River cruise on the Rhône and Saône

First, traveling along the gently flowing Saône, you will be accompanied on your way south by enchanting views of wide reed belts, old barges, and a variety of waterfowl. The impetuous Rhône, whose power is tamed by massive lock systems, then captivates you with unique panoramas of rugged mountains, ancient towns, castles, and palaces, as well as vast vineyards and orchards. This is pure fascination of river cruising.

Day 1 | Arrival – Embarkation

Chalon-sur-Saône

Bus transfer to Chalon-sur-Saône, where the MS Mistral is ready for embarkation. After settling into your cabin, you will meet the crew at a welcome reception and then take your seat in the ship's restaurant for your first dinner. The MS Mistral departs Chalon and sails downstream on the Saône towards Mâcon.

Day 2 | Mâcon – Vienne

After breakfast, you will embark on an excursion to the beautiful wine region of Beaujolais and visit the impressive wine museum Hameau du Vin. Of course, you will not leave the Beaujolais region without tasting the famous wine of the area. You will meet your ship again in Belleville just in time for lunch, after which it will continue on the Saône and then on the Rhône from Lyon to Vienne, arriving there in the evening.

Day 3 | Vienne – Ardèche – Viviers

In the early morning, the MS Mistral departs Vienne and sails past Condrieu in the heart of the renowned wine region of Côtes Rôties to the long-stretched famous vineyards of Côtes du Rhône. You will pass the city of Valence with its St-Appollinaire Cathedral, opposite which lies the fortress of Crussol towering high above the river. After lunch, you will embark on a panoramic drive to the famous gorges of Ardèche. The journey first leads downstream on the Rhône to Bourg-St-Andéol and from there to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Here, the Ardèche has carved through a rock wall, creating a magnificent natural arch bridge: the 34-meter-high