maximum two people. Travel by Wyndham Dollars are to be spent on travel items relating to the booked river cruise only, and is limited to international flights to UK/Europe and internal flights within UK/Europe, pre and/or post cruise accommodation, pre and/or post cruise touring, pre and/or post cruise car hire or travel insurance. Arrangements are limited to flights, hotels, tours,car hire and insurance normally offered for sale by Travel by Wyndham from any of our preferred suppliers. Travel by Wyndham dollars must be used in conjunction with the same river cruise departure within this promotion or they are forfeited. Dollars are not exchangeable for cash. If the full advertised amount of Travel by Wyndham Dollars are not used in conjunction with the booked river cruise they are unable to be transferred to an alternate trip. Any arrangements booked using Travel by Wyndham dollars are non-refundable regardless of the reason for cancellation.
