Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise with Lake Geneva and Golden Pass Extension - MS Lord Byron

Arrival in Avignon - Arrive for your flight to Nice, Marseille or Montpellier, where you will be met by a guide and escorted on a coach transfer to our ship moored in Avignon’s historic centre. The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you on board and help you to your cabin. After settling in to your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this five-star floating hotel.

Vienne - During breakfast this morning, we’ll slip our moorings and cruise north through one of the most spectacular sections of the Rhône Valley, as the river squeezes and twists pasts Condrieu, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon and Saint-Vallier, with wooded cliffs rising high on both sides. Traditionally these stretches were the most dangerous due to fierce currents and varying water levels but, with the waters now tamed by a series of locks whose complex mechanisms never cease to fascinate, you can relax on the Sun Deck taking in the exceptional views. After lunch we arrive in the ancient Roman stronghold of Vienne, first a Celtic settlement, then a Roman stronghold under Julius Caesar. Here you'll be taken by train for a captivating tour, hosted by a local expert. Strikingly located in a narrow section of the Rhône, where the river meanders dramatically around a steep bluff, Vienne is a treasure trove of historic remains, including the stunning Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, and a walk around its streets really brings its heritage to life. You will also have some free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the ship for dinner, during which we commence our cruise towards Chalon-sur-Saône.

Lyon - One of river cruising’s great pleasures is the fascination of waking in a completely different location and on waking this morning, the ship arrives in Lyon. After our last splendid breakfast, we’ve a leisurely start enjoying a guided tour of Lyon, one of France’s most fascinating cities. The Rhône Valley had been the route of choice for marauding armies and peaceful traders for centuries, and Lyon’s current site, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, cried out to be fortified. In 43 BC the Romans founded the city, which subsequently grew in importance; Emperor Claudius, conqueror of Britain, was born here. There are many Roman remains to see, but it was the production of silk that brought Lyon to prominence during the Middle Ages, and throughout the city you can see signs of the wealth that poured in – Renaissance buildings, imposing churches and Europe’s largest pedestrian square, Place Bellecour, with a statue of Louis XIV as its focus. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is crammed with antique shops and intriguing traboules – narrow covered passageways enabling silk merchants to transport their wares to the river without getting wet – that today are a joy to amble through. As well as its glorious architecture, Lyon is generally acknowledged as France’s (and to locals, the world’s) gastronomic capital. In fairness it has much to commend it: nouvelle cuisine was invented near here and the city boasts a huge array of speciality food shops and eateries, including 20 restaurants with one or more Michelin stars and countless little places to eat. It’s our final afternoon in which you are free to explore Lyon further or perhaps though, return to the sumptuous surroundings of your ship, head up on to the Sun Deck and just contemplate the wondrous places you have seen and experienced over a quiet cup of tea. This evening the Captain’s dinner takes place, serving specialities of the regions you have visited during your voyage of discovery through this fascinating country.

Day 1 of extension - Annecy - For those continuing with our three-night extension, we depart the ship in beautiful Lyon and head northeast to Geneva into the Bugey region. As we leave the city behind for the landscapes of the Haut-Rhône you’ll enjoy some of Europe’s most wonderful scenery so have your camera at the ready. The views are breathtaking, with gorges, lakes and marshes, interspersed with rich forest and pristine meadows and the world-famous alpine backdrop on the far horizon. We break for some free time and lunch at leisure in the delightful alpine town of Annecy where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. Wander the quaint cobbled streets of its charming old town where its winding canals weave their way amongst the pastel-coloured facades. The beautifully restored medieval stone walls and terracotta roofed turrets of the Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva, stands proud over the town. Today it contains a museum with a substantial collection of religious artworks, furniture and regional art and natural history exhibits. Sample some typical Savoie cuisine – a hearty bowl of gratin de crozets, a take on macaroni cheese with lardons, cream and local pasta made from buckwheat or perhaps indulge in a classic fondue! We continue our scenic drive this afternoon arriving in Lausanne or Montreux on the edge of spectacular Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Switzerland. The chic Montreux Riviera is renowned for its picture-perfect landscapes of glass lakes, pristine meadows and a sensational mountain backdrop that has attracted artists, writers and travellers through the ages in search of tranquillity and inspiration. We arrive at our hotel for the next three nights in either Montreux, or Lausanne. Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening and perhaps take a lakeside stroll along the palm-studded shores of this glistening lake.