Burgundy to the Camargue: Lyon to Provence by Train & Bus (self-launched)
8 days · Rhône Valley, France
CroisiEurope River Cruises charges £1,810
No-markup version: ~£620 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched land version of CroisiEurope's 8-day Saône and Rhône river cruise: Lyon, Mâcon, Vienne, Avignon, Arles and the Camargue, Viviers and Tournon — linked by regional TER trains, coach and the local bus network instead of a cruise ship. You sleep in hostels and budget guesthouses, eat at markets and bouchons, book the same excursions directly (or free alternatives), and see far more of each town than a 30-minute coach stop allows. All costs are approximate per person, based on a solo traveller sharing a dorm or twin where possible.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lyon – Vieux Lyon and a bouchon dinner
Lyon
Fly or train into Lyon (St-Exupéry or Part-Dieu) and check into a hostel in Presqu'île or Vieux Lyon. Spend the late afternoon walking the UNESCO-listed old town and the traboules — the covered Renaissance passageways — which you can do free with a self-guided map from the tourist office, or join a Croix-Rousse traboules walking tour on GetYourGuide (~£15-20). Evening: a proper Lyonnais bouchon dinner (quenelle, andouillette, praline tart) or a cheaper market picnic. Note the cruise's Day 1 is just a welcome cocktail onboard — you get the city instead.
🚌Airport tram/Rhônexpress or walk from Part-Dieu (~£1.50-14)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel twin, Vieux Lyon/Presqu'île (£20-28)
- →Vieux Lyon & Fourvière hill walk (funicular ~£2)
- →Self-guided traboules walk
- →Bouchon dinner or Les Halles Paul Bocuse market food
Lyon morning, afternoon train to Mâcon
Lyon to Mâcon
Morning in Lyon: the free Parc de la Tête d'Or, the riverside confluence district, or the Musée des Confluences if it's raining. Early afternoon take a TER regional train south along the Saône to Mâcon (about 45-55 min, ~£8-12). Check into a cheap hotel near the station or riverside gîte. Late afternoon wander Mâcon's old town, the riverside quays and the Roche de Solutré viewpoint if you have a car-free way to get there (bus 7 towards Solutré in season). Replace the cruise's onboard dancing with a glass of Mâconnais white in a local bar (~£5).
🚌TER train Lyon–Mâcon ~£8-12
🛏Budget hotel or gîte near Mâcon station (£28-38)
- →Parc de la Tête d'Or / Confluence walk
- →Mâcon old town & Saône quays
- →Optional Roche de Solutré walk (seasonal bus)
Cluny Abbey and Roman Vienne
Mâcon to Vienne (via Cluny)
Morning bus to Cluny (TER bus line from Mâcon, ~40 min, ~£4) for the ruins of the great Benedictine abbey — the same excursion the cruise sells as an add-on, but with time to actually see the abbey, the town and the haras national. Have lunch in Cluny. Mid-afternoon bus back to Mâcon, then a TER train to Vienne (~1h, ~£10-14) or, if tight on time, Cluny–Vienne via Lyon. Vienne is a superb small city with a Roman theatre and temple — check in near the centre.
🚌TER bus Mâcon–Cluny ~£4; TER Mâcon–Vienne ~£10-14
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Vienne centre (£28-40)
- →Cluny Abbey ruins & town (£9 entry, under-26 free)
- →Vienne Roman temple of Augustus & Livia (free)
- →Evening walk along the Rhône
Vienne in depth, afternoon train to Avignon
Vienne to Avignon
Morning: the Roman theatre and museum (combined ticket ~£8), the Cathedral of Saint-Maurice and the hillside Pipet viewpoint — much more relaxed than the cruise's brief guided stop. Lunch from the Wednesday/Friday market. Mid-afternoon take a TER or TGV-ish regional train down the Rhône to Avignon (~1h15-1h45, ~£18-28). Check into a hostel or budget hotel inside or just outside the walls; evening walk to the Pont Saint-Bénézet at sunset (free from the riverbank).
