How much does it cost?

From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Eurostar Plus (London to Paris and return), the Mont Blanc Express (Martigny to Chamonix), heritage steam train in the Ardèche, and connecting regional rail are all included.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout.

What accommodation is provided?

Three nights at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel in Lausanne, and seven nights onboard MS Amadeus Provence (capacity 110 guests) on the Rhône.

What meals are included?

Breakfast daily, six lunches, nine dinners (including a gala dinner), plus Eurostar light meals. Wine and drinks are included with dinner each night of the cruise.

Great Rail Journeys offers six departures between April and October 2027, in April, May, June, July, August, and October.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance, and tips or gratuities. Any meals taken independently in free time are at your own cost.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Mont Blanc Express and Rhône Cruise

Lake Geneva and Rhône Valley by rail, hotel, and seven-night cruise

Great Rail Journeys combines rail and river travel on this 11-day escorted holiday from London to the Rhône Valley. The journey opens with three nights in the five-star Lausanne Palace on the Swiss Riviera, where you visit the medieval Château de Chillon and ride the Mont Blanc Express through Alpine peaks to Chamonix. The focus then shifts to water as you board MS Amadeus Provence in Lyon for a seven-night cruise down the Rhône, stopping at Avignon (with its Pope's Palace), Arles (the city painted by Van Gogh), and a choice between the Camargue Delta's pink flamingos or the Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard. A heritage steam train carries you through the dramatic Ardèche Gorge, and days in Beaune and Lyon add wine tastings and culinary exploration. The itinerary suits couples seeking luxury and cultural immersion, with escorted guidance, comprehensive meals, and expert tours throughout.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £1,100 since 4 Jul, to £4,299.

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

) above half the double rate; confirm cabin options before booking.
Day 7 offers a choice of two excursions; your final choice will determine which region you visit.
Some meals outside the cruise are at your own expense; the tour covers breakfast daily, six lunches, and nine dinners.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Lausanne
London to Lake Geneva
Meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris with a Plus Class light meal, continuing by rail through France and Switzerland to Lausanne on Lake Geneva for a three-night stay at a five-star hotel.
Day 2overnight: Lausanne
Château de Chillon and a scenic lake cruise to Montreux
A late-morning boat ride across Lake Geneva to the 13th-century Château de Chillon for a guided tour of its painted halls, vaults and chambers, returning to Lausanne by coach with a free afternoon.
Day 3railovernight: Lausanne
Mont Blanc Express across the Alps to Chamonix
Train to Martigny to join the Mont Blanc Express across the Alps and the French border to Chamonix, with a free afternoon in the resort town beneath Mont Blanc before returning to Lausanne.
Day 4railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
To Lyon, where we board our premium ship
Rail via Geneva to Lyon, then coach transfer to the waterfront to embark the MS Amadeus Provence with a welcome cocktail, sailing that evening towards Ardèche.
Day 5railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
The steam-powered Train de l'Ardèche
Coach to Tournon-St-Jean to board the historic 1891 steam Train de l'Ardèche through the Gorges du Doux, then rejoin the ship as it sails towards Avignon.
Day 6railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
Exploring Avignon, the 'City of Popes'
Guided tour of Avignon aboard the Le Petit Train d'Avignon, including the Pope's Palace and the historic centre's medieval walls, with free time before sailing to Arles.
Day 7overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
Arles and the Camargue Delta or Pont du Gard
Guided tour of Arles and its Van Gogh connections, then a choice of excursion to the Camargue Delta's wetlands and wildlife or the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.
Day 8overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
The Ardèche Gorge, 'Europe's Grand Canyon'
Tour of the Ardèche Gorge including the Pont d'Arc, followed by a visit to the Lavender Museum, before reboarding the ship at Le Pouzin to sail back towards Lyon.
Day 9overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
Touring the gastronomic city of Lyon
Guided tour of Lyon's UNESCO-listed Old Town with a praline-tasting, returning to the ship before cruising to Tournon-sur-Rhône through scenic vineyard-lined countryside.
Day 10overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Provence
Arrival in Beaune and Burgundy wine tasting
Coach excursion from Chalon-sur-Saône to the medieval wine town of Beaune for a sightseeing tour and a tasting at a local winery, before a final dinner as the ship sails back towards Lyon.
Day 11rail
Homebound
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Lyon's station to travel by rail to Paris, then board the Eurostar for London with a light meal onboard.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Château de Chillon, a 13th-century fortress on Lake Geneva, including subterranean vaults and former royal bedrooms.
Day 3Mont Blanc Express crosses the Alps from Martigny through the Trient Valley past snow-capped peaks to Chamonix.
Day 5Historic Train de l'Ardèche, a heritage steam train from 1891, travels through the Gorges du Doux with panoramic views of stone bridges and cliff tunnels.
Day 7Choice of Camargue Delta wetlands with pink flamingos and wild horses, or Pont du Gard, a UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct.
Day 10Wine tasting at a Beaune winery featuring Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay in Burgundy's heart.

Included

Escorted throughout by a Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
3 nights' 5-Star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Provence with excellent service and complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Eurostar Plus First & Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
Eurostar light meals
Breakfast each day, 6 lunches, 9 dinners including a gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Swiss Half Fare Card (50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railways)
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Tips (not included; an envelope is left in cabins on the final evening for optional tipping)
Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Eurostar Plus (London to Paris and return), the Mont Blanc Express (Martigny to Chamonix), heritage steam train in the Ardèche, and connecting regional rail are all included.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout.
What accommodation is provided?: Three nights at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel in Lausanne, and seven nights onboard MS Amadeus Provence (capacity 110 guests) on the Rhône.
What meals are included?: Breakfast daily, six lunches, nine dinners (including a gala dinner), plus Eurostar light meals. Wine and drinks are included with dinner each night of the cruise.
When does it depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers six departures between April and October 2027, in April, May, June, July, August, and October.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance, and tips or gratuities. Any meals taken independently in free time are at your own cost.