• 3 Dinner (D)
• 3 Breakfast (B)
• 2 Lunch (L)

• Today in Lyon, we’ll be joined by a Lyonnaise local who’s passionate about their city… and its recipes. That’s right, today is the perfect tourism & food combo – we’ll walk the streets, sample local dishes and discover Lyon’s best food spots. You’ll be feeling like a local in no time.

• London: Our Detour trips are minibreaks packed full of unique, local-led experiences. They’re perfect if you’re looking for a short weekend trip or just wanna spend a little more time at your destination.
• London: You know we love social travel here. While most of our trips have large groups, the Detour trips are all about small group travel. Check out the maximum group size on the trip page above, your group will never be larger than this.
• London: Your Trip Manager will advise you on who you’ll share your room with. On this trip, you’ll stay in a multi-share room with other travellers of the same sex.
• London: In classic Contiki style, your accommodation and transport are included in the trip. Plus, we’ll sort out some meals and activities that are outlined in the itinerary. That’s not all, though. You’ll also have an expert Local Host to give you an inside scoop at every destination. 
• London: All you have to do is check whether you need a visa (and apply for one if you do!), book your insurance and arrange your transport to the start location of the trip. We’ll handle the rest!
• London: Our trips are short & sweet (and loaded with fun activities). That’s why we don’t offer pre or post trip accommodation. 
• Beaujolais Wine Region: We always try our best to cater to every dietary requirement. But for this trip, we’re restricted for what is available locally & seasonally. So if you require a vegan or gluten-free diet, there might be a few experiences on this trip that won’t have the option to cater to specific requirements.
• Beaujolais Wine Region: Most French wines are made using products derived from animals, so they aren’t vegan.
• Beaujolais Wine Region: We don’t provide towels on this trip. So, please remember to pack your own towel! 

• Villefranche-sur-Saone: The wait is over. Find your new Contiki crew and be driven in style by one of our Trip Managers through the gorgeous Beaujolais wine region to the Contiki chateau.
• Beaujolais: Time to settle in and get to know your new BFFs – whilst learning about locally produced wine and cheese (and of course, taste it too)!
• Beaujolais Wine Region: Set within the rolling hills of the Beaujolais wine region, the legendary Contiki Château special stay has been wowing travellers for decades. From the luxe bar to the elegant new bedrooms, our Château is the perfect backdrop to long summer days lounging by the pool, capped off with French feasts, local wine and dancing the night away in ‘La Cave.’
• Beaujolais: Clear out the cobwebs and get in touch with you zen side with a guided yoga session on the sweeping lawns of the château.
• Beaujolais Wine Region: Head out to a local vineyard for a tour with an expert in all things wine. But that’s not all. You’ll dine on a luxurious three-course lunch paired with wine tasting.
• Lyon: Foodies, history buffs, anyone with a taste for culture, today is a true feast for you! Joined by a Lyonnaise expert, we’ll explore Lyon on foot, checking out local restaurants, patisseries, food merchants.
• Beaujolais Wine Region: Grab a canvas, pick up a paintbrush and take inspiration from the rolling vineyards of Beaujolais. With an easel and a glass of bubbles in hand, you’ll settle in for sunset and create your own masterpiece surrounded by the landscapes that inspired generations of French artists.
• Villefranche-sur-Saone: It’s almost time to bid farewell to the Beaujolais region. But, not before this iconic last meal in the historic town of Oingt – known for its stunning architecture and beautiful views.
• Beaujolais: And we’ll head back to where it all began, at Villefranche Sur Saone Station. Happy hearts. Full stomachs. And unbeatable wine standards – that’s how we roll.

Explore a local estate on a hosted walk through the vines before you meet a local winemaker and step into the cellar for a guided tasting. Learn how granite soils and semi-carbonic maceration coax vivid red-fruit aromas from Gamay, and why crus like Fleurie and Morgon age so gracefully.

