Caving Meets Wine Tasting on a River Cruise in the South of France

You’ve heard of wine caves - how about wine caving?

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE to learn more about this new, and one-of-a-kind experience on an Avalon Waterways river cruise on the Rhone River in the south of France that combines adventure - with the exquisite wines of the region.

Lynn Elmhirst, producer and host of BestTrip TV, was one of the first guests to experience the new 'Active & Discovery' excursion that meant donning a caving suit, helmet, headlamp and a little bit of bravery to descend into caves near Avignon, France.

At the bottom of literally hundreds of stairsteps – 55 meters / 180 feet down into the earth, unfolds a 60 km / 40 mile network of caves that inhabitants of the region were using even tens of thousands of years ago.

Today, in addition to spectacular spelunking – that’s just a fancy word for caving – sights like sci-fi worthy formations, reflective pools and cathedral-like spaces, local winemakers have an ageing cave, where they are experimenting with how cave-aged wines differ from those aged above ground.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wine tasting and caving experience, and the latest in Avalon Waterways’ Active & Discovery river cruise shore excursions.

And after three glasses of wine and a climb up hundreds of stairs back to the surface, you might be grateful for the helmet! :-)

Start your Wine Tasting Adventure River Cruise!



Get your own travel assistant, help with your trip and personal travel advice, all for free

More Travel Advice Like This

What Size Cruise Ship is Right for You?

River or Ocean Cruises

If you're ‘sizing up’ your next cruise trip - whether you’ve never cruised before or...

Read More

Discover Amsterdam's Local Food Scene on this Avalon Waterways Shore Excursion

River or Ocean Cruises

Everyone wants to try 'real' local food when they travel. But we don't always have...

Read More

In it for the Long Haul: Cruise Line Marks 147 Years of Sailing History

River or Ocean Cruises

These historic photos and delightful vintage posters trace one of the longest journeys of any...

Read More

5 Tips to Make a Cruise the Perfect Family Vacation

River or Ocean Cruises

If you're trying to come up with the perfect family vacation for the holidays, time...

Read More