Lilas: Lyon to St Jean

You’re welcomed aboard in Lyon by your private crew and guide. Toast the start of your Burgundy cruise with chilled champagne and settle into your generous cabin. The serene palette and natural materials create a soothing sanctuary for the week to come. Enjoy cocktails along with your first taste of cruising on the river.

Later, sit down to a gourmet dinner on board, a perfect blend of seasonal delicacies, irresistible wines and balmy, bucolic views.

Disembark after breakfast to visit Lyon, France’s third largest city, prized for its outstanding cultural scene, adventurous gastronomy and fantastic shopping. Dominating the skyline is the ornate Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which offers sweeping panoramas from its hilltop perch. Enjoy a walking tour with your guide to discover the secret passageways, or ‘traboules’ of the old town, the Roman ruins and famous city murals.

Afterwards, there’s time to stroll, explore or shop at leisure. Return to the barge for lunch and unwind on the top deck as you glide along the River Saône.

Reaching the pretty riverside town of Montmerle you moor for the night and enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board.

This morning, enjoy a scenic cruise along the River Saône towards Mâcon. A dip in the on-deck pool is the perfect way to prepare for the adventures ahead. After lunch, visit the Roche de Solutré, a picturesque limestone escarpment with spellbinding views of the River Saône and the vineyards. In this region, you’ll notice that the roads appear to become narrower, encroached by vines planted as tightly as possible in every available space.

On your way back to the boat, stop for a wine tasting in a local winery.

Enjoy a delicious dinner on board in our mooring in Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering both the Mâconnais and Beaujolais vineyards. 

After breakfast, relax on deck and savour the beauty of Southern Burgundy as you cruise north along the River Saône. This afternoon's visit is to the Abbaye de Cluny, a former medieval Benedictine monastery and masterpiece of Romanesque art. Founded in 910, it was once an astounding 187 metres long, making it the largest religious building in the West.

Tonight’s mooring is in the pretty town of Tournus. After dinner on board, you may feel inclined to take a stroll and explore, or simply relax on deck under the stars.

Soak up the scenery as you cruise to the pretty market town of Chalon-sur-Saône. Enjoy lunch on shore at a charming local restaurant, before spending the afternoon exploring Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy wine region. A treasured highlight here is the Hôtel-Dieu, a magnificent former charitable hospital renowned for its glorious coloured-tiled roof and artistic gems. 

After your visit, head to the Joseph Drouhin cellar, where the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy used to store their precious wines.

Enjoy an exceptional tasting before returning to the boat for a delightful evening and dinner on board.

Disembark with your guide for a walking tour of Chalon-sur-Saône, a riverside town of half-timbered buildings, charming pavement cafes and the imposing St Vincent Cathedral. As it’s market day, embrace the bustling atmosphere in the cathedral square.

Back on board, your cruise continues up the River Saône to our final mooring in St-Jean-de-Losne. This enchanting port is one of the smallest towns in France and yet the country’s barging capital, worth a stroll to see the array of working and pleasure barges.

Meanwhile, back on board, your chef is preparing an exquisite farewell feast.

Awake to enjoy an indulgent breakfast. After, the crew bids you a fond farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements.

Please note, route may be subject to change without prior warning due to unforeseen circumstances.