The Rhône river cruise map, written out: the common stops from Burgundy to the Rhône delta, north to south.
Rhône and Saône Ports in River Order
| Stop | River | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Chalon-sur-Saône | Saône | Gateway to Beaune and the Côte d’Or vineyards |
| Tournus | Saône | Romanesque abbey of Saint-Philibert |
| Mâcon | Saône | Mâconnais wines; excursions to Cluny |
| Trévoux | Saône | Small hillside town north of Lyon |
| Lyon | Saône & Rhône | Old Lyon, Fourvière, food and silk history |
| Vienne | Rhône | Roman temple of Augustus and Livia |
| Tournon / Tain-l’Hermitage | Rhône | Hermitage hill, Syrah vineyards, chocolate |
| Viviers | Rhône | Tiny cathedral town; Ardèche gorges excursions |
| Avignon | Rhône | Palais des Papes, Pont Saint-Bénézet |
| Arles | Rhône | Roman arena, Van Gogh, the Camargue |
Not every itinerary calls at every stop. Some lines skip the Saône; others replace Tournon with Tain on the opposite bank, which share a footbridge. Overnights in Lyon or Avignon are common and worth looking for.
Northbound, Southbound or Round Trip?
One-way Rhône itineraries run either southbound (Lyon or Chalon to Avignon or Arles) or northbound in the opposite direction. The ports are much the same; what changes is the order and where you fly in or out. Southbound trips end in the sun of Provence; northbound trips save the gastronomy of Lyon and Burgundy for last. Round trips from Lyon avoid an open-jaw flight.
The high-speed train links Lyon and Avignon with Paris, so many travelers add a few days in Paris without another flight. For longer combinations — Paris plus the Rhône, or two rivers back to back — see River Cruise Voyages.
Locks on the Route
Between Lyon and the Mediterranean the Rhône is a staircase of dams and locks built for hydropower and navigation. The lock at Bollène, at around 23 meters, is among the deepest in France. Passing through is smooth and often takes place at night; if it happens in daylight, the sun deck is the place to watch. For more on how the river is managed, see the Rhône water levels page.
What You See From the Deck
Between Lyon and Avignon the scenery changes by the hour. South of Vienne, terraced vineyards climb the granite slopes of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage. Farther south the valley narrows at the Donzère gorge, and then opens out into a landscape of orchards, cypress windbreaks and limestone hills. Nuclear and hydroelectric installations along the banks are part of the picture too, a reminder that the Rhône powers a good share of France. On the Saône, by contrast, the river is slow and green, lined with poplars, fishermen and small villages with Romanesque bell towers.
Find a Rhône Itinerary With Your Stops
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