What is the typical length of tours starting in Lyon along the Rhone River?

Rhone River tours from Lyon generally run between 6-15 days with 8-day trips being the most common choice among travelers. CroisiEurope River Cruises offers an 8-day "From Burgundy to the Camarge" route starting at 2,902 USD while Emerald Cruises runs a 10-day "Sensations of Lyon and Provence" experience for 10,375 USD. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The 8-day length was perfect to explore both Lyon and the charming towns along the Rhone."

What are the best months for starting a Rhone River tour from Lyon?

The most favorable time for Rhone River tours spans from April to October with the busiest period running June through September. These summer months bring consistent sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Viking Cruises schedules 8-9 departures each month during July and August while Emerald Cruises concentrates on summer sailings. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "We chose September for our CroisiEurope cruise and found perfect temperatures and smaller crowds than peak summer."

What type of accommodation can I expect at the start of the tour in Lyon?

Accommodations in Lyon range from modern river cruise ships to high-end hotels. Vessels like the MS Camargue II and Viking Longships feature well-appointed cabins with large windows and French balconies. Hotel options include the 5-star InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu in the historic district or the 4-star Mercure Lyon Centre Château Perrache near the train station. A TourRadar traveler commented: "Our cabin on the Avalon Poetry II exceeded expectations with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and stunning views of Lyon."

What transportation options are available from Lyon Airport to tour starting points?

Getting from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to your tour's starting point is straightforward. Many operators like Viking Cruises and Emerald Cruises include free transfers with their air packages. The Rhônexpress tram connects the airport to Lyon Part-Dieu station in 30 minutes. Common meeting spots include the Hotel Carlton Lyon near Bellecour Square and the cruise docks in the Confluence area.

What are the most popular destinations visited after leaving Lyon?

After departing Lyon travelers explore medieval Viviers the historic Papal Palace in Avignon and Arles' Roman architecture and Van Gogh sites. Routes often include stops at Tournon/Tain-l'Hermitage for wine experiences and Port St. Louis to discover the Camargue region. A TourRadar traveler noted: "It was a great gastronomique experience. We especially enjoyed the trip to Camargue and Gorges de l'Ardèche."

What kinds of optional activities are available during the Lyon portion?

Lyon offers additional activities like hands-on cooking classes wine tours in Beaujolais vineyards and evening river excursions. Avalon Waterways features a "Culinary Walk" through food districts while CroisiEurope presents evening entertainment options. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The optional evening cruise along the Saône River gave us amazing views of Lyon's illuminated landmarks and was worth the extra cost."

What are the must-see attractions included in the first days of tours starting in Lyon?

Opening days focus on Lyon's UNESCO heritage sites including the Old Town Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica and the historic traboules passageways. Tours highlight the city's food culture with stops at Les Halles market and local bouchon restaurants. As a TourRadar traveler mentioned from the Emerald Cruises tour: "The guided walking tour through Lyon's hidden passageways and the evening light show at Notre-Dame were absolute highlights of our first day."

Rhone Cruises from Lyon

Have you imagined exploring Lyon's historic traboules and basilica, visiting medieval Perouges and its ancient tree, then sampling Beaujolais wines? Idyllic Rhône delivers French perfection. Tour Vienne's Roman ruins and historic sites, enjoy a private concert in the Pope's Palace at Avignon. Eight days cruising from Lyon shows you southern France's wine regions, Roman history, and papal power through landscapes that shaped European culture.

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10 best Rhone river cruises from Lyon

