2013 - APT Europe River Cruising

Day 7. Viviers, Grignan, Tournon. This morning embark on an excursion to Grignan, perched upon a hill surrounded by lavender fields. Here, visit a truffle farm for an insight into this unique industry. Head out with the dogs in search of truffles then enjoy a tasting of these delicacies. Re-board your ship for lunch as it cruises to Tournon and Tain L'Hermitage, twin towns that face each other across the Rhône River. With your ship docked overnight, you may like to step out after dinner and go for a stroll at leisure. Day 8. Tournon, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Vienne. This morning, visit a local vineyard on Hermitage hill for a walk among the vines as a specialist explains the wines of the region. After a wine tasting, return to your ship. Alternatively, travel by coach into the Ardèche Mountains and on to Boucieu-le-Roi. Here, enjoy a tour of a family-run goat farm, followed by the chance to sample goat's cheese. Then, after re-boarding your ship for lunch, you'll set out for the town of Vienne. On arrival here, you may opt to go for a post-dinner stroll. BLD Day 9. Vienne, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Trévoux. Set between the famed regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne's strong Roman history is highlighted by its well-preserved ruins. Here, after breakfast, perhaps take a mini-train tour, during which you'll see the Roman Temple of Augustus and the medieval churches of St Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St Pierre. Alternatively, travel to Chateau de Rousillion for a tour followed by a pottery demonstration. With both groups back on board for lunch, cruise along the Saône River to the small and historic town of Trévoux, where this evening you'll enjoy a walking tour. Day 10. Beaujolais Region, Lyon, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. This morning's tour will take you through the Beaujolais wine region, the Pays d'Or or 'land of the golden stones' – named for the ochre limestone of its homes and castles. After visiting the medieval hilltop village of Oingt, head to Pascal Gayot's Domaine de la Logère, a family-owned and run winery. Here, a member of the family will take you on a tour, explain the history of the winery and shed light on the age-old traditions they employ to produce their wine. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting, then return to your ship and continue to Lyon, the gastronomic centre of France. On arrival, perhaps take a city tour or enjoy a demonstration on French cuisine. BLD CROSS THE STUNNING SWISS ALPS Day 11. Lyon, Disembark, Basel, Embark Ship. After breakfast, disembark the MS AMADAGIO for the last time in Lyon. Journey via beautiful Lake Geneva to the medieval cheese-making town of Gruyères. On arrival, visit a cheese factory for a tour and a tasting of the delicious, richly-flavoured cheese that makes the town so famous. Afterwards, continue to Basel in Switzerland. Seven Night Stay: APT's luxurious Aria River Ship – the MS AMACELLO. Cruise Europe's Three Most Beautiful Rivers Amsterdam North Sea BELGIUM Cochem BLD Versailles 3 Paris Coach Cruise 7 MS AMACELLO 7 MS AMADAGIO No. of nights stay Freedom of Choice InclusionsTM Included Sightseeing 7 7 / FRANCE Moselle River NETHERLANDS Rhine River Cologne Koblenz GERMANY Rüdesheim Rhine River 14 Aria River Ships Black Forest Colmar Basel Gruyères Saône River Tournon Rhône River Avignon Balearic Sea Pyrenees SPAIN Perpignan 3Barcelona BLD CRUISING THE LEGENDARY RHINE & THE BEAUTIFUL MOSELLE Day 12. Breisach, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. Today, on arrival in the Rhine Valley town of Breisach, choose from two options. The first, an excursion to the Black Forest in Germany, will take you by coach through a lovely scenic forested area, past a number of lakes as well as several brilliant examples of rural German architecture. You'll also visit a quaint little cuckoo clock factory before returning to your ship. Your second option is a trip to the medieval city of Colmar, situated along the Alsatian Wine Route. During a tour here, see half-timbered framed houses; the German-influenced old quarter; the Launch River and more. You'll also enjoy a wine cellar visit and wine tasting. After dinner tonight, perhaps set out for a stroll in Breisach. Viviers Arles Trévoux Lake Geneva Lyon Vienne Grignan PROVENCE Les Baux de Provence SEASONAL CRUISING Spring Time Cruising March – May Autumn Colours September – mid-November Christmas Markets November & December See pages 46-47 for details. SWITZERLAND Swiss Alps Breisach Speyer Day 14. Rüdesheim, Freedom of Choice Inclusions, Koblenz. In Rüdesheim, perhaps board the Winzerexpress mini-train and travel to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum for a tour. Alternatively, take a ride in a gondola for views over the Rhine Valley, or visit a Rhine Valley winery where you'll enjoy a tour and tasting. Later cruise through the Rhine Gorge, on what is known as the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine, to Koblenz. After dinner tonight, perhaps disembark for a stroll. BLD Day 15. Cochem, Freedom of Choice BLD BD Day 13. Speyer. Disembark your ship today for a guided tour of Speyer, one of Germany's oldest cities. Afterwards, travel to Europe's largest private technology museum, the Technik Museum Speyer, which features more than 3,000 exhibits from all areas of technical history. Spread over more than 30,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, exhibits include a space shuttle, Boeing 747, more than 300 classic cars, the largest permanent Formula-1 exhibition in Europe, 60 aeroplanes and more. Later, re-board your ship and enjoy another delicious dinner on board as your ship continues cruising along the Rhine River. BLD Inclusions. Arrive in Cochem today, possibly the prettiest town in the Moselle Valley. Explore the town on either a walking tour or a bicycle ride, then enjoy a visit to Reichsburg Cochem, a castle that's perched on a hill overlooking the town. After a tour of the castle, absorb views out over the river before returning to your ship, which will cruise back up the Moselle River, a truly picturesque waterway. Absorb the scenery of the Moselle Valley as you pass landscapes of lush vineyards and rolling hills. BLD Day 16. Cologne. This morning disembark in Cologne, founded by the Romans in 38 BC and today Germany's fourth largest city. Here, join a local guide for a sightseeing tour that includes the city's imposing Gothic cathedral, once the tallest building in the world. Following the tour, rejoin your ship and continue cruising along the Rhine River, bound for the Netherlands. www.aptouring.com.au BLD 87 RHINE, RHÔNE & MOSELLE TREASURES CRUISING P L A T I R I N E E U M S S

• Cover