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The Majestic Rhine: Switzerland to Amsterdam

 
4.5 stars(208 reviews)
You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
Duration
8 days
Per person
£2,399 £2,099
Tour code
RLR25
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Rail & Cruise

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Rhine on a luxurious cruise

Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Europe on this Rhine river cruise from Switzerland to Amsterdam. Experience the spectacular scenery of the majestic Rhine river, including the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with stunning castles, lush forests, and sprawling vineyards.

Sail from Switzerland to the waters of the North Sea, drifting by forested valleys and charming riverside towns while enjoying guided tours of medieval German towns and exploring remarkable cities in France and the Netherlands. Discover the sights of enchanting Strasbourg, the magical allure of the Black Forest, and the timeless elegance of Heidelberg. Secure your place onboard this luxury Rhine river cruise experience.

Interested in this tour but haven't found a date that works for you?
You might also like our similar tour The Romantic Rhine!

Unforgettable experiences

Romantic Rhine Gorge
Romantic Rhine Gorge
Sail through this enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site with spellbinding castles, verdant forests, vineyard-clad slopes, and the dramatic Lorelei Rock.
Cochem
Cochem
Discover the well-preserved, historic charms of Cochem’s Old Town surrounded by the beautiful Moselle Valley.
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim
Explore this charming city and the famous Drosselgasse, a quaint narrow alleyway lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars. While here, choose between a fabulous wine tasting or visit the marvellous Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
Drachenfelsbahn Cog Railway
Drachenfelsbahn Cog Railway
Reach the summit of the majestic Drachenfels on the exhilarating Drachenfelsbahn cog railway to enjoy the splendid views.
Quintessential Dutch views
Quintessential Dutch views
Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Amsterdam on a guided tour and canal boat trip, or uncover the idyllic towns of Edam and Volendam, renowned for their cheese heritage.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’ on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this picturesque riverside city.
Cologne
Cologne
Discover the city’s cheerful streets and its Gothic cathedral, a timeless masterpiece.

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Jungfrau Express

Jungfrau Express

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Itinerary

DAY1Day 1 – To Basel where we board our luxurious ship

Our holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris, this morning. From here, we continue by rail to Basel, Switzerland where our magnificent ship awaits us. As we settle into our home on the river, we're greeted with a welcome cocktail before dinner and set sail on an overnight cruise.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Day 2 – The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

Sailing into the enchanting city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg, where you'll discover its fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY3Day 3 –Traditional Heidelberg and lovely Speyer

During breakfast we pause in the city of Mannheim and from here we journey by coach to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. The picturesque university town is known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, stay onboard as we take the short cruise to Speyer. Arriving later this afternoon, you can discover the city at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner and a restful overnight sailing upstream.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4Day 4 – Charming Rüdesheim, the magical Rhine Gorge, and picturesque Koblenz

This morning, we travel through Rüdesheim's steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions, each promising a delightful insight into the town. You could experience first-hand Rudesheim's most famous produce - wine, with a fantastic tasting, savouring the finest local varieties. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments, from antique music boxes to miniature pianos.

Afterwards, there's some time to explore the town at leisure before we return to our ship. This afternoon we begin sailing and enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - the romantic Rhine Gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

Our journey through the Rhine Gorge comes to an end and we arrive later this afternoon in the town of Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. You have time to explore and we recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY5Day 5 – Lovely Cochem – the heart of the Moselle wine trade

We set sail early, navigating the tranquil waters of the Moselle river. After a morning of relaxed cruising through delightful river scenery, our ship pulls into the port of Cochem where the stunning Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, half-timbered houses and the majestic castle (the Reichsburg) perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars.

After lunch onboard, we embark on our guided afternoon tour where we admire the Reichsburg dramatically located overlooking the Old Town. In the old quarter of Cochem, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and a fascinating arts centre in a former monastery.

