Day 1 Thur. 7 June. Amsterdam, Embark Ship

Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to your luxury river ship, moored close to the city centre. Tonight, enjoy the chance to meet your fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception.

Stay: 14 Night Stay: A luxurious APT river ships

Daily Meal Included:  • Dinner

Day 2 Fri. 8 June. Arnhem, Freedom of Choice Touring

Stop at the historic city of Arnhem and visit the Airbourne Museum Hartenstein. One of the major tragedies of World War II was the Battle of Arnhem, where Allied forces failed to capture Arnhem’s Rhine Bridge, featured in the museum. Alternatively, visit the Palace of Het Loo, Piet Oudolf’s famous garden plus Kasteel Rosendael. Your third option is to embark on a botanical discovery to Mien Ruys Tuinen’s garden plus Botanische Vijvertuinen Ada Hofaman’s garden.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 3 Sat. 9 June. Floriade 2012

This morning we take you to enjoy a full day exploring the Floriade World Horticultural Expo, which is held once every ten years in the Netherlands. This sixth expo is being held in Venlo and will showcase the world’s most exquisite and exceptional flowers, plants, trees, fruits and vegetables.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 4 Sun. 10 June. Cologne, Koblenz

Today take a tour through the old town of Cologne, then continue along the Rhine via Koblenz and along some of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine River.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 5 Mon. 11 June. Worms, Heidelberg, Freedom of Choice Touring

During a tour of Worms, visit the monument to Martin Luther and other leaders of the Reformation along the Luther Trail. You could choose to visit the Techick Museum in Speyer with its amazing collection of aircraft, classic cars, locomotives, fire engines and even a space shuttle. Enjoy a trip to Heidelberg to visit Heidelberg Castle or Scholofgarten Schwotzingen.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 6 Tue. 12 June. Strasbourg, Freedom of Choice Touring

This morning, take a tour through the charming medieval town of Strasbourg. Then enjoy a relaxing canal cruise and glide past pretty black and white timber-framed buildings, covered bridges, spectacular medieval watchtowers and the Parc de L’Orangerie. After, choose Freedom of Choice Touring options, one of which is a trip to Schlofsgarden Ludwigsburg.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 7 Wed. 13 June. Breisach, Freedom of Choice Touring

Arrive today in Breisach and perhaps take a city tour of Colmar in France including the old quarter and a wine tasting or visit Freiburg’s Botanic Gardens. Alternatively take a tour of the Black Forest with its beautiful trees, lakes and cuckoo clocks or a visit to Insel Mainau floral paradise on the shores of Lake Constance.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 8. Thur. 14 June. Swiss Alps, Yvoire, Annecy, Lyon

After breakfast disembark the ship and say farewell to the Rhine River. Travel along the shores of scenic Lake Geneva to the beautiful village of Yvoire set on a promontory overlooking the lake. Here is the poetic and award winning garden of Le Labyrinthe considered one of the finest gardens of its type in France. Next the medieval stone village of Annecy, picture postcard views of the alps and geranium filled window boxes at every turn. Continue to Lyon and board your second identical luxurious river ship, which will be home for the next seven nights as we embark on the next chapter in this magnificent river cruise experience on the beautiful Rhone River travelling through the French countryside of the Rhone Valley and Provence.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 9 Fri. 15 June. Lyon, Trevoux. Freedom of Choice Touring

Enjoy a morning at your leisure to explore Lyon, considered the gastronomic capital of France. Then choose from our Freedom of Choice Touring options, including a visit to the Parc de la Tête d’Or, one of the largest and most enjoyable public parks in all Europe. Lyon was once the world centre of rose breeding and there are 30,000 roses covering four hectares in this park. Tonight your new ship crew will treat you to a Welcome Dinner, this evening we begin sailing south.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 10 Sat. 16 June. Vienne

The Rhône region is renowned for its wonderful fresh produce and this morning you have the opportunity to learn more about this as you visit some of the local producers including a wine maker. After returning to the ship enjoy the changing landscapes as you cruise the Rhône River towards the town of Vienne.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 11 Sun. 17 June. Vienne, Tournon, Freedom of Choice Touring

Located between the famed wine-producing regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne has a strong Roman history, highlighted by its marvellously preserved ruins, which you’ll see this morning should you opt to take a mini train tour. Alternatively, you may like to visit the Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, with its amazing garden building considered the most extraordinary folly ever made.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 12 Mon. 18 June. Boucieu-le-Roi, Viviers

Travel to the Adreche Mountains for a tour of the valley’s beautiful landscape. Continue to Boucieu-le-Roi and stop at its local market of crafts where you’ll enjoy musical entertainment and wine tasting. After dinner back on board this evening enjoy a ‘ghost walk’ through the town of Viviers.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 13 Tue. 19 June. Provence, Avignon, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today cruise through the beautiful Provence countryside dotted with fields of lavender and olive groves, to Avignon, the ‘City of Popes’. Take a guided tour of the narrow streets and elegant, squares to the Papal Palace. Alternatively visit the gardens of Saint Andre Abbey.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 14 Wed. 20 June. Avignon, Arles, Les Baux, Freedom of Choice Touring

Arrive in Arles this morning. Its most famous resident was the painter Van Gogh. Enjoy a free morning to explore. This afternoon, you may like to take an excursion to the hilltop village of Les Baux. Or perhaps visit a working olive farm. Alternatively visit the Camarque region, with its protected wetlands that are home to over 400 species of land and water birds. Visit the seaside resort of Les Stes-Maries de la Mer and the tiny walled town of Aigues Mortes. Alternatively for a unique botanical experience, visit, the biggest Bamboo garden in Europe. Enjoy a special Farewell Dinner this evening.

Daily Meals Included:  • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 15 Thur. 21 June. Arles, Disembark Ship

This morning disembark the ship and be transferred to Marseilles airport where your Botanical river cruise concludes. Alternatively you can visit a perfumery at Grasse to learn about perfume production and perhaps make some perfume purchases plus visit the famous Mediterranean Villa Noailles garden and then be transferred to Marseille.

Daily Meal Included:  • Breakfast