Fragrant lavender fields, local wines and a chance to sample the exquisite regional specialties. Romanesque architecture surrounding quaint village squares. This is France at its most alluring! Best of all, you will experience these European treasures in the company of the women of Olivia.

Your Experience

Join us on the intimate 138-guest riverboat for an exquisite Rhône River Valley voyage. Glide gently past beautiful scenery, then step off the ship and immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of the region through guided walking tours. When you're not out taking in the rich history and culinary pleasures, you’ll have a chance to relax onboard, hear about the regions you are visiting, and chat and laugh with the women of Olivia.

Your Activities

Visit the twin cities of Tournon and Tain L'Hermitage, which are nestled among vineyards between the Rhône and striking granite slopes. See why Van Gogh was so inspired by the city of Arles, and picnic in the shadow of the Palais des Papes in Avignon, Provence’s most scenic town. Roman ruins, excellent museums, Renaissance architecture, and colorful local produce markets await. You can even participate in optional wine-tasting excursions.

Attend insightful travel lectures for valuable information about your destinations. Work out at the fitness center, or soak in the 6-person whirlpool. Or, sit quietly on deck savoring the intimacy of this romantic journey and watching the light as it dances across the surface of the river. Evenings are the perfect time to relax with your with Olivia friends and take in an intimate music or comedy show, or a program depicting the local culture.

Your Tours

Each day, the ship will dock in a different town, and included in the price of your trip is a walking tour of each of the cities (with one bus tour for the larger city of Lyon). You will be provided with an earpiece that allows you to hear the guide’s explanations and stories without having to be right in front!

On several of the days, there will be additional optional tours that will take you deeper into the towns and valleys. You’ll experience lavender fields, lovely villages, famed wine cellars and historic places of interest. Tours range from 39-50 Euros per person.

Your Ship

You'll travel in style and comfort on the new Avalon Scenery, which offers the largest staterooms on the European waterways today. At a spacious 172-square feet, these beautiful staterooms are equipped with amenities you would expect to find at a fine resort, including comfortable hotel-style beds, European-style duvets and Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors (most rooms), modern private bathrooms, large closets, flat-screened TVs, safes, mini-bars, and individual climate control. A whirl-pool on the Sky Deck allows for a refreshing dip after a day of sightseeing, and there’s fitness center, library, restaurant, club and bar onboard. Take a Virtual Tour of the Ship »

Your Entertainment

On this trip, you’ll relax with friends and take in Olivia’s entertainment in the evenings. Two Olivia artists accompany us for the whole voyage, and so you’ll mix and mingle with them during the day, and enjoy their small, intimate shows on several of the evenings. On other evenings, local entertainers share the culture of the regions we visit. You can also attend insightful travel lectures that will give you valuable information about the destinations you’ll visit. During the day, you’ll be off seeing the sights and otherwise enjoying the towns and cities we are visiting. There will be lots of laughter, fun and friends.