Board your ship in Arles, the Provençal city that inspired some of Vincent van Gogh's most celebrated works. Settle into your stateroom and join your fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner this evening.

Trace Van Gogh's footsteps on a guided walking tour, or choose a general city walking tour or guided bike ride. Later, venture to Les Baux-de-Provence, a dramatic hilltop village perched among the limestone cliffs of the Alpilles.

Avignon, aptly named the 'City of Popes,' was the centre of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, when its Palais des Papes was the equivalent of today's Vatican. Discover the city's history on a guided walking tour taking in the Papal Palace and the well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre, or opt for a culinary-focused 'Tastes of Avignon' tour or a guided bike ride. In the afternoon, visit the ancient Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, or taste the celebrated wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Lovers of wine and chocolate will want to visit Le Château de Tournon, built between the 15th and 16th centuries, for a presentation and tasting on the pairing of red wine and chocolate. For a more active option, hike through the vineyards of Tain l'Hermitage followed by a tasting at a local winery, or ride the scenic steam train through the countryside.

Situated between the wine regions of Côtes du Rhône and Beaujolais, Vienne carries a Roman past still visible in its marvellously preserved ruins. Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a walking tour to see the Augustus and Livia Temple, the Saint Maurice Cathedral - a Gothic church that took more than 500 years to build - and St. Pierre Abbey, one of the oldest surviving churches in France and now an archaeological museum. Alternatively, hike Mount Pipet or join a guided bike ride along the ViaRhôna cycle path.

Travel to the Beaujolais wine region - known as the Pays d'Or, or 'land of the golden stones' - to experience France's finest vintages firsthand, with a wine tasting at a traditional winery and insight into the history and techniques of the vineyard.

Explore Lyon with a choice of excursions, including a guided city tour taking in Fourvière Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the 19th-century Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, the Les Halles Paul Bocuse food market, or a guided bike tour of the city. Later, enjoy free time to wander the Vieux Lyon district, with its distinctive covered walkways known as 'traboules.'

Bid farewell and prepare for your journey home. Your cruise through Provence concludes in Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, this morning.