Following our tour, there's time to explore the picturesque streets at leisure. The town's central square is a hub of activity, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. It's a great place to soak up the local atmosphere. Later this evening, we continue our cruise back downstream towards Koblenz, where we leave the Moselle behind and rejoin the Rhine.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY6Day 6 – The wonderful Drachenfelsbahn and cultural Cologne

This morning we dock in Königswinter and after breakfast, the Drachenfelsbahn railway awaits. This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock', inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

Back onboard this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery toward Cologne. As we approach the striking city, admire the fantastic cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. On arrival, a guided tour of the city introduces us to the joyful atmosphere of its streets and lively squares filled with fantastic beer halls.

We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. We then head back to our ship and begin an overnight cruise towards The Netherlands.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY7Day 7 – Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Edam

Spending the early morning sailing through the Lower Rhine, we witness a change in scenery as we approach the Netherlands. Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, you have the choice of two excursions.

The first is a tour of Amsterdam, featuring a canal boat cruise on which we soak up stunning views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined by gabled mansions, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam - a city unlike anywhere else. After the tour, there is an optional excursion. You could choose to stay in Amsterdam and continue exploring at leisure or join a visit to Edam and Volendam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for the well-known cheese, Edam is a stunning old town, with traditionally Dutch houses lining serene canals.

Back on board our ship this evening, we gather for a gala dinner accompanied by the songs of the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir - the perfect end to our Rhine cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY8Day 8 – Homeward bound

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Info - Travel Options

We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for departures on this tour. You can find out which class each departure is by clicking on the information button in the pricing grid. (Look for S - Standard Class and F - First Class)

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

What’s included on the tour?

Trains & Ships

More information on the different trains and ships that are used on this tour.

Cabin DS

Travel in luxury and style when you choose one of our Deluxe Suites. Our largest en-suite cabins, at 26.4 square metres, a walk-out balcony, walk-in wardrobe an river-view lounge area.

Cabin A1

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

Cabin B1

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

Cabin B4

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

Cabin C1

Our Classic Staterooms offer quality, and elegance with space to relax in comfort at the end of the day. And we recognise the importance of having somewhere inviting to retire to after an engaging day of cruising or excursions. These 16 square metre en-suite cabins offer a wide picture window and large walk-in wardrobe.

Cabin C4

Our Classic Staterooms offer quality, and elegance with space to relax in comfort at the end of the day. And we recognise the importance of having somewhere inviting to retire to after an engaging day of cruising or excursions. These 16 square metre en-suite cabins offer a wide picture window and large walk-in wardrobe.

Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 208 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (127)
  2. 4 stars
    (66)
  3. 3 stars
    (9)
  4. 2 stars
    (3)
  5. 1 star
    (3)

F Poplar

5 stars

Submitted 11/Nov

Very well organised, interesting trips and excursions, fabulous food, friendly staff.

Collected by Trustpilot

maxine baldock

5 stars

Submitted 8/Nov

Boat, food and staff were amazing. 5 star boat and 5 star service. Well organised. Only criticism would be some guides were not as good as others.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr David Walker

4 stars

Submitted 4/Nov

Lovely 4 star floating hotel. Cuisine was very good and Cruise Managers very well organised and thorough. All staff very polite and helpful. Relaxing holiday

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Walker, Thank you for your feedback. That is brilliant to hear! Kindest regards, Sarah
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Sissons

5 stars

Submitted 4/Nov

Everything about our holiday with Great Rail was fantastic. 10 ut of 10 for everything

Collected by Trustpilot

Paul Barter

5 stars

Submitted 4/Nov

Excellent trip made all the more enjoyable by the excellent service and food on the ship.

Collected by Trustpilot

CHRIS

5 stars

Submitted 3/Nov

Staff very friendly and helpful, lovely food comfortable room

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews

Enhance your holiday

London Hotels

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

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We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

London hotels
UK rail connections

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

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We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

UK train tickets
River Cruise Holidays 2025

Download the brochure

Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.

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