Sunday
You will be met by a Papillon crew member at your hotel in Paris at 1pm and driven to the Papillon moored near Dijon in the village of Fleurey-sur-Ouche. On the way we can visit the fabulous Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte - a mini rival to Versailles. Alternatively, you can take the fast TGV train from Paris and a Papillon crew member will meet you at the railway station in Dijon. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed aboard Le Papillon with a Champagne reception and introduced to the crew of four - time to settle in before dinner.

Monday
After breakfast we will start cruising along the Canal de Bourgogne. There will be ample opportunities to take a bike ride or walk along the canal tow path. By mid-afternoon we shall be moored in the delightful village of Gissey-sur-Ouche. A short drive in the minibus will take us to the medieval quarter of Dijon for a walking tour followed by a visit to the Musee des Beaux Arts in the ducal palace. Our drive back to Papillon will include the Route des Grands Crus through the vineyards of the Cote de Nuit passing by Clos Vougeot.

Tuesday
Food lovers can make an early start and accompany our chef to the busy morning food market in Dijon. This is an opportunity to meet our cheese, fish, meat and vegetable suppliers, of whom we are very proud. Maybe take a coffee with the chef and discuss some of your favorite dishes. There will be some free time for shopping - the Rue Verrerie with its famous antique shops is nearby. Lunch back on board and then cruise to the village of Veuvey-sur-Ouche.

Wednesday
This morning's cruise will take us to Pont d'Ouche where we cruise over the Ouche river. After lunch we will drive through the nearby hills and descend into the Cote d'Or vineyards and visit Beaune - a thriving little town and proud capital of the wine trade. By far the most famous sight is the hospice with its multicolored roof tiles which was built in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the dukes of Burgundy. Next door in the spectacular cellars of the Marche aux Vins we can taste some of Burgundy's finest wines or alternatively stop at one of the vineyards on our way back to Papillon. During the afternoon Papillon will have cruised on to La Repe where she will be moored for the night.

Thursday
A 5 minute drive from Papillon will take us up to the hilltop village of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois. Highly restored and very picturesque, the village also offers a fine aerial view of the canal. Back on board, we will climb the remaining locks before reaching the summit level of the canal - the highest point on this water route from the Mediterranean to the English Channel. After lunch we can visit the little Chateau of Commarin with its fine tapestries. And then on through one of the wonders of the canal system - a two-mile tunnel leading to the town of Pouilly-en-Auxois. Nearby the Chateau of Chailly has a fine golf course.

Friday
Today's cruise will take us through lovely rolling countryside to Pont Royal. From there, a pleasant circular trip in the minibus could include visits to the hilltop village of Flavigny where 'Chocolat' was filmed, the Cistercian abbey of Fontenay (UNESCO world heritage site) and the virtually undiscovered medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois.

Saturday:
After breakfast, minibus transfer to Dijon train station or your hotel or airport in Paris.

Note: The above description of a week on Le Papillon, cruising from Fleurey to Pont Royal contains similar points of interest as a cruise in the opposite direction from Pont Royal to Fleurey, although times for excursions will clearly differ between the two routes. No two cruises on Le Papillon are ever exactly the same since we always mold each voyage to fit the interests of our passengers. Whatever your passion - golf, tennis, biking, walking, side trips in the minibus, just relaxing on deck, or a little of everything - we'll make sure you do it.

Sunday
You will be met at your hotel in Paris at 1pm for the 3 hour drive to Burgundy.  On the way we will visit the fabulous château of Vaux-le-Vicomte -- a mini rival to Versailles.  Board Papillon at about 6pm for a Champagne welcome and introduction to her crew - time to settle in before dinner.

Monday - First bike day - 22 miles with one category 3 climb (2½ miles)
After breakfast Papillon will start cruising along the Canal de Bourgogne.  Tim will join us this morning for a chat about our biking program.  Lunch will be on the early side, so that we can be in Beaune when shops re-open to get fitted out with our bikes.  Pedaling out of town we will head straight into the vineyards of Savigny-les-Beaune before steadily climbing up the delightful valley of the river Rhone with its dramatic limestone cliffs, and on to the quiet village of Bouilland.  Maybe take a drink in the café prior to attacking our main climb of the day, the meandering Combe de Nalt.  Having conquered this hill, we can relax as the countryside opens out and treats us to some magnificent views; passing through St Jean de Boeuf we will then head down into the Ouche valley before rejoining Papillon moored near the village of Gissey-sur-Ouche.

