Compare Provence & Spain by AMA Waterways vs Easy Pace Spain - Classic Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
3.5 | Average
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 14 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 3,099 | $ 3,575 |
| Price Per Day | $ 221 | $ 325 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small ship cruise | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Basic |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
13 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
From the magic of Paris to the romance of Barcelona, this itinerary is truly captivating. Begin with three nights in Paris, then travel in style aboard the high-speed TGV train to Lyon. From there, cruise through France’s legendary wine growing regions, home to such famous vintages as Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône. Marvel at ancient Roman ruins, stroll through medieval villages and shop for Provencal crafts. Your itinerary includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Avignon as well as Arles, the city where Vincent Van Gogh spent much of his life. Conclude your journey with three nights in magnificent Barcelona. |
See the best of Spain during a leisurely 10-day guided tour. Barcelona boasts an impressive Old Town, which you will see with a Local Expert. They will wind you though the medieval maze of the Gothic Quarter, down the city’s main shopping avenue, and to the Sagrada Família — a Roman basilica with towering mosaic spires that pierce the sky. Dip your toes into the Bay of Biscay when you visit the seaside resort town of San Sebastián, and enjoy a progressive dinner featuring bite-sized treats paired with local Txakoli wine. In Madrid, see the Royal Palace alongside a Local Expert, then meet an art historian for a one-of-a-kind tour of the Prado Museum, one of the world’s greatest art galleries. |
Day 1: Arrive In Paris, France
Arrive in Paris and check in to your hotel. The balance of the day is yours to start exploring this beautiful city.
Day 2: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Today, you’ll visit Notre Dame and then enjoy some free time to explore the “City of Light.” Afterwards, you’ll see some of the most famous sights on a panoramic city tour, followed by a photo stop at Champs de Mars for views of the Eiffel Tower.
Day 3: Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Today is yours to enjoy however you wish. Explore Paris’ multitude of landmarks, museums, cafes and shops.
Day 4: Paris – Lyon – Embarkation
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After checking out of your hotel, you will board the TGV high-speed train that will whisk you through the French countryside to Lyon. Nestled between the Saône and Rhone rivers, Lyon is one of France’s most important cities and its gastronomic capital. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time for lunch on your own before an exclusive hands-on cooking lesson. Later, transfer to your luxurious ship, where you will gather with your fellow travelers at tonight’s festive Welcome Dinner. (B,D)
Day 5: Lyon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, you will visit Fourvière Hill, part of the city’s historic region that is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. After some free time to see Notre Dame Basilica and take in majestic views of Lyon, you will join a panoramic tour that will take you past the Place Bellecour with its equestrian statue of Louis XIV, Place des Terreaux with Bartholdi’s Fountain and the Town Hall. Later, enjoy a walking tour of Old Lyon. The afternoon is free to enjoy however you wish.
Day 6: Collonges – Vienne
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning’s tour will take you through the enchanting Beaujolais wine region, also known as the Pays d’Or or “land of the golden stones,” named for the richly colored limestone used to build local homes and castles. You will visit the medieval hilltop village of Oingt as well as the home of a local vintner who will invite you for a wine tasting and vineyard tour as he shares the history of the region’s wine production. Return to the ship in the afternoon and continue cruising towards Vienne. Upon arrival, make the most of your free time and venture about on your own or simply unwind on board.
Day 7: Vienne – Tournon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne’s Roman past can be seen in its marvelously preserved ruins. This morning, choose from one of three options to explore Vienne this morning. Your first option is to take a walking tour and see an ancient Roman temple, the ruins of a Roman theater, and the medieval Abbey Church of St. Pierre, today an Archaeological Museum. Your second option is a guided bike tour along a portion of the ViaRhôna bike route. Your third option is a guided hike from the ship up to the Monastery at Mount Pipet and back. Your ship departs at midday for Tournon.
Day 8: Tournon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
You have one of three options in which to enjoy your morning in Tournon. Your first option is an exciting ride in a panoramic train car as you discover the magnificent landscape carved along the Gorge du Doux. After riding through the gorge, you will stop at the charming little station of Colombier le Vieux-Saint Barthélemy le Plain, where you can watch the train maneuver in preparation for its return journey. Your second option is a visit to Le Chateau de Tournon for a very special presentation and tasting with a local expert on the paring of red wine and chocolate. Your third option is a hike followed by a wine tasting in the village of Tain Hermitage.
Day 9: Viviers – Avignon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, you’ll have a choice of one of three different activities. Your first option is to travel by motor coach to Avignon, site of the bridge made famous by the French children’s song "On the Bridge of Avignon." Seven popes once resided in the magnificent Papal Palace, which you will visit during your walking tour. You will also see the well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your second option is to take an excursion to the impressive Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that is a masterpiece of ancient engineering and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your third option is a Provencal cooking lesson with a local chef where you will learn how to prepare a savory local dish. Later, enjoy an excursion to Grignan, a hilltop village surrounded by lavender fields. The village’s Renaissance castle provides a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Afterwards, you will visit a truffle farm and learn about truffle harvesting.
