How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV Standard Class rail from Paris to Montpellier (outbound) and Avignon to Paris (return), and all coach transfers. Upgrades to Eurostar Plus Class are available for an additional charge.

What accommodation is provided?

Guests stay six nights onboard the MS Anne-Marie, a hotel barge operated by Croisi Europe, moored at different locations along the route.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London throughout the entire journey, and most stops include guided tours of local attractions.

What meals are included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening. A Gala dinner is served on the final night onboard.

What major attractions are covered?

The itinerary includes the Roman Amphitheatre and ruins in Arles, the medieval fortified city of Aigues-Mortes with its salt marshes, the Camargue wildlife area, the shellfish museum at Étang de Thau, and the village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert with its Romanesque abbey.

Great Rail Journeys · River Cruise

Secrets of Provence

Seven-day barge cruise through Provence from London via Paris and rail

Great Rail Journeys operates this seven-day escorted barge cruise through southern France, departing from London St Pancras and ending in Avignon. The journey blends rail travel, river navigation, and guided exploration of the Provence region. Travellers board Eurostar and TGV trains to reach the hotel barge MS Anne-Marie in Sete, then spend six nights cruising along French waterways while visiting medieval villages, Roman archaeological sites, and Camargue wetlands. Day 2 brings a visit to a traditional manade farm for bull-sorting and produce tasting, while Day 5 features a coach excursion into the Camargue to observe wild white horses and flamingos. Day 6 includes a guided tour of Arles' Roman ruins and an olive oil tasting. All meals, drinks with dinner, rail fares, coaches, and most excursions are included. The tour suits couples, history enthusiasts, and food-and-wine travellers who prefer guided comfort and no independent logistics.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is substantial at GBP 4,599 (approximately USD 6,140), roughly 70% higher than half the double price
Only four departures are confirmed (May, June, July, and September 2027); confirm current year availability before booking

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: MS Anne-Marie (Sète)
To Sète, where we board our ship
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, continuing by rail to Montpellier St-Roch, then by coach to Sète to board the barge Anne-Marie. Welcome drink on the sun deck, then the first dinner together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: MS Anne-Marie
A taste of Étang de Thau and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
Coach to Étang de Thau to visit the Museum and sample fresh shellfish. Lunch onboard, then an afternoon excursion to the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, including the Romanesque abbey and the Devil's Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3overnight: MS Anne-Marie
The coastal town of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone
Cruise towards Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. After lunch, visit a 'manade' farm in Palavas-les-Flots for bull-sorting and fresh farm produce. Free time in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone in the evening, the medieval cathedral or the sandy beach.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: MS Anne-Marie
Discovering the gems of Aigues-Mortes
Sail towards Aigues-Mortes, then a guided tour of the fortified medieval city, followed by a tourist-train visit to the nearby salt marshes with admission to the Museum of Salt.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: MS Anne-Marie
Admiring the wildlife in the Camargue and Sainte-Marie-la-Mer
Cruise to Gallician for a visit to the Camargue's wetlands, spotting wild white horses and pink flamingos, and passing paddy fields growing red rice. Continue to Sainte-Marie-la-Mer for free time, including the 9th-century fortified church.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: MS Anne-Marie
The history and artistic allures of Arles
Guided tour of Arles' Roman ruins, including the Roman Amphitheatre, followed by a visit inland to learn about Provençal olive oil production with a tasting. Gala dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7rail
Homeward bound
Disembark the Anne-Marie after breakfast, coach to Avignon to board the train to Paris, then the Eurostar back to St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Visit to Étang de Thau museum and tasting of freshly caught shellfish from the local fishing trade
Day 3Wagon tour at an authentic manade farm in Palavas-les-Flots to watch bull-sorting and taste fresh local produce
Day 4Guided tour of the medieval fortified city of Aigues-Mortes and tourist train through nearby salt marshes with Salt Museum admission
Day 5Coach visit to the Camargue Delta to see wild white horses, pink flamingos, and red rice paddy fields across 140,000 hectares of wetland
Day 6Guided tour of Arles covering Roman Amphitheatre and Romanesque architecture, followed by olive oil tasting at a local Provence farm

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
6-night cruise onboard MS Anne-Marie, operated by Croisi Europe
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
A superb choice of excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV Standard Class rail from Paris to Montpellier (outbound) and Avignon to Paris (return), and all coach transfers. Upgrades to Eurostar Plus Class are available for an additional charge.
What accommodation is provided?: Guests stay six nights onboard the MS Anne-Marie, a hotel barge operated by Croisi Europe, moored at different locations along the route.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London throughout the entire journey, and most stops include guided tours of local attractions.
What meals are included?: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening. A Gala dinner is served on the final night onboard.
What major attractions are covered?: The itinerary includes the Roman Amphitheatre and ruins in Arles, the medieval fortified city of Aigues-Mortes with its salt marshes, the Camargue wildlife area, the shellfish museum at Étang de Thau, and the village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert with its Romanesque abbey.