Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Alkmaar - Visit the historic town known for its cheese market, cobbled streets with gabled houses, and lively squares
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour to Waterland - Active travellers can explore the outskirts of Amsterdam, passing quintessential Dutch villages, traditional windmills and colourful fields
- Dutch Delights tasting tour - See highlights of Amsterdam while tasting delicious Dutch treats (Easy activity, 3 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Alkmaar Waterland 
- Day 3
Düsseldorf - Cologne
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf - Guided tour through cultural landmarks and lively streets, exploring the historic Altstadt and modern cityscape
- Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town - Explore beautiful squares, historic monuments, contemporary architecture, and conclude at the World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour in Cologne - Active exploration along the picturesque Rhine River, passing northern suburbs and industrial areas (EmeraldACTIVE)
- German beer experience - Guided tour through Cologne's legendary brewhouses to discover Kölsch beer culture (Easy activity, 2 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Düsseldorf Altstadt Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) Cologne Old Town - Day 4
Koblenz
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation walk of Koblenz - Guided walking tour passing historic architecture including the Church of Our Lady, and visiting the German Corner where two major European rivers merge
Optional Activities
- Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit - Walking tour and guided visit to the magnificent medieval Cochem (Reichsburg) Castle perched 91m above the Moselle Valley, boasting impressive views and neo-Gothic architecture (Difficult/Active activity, 5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Church of Our Lady, Koblenz German Corner (Deutsches Eck) Rhine Gorge Lorelei Rock Cochem (Reichsburg) Castle Moselle Valley - Day 5
Mannheim - Germersheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg - Travel to nearby UNESCO City of Literature and discover its rich history starting at Renaissance Heidelberg Castle with its serene gardens, water features, and flowerbeds
Optional Activities
- Active hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg - Take the funicular to the peak, enjoy panoramic views of Neckar Valley, hike through the forest, tour Heidelberg Castle ruins, and explore the Old Town with a brief orientation walk (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks Mannheim Palace (Schloss Mannheim) Heidelberg Castle Mount Königstuhl Neckar Valley Bruchsal Palace (Damiansburg) - Day 6
Strasbourg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flavours of Alsace: Strasbourg walking tour with local tasting - Guided walking tour revealing the city's rich cultural heritage from Strasbourg Cathedral to picturesque La Petite France, with a delightful local tasting of regional Alsace specialties
Optional Activities
- Baden-Baden Spa experience - Escape to Germany's Black Forest for a rejuvenating day at the world-renowned Baden-Baden Spa with healing thermal waters (Easy activity, 3 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France, Strasbourg Neustadt District, Strasbourg Baden-Baden Spa - Day 7
Breisach
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting - Explore historic Freiburg im Breisgau on the edge of the Black Forest, visit the photogenic Altstadt with cobbled Rathausplatz (City Square) surrounded by Gothic churches and cafés, and sample local delicacies including famous Black Forest ham at a local market (EmeraldPLUS)
- Guided e-bike tour in Breisach - Exhilarating e-bike tour through picturesque scenery between Kaiserstuhl mountains and the river through the woods, with a break in Burkheim to enjoy traditional Black Forest cake (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Guided tour of Colmar - Magical morning walk along quaint cobblestone lanes with half-timbered façades and colourful window boxes, exploring a setting reminiscent of Grimm's Fairy Tales (Easy activity, 5 hours, extra expense)
Landmarks St. Stephen's Church, Breisach Freiburg im Breisgau Black Forest Kaiserstuhl Mountains Burkheim Colmar - Day 8
Basel to Lyon
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Basel Lyon - Day 9
Lyon
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon with cheese tasting - Discover the gastronomic heart of France on a flavourful journey through charming streets with a local expert. Visit Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse iconic market, meet artisans, and enjoy a tasting of outstanding artisan cheeses
Optional Activities
- Guided e-bike tour of Lyon - Explore highlights of this enchanting city on two wheels as part of a guided e-bike tour (EmeraldACTIVE)
- Excursion to Pérouges - Visit one of France's most beautiful villages on a small hill overlooking the Ain River valley, featuring medieval walled town charm, a fortified church, the house of the Princes of Savoy, cobblestone streets, a 33-metre-deep well, and the distinctive Maison du Sergent de Justice with its round tower (extra expense)
Landmarks Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière Pérouges Ain River Valley - Day 10
Mâcon
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beaujolais wine tasting - Journey through rolling hills and charming villages with a local wine expert, explore distinctive terroirs producing fresh, fruit-forward crus and elegant, refined vintages, and enjoy guided tastings
Landmarks Beaujolais Wine Region Mâcon - Day 11
Tournon
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon with wine tasting - Walking tour led by expert local guide highlighting the village's intangible cultural heritage, rich history of viticulture, and special wine tasting of local varieties
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards - For active travellers, join a guided hike through verdant local vineyards, taking in bucolic splendour and rows of grapes selected to produce some of Europe's finest wines (EmeraldACTIVE)
Landmarks Tournon Castle Rhône River - Day 12
Viviers
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers - Walking tour with local guide highlighting striking monuments distinctive for their ornate windows and lavish façades
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc - Delve into the fascinating Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, the largest decorated cave replica in the world, accompanied by a local guide who brings ancient canvases and human creativity to life (extra expense)
Landmarks Viviers Medieval Cathedral Rhône River Caverne du Pont-d'Arc - Day 13
Avignon
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Exclusive Provençal dinner hosted by Top Chef finalist Fabien Morreale, prepared on board your Emerald Star-Ship with special Provençal dinner menu and fine wines)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon with market visit - Walk through historic streets exploring medieval ramparts and lively squares, visit the vibrant Les Halles d'Avignon covered market with colourful stalls and Provençal aromas, learning about regional traditions and the city's rich heritage
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of the Pont du Gard - World Heritage-listed three-level Roman aqueduct and masterpiece of human engineering, including a visit to the small Roman town of Uzès with circular medieval streets and local restaurants (extra expense)
- Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting - Private tasting of local wines in the charming village known for fine red wines, storied viticulture and medieval lanes (extra expense)
Landmarks Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) Les Halles d'Avignon Pont du Gard Uzès Chateauneuf du Pape - Day 14
Arles
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit - Showcase of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments illustrating the city's evolution, including the 2,000-year-old Arles Amphitheatre and connections to Vincent van Gogh's legendary works
Optional Activities
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh with a painting workshop - Explore beautiful landscapes that inspired Van Gogh's iconic works, then participate in a painting workshop recreating vibrant scenes, keeping your own masterpiece as a unique souvenir (extra expense)
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence - Visit the World Heritage-listed village recognised as one of France's most beautiful, set at a fortified rocky site with narrow cobblestone streets, medieval stone buildings, shops and restaurants, and the high rocky pinnacle of Château-Fortress des Baux with incredible hilltop views (extra expense)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre (Arena of Arles) Les Baux de Provence Château-Fortress des Baux Alpilles Regional Country Park - Day 15
Arles to Nice
- Meals
- Breakfast