Day 10: Avignon – Les Baux – Arles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, you will arrive in Arles and board a motor coach for an excursion to the village of Les Baux de Provence. The village’s castle has a fascinating exhibit of medieval weapons. Later, visit an olive farm to learn about this age-old Provençal farming tradition. Alternatively, take the Artist Experience tour to the the Carrières de Lumières, a stone quarry that projects artwork on its walls, and then Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum, where Van Gogh once lived and painted such well-known works as The Irises and Starry Night. Later this afternoon, you have your choice between a city tour of Arles that will show you the city’s top sights, including the Romanesque cathedral and Roman amphitheater, or a guided bike tour through to the Roman ruins. The ship moors overnight in Arles.
Day 11: Arles – Disembarkation – Barcelona, Spain
Meals: Breakfast
Disembark your ship in Arles and transfer to Barcelona via the TGV high-speed train.
Day 12: Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast
Your full day in Barcelona begins with a driving tour to the Gothic Quarter in the medieval center of the city. Next, you will go to the top of Montjuic Hill where you will enjoy glorious views of the city below. During your tour, you will see some of Antoni Gaudi’s unique architectural works, including Casa Milà, Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Familia, the basilica and UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been under construction for over a century. The evening is yours to explore Barcelona on your own.
Day 13: Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast
Your last day in Barcelona is yours to explore at your leisure.
Day 14: Depart Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast
Bid farewell to Barcelona and prepare for your homeward flight.
Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona
Airport transfers depart from Barcelona airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:00. Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, as you get to know your fellow travellers over Spanish delicacies and regional wines.
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Dinner with Wine
Day 2: Barcelona, the City of Gaudí Relaxed Start
The lively port of Barcelona boasts an impressive Old Town, although it’s the daring architecture of the Catalan Art Nouveau that really sets it apart. Sightseeing with your Local Expert begins a drive down the Passeig de Gràcia to Gaudí's Sagrada Família. Venture inside the leviathan of the Eixample where a tree canopy carved from stone, holds up the roof as sun pours through stained glass. Then you are free to explore this amazing city at your own pace.
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Breakfast
Day 3: Barcelona at Leisure Relaxed Start
Enjoy a relaxed start and a full day at leisure to explore Spain’s most vibrant city. Consider a stroll along the famous Las Ramblas or explore Gaudí's fascinating Güell Park. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to ascend the sacred mountain of Montserrat, Catalonia's most important pilgrimage site for a thousand years, for sweeping views?
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Breakfast
Day 4: Pamplona and San Sebastián
Journey west to Zaragoza where the four towers of El Pilar soar over the banks of the mighty Río Ebro. Continue to Pamplona in the region of Navarre, famous for the Running of the Bulls festival. With free time to explore as you wish, perhaps stroll to the famous Estafeta Street. Travel to the aristocratic seaside resort of San Sebastián. Northern Spain’s Basque country has evolved into the best place to eat in the Western world, so in the evening, discover the city’s rich gastronomic tradition in the heart of Lo Viejo, the Old Town.
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast
Day 5: Bilbao and Guggenheim Relaxed Start
Few places have been able to reinvent themselves quite like Bilbao. The former industrial city has changed its ways and is now a pin-up for urban redevelopment. Explore Bilbao with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the spectacular Guggenheim Museum to marvel at its modern architecture and contemporary works of art. Alternatively, join your Local Expert and take the funicular to Mount Artxanda. On return, join a Local Expert to admire San Sebastián and the crescent-shaped La Concha Bay from the heights of Monte Igueldo. After taking in the amazing views, enjoy a guided tour of the Old Quarter. See the numbered balconies of the Plaza de la Constitución, a reminder of the days when bullfights were held in the square. Explore the Old Town during your progressive Highlight Dinner with the locals, as you enjoy the gastronomic Basque tradition of pintxos. Similar to tapas, enjoy a variety of snack-sized treats and be sure to try some of the local Txakoli wine. Buen provecho!
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 6: San Sebastián, Pearl of the Cantabrian Coast Relaxed Start
Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián's boardwalk. The harbour is filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts, so you can enjoy several sporting activities on its large sandy beach. Perhaps explore the nearby French village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, known as the Jewel of the Basque Country? During this Optional Experience you will explore this town with a Local Expert and visit the church where The Sun King, Louis XIV, married the Spanish princess Maria Theresa.
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast
Day 7: Burgos and Madrid Relaxed Start
Journey south through the Pyrenees foothills and the land of El Cid for a stop in Burgos, where you can see the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spain's elegant capital of Madrid. In the evening, why not see the city lit up it all its glory, with a drive along the grand avenues and past the spectacular fountains?
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast
Day 8: Madrid of the Bourbons
Explore Madrid with Insight Choice. Choose to join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a neighbourhood walking tour, led by pillars of the community and focused on the history of the women's movement in Spain. Alternatively, sightsee with your Local Expert as they guide you through the Spanish capital’s most historic neighbourhoods.Visit the renowned Prado Museum with an art historian who will guide you through the collective works of Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Rubens and more. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast
Day 9: The Medieval Streets of Segovia Relaxed Start
Venture northwest to visit the fascinating city of Segovia. Walk the medieval streets of this fortified city with your Local Expert and see the 14th century Alcazar Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After returning to Madrid, you are at leisure. Make the most of your final night as you join your fellow travellers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy delightful regional produce paired with the finest local wines, as you toast to a vacation done well.
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: Depart Madrid
After breakfast, transfers arrive at Madrid airport at 07:00, 09:00 and 11:00.
Breakfast
