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GoldenPass & the Romantic Rhine

 
4.1 stars(7 reviews)
You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
20262027
Duration
10 days
From per person
£2,699 £2,499
Tour code
GPR26
Mobility Rating 2
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Discover the magnificent GoldenPass Express, staying in Interlaken set between two peaceful lakes and enjoy an enchanting cruise on the romantic Rhine

Experience a holiday of a lifetime with an enchanting Rhine river cruise followed by a rail adventure on the cutting-edge GoldenPass Express. From the streets of Amsterdam, where historic landmarks meet modern charm, to the picturesque Moselle Valley and the legendary Rhine Gorge, every moment is a cultural experience.

Step aboard the Amadeus Star, where luxury and comfort await as we sail to explore Cologne, the traditional towns of Cochem and Rüdesheim, and the storied past of Heidelberg and Speyer.

The journey ends in the Swiss alpine towns of Interlaken and Montreux where we board the spectacular GoldenPass Express for unparalleled views of Switzerland's landscapes.

Unforgettable Experiences

Experiencing the iconic GoldenPass Express
Experiencing the iconic GoldenPass Express
Enjoy a beautiful journey in panoramic carriages direct from idyllic Interlaken through the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland to the chic lakeside resort of Montreux.
Sailing the Rhine Gorge
Sailing the Rhine Gorge
Drift through this UNESCO World Heritage site where spellbinding castles emerge, forests stretch as far as the eye can see, and vineyard-clad slopes cascade to the water's edge.
Exploring Heidelberg
Exploring Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’ on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this riverside city as we stroll through the historic Altstadt and visit the imposing Heidelberg Castle.
Visiting Rüdesheim
Visiting Rüdesheim
Wander the city and its famous Drosselgasse lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars. While here, choose between a wine tasting or visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
Riding the Drachenfels Cog Railway
Riding the Drachenfels Cog Railway
Reach the summit of the Drachenfels hill on this historic route, winding gracefully up the verdant slopes as the majestic panorama of the Rhine Valley gradually unfolds.

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Glacier Express

Glacier Express & The Romantic Rhine

11-day holiday

Cruise the romantic Rhine, sailing through stunning scenery and exploring historic cities before experiencing the iconic Glacier Express, staying in the alpine resort of Zermatt.

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The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel

8-day holiday

Enjoy a leisurely cruise from the pretty canals of Amsterdam, through the picturesque Moselle Valley and enchanting Rhine Gorge, to the Swiss city of Basel.

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Itinerary

DAY1Boarding the luxurious ship in Amsterdam

Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras. Aboard the Eurostar, we head to Amsterdam, where our magnificent ship awaits us. We're greeted onboard by our friendly crew and sip on a welcome cocktail while taking in the waterside views.

Take some time to familiarise yourself with our hotel on the river and settle into your comfortable cabin. Later this evening, we have our first dinner onboard accompanied by a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance - the perfect start to our cruise.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam

After breakfast this morning, you have the choice of two excursions. The first is a tour of Amsterdam, featuring a canal boat cruise with 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.

Alternatively, you could choose a visit to Volendam and Edam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for Dutch cheese, Volendam is a stunning old town, with traditional houses lining serene canals and a small harbour.

Back onboard this afternoon, we begin our first sail toward Cologne.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

DAY3Exploring Cologne and to the Drachenfels summit

As we approach the city of Cologne this morning, you can admire the cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing cathedral. After breakfast, a guided tour of the city introduces us to its streets and squares before we visit the 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.

Following lunch, we head to Königswinter to experience the Drachenfels railway. This cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates to 'Dragon's Rock', inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. Wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany unfold as we climb higher. After dinner, we depart Königswinter toward the serene waters of the Moselle River.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4Cochem – the heart of the Moselle wine trade

During a morning of relaxed cruising, our luxurious ship navigates the tranquil waters of the Moselle River, passing the rolling hills of the Moselle Valley towards Cochem. This attractive town is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings and half-timbered houses, dominated by the 11th-century Reichsburg Castle.

After lunch onboard, we embark on a guided tour where we admire the fairytale Reichsburg. In Cochem's Old Town, we find well-preserved sections of the ancient walls and a former monastery that now houses a cultural centre. Following the tour, there's time to explore the picturesque streets at leisure. The central square is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. It's a great place to soak up the local atmosphere.

We continue sailing after dinner on board as we journey back downstream towards Koblenz, where we leave the Moselle behind and rejoin the Rhine.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY5Sailing through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim

There is time at leisure this morning to explore Koblenz, once a Roman stronghold. We recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We then begin sailing again and, after lunch, enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - the Rhine Gorge.

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views and the best place to witness them is from the top deck of our ship. We wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of green vineyards, ancient castles, and riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

Docking in Rüdesheim, a land train takes us through steeped vineyards to the centre of the renowned wine town. Here is a choice of excursions, each promising an insight into the Rüdesheim. You could experience why this town is famous for its wine with a 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.

After dinner this evening, there is time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY6Discovering Heidelberg and Speyer

During breakfast, we pause in the city of Mannheim. Stepping on land, we journey by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour. This university town is known for its Old Town and 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 views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, you could 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
DAY7The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

Sailing into the city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two excursions. The first is a trip into the Black Forest to witness its 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, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could have a city tour of Strasbourg, discovering its history and grand architecture. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On the tour, we visit its cathedral and La Petite France district.

Following your excursion this afternoon, we return to our ship for lunch and begin our final cruise towards Switzerland, enjoying the vistas enroute.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

DAY8Into the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken

After our last breakfast onboard this morning, we disembark in Basel. From here, we journey the scenic rail route to Interlaken, a town set between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. On arrival, we check into our hotel which has spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. The town's compact size means that most of its sights can be discovered on foot with an afternoon at leisure.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY9The GoldenPass Express to Montreux

Today sees us boarding the stylish, royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for an incredible journey from lakeside palm trees to snow-capped mountains. This route is a feat of engineering that has been more than 100 years in the making. Innovative cutting-edge technology now means the train can adapt its gauge, negating the need to change trains at Zweisimmen.

Leaving Interlaken, we pass Lake Thun at Spiez and our panoramic carriages mean we get better views of the lake and fairytale castle than any other tours of the region. We then wind up the hills to the halfway point of this three-hour journey - Gstaad, the mountain resort favoured by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore.

The last stretch of our journey to Montreux takes us through untamed pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut highlands which are dotted with small villages and alpine meadows. Arriving at our destination we check into our hotel for the night.

You are at leisure for the afternoon in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva, framed by the majestic Alps. You could explore the Old Town with its cobblestone streets and historic buildings, indulge in a lakeside lunch at one of the cosy cafes, or visit the iconic Chillon Castle, steeped in medieval history.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY10Homeward bound

After breakfast this morning, we make our way to the railway station for our train to Paris. As we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras, look back on the moments we shared. Along the Rhine, we experienced the fairytale scenes of the Rhine Gorge, timeless culture in