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River Cruise
Sensations of Lyon & Provence 2024/2025|2026 - 8 Days (from Lyon to Nice)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Beaune, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Viviers, Avignon, Arles,Nice+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
From
US$7,990per person
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River Cruise
France Encompassed 2027 - 31 Days (from Lyon to Paris)
Duration
31 days
Destinations
Lyon, Vienne, Chateauneuf du Pape, Arles,Les Baux de Provence,Avignon,Pont du Gard,Gordes,Viviers,Natural Reserve of the Ardèche Gorges,Grignan,Tournon-sur-Rhone,Tain-l’Hermitage,Perouges,Macon,Cluny,Tournus,Beaujolais,Bourg-en-Bresse,Bordeaux,Libourne,Saint-Emilion,Fronsac,Pauillac,Cussac-Fort-Médoc,Cadillac,Sauternes,Loupiac,Sainte-Croix-du-Mont,Arcachon,Bourg,Saintes,Cognac,Blaye,Paris,Les Andelys,Rouen,Somme,Thiepval,Honfleur,St Mere Eglise,Omaha Beach,Bayeux,Arromanches-les-Bains,Ranville,Juno Beach,Beny-sur-Mer,Caudebec-en-Caux,Villequier,Fecamp,Vernon,Giverny,La Roche-Guyon,Conflans-Sainte-Honorine,Auvers-sur-Oise,Chantilly,Malmaison,Versailles,Maincy+55 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ships
Scenic Sapphire Scenic Diamond Scenic Gem +2 ships
River
Seine Rhone SaoneGaronneDordogneGironde+3 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
From
US$34,720per person
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River Cruise
Burgundy & Provence (2027, Lyon to Arles)
4.5 (7 reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Macon, Beaune, Tain-l’Hermitage, Tournon-sur-Rhone,Viviers,Avignon,Pont du Gard,Arles+4 more
Age Range
Ages 16+
Ship
S.S. Catherine
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
From
US$3,949per person
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River Cruise
Cruise and Hikes: The Rhône and the Saône Reveal the Richness of Their Terroirs (port-to-port cruise)
3.8 (4 reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Macon, Cluny, Vienne, Avignon, Arles,Camargue Regional Nature Park,Fontvieille,Les Baux de Provence,Viviers,Tournon-sur-Rhone+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Rhone Princess
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
From
US$2,225per person
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River Cruise
A trip to admire the beautiful scenery of the Rhône valley (port-to-port cruise)
4.5 (6 reviews)
"the food was outstanding, and the land based tours were interesting."
Gregory, traveled in October
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Camargue Regional Nature Park,Martigues,Les Baux de Provence,Viviers,La Voulte-sur-Rhone+4 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ships
MS Van Gogh MS Mistral MS Rhone Princess MS Camargue II+3 ships
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
From
US$1,759per person
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River Cruise
Rhône Route Méditerranée 2027 - A-Rosa Luna
3.0 (1 review)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone,Tournon-sur-Rhone,Beaujolais+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA LUNA
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
From
US$1,231per person
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River Cruise
Springtime Sensations of Lyon & Provence 2026/2027 - 8 Days (from Lyon to Nice)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Perouges, Vienne, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Viviers, Avignon,Pont du Gard,Chateauneuf du Pape,Arles,Les Baux de Provence,Nice+5 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
14% off
From $4,545
US$3,920per person
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River Cruise
Lavender Sensations of Lyon & Provence
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Macon, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Viviers, Avignon, Arles,Nice+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
53% off
From $9,390
US$4,395per person
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River Cruise
A Christmas in Provence (port-to-port cruise) - VAN GOGH II
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Tain-l’Hermitage
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Van Gogh
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
53% off
From
US$1,277per person
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River Cruise
Autumn Sensations of Lyon & Provence 2026/2027 - 8 Days
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Perouges, Vienne, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Viviers, Avignon,Arles,Les Baux de Provence+2 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
31% off
From $4,545
US$3,128per person
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River Cruise
Rhône Route Provence 2027 - A-Rosa Stella
3.7 (9 reviews)
"Everywhere on ship is clean, Nice food."
Philip, traveled in August
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Avignon, Arles, Viviers, Vienne
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ships
A-ROSA STELLA A-ROSA LUNA+1 ship
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
31% off
From
US$1,231per person
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$All the must-see sites on the Rhône between Lyon, Provence, and the Camargue with a dinner at Paul Bocuse\'s Abbaye de Collonges Restaurant Offered (port-to-port cruise, 11 destinations) Tour$
$All the must-see sites on the Rhône between Lyon, Provence, and the Camargue with a dinner at Paul Bocuse\'s Abbaye de Collonges Restaurant Offered (port-to-port cruise, 11 destinations) - 11 destinations$
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River Cruise
All the must-see sites on the Rhône between Lyon, Provence, and the Camargue with a dinner at Paul Bocuse's Abbaye de Collonges Restaurant Offered (port-to-port cruise, 11 destinations)
4.7 (19 reviews)
"Outstanding in every way. Food was superb."
Richard, traveled in April
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Lyon, Collonges, Tain-l’Hermitage, Avignon, Gordes, Arles,Camargue Regional Nature Park,Viviers,Vallon-Pont-d'Arc,La Voulte-sur-Rhone+4 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ships
MS Van Gogh MS Mistral MS Rhone Princess MS Camargue II+3 ships
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
31% off
From
US$2,035per person
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River Cruise
Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2026
5.0 (1 review)
"The trip was excellent, even though it was changed due to strikes, we end up doing the Saône instead of the Rhône."
Josiane, traveled in April
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Lyon, Viviers, Arles, Avignon, Vienne
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
A-ROSA LUNA
Regions
RhoneSouthern FranceProvence+2 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
A-ROSA
31% off
From
US$1,225per person
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River Cruise
Sensations of Lyon and Provence & Nice 2026|2027 - 11 Days
5.0 (1 review)
"the more intimate cruising experience was heads-and-shoulders above the average mega-ship cruise."
Gary, traveled in July
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Lyon, Perouges, Macon, Beaujolais, Tournon-sur-Rhone,Viviers,Avignon,Pont du Gard,Chateauneuf du Pape,Arles,Les Baux de Provence,Nice,Monte Carlo,Monaco,Saint-Paul-de-Vence+10 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
11% off
From $5,965
US$5,310per person
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River Cruise
Treasures of Burgundy and Provence: Rhône & Saône (Lyon - Lyon)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lyon, Macon, Beaujolais, Cluny, Chalon sur Saone, Beaune,Tournus,Avignon,Nimes,Uzès,Arles,Camargue Regional Nature Park,Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer,Châteauneuf-du-Rhône,Le Pouzin,Natural Reserve of the Ardèche Gorges,Grignan,Tournon-sur-Rhone+12 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Amadeus Provence
Regions
Rhone SaoneSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
11% off
From
US$2,241per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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