Itinerary
- Day 1
Bordeaux
You'll start your journey in Bordeaux and board the Scenic Diamond, a luxurious river ship. After settling into your suite and meeting other guests, you'll get oriented with the ship's facilities before heading out to sail the waters where the Gironde, Garonne, and Dordogne rivers meet. This is your introduction to one of France's most celebrated wine regions.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Board Scenic Diamond river cruise ship
Landmarks Bordeaux 
- Day 2
Bordeaux to Libourne
The ship sails through quiet riverside countryside toward Libourne. After lunch on board, you'll join a guided tour to Saint-Emilion, a medieval village on UNESCO's World Heritage list. You'll see the Monolithic Church carved directly into limestone rock, then spend the evening in Libourne, a 13th-century port town that's the heart of local winemaking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour to Saint-Émilion
- Visit Monolithic Church
Landmarks Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church - Day 3
Libourne
Your morning in Libourne offers several choices: a guided walk through town, vineyard exploration in Saint-Emilion, biking through wine country, or a painting class combined with wine tasting right on deck. By afternoon, the ship sails to Fort Medoc where you'll dock for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Libourne
- Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion vineyard tour and tasting
- Biking and tasting at Château Siaurac
- Paint and Pour watercolour painting class with wine tasting
Landmarks Libourne Château Siaurac - Day 4
Fort Médoc
Today focuses on the Medoc region, famous worldwide for red wines and grand estates. You can take a coach tour along the Route des Chateaux visiting a winery, or go e-biking past impressive estates. If classical music interests you, there's an optional evening concert at Chateau d'Agassac.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Médoc wine tasting by coach through Route des Châteaux
- Médoc wine tasting by e-bike with estate visit
- Classical Concert at Château d'Agassac
Landmarks Médoc wine region Château d'Agassac - Day 5
Fort Médoc to Cadillac
This morning you'll relax on board while sailing toward Cadillac. You might book spa treatments or take a French cooking class in the ship's culinary school. After arriving in Cadillac following lunch, you'll explore this historic town from 1280 that inspired the name of the famous American car.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment on board
- French cuisine lesson at Scenic Culinaire cooking school
Landmarks Cadillac 
- Day 6
Cadillac
The day splits between morning and afternoon activities in the countryside around Cadillac. You can explore the Sauternes wine region by coach or bike, seeing where sweet fortified wines come from. In the afternoon, options include Roquetaillade Castle, biking through Loupiac vineyards, or visiting Chateau Toulouse-Lautrec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Sauternes by coach vineyard tour and tasting
- Sauternes by bike vineyard tour and tasting
- Roquetaillade Castle guided tour
- Biking in the Loupiac wine region with Château Benauge visit
- Château Toulouse-Lautrec guided tour
Landmarks Sauternes Roquetaillade Castle Château Benauge Château Toulouse-Lautrec - Day 7
Bordeaux
You'll have several options to explore Bordeaux depending on your interests. Start with a guided city tour if you want to see the Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse, or grab a bike and cycle through the historic streets while sampling local treats along the way. If food is your focus, you can shop at a food market alongside the ship's chef and watch a cooking demonstration. Later in the day, there's exclusive afterhours access to the digital art installation at Bassins des Lumières if that appeals to you. Back onboard this evening, you'll end with fresh oyster tasting, so you'll get a taste of what the region does best.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice: Guided tour of Bordeaux including Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse
- Scenic Freechoice: Cycling tour of Bordeaux with canelé sampling
- Scenic Freechoice: Shop with chef at local food market and cooking demonstration onboard
- Scenic Enrich: Afterhours access to Bassins des Lumières with Champagne and exclusive digital art show
- Fresh oyster tasting from Arcachon Bay onboard
Landmarks Bordeaux Cathedral Place de la Bourse Bassins des Lumières - Day 8
Bordeaux
More Bordeaux exploration awaits. Head to the interactive Cite du Vin Museum by tram, take a motorcycle and sidecar tour of the city, or join a walking tour of seaside Arcachon with its Baltard market. You'll have afternoon leisure time on the ship before it sails toward Bourg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Cité du Vin Museum with local tram
- Bordeaux tour by motorbike and sidecar
- Walking tour of Arcachon with Baltard market visit
Landmarks Cité du Vin Arcachon Baltard market - Day 9
Bourg
You'll dock in Bourg, a picturesque town built as a defensive castle on a rocky outcrop with winding ancient streets. Choose between the Carriages Museum inside Bourg Castle, a tour of 2,000-year-old Saintes, or a full-day trip to Cognac for a walking tour and visit to the Remy Martin estate with brandy tastings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Bourg with Carriages Museum guided visit
- Historic Saintes guided tour
- Full day excursion to Cognac with town walking tour and Rémy Martin estate tour with cognac tasting
Landmarks Bourg Castle Carriages Museum Saintes Cognac Rémy Martin estate - Day 10
Bourg to Blaye
Arrival in Blaye brings you to a UNESCO-listed citadel built centuries ago to defend Bordeaux. You can walk through the charming city, take an active tour exploring the citadel's Vauban defense system, bike along the Captain's Road, or visit Chateau de la Roche Courbon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Blaye
- Active walking tour of Blaye citadel
- Cycling along the Captain's Road
- Château de la Roche Courbon guided visit
Landmarks Blaye Citadel Château de la Roche Courbon - Day 11
Blaye to Lyon
You'll board a flight from Bordeaux to Lyon, where the Scenic Sapphire, another luxury river ship, becomes your new home for the next portion of your trip along different French waterways.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight from Bordeaux to Lyon
Landmarks Lyon 
- Day 12
Lyon to Chalon-sur-Saône
