Vineyards, Chateaux & Bordeaux

Begin your journey in Switzerland, where your Suite Ship awaits. Arrive in Zürich or Basel by 3 pm and board the ship by 5 pm. Spend your first evening exploring the ship and enjoying a delightful dinner. Overnight cruise to Breisach.

Start your day with a bike ride along the Rhine or a full-day guided tour to the enchanting Black Forest. Visit the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, an authentic water mill, and witness a traditional butter-making demonstration. Alternatively, explore Freiburg's medieval city center. You may also opt for a guided excursion to the charming village of Colmar. Overnight cruise to Strasbourg.

Discover Strasbourg by bike or join a city sightseeing tour, featuring the Gothic cathedral with its ancient murals and astronomical clock, and the magical La Petite France District. You may also choose to visit the historic Maginot Line or Alsace's wine country. Enjoy some free time in Strasbourg before an overnight cruise to Mainz.

Join an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' Way, or enjoy a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent renaissance treasure. Alternatively, take a guided city walk in Mainz, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship in the evening.

Enjoy a hike through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim or take a guided tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum. Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and marvel at the ancient castles perched on cliffs. Spend some free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment.

Enjoy a bike ride in Cologne or choose a guided walking tour of the city's important Jewish heritage sites. Alternatively, take a guided city walk of Cologne, featuring its soaring twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. Spend some free time enjoying a glass of Kölsch pale lager before an afternoon and overnight cruise to Amsterdam.

Start your day with an early morning walk in Amsterdam or explore the iconic waterways of the city on a guided canal cruise. You may choose to visit Keukenhof gardens or Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. Take some free time to explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops.

Board a high-speed train for Paris to embark on your Avalon Suite Ship. Enjoy dinner onboard this evening before an overnight cruise to Vernon.

Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles or take a guided tour of Giverny, the home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Alternatively, join a guided visit to Bizy Castle. Enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic crêpes, followed by a pastry demonstration. Later, visit the castle ruins of Château Gaillard or take a guided walking tour of Les Andelys. Overnight cruise to Caudebec.

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river or take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route, where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine. You may choose a guided optional excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur in the afternoon.

Join a guided tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, or take a full-day guided tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites. Alternatively, join 'A Taste of Normandy' guided tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. Visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry and taste Calvados at a local distillery. Overnight cruise to Rouen.

Take a guided bike tour to discover Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems or take a guided walking tour of the city, the site of Saint Joan of Arc's martyrdom. Visit the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Overnight cruise to Conflans.

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine or join a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, the home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Alternatively, take a guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison, home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. You may also choose an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles. Overnight cruise to Paris.

Experience the Seine river by foot or discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating guided walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more. Alternatively, join a guided city tour that shows you the iconic sites of Paris. Stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.

Travel to Bordeaux to board your Suite Ship and start your cruise on the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Enjoy dinner onboard this evening.

Take a guided tour of Château de la Brède, the birthplace of Montesquieu, or join a guided visit with wine tasting at a local château. Savor the sweet notes and fresh acidity of Sauternes, the beloved golden-yellow wine. Enjoy live entertainment on board your Suite Ship in the evening. Overnight docking in Cadillac-sur-Garonne.

Enjoy a relaxing morning sailing to Cussac Fort Médoc. Experience Bordeaux's finest wine region with a relaxing E-bike guided tour or take a guided visit to a historic château in the Médoc area and enjoy a tasting of their wonderful wines. Overnight docking in Cussac Fort Médoc.

Take a guided visit to the Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage site, followed by a panoramic drive along the famed Route de la Corniche. Alternatively, join a guided tour to discover Blaye from a different perspective, including a visit to a local art gallery with wine tasting. Enjoy free time in Bourg before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment.

Join a guided tour of the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site of legends and legendary landscapes. Later, sail to Bordeaux for an overnight docking.

Join a guided walking tour to discover the heart of Bordeaux with a stroll amid its stunning squares, avenues, and cathedrals sights. In the afternoon, consider an optional guided excursion to Les Bassins des Lumières for a breathtaking visit to the submarine base where art and music surround you in an immersive experience. Overnight docking in Bordeaux.

Join your Adventure Host for a bike ride along Bordeaux's postcard river views of the Les Quais or join a full-day guided tour of the seaside resort of Arcachon on the Atlantic coast. Gaze upon its 19th-century architectural treasures and taste its local delicacy of oysters and wine. Overnight docking in Bordeaux.

Your unforgettable 22-day tour comes to an end. After breakfast, bid farewell to Bordeaux and take home memories of a lifetime.