Friday (pre-trip), Sept. 25, 2026
Option to arrive Lyon a day before our tour begins – Fly directly into Lyon, or fly to Paris and take the 2-hour direct train that departs from Charles de Gaulle airport (no train transfer into Paris required).
A few notes on dates and flight options:
*Everyone should closely check flight options before making pre- and post-hotel plans – flights out of Lyon to the US are typically before noon, so folks might consider doing their real Lyon touring AFTER the trip instead of before so that you’re closer to the airport on your departure day. The only options for early morning travel to Lyon from Chateauneuf du Pape would be booking a driver at your own expense.
**There are no direct flights to Lyon from the US. Your preferred airline will have connecting flights available, and another option is to book roundtrip airfare through Paris, then take the 2-hour direct train from Charles de Gaulle airport (right there in terminal 3!) to Lyon City Center. I like to book on Trainline – you’ll look for trains going from Aeroport Roissy Charles de Gaulle to Lyon Part-Dieu (that’s the name of the city center Lyon train station). Marseille is only a 30-minute train ride from Avignon TGV (our drop off point on the final day), and is another option for booking your departure flight.
***Scroll the bottom of this itinerary to read through some of Julie’s ideas for how to finish up your trip and travel options on our final day.
To give you a rough idea of the landscape, here’s a high level wine region map of France. Hard to believe you can get all the way from Paris to Lyon in 2 hours!
Arrive Lyon. Explore this beautiful city, the gateway to the Rhone wine region. The city is divided between the old and new sections, where the Rhone and Saone Rivers cross.
Overnight at your hotel of choice in the city. Jenni and Julie will be staying at a modest Mercure hotel by the train station so that we are in position the morning of departure – if you want something more upscale but still near the train station, try the Pullman. Or splurge big time at the Coeur des Loges in the historic old town. Stay wherever you’re most comfortable, and plan to meet at the Lyon Part Dieu train station the next morning. (If you decide to arrive in Lyon Saturday morning, let us know and we can advise on preferred arrival times.)
Power through your jet lag by walking the streets of Lyon, including a funicular ride up to the Cathedral St. Jean Baptiste, then head back down to the old city by foot to enjoy expansive views.
You can see on this map the two rivers and how they divide the city. There are lovely pedestrian bridges for crossing both rivers. It’s a very walkable city.
Saturday (official itinerary begins), Sept. 26 – Monday, Sept. 28
We’ll head south to the village of Tain L’Hermitage by train – it’s the best way to see the gorgeous scenery along our route!
Two nights at the luxe Fac et Spera in Tain.
We’ll visit the Cave de Tain, a cooperative of local wine producers. This will help us get a good overview of the region on our first full day in wine country. Pending weather, we’ll enjoy a guided hike through the nearby vines, then a nice lunch in a local bistro.
We’ll visit the “City of Chocolate,” the headquarters of a widely known French brand of chocolates called Valrhona.
One evening, we’ll board a boat and enjoy local wines as we sail the Rhone River.
Jenni and Julie are renting a property with a terrace right on the Rhone River with gorgeous views where we’ll host meditation sessions, nightly aperitifs and intimate dinners.
Monday, Sept. 28 – Thursday, October 1
Our private coach collects us from Tain to travel an hour south to the famed Chateauneuf du Pape region, known for its jammy, bold reds!
If you want to read up on this area’s wines from an approachable source, check out this Wine Folly site. Very down-to-earth explanations we can all understand!
We’re renting out this entire bed & breakfast – Abacard – in Chateauneuf for our group’s privacy! Depending on the weather (which could indeed be quite balmy that far south, even in September), we may be able to enjoy the heated pool and hot tub. Bring a swimsuit just in case!
We’ll have delicious wine-paired lunches and fun tastings at chateaus in the region, including a day on Thursday led by our favorite French wine expert, Brendan Moore, who’s traveling all the way from Burgundy to be with us. He’ll take us to taste wine with some of his local friends and wine producers, and – bring your walking shoes! – he’ll take us on an afternoon stroll to Pont du Gard to help walk off our morning wine tastings and boozy lunch.
Since we’ll be having big lunches out each day, we’ll keep dinner a bit more simple – sitting around the pool or in our private dining area at Abacard. Our gracious hosts will be preparing simple dinners for us each night, and we’ll be sure to purchase ample wine from our daily tastings to enjoy in the evenings.
Friday, October 2, 2026
Our private coach drops us off at the Avignon TGV train station, about 20 minutes from our B&B.
Some post-trip options include:
1 – Stay in Avignon a few days! It’s a fun city with great restaurants and bars, historic sites, museums, and boutique shopping. Saturday morning you can catch some famous Provence flea markets.
2 – Return to Lyon (1-hour by direct train) for an extended stay in the city or for your flight home.
3 – Take a direct train 35 minutes south to Marseille, where you can enjoy the coastal city and/or fly out of Marseille for your journey home.
4 – Take a train back to CDG airport in Paris. From Avignon TGV, it will likely route you through Lyon Part Dieu train station. One hour to Lyon, 2 more hours direct to CDG Terminal 3.
Let us know if you need help making a decision and navigating any logistics and timing questions. We are happy to advise!
Belle Vie Discovery Retreat - France 