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Pre and Post River Cruise - Arles to Lyon - Oct 2025

Hi All,

Planning for a river cruise in Oct 2025 from Arles to Chalon-Sur-Saône with perhaps as much as two weeks in advance and a week after?

The area around Arles sounds interesting - and, we usually prefer smaller towns with local restaurants, etc. Would probably consider a villa type approach with either large main house, or several smaller components we could engage. Thoughts on great little towns to base from?

Traveling with 3 other couples for the river cruise portion with at least one other couple at all times as one arrives and the other departs. Too early for final arrangements (except the cruise which we locked already).

Also would appreciate your thoughts regarding best way into that part of France, and out of Lyon (assuming this is where most would fly or train from leaving Chalon?) - where to fly into to optimize and out of - we've done Paris, so unless it is just a connection ... . We like trains and are good walking a couple miles to get back and forth to train stations. Would likely have at least three cars among the four couples for local touring.

Thank you, All!

Posted by
6713 posts

Last October I flew into Nice (via London) for several days, then took a train to Aix-en-Provence, joined a tour (not cruise) that took me through various parts of Provence based in Aix and then Arles, then worked my way to Lyon by car and train for a few more days before flying home from Lyon (again via London). If you have two weeks before the cruise, plus a car, you can see a lot, including the Riviera if it interests you. Or you could fly into Marseilles instead of Nice and focus just on Provence. British Airways serves those cities through London, I'm sure there are many other choices through Paris, and other hubs depending on where you live.

A small town would make sense as a base with a car or cars, I can't share any particular wisdom about that or about houses. I've never used Gites de France, but it has a very good reputation. Arles isn't a small town but I liked it very much. If you have two weeks you could spend a week in each of two places, getting a feel for different parts of the region and spending less time driving each day.

Lyon offers plenty to see for several days after your cruise. I don't know the surrounding area, but Annency is popular and easily reached if you want another base. Burgundy is a little farther afield but you could spend a few days there if you prefer. I'm sure you'll get many good suggestions here. Sounds like a wonderful trip!