Travel bucket list idea:
Provence, France
A voyage along the Rhone has to be one of the most scenic river journeys in Europe, as the river carves its way through the countryside of the Rhone-Alpes and Provence regions to the Camargue and its marshy delta.
Medieval villages and craggy castles cling to the hillsides, while vineyards and swathes of purple lavender stretch away into the distance. Cultural attractions are plentiful; the Romans have left their mark here in the magnificent amphitheatre at Arles and the stunning Pont du Gard. This is a river cruise for adventurers, too, with hiking, cycling and kayaking on offer.
All Rhone cruises call at magnificent Avignon, famous for its bridge and for the 700-year-old Palace of the Popes, epicentre of the medieval Christian world. Another highlight is the Roman city of Arles, gateway to the wild, marshy Camargue, famed for its cowboys, its bulls and white horses. The light here inspired Van Gogh to create more than 200 paintings and it’s easy to see why.
Most cruises operate between Lyon and river ports in the south; some stop at Avignon and others head further, towards Arles and Tarascon. Some cruises operate round-trip, while others sail one-way, in which case, the southbound route tends to be more appealing, with magnificent Avignon or the wild Camargue as a grand finale.
While you could visit any of these ports by road, what’s appealing about a cruise, the ease of travel aside, is that in pretty towns like Viviers and Tournon, you’re moored within easy stroll of the historic centre and can come and go as you please from your ship.
The best time to sail the Rhone is summer, from late April to October. Mid-July is the best time to see great swathes of purple lavender, though July and August can be extremely hot.
Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with
France
A river cruise specialist operating a fleet of 50 moderately-priced boats, mainly on European Rivers, but also some exotics like the Mekong and Lake Kariba. They offer affordable, all-inclusive cruises on the Rhone for an international audience.
France
Award-winning European river cruise specialist. Their highly-regarded, modern ships have boutique hotel-like interiors. There’s even a swimming pool on board, with a retractable roof for sunny days.
Los Angeles, California, France
River cruising specialist operating a fleet of 21 ships serving the major rivers of the world. The last word in river-going luxury, their all-inclusive S.S. Catherine, which sails the Rhone, offers opulent fittings, Murano glass chandeliers and a mosaic-tiled pool.
Basel, France
The world’s largest river cruise company and the market leader for River Rhone cruises. They have a modern fleet of luxurious, Scandinavian-inspired ships with multiple itinerary combinations. Luxury, over 18s only.
![CroisiEurope [River Rhone]](https://cxgveiouca.cloudimg.io/familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/CroisEurope-logo.png?w=350&h=220&func=cover){kind=logo}
![Emerald Cruises [River Rhone]](https://cxgveiouca.cloudimg.io/familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/Emerald-cruises-logo.jpg?w=350&h=220&func=cover){kind=logo}
![Uniworld [River Rhone]](https://cxgveiouca.cloudimg.io/familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/Uniworld-logo-1.png?w=350&h=220&func=cover){kind=logo}
![Viking Cruises [River Rhone]](https://cxgveiouca.cloudimg.io/familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/Viking-cruises-logo.jpeg?w=350&h=220&func=cover){kind=logo}