Tuesday - Second bike day - 27 miles with one category 5 climb (1 mile) & one category 3 climb (2½ miles)
An early morning cruise before we step ashore at one of the locks and bike along the canal towing path to the village of La Bussière.  We now part company with the canal and climb towards the village of Commarin, where we can refuel with the locals in the bar beside the château.  Our next stop is the lake at Panthier, one of several reservoirs completed in the early 1840s to supply the canal with sufficient water for the then heavy commercial barge traffic; today it is an oasis for sailing and anglers.  Time now to pull out all the stops and tackle our most challenging climb of the day up to the imposing hilltop village of Châteauneuf, rated as one of the most attractive villages in France. From here the views of the Auxois are splendid and there is the perfect spot to enjoy a gourmet picnic driven and delivered from the Papillon by Ollie.  Having descended to yet another château, St.Sabine, we continue through several villages before rejoining the barge for a stretch of very beautiful and relaxing cruising.  Cocktails and dinner on deck whilst the white Charolais munch their way across the adjacent green slopes.

Wednesday - Third bike day - AM: 29 miles with three category 5 climbs (each about 1 mile) - PM: 33 miles with one category 4 climb (3 miles) & two category 5 climbs (each 1 mile)
Today we offer "le Crunch", a 100 kilometre monster!  It's your chance to cycle through virtually the entire wine cellar of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits with all the famous names along the way.  There is the option of biking just in the morning or the afternoon, or not at all if you prefer to use this middle day as a rest day since Papillon will be covering some interesting ground, climbing to the summit level of the canal and then passing through a 2 mile tunnel!  This morning's ride starts in the charming little riverside village of Lussigny sur Ouche. We follow the route taken by the 2007 tour de France (Wiggins break away) to Ivry en Montagne, then onto Nolay and the fabulous views from the "montain des trois croix" before dropping down through the Maranges appelation vineyards of the Cote de Beaune. The rest of this ride reads like the wine list from one of the finest cellars in the world:  Santenay, Chassagne Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Auxey Duresses, Monthelie, Volnay; and in case that's not enough to wet the appetite, we have a bistro lunch waiting for us in Pommard.  After lunch we circumvent Beaune by biking a lovely scenic route through Bouze les Beaune in the Haute Cote.  There are two significant hills to negociate; after the first one, we drop down through Ladoix Serrigny and then to Pernand Vergelesses before approaching the gentle four mile category 5 climb up to Echevrone and Meuilly.  The following descent to Nuits St Georges will put us en route for the very best of the Cotes de Nuits vineyards: Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-St-Denis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Fixin and Marsannay.  We'll complete our ride on the outskirts of Dijon, and with a suitable beverage or two, celebrate what is a magnificent achievement to be remembered!  The minibus will transport us back to Papillon and civilized living.

Thursday - Fourth bike day - 28 miles with one category 4 climb (2 miles)
This morning you can either take it easy and enjoy the cruising along the canal, or head out in the minibus to visit the inside of the château at Châteauneuf or Commarin or play a round of golf at the 18 hole course at the Château de Chailly.  After lunch onboard and following the heroic exploits of yesterday, we embark on a gentle ride towards the Morvan National Park.  We start with some delightful villages, Chailly-sur-Armançon, Mont St Jean and La Motte Ternant before the landscape changes to the extensive conifer forests so typical of the Morvan; this is a slightly wild agricultural area which during the last couple of centuries has also provided Paris with all of its firewood and a convenient supply of wet nurses!  As we head back to Papillon we'll pass through Thorey-sous-Charny where a small but vivid revival of traditional wine making is underway. There are currently only 3 vineyards in the Auxois, and whilst the one at Thorey is the smallest, it's also the best -- and not many people know about it!  We'll walk amongst the vines, help with the picking if it's harvest time and then enjoy a sample back in the village amongst the barrels.  Papillon is nearby and dinner is in the oven.

Friday - Fifth bike day - 35 miles with two category 5 climbs (each 1¼ miles), one category 4 climb (2 miles) and one category 3 climb (2 miles)
Soon after breakfast Papillon will approach Pont Royal where we will take off for our final ride. Our first hill takes us to the picturesque village of Ste.Colombe before we descend to Marigny-le-Cahouet.  Time now to skip valleys from the Armancon to the Brenne and then on up to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, another one of "les plus beaux villages de France."  "Chocolat" was filmed here and the village still produces the little oval tins of "Anis de Flavigny" now found the world over.  One shouldn't leave without visiting the 8th century crypt, and if we're lucky we might catch a glimpse of the current monks in their black cassocks playing football!  We'll pedal on to our picnic spot below the statue of the leader of the Gauls, Vercingetorix, defeated here in 52 bc by Caesar.  After lunch and another climb, time to pause and visit the "potager"/vegetable garden at the chateau of Lantilly. And then a wonderful ride down to an undiscovered gem -- the walled medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois -- experience the cobbled streets as did the French road cycling championships in 2008. We'll leave town in style riding the same route that the horses take each year for the "Fête de la Bague", the second oldest horse race in Europe!  The last few kilometres are along the canal towing path - just far enough to find Papillon and Celebrate!

Saturday
After breakfast, transfer by minibus to Paris to your hotel, train station or airport arriving during the traditional French lunch hour of 12 to 2pm.

Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.  It may cruise in the reverse direction depending on the cruise week.

