Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1043876
30 V I K I N G C R U I S E S Running for nine months of the year in both directions, this seven-night river cruise is one of Viking's most popular, and just days into our voyage I can clearly see why. It is one of both discovery and respite, active exploration and do-nothing indulgence, and it all takes part in one of the most beautiful parts of France, if not Europe. is is my fourth time to this pocket of the planet, and despite this, by the end of the journey I'm keener than ever to come back yet again to the picturesque south of France, having encountered countless new destinations and things to do I never knew existed. e first unexpected gift during the voyage comes in the form of Lyon – France's third largest city, perched at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône Rivers and boasting supremacy in two things the French take very seriously – fashion and food. Famed for both its historic silk-weaving industry and today recognised as the gastronomic capital of France, I spend days here wandering the cobblestoned streets of the beautiful Vieux Lyon (the Old Town), visiting its iconic, centuries-old secret passageway 'traboules' and absorbing the city's fascinating history like a sponge. Working up an appetite, lucky for me I'm in culinary heaven and each lunchtime I set off to visit another delicious local 'bouchon' to sample its plat du jour. On day three, as Viking Heimdal floats out for the first time on this voyage and leaves Lyon behind, I have a crisis of curiosity brought on by the sheer variety of shore excursions on offer. ere's included walking tours in Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, the ancient Roman city of Arles and our final destination – the walled city of Avignon, but there are also more than a dozen optional excursions to consider. What if I choose the wrong ones? I shouldn't have worried. With a foodie disposition and a weakness for photo opportunities steering my decision compass, I opt for an indulgent tour of wine tasting at a chateau followed by lunch and truffle hunting at a local truffle farm in Burgundy. In picturesque Provence, I embark on a colourful full-day lavender field excursion, stopping for a leisurely alfresco lunch at a pretty village with views over the valley. Its population? Just 400. Needless to say, by the time I disembark a few days later, my earlier fears about choosing the wrong tours have been enthusiastically cast aside, because I've learned a valuable lesson during my seven days aboard the Viking Heimdal: ere are no wrong choices on a Viking cruise, especially when you're in La Belle France. An 8-day Lyon & Provence cruise starts from $3,395pp, departing in November 2019. France, Madelin Tomelty France, Madelin Tomelty Aquavit Terrace, Madelin Tomelty