French Riviera & Provençal Steam Elegance

Day-by-Day

Itinerary

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Nice

Arrive in Nice and transfer to your hotel in the city center. Evening welcome dinner with your tour leader.

Day 2: Nice Old Town

Morning walking tour of Nice’s historic old town (Vieux Nice). Afternoon free to explore the Promenade des Anglais or relax at the hotel.

Day 3: Train des Pignes - Puget-Théniers to Annot

Board the steam train at Puget-Théniers for a spectacular journey through the gorges. The train climbs steep grades and crosses impressive viaducts. Overnight in Annot.

Day 4: Annot Village

Explore the medieval village of Annot, known for its sandstone formations. Afternoon visit to a local farm for cheese tasting.

Day 5: Return Steam Journey

Steam train return journey to Puget-Théniers, stopping at scenic viewpoints along the way. Transfer back to Nice for your final night.

Day 6: Monaco & Èze Village

Excursion along the Moyenne Corniche to the hilltop village of Èze and the Principality of Monaco.

Day 7: Cannes, Antibes & the Côte d’Azur

Coastal drive through Antibes and Cannes with a private boat excursion to the Lérins Islands.

Day 8: Aix-en-Provence & Lavender Country

Travel west into the heart of Provence, settling into elegant Aix-en-Provence with its tree-lined boulevards and fountains.

Day 9: Luberon Hilltop Villages

Explore the storied stone villages of Gordes and Roussillon, with a family lunch at a Provençal country estate.

Day 10: Avignon & the Papal Palace

Transfer to Avignon for a guided visit of the Palais des Papes and the famous Pont d’Avignon.

Day 11: Pont du Gard & Uzès

Visit the monumental Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard and the ducal town of Uzès.

Day 12: Train à Vapeur des Cévennes (Anduze – Saint-Jean-du-Gard)

Board our second heritage steam railway, the Train à Vapeur des Cévennes, steaming past bamboo groves, viaducts, and the Gardon River valley, including a visit to La Bambouseraie botanical gardens.

Day 13: Nîmes & the Camargue

Discover the Roman Arena of Nîmes and the white horses and pink flamingos of the Camargue nature reserve.

Day 14: Journey to the Ardèche Valley

Scenic drive north along the Rhône Valley into the dramatic landscapes of the Ardèche.

Day 15: Train de l’Ardèche – Le Mastrou (Tournon – Lamastre)

Ride our third historic steam line, the legendary “Mastrou” (Train de l’Ardèche), climbing along the Doux Gorges from Tournon-sur-Rhône to Lamastre.

Day 16: Tain-l’Hermitage & Valrhona Chocolate

Cross the Rhône to Tain-l’Hermitage for a family visit to the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona and hillside vineyards.

Day 17: Arrival in Lyon

Continue to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, and explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town (Vieux Lyon) and its secret traboules passageways.

Day 18: Lyon River Cruise & Parc de la Tête d’Or

Morning Saône river cruise and a relaxed afternoon stroll through the botanical gardens of Parc de la Tête d’Or.

Day 19: Leisure in Lyon & Farewell Banquet

Free morning for shopping and cafés, followed by a celebratory Provençal-Lyonnais farewell banquet.

Day 20: Departure

Transfer to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (or high-speed TGV to Paris CDG) for your flight home.