The Camargue & Wild Rhône River — Self-Launched Edition
4 days · Southern France (Martigues to Lyon)
CroisiEurope River Cruises charges £1,200
No-markup version: ~£380 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the river cruise price tag and explore the same stunning route from Martigues to Lyon under your own steam — by train, local bus, and hired car. You'll visit the Camargue wetlands, the medieval streets of Avignon, the jaw-dropping Ardèche Gorges, the Vercors plateau, the Roman ruins of Vienne, and finally arrive in vibrant Lyon. Budget guesthouses and chambres d'hôtes replace the cruise cabin, while self-booked tours and local transport keep costs a fraction of the CroisiEurope price. All meals are estimated at local bistro and market rates. Costs below are approximate per person, based on solo travel with shared rooms where applicable.
Day-by-day
Martigues & Arrive in Avignon
Martigues → Avignon
Start your journey in Martigues, dubbed the 'Venice of Provence', with its colourful waterfront and canals. Spend a couple of hours exploring the Miroir aux Oiseaux viewpoint and the old quarter before catching a train towards Avignon. Trains run regularly from Martigues via Marseille Saint-Charles to Avignon Centre (total ~2–2.5 hrs, ~£20–25). Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in the heart of Avignon's walled city. Celebrate your arrival with a glass of local Côtes du Rhône and a hearty Provençal dinner at a brasserie on Place de l'Horloge.
🚌Train: Martigues → Marseille Saint-Charles → Avignon Centre (~£22). Local bus in Martigues (~£2).
🛏Lumani Guesthouse or HI Hostel Avignon — budget en-suite or dorm, expect ~£25–40/night
- →Explore Martigues old town and the Miroir aux Oiseaux canal viewpoint
- →Train from Martigues via Marseille to Avignon (~£22 per person)
- →Evening stroll along the Avignon city walls and Rocher des Doms gardens
- →Dinner at a local Provençal brasserie — try daube or tapenade (~£15–20)
Avignon Papal Palace & the Ardèche Gorges
Avignon → Ardèche Gorges → Viviers
Morning: spend 2–3 hours exploring Avignon independently — the Palais des Papes is self-bookable via GetYourGuide or direct at the ticket office (~£13). Walk the famous Pont d'Avignon for panoramic views. After lunch, hire a car for the day from Avignon (from ~£35/day) or join a self-bookable half-day minibus tour of the Ardèche Gorges via GetYourGuide (~£35–45). The Gorges de l'Ardèche are one of France's great natural wonders — drive or cycle the D290 cliff road above the canyon and stop at the Belvédère de la Madeleine for dramatic views. Overnight in or near Viviers, a beautifully preserved medieval village on the Rhône.
🚌Hire car from Avignon (~£35/day including fuel for this leg) or Ardèche Gorges minibus day tour via GetYourGuide (~£40).
🛏Hôtel du Rhône or local gîte near Viviers — ~£30–40/night
- →Self-guided visit to the Palais des Papes, Avignon (~£13 entry)
- →Walk Pont d'Avignon and the ramparts (~free)
- →Drive or join a tour of the Ardèche Gorges — Belvédère de la Madeleine viewpoint
- →Explore Viviers medieval village
- →Dinner of local charcuterie and Ardèche chestnuts (~£15)
The Vercors Plateau & Clairette de Die Wine Tasting
Vercors
Today head into the wild Vercors plateau — a dramatic limestone massif of gorges, forests and mountain villages. Drive (or take a bus from Valence, ~£8) up into the park, visiting the Gorges de la Bourne and the village of Pont-en-Royans, known for its medieval houses perched above the river. The highlight of the afternoon is a visit to a Clairette de Die producer for a tasting of this unique sparkling wine — a tradition in the region. Many domaines offer free or low-cost tastings (€5–10). Round off the day with a gala-style dinner at a local restaurant — treat yourself to a multi-course menu du terroir (~£25–30). Stay overnight near Die or Valence.
🚌Hire car continued from Day 2 or local coach Valence → Die (~£8 one way).
🛏Hôtel la Gare, Die or similar budget hotel — ~£35–45/night
- →Drive through the Vercors Natural Park — Gorges de la Bourne and Pont-en-Royans (~free, petrol costs)
- →Visit to a Clairette de Die wine producer for tasting (~£6)
- →Explore the Resistance Museum in Vassieux-en-Vercors (optional, ~£5)
- →Celebratory dinner — menu du terroir at a local restaurant (~£28)
Roman Vienne & Arrival in Lyon
Vienne → Lyon
On your final morning, head north to Vienne, one of the most important Roman cities in ancient Gaul. Explore the remarkably preserved Temple of Augustus and Livia, the Roman amphitheatre, and the atmospheric old town — all walkable from the train station with no guide needed (free or ~£5 entry for theatre). Pick up a self-guided audio tour via the Vienne tourism app. Then jump on a frequent train to Lyon (20 mins, ~£6) and arrive in France's culinary capital. Spend the afternoon exploring Vieux-Lyon's traboules (secret passageways), Fourvière Hill, and the Presqu'île. Celebrate your journey's end with a classic Lyonnais bouchon dinner — quenelles, andouillette, and a carafe of Beaujolais (~£20–25).
🚌Train: Vienne → Lyon Part-Dieu (~£6). Local tram/metro in Lyon (~£2).
🛏Auberge de Jeunesse Lyon Vieux Lyon or The Spot Hostel — ~£25–35/night (if staying extra night)
- →Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, Vienne (exterior free, guided tours ~£5)
- →Roman Theatre and Odeon of Vienne (~£4 entry)
- →Train Vienne → Lyon (~£6, 20 mins)
- →Walk the traboules of Vieux-Lyon (free, self-guided)
- →Climb to Fourvière Basilica for panoramic city views (free)
- →Farewell dinner at a traditional Lyonnais bouchon (~£22)
Self-launched vs. CroisiEurope River Cruises
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CroisiEurope River Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£380 | £1,200 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £820 per person (68%) | |
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.~£380
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does The Camargue & Wild Rhône River — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £380 per person for 4 days in Southern France (Martigues to Lyon). 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 £1,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £380 — a saving of roughly £820 (68%) per person.
How long is the Southern France (Martigues to Lyon) trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Southern France (Martigues to Lyon).
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, slow-travel, road-trip trip through Southern France (Martigues to Lyon), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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