Continue to a convivial table for a wine-paired three-course lunch, where seasonal dishes are matched to each pour. Along the way, uncover the story of Beaujolais Nouveau and the craftsmanship behind more structured, small-parcel bottlings.

Savour a traditional French dinner prepared by the château’s live-in chefs, served with local pours and sweeping vineyard panoramas. Menus lean into seasonality—think farmhouse terrines, garden herbs and slow-cooked classics—designed to complement Beaujolais’ expressive Gamay.

The ambiance is pure country elegance: candles, limestone walls and the soft glow of sunset over the vineyards. Learn about regional culinary traditions and why Lyonnaise influence runs deep here, where convivial meals and conversation are considered an essential art.

Awaken body and mind with a guided yoga session on the château lawns, framed by vine-clad hills and birdsong. Gentle flows and stretches restore balance after travel, with cues tailored for all experience levels.

Breathe in the crisp morning air and settle into a rhythm of slow breath and movement as mist lifts from the vines. It’s a serene, outdoorsy reset that pairs perfectly with the unhurried pace of Beaujolais life.

Join a guided walking tour through Vieux Lyon, pausing at pâtisseries, fromageries and charcutiers for tastings that define the city’s gourmand spirit. Slip through hidden traboules—Renaissance passageways once used by silk workers—and sample specialties that inspired generations of chefs.

Learn how Lyon became the capital of French cuisine, from bouchon traditions to today’s artisans. Depending on route and timing, your host may showcase the legacy of Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, tying flavors to stories of craftsmanship, seasons and terroir.

Uncork creativity at a hosted paint-and-sip surrounded by rows of vines. With easel set and a chilled flute in hand, capture the glow of sunset over the vineyards as golden light shifts to soft lilac across the hills.

Guided prompts and a curated palette echo the region’s soft contours and stone hamlets, inviting an impressionist palette rather than perfection. You leave with a canvas—and a keepsake of Beaujolais’ gentle evening mood.

Toast your journey with a three-course farewell dinner in Oingt, a medieval village built from honey-hued pierres dorées. Seasonal dishes celebrate Rhône-Alpes produce, thoughtfully paired with local wines that echo the surrounding slopes.

Between courses, admire cobbled lanes and panoramic views that sweep across vineyard-stitched hills. It’s an atmospheric finale—part storybook setting, part culinary showcase—that lingers long after dessert.

Descend to the château’s vaulted stone cellar for a convivial evening at the in-house bar. Sip local Beaujolais by the glass or try a curated flight while the soundtrack and candlelight set an easygoing mood.

As the night unfolds, mingle with your small group and, if you wish, dance in ‘La Cave’. It’s relaxed, social and distinctly French—an intimate slice of château nightlife you won’t find on city itineraries.

Cook alongside a Lyonnaise host in a hands-on cooking class that brings market produce to the table. Learn to season, sauce and plate like a local as you prepare bouchon-style classics in a warm, home kitchen setting.

Depending on timing, you may shop a neighborhood market before class, discussing provenance and seasonality. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with vegetarian options typically available by request.

Glide past vineyards and hamlets on an easy e-bike through vineyard lanes route, tracing gentle hills and farm tracks. Roll into golden-stone villages of the Pierres Dorées, where warm limestone glows against blue skies.

Stop to pause for photos and reflection at viewpoints and chapels, hearing snippets about rural life and viticulture from your guide. This outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour; e-bikes make the terrain accessible for most riders.

Contiki

Discover the art of a French wine & cheese pairing hosted at your 16th-century château. On the terrace overlooking the rolling Beaujolais vineyards, you’ll sample regional wines alongside artisan cheeses, guided by hosts who explain textures, aromas and why certain matches sing.

Hear how Gamay thrives on these granite slopes and how semi-carbonic maceration shapes its bright fruit. Taste creamy Saint-Marcellin and nutty Comté, noting acidity, salt and rind. It’s a relaxed, sensory primer that connects you from vineyard to glass—the perfect palate-set for days of gourmet discovery.