Your cruise through the Ouche valley begins in Pont de Pany and ends in Escommes, taking in forty locks with their flower bedecked keepers' houses, quaint villages and fairytale views.

Sunday
We'll be on the platform of Dijon train station to meet you as you step off your fast TGV from Paris.  30 minutes later you'll be enjoying a Champagne welcome on the Papillon and meeting her crew.  After time to settle in, your chef Ollie, will serve a delicious dinner on board.

Monday
Who wouldn't skip their croissant so as to get to the Gaugry fromagerie by 9:30am? This is when the building is at its busiest as the daily arrival of 9000 litres of raw milk starts the journey towards perfection in the form of one of France's greatest cheeses, namely Epoisses.  For breakfast we'll taste five Burgundy cheeses with a glass of red wine in the oak panelled bar inside this former headquarters of Ricard; the building, an icon of sixties architecture houses an irresistible cheese shop! Back on the road, we'll follow the route des grands crus passing through world famous vineyards and villages such as Clos de Vougeot, Nuits-St-Georges and Aloxe-Corton before arriving in Beaune.  First stop will be for a private tour of the family owned Fallot mustard mill, undoubtedly the finest mustard in France.  After the tour, a 10 minute walk will find us inside Ma Cuisine in the heart of Beaune for a delicious lunch - the style here in Pierre and Fabienne Escoffier's bistro is light yet with intense flavours; many regional dishes are featured along with a wine list for the most discerning palette. After lunch, enjoy a stroll through the cobbled streets of Beaune and admire the gables and tiled roofs so typical of the Flemish influence from the era of the great Dukes of Burgundy back in the 15th century. Cruise in the afternoon with dinner onboard moored in the charming canalside village of La Bussiere.

Tuesday
Eiffel's fabulous iron market building will be bustling in central Dijon this morning. We will wander around with Ollie choosing the freshest ingredients. The array of fresh produce is extraordinary.  Naturally this is your chance to help shape the meals that will come out of Papillon's galley.....plus there will be time for that croissant and coffee with the locals!  The streets around the market square contain a wealth of antique shops and a short walking circuit allows you to admire Rue Liberte, the facade of the Ducal Palace and touch the famous chouette for good luck. Lunch on Papillon whilst we continue our cruise along the Ouche valley. During the afternoon maybe take a walk or bike ride along the tow path or just nap on the sun deck as rural France gently glides by. Once moored, enjoy an informal wine tasting with Cedric your captain.  You will be able to sample several of our favorite bottles from Papillon's cellar before heading off for a wonderful picnic.  As one of the nearby chateaux closes its doors to the public, we will be allowed in for a private tour of the stunning grounds - quite a privilege!  A sumptuous culinary spread awaits you in the orangerie.

Wednesday
Cruise this morning and tie up with a magnificent view of the castle of Chateauneuf, parts of which date back to the early 12th century.  Being only 5 minutes from Papillon we will have time to explore the village (ranked as one of the most beautiful in the whole of France) and the chateau before heading into the small town of Pouilly-en-Auxois.  Our destination here is a secret bakery which supplies a handful of organic shops - we will be able to squeeze in, chat for 5 minutes with the baker before she has her siesta and grab a few red hot loaves straight from the oven. Back on Papillon for lunch and a cruise to the summit of the canal - the final pretty locks will bring us to an altitude of 1,232 feet above sea level, the highest point by water between the Mediterranean and the English Channel. In this part of Burgundy, the Auxois, a small but vivid revival of wine making is underway. There are currently only 3 vineyards in the Auxois and the smallest and best one is only a 15 minute drive away. We'll walk amongst the vines, help with the picking if its harvest time and then enjoy a sample back in the village amongst the barrels.  Two villages away we can make a stop at a foie gras farm and pick up the makings of an extra course for tonights festive farewell dinner.

Thursday
After breakfast aboard Papillon, at 10am you will be driven to Dijon train station, car rental or hotel.  

Available at extra cost:
*GUIDED WALK:  Led by local ornithologist Tim Wilcox.
*BIKING CIRCUIT:  This can be with Tim using the bikes on Papillon or with specialist light weight bikes from Beaune Bike & Wine based in Beaune.
*CONCERT:  Armelle Yons a professional singer from Paris knows how to entertain with a wonderful mix of French classics with a modern twist.
*MUSIC: Stephane Boussuge fell in love with Burgundy in 1994. The top piano tuner in the land and the only French person to have obtained the MPA (master piano artisan) qualification in France (there are only 5 such people in Europe!).  Stephane can play keyboards for the evening or demonstrate his extraordinary musical work with computers.
*CRAFT WORKSHOP (afternoons): Dry felt workshops run by Helen Dogge or vintage button jewelery by Jacky Marengos.
*BALLOON FLIGHT:  Operated by France Montgolfieres, the leading French balloon company.
*KEEP FIT: A morning keep fit class / gym / stretching.

Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. It may run in reverse depending on the cruise direction.