Experience Glacier 3000 and encounter the high-Alpine landscape above the Lake Geneva region. Snow-covered peaks and glacier scenery bring a striking sense of altitude to this Swiss mountain excursion.

The destination lies near Les Diablerets, where the terrain contrasts sharply with the gentler climate of the lakeshore. Its appeal is the opportunity to take in wide-ranging mountain views and appreciate the scale of the Alps from a high-altitude setting.

Cruise the Saône and Rhône rivers through Burgundy and Provence, watching vineyard slopes, riverside towns and broad southern landscapes unfold from the ship. The changing scenery gives each stretch of water its own character.

The Saône has long connected Burgundy’s wine country with Lyon, where it meets the Rhône. Following these historic waterways offers a distinctive view of France: stone-built riverfronts and working vineyards seen at an unhurried pace.

Explore Lyon with a guide and discover a city shaped by the meeting of the Saône and Rhône. Its historic quarters, riverfronts and grand squares reveal layers of Roman, Renaissance and later French history.

Lyon became a centre of silk production and remains closely associated with French gastronomy. A guided introduction brings context to its UNESCO-listed historic centre and the contrasting streetscapes on either side of the rivers.

Discover Vienne on a guided tour in this Rhône-side town south of Lyon. Its streets preserve evidence of a prosperous Roman settlement alongside medieval churches and later French architecture.

Vienne’s Roman heritage includes the exceptionally well-preserved Temple of Augustus and Livia and a vast ancient theatre. Learning how these monuments fit into the modern town makes its two-thousand-year history tangible rather than a collection of isolated ruins.

Explore Beaune with a guide in the heart of Burgundy’s wine country. Walk among old streets and stone facades in a town whose merchants, vineyards and religious institutions helped shape its enduring character.

Beaune is renowned for the Hospices de Beaune, the 15th-century charitable hospital celebrated for its patterned glazed-tile roof. Its heritage offers a vivid introduction to Burgundy’s blend of winemaking, civic history and distinctive architecture.

Tour the Ardèche Gorges to experience a dramatic change from the Rhône valley’s river plains. Limestone cliffs rise above the winding Ardèche, creating sweeping views of the canyon and its wooded slopes.

Carved over immense spans of geological time, the gorges are among southern France’s most striking natural landscapes. The excursion’s appeal lies in the scale and contours of the canyon, with each bend revealing a different perspective on the river below.

Discover the Roman amphitheatre at Arles, a monumental arena that still anchors the town’s historic centre. Its tiers of stone arches offer a compelling sense of the scale and engineering of Roman public entertainment.

Built around the end of the first century AD, the amphitheatre later became part of a fortified neighbourhood. Arles also inspired Vincent van Gogh during his time in Provence, adding an artistic dimension to its Roman and Provencal heritage.

Visit the Pont du Gard and take in the three tiers of arches spanning the Gardon River. This immense stone bridge formed part of a Roman aqueduct built to carry water to ancient Nîmes.

Constructed in the first century AD, the aqueduct demonstrates how Roman engineers maintained a precise gradient across difficult terrain. Seeing its towering arches against the river valley makes both the practical achievement and the monument’s sculptural beauty clear.

Discover Avignon’s Palais des Papes, the imposing papal palace that dominates the city’s historic centre. Its massive walls and towers speak to the period when Avignon was the seat of the papacy.

Built chiefly in the 14th century, the palace is one of Europe’s largest Gothic structures. Its presence, together with Avignon’s old streets and Rhône-side setting, reveals why the city became such a significant centre of medieval religious and political power.

Explore Annecy’s picturesque old town, where arcaded streets, canals and pastel-coloured buildings create an intimate Alpine setting. The town sits beside Lake Annecy, with mountain scenery adding to the appeal of its waterfront.

Its waterways and historic lanes reward a slower look at the bridges, facades and lively public spaces. This visit offers a chance to experience Annecy’s old-world lakeside atmosphere as the landscape shifts from the Rhône valley towards the Alps.

Cruise along the Montreux Riviera on Lake Geneva, taking in elegant lakeside towns from the water. Palm-lined promenades and steep mountain slopes give this Swiss shoreline its distinctive contrast of mild lakeside scenery and Alpine grandeur.

The lake has long drawn visitors to its sheltered shores. From the boat, the Alps rising beyond Lake Geneva provide a broad perspective on the landscape and the resort towns that developed beside it.

Travel on the Golden Pass, a scenic Swiss rail journey through the landscapes linking the Lake Geneva region with the Alps. Watch the view change between mountain slopes, valleys, villages and open countryside from the comfort of the train.

The route is celebrated for making the journey itself the experience. Its shifting Alpine panoramas offer a close-up sense of Switzerland’s varied terrain that is easy to savour through the carriage windows.