It’s almost on every traveler’s bucket list to visit Paris at least once during their lifetime. And while it’s certainly easy for many professional wanderers to book a ticket to France at any given moment, that’s not the only thing they want to do. Visiting the Eiffel Tower, having lunch at a quintessential cafe and rounding out the day at the Louvre Museum might sound like a perfect Parisian day, but travelers these days want to do more than just tick off items from their to-do lists: they also want the ultimate cultural immersion experience. Luckily, Viking Cruises offers that and so much more.

For those travelers wanting to tap into their inner artist, Paris seems like the perfect place to go. But for those who really want to discover the artistic talent they probably didn’t know they had, then Arles, France is the answer. With a paintbrush in one hand, you can learn the story of how impressionist paintings by Van Gogh forever changed the face of the art world and became a symbol of modern French life. To follow this artists’ footsteps take the Viking River Cruise – Lyon & Province.  Make sure to sign up for the excursion Inside The Frame With Van Gogh.

Viking Cruise Excursion – Inside The Frame With Van Gogh

For travelers like me, you’ll get to express your artistic side during a painting class at La Couverture Verte (“the Green Blanket”), at Arles’s Siqueiros Fine Arts School. This was my first time doing a painting class and while I was certainly nervous, the instruction was pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely felt like I was immersed in Van Gogh’s atelier even though I was in a classroom with four other travelers who each painted on canvas something from Van Gogh’s collection. Mine happened to be sunflowers which I later framed at home.

The entire class lasts about three hours and thirty minutes and is definitely a unique and also unforgettable experience. Not only do you get an art class, but a little history, too. As many art fans probably already know, Van Gogh spent 15 months in Arles, from 1888 to 1889. While there, he went mad, as many historians would say, but also managed to complete over 200 paintings during this time in Arles.

The great part of this class is that you do not need previous painting experience. Instead, you can call on the creative spirit of the great painter during your class, which is open to all levels of talent and ability.

There’s More To Do After The Class

Once the class is done, you have the choice to head back to the ship. That, or you can opt to stay in Arles and visit some of the sites that were immortalized by van Gogh on canvas, such as the Café Van Gogh. There’s also an opportunity to see the Espace van Gogh, the former hospital in which the artist was briefly committed in December 1888.

Why Take A Viking Cruise

As many cruise travelers and aficionados know, Viking Cruises has always been a head of its class for many different reasons. The service and comfort are key and just two of the reasons why so many guests come back for more Viking adventures year after year. Every cruise fare includes an outside stateroom, a complimentary shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service.

My husband and I have enjoyed several Viking Cruises and are currently booked for several more. When you step onto a Viking Cruise ship your world is transformed into perhaps the highest quality vacation experience out there.  Until you’ve been treated like Royalty by all the Viking staff from the waiters and chef to the housekeepers and the captain and program director you probably haven’t experience a comprehensive level of travel that compares.

For more information, check out Viking Cruise’s website at www.viking.com or call 1-855-338-4546.