Chardonnay
Canal du Rhone at Sete and Rhone River

The graceful Chardonnay is one of Europe's most spacious river cruisers, carrying 50 passengers in conditions of supreme comfort:  main deck with a forward panoramic salon, lounge with piano bar, and reception hall with boutique and dining room.

The 23 suites all have private lounge areas adjoining the bedrooms, comfortable armchairs, outward facing windows/portholes, and bathrooms with separate toilets.  The upper deck has a large sundeck with a fitness and recreation area, and 2 jacuzzis.

The Chardonnay invites you on a voyage of discovery of the blissful sunny Provence region and the enchanting Camargue.  The itinerary takes you between Andance on the majestic river Rhone to the sun-baked fishing poty of Sete located on the Rhone-Sete Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, on the edge of the wild and mysterious Camargue Regional Park.

Saturday, DAY 1   Andance to Tournon
Meeting point: 4pm at the Hôtel Le Méridien Part-Dieu in Lyon (alternate weeks: Hôtel Sofitel Antigone in Montpellier). Coach transfer to the Chardonnay moored in the village of Andance. Welcome on board with cocktails. Cruise to the graceful old town of Tournon, facing the vineyards of Tain l"Hermitage.

Sunday, DAY 2  Tournon to Viviers
Guided tour of the château of Tournon, followed by a visit to a wine cellar and wine tasting. Cruise to Viviers.

Monday, DAY 3  Viviers to Avignon
Visit Nyons, best known as the olive oil capital of Provence. Visit a press to see how the oil is made and also a lavender distillery to see how another typical product of the region is processed. Cruise to Avignon where you have time to stroll the town.

Tuesday, DAY 4 Avignon to Arles 
Walking tour of Avignon, the massive stone city walls, the impressive Papal Palace. We stay moored in Avignon for most of the afternoon to allow free time to explore the narrow back streets, and shopping. Depart early evening and cruising to Arles. 

Wednesday, DAY 5 Arles to Aigues Mortes
Guided walking tour of Arles such as the Roman theatre and amphitheatre and the elegant 12c church of St. Trophime with its famous cloisters, then cruise through the heart of the Camargue, which is famous for its small black bulls, wild white horses and pink flamingos, where there will be a short guided walking tour of Aigues-Mortes, originally a fortified seaport built by St Louis (Louis IX) .

Thursday, DAY 6 Aigues Mortes to Sete
Cruise past lakes that abound in wildlife; especially typical of the area are flocks of pink flamingos, summer visitors from Africa. We moor in the early afternoon in Sète and there will be a short tour in the coach to the summit of Mont St Claire to admire the view of the old town and over the Mediterranean after which we drive around the étang de Thau to the charming town of Marseillan at the end of the Canal du Midi. Here we visit the Noilly Prat building to discover how the famous Vermouth has been produced here since the early nineteenth century. We return to the Chardonnay at her mooring in Sète.

Friday, DAY 7 Sete
Coach transfer to Nimes.