🚌TER Vienne–Avignon ~£18-28
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Avignon intra-muros (£25-38)
- →Roman theatre & museum Vienne
- →Pipet viewpoint hike
- →Pont d'Avignon at sunset (free exterior view)
Palais des Papes, Arles and the Camargue
Avignon – Arles – Camargue
Early visit to the Palais des Papes and the Rocher des Doms gardens (skip-the-line ticket direct or via GetYourGuide ~£13-16). Late morning train to Arles (~20 min, ~£6). Drop bags, then spend the afternoon in the Camargue: the Envia bus network runs Arles–Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (~50 min, ~£2-3), where you can rent a bike or join a small-group 4x4/safari trip to see flamingos and black bulls (~£35-55 via GetYourGuide or the local manades). This is the trip the reviewers said was wasted on a coach — you get hours, not 40 minutes.
🚌TER Avignon–Arles ~£6; Envia bus Arles–Saintes-Maries ~£2-3
🛏Budget hotel or hostel, Arles centre (£28-40)
- →Palais des Papes & Rocher des Doms
- →Camargue flamingo & bull safari (small-group jeep, ~£35-55)
- →Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer beach & church
Arles, olive oil and on to Viviers
Arles to Viviers
Morning exploring Arles properly: the Roman amphitheatre and theatre (combined ticket ~£10), the Van Gogh trail, and the Alyscamps. Visit an olive oil producer just outside town (several are reachable by bike along the Alpilles lanes, ~£12 bike hire) for a tasting. Afternoon train north to Viviers via Avignon or Montélimar (~1h30-2h, ~£14-20). Viviers is tiny and atmospheric; check into a small guesthouse in the old bishop's quarter.
🚌Bike hire ~£12; TER Arles–Viviers ~£14-20
🛏Small guesthouse/chambre d'hôtes Viviers (£30-42)
- →Roman Arles amphitheatre & theatre
- →Van Gogh trail & Alyscamps
- →Olive oil producer tasting by bike
Viviers old town, then Tournon and the wine castle
Viviers to Tournon-sur-Rhône
Morning walking Viviers' medieval streets and cathedral — free, or a short local guided tour if one is running. Late morning train up the Rhône to Tournon-sur-Rhône (~1h30, ~£14-18). Afternoon: the Château-Museum of Tournon-sur-Rhône with its wine and regional delicacy tasting (~£7-9), plus the footbridge across to Tain-l'Hermitage and the Hermitage vineyard slopes walk. Celebrate the final night with a proper dinner and a glass of Cornas or Saint-Joseph — your own 'gala dinner'.
🚌TER Viviers–Tournon ~£14-18
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse Tournon/Tain-l'Hermitage (£30-42)
- →Viviers cathedral & medieval quarter
- →Château-Museum Tournon with wine tasting
- →Hermitage vineyard walk / Tain footbridge
Train back to Lyon and depart
Tournon to Lyon
Morning coffee by the Rhône, then a TER train back to Lyon (about 1h15-1h30, ~£15-20) in time for onward flights or trains — mirroring the cruise's 09:00 disembarkation but without the airport transfer markup. If your flight is late, leave bags at the station and grab a last Lyonnais lunch.
🚌TER Tournon–Lyon ~£15-20
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning riverside walk
- →Last-minute market shopping in Lyon
Self-launched vs. CroisiEurope River Cruises
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CroisiEurope River Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£620 | £1,810 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,190 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CroisiEurope River Cruises-style trips? Check them out here.~£620
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Burgundy to the Camargue: Lyon to Provence by Train & Bus (self-launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £620 per person for 8 days in Rhône Valley, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with CroisiEurope River Cruises?+
Yes — CroisiEurope River Cruises charges around £1,810 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £620 — a saving of roughly £1,190 (66%) per person.
How long is the Rhône Valley, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Rhône Valley, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, slow-travel trip through Rhône Valley, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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