Starting your Lyon phase, you'll cruise north into Burgundy wine country toward Chalon-sur-Saone. The morning's relaxed on board with coffee in your suite or time in the ship's lounge. Your excursion choices include a Burgundy wine estate visit with tastings, a guided tour of medieval Beaune and its famous hospice museum, or a WWII history tour about French Resistance and the occupation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Burgundy wine discovery at local wine estate
- Guided tour of Beaune and Les Hospices
- WWII in Chalon-sur-Saône French Resistance walking tour
Landmarks Chalon-sur-Saône Beaune Les Hospices de Beaune - Day 13
Chalon-sur-Saône to Tournon
After sailing before dawn, you'll arrive early in Tournon, a riverside town founded by Romans with a Romanesque abbey and two Michelin-starred restaurants. Morning options include visiting Chateau de Cormatin's Renaissance gardens, attending a cooking demo at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or touring a truffle farm. Later this afternoon, you'll see a cooperage demonstration about barrel making and winemaking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dessert buffet from local pâtissier)
Included Activities
- Cooperage demonstration - barrel making craft
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Château de Cormatin
- Georges Blanc cooking demonstration at Michelin-starred restaurant
- Truffle farm visit with tasting
Landmarks Tournon Château de Cormatin Georges Blanc restaurant 
- Day 14
Tournon
Tournon is known for hillside vineyards on terraces, a 10th-century castle, and cobblestone streets in Northern Rhone Valley wine country. Morning activities let you choose between wine tastings, hiking through famous vineyards, walking to the castle with a suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage, or cycling the Via Rhona route. You'll have free time in the afternoon, then enjoy a dessert buffet from a local pastry shop after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dessert buffet on board from local pâtissier
Optional Activities
- Côtes du Rhône wine tasting with local expert
- Hiking through vineyards in Tournon
- Walking tour of Tournon with castle and suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage
- Biking along the Via Rhona route
Landmarks Tournon Castle Tain l'Hermitage Valrhona chocolatiers - Day 15
Tournon to Avignon
The morning on board is relaxed, maybe with a massage or time on the Sun Deck watching the scenery. After lunch, you'll dock in Avignon, the City of the Popes, home to the Palais des Papes on UNESCO's heritage list. Tour the ancient streets, visit the Pont du Gard aqueduct and museum, or kayak beneath the aqueduct. An optional exclusive gala dinner in the Palais des Papes with a classical quartet is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Avignon
- Excursion to Pont du Gard aqueduct with museum
- Kayaking at Pont du Gard
- Exclusive gala dinner inside Palais des Papes with classical quartet
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont du Gard 
- Day 16
Avignon
From your balcony, you'll see Avignon's ancient rooftops. Explore the city's food scene or venture into Provence's countryside and villages. You can taste wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, visit Luberon villages and Senanque Abbey, shop with a chef at Avignon Market for a cooking demo, or tour the Lavender Museum and the village of Roussillon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Excursion to Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey
- Shop with a chef at Avignon Market with cooking demonstration at Scenic Culinaire
- Lavender Museum visit with village of Roussillon guided tour
Landmarks Châteauneuf-du-Pape Gordes Sénanque Abbey Avignon Market Lavender Museum Roussillon - Day 17
Avignon to Arles
Early morning sailing through Provence brings you to Arles, your journey's southernmost point near the Mediterranean. Founded by Julius Caesar over 2,000 years ago, Arles contains the most Roman ruins outside Rome itself. Spend your day with a rose wine tasting, exploring Roman ruins and artistic heritage, or visiting Les Baux with its medieval village and Carrieres de Lumieres digital art space.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Provence rosé wine tasting
- Guided tour of Arles
- Visit Les Baux with Carrières de Lumières digital art space
Landmarks Arles Les Baux Carrières de Lumières 
- Day 18
Arles to Viviers
After sailing overnight heading north, you'll arrive early in Viviers, a fifth-century town that feels largely unchanged over 1,600 years and is described as an open-air museum. This ancient city connects to French Resistance history and sits among Cotes du Rhone vineyards. Choose a walking tour of architectural sites including the Cathedral of St Vincent, or a French Resistance walking tour. Optional activities include wine tastings, visiting Ardeche Nature Park with the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, or an excursion to Grignan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers
- French Resistance walking tour
- Côtes du Rhône Villages wine tasting
- Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum visit
- Excursion to Grignan de Provence with castle and Collegiate Church
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral of St Vincent Ardèche Nature Park Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum Grignan 
- Day 19
Viviers to Lyon
You'll spend the full day on board cruising back toward Lyon. Watch the beautiful Rhone River scenery, taste local wines during lunch, or join a French cooking lesson in the ship's kitchen. Optionally, you can enjoy an exclusive acapella choir performance in the ship's grand Trinity Chapel, a Baroque interior with Carrera marble.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Wine tasting at lunch), Dinner
Optional Activities
- French cookery lesson at Scenic Culinaire
- Exclusive acapella choir performance at Trinity Chapel
Landmarks Trinity Chapel - Day 20
Lyon
Your final day explores Lyon, France's culinary capital where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet. Choose from a guided coach tour seeing Roman ruins and secret traboules passageways with views of Notre Dame Basilica, an excursion to the medieval walled village of Perouges perched on a hillside, or a silk painting workshop celebrating Lyon's textile heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon with Roman ruins and traboules passageways
- Excursion to Pérouges medieval village
- Silk painting workshop
Landmarks Notre Dame Basilica Pérouges - Day 21
Lyon
Your river journey through France's most important wine regions ends this morning. You'll say goodbye to fellow passengers and the ship's crew, carrying memories of experiences along France's great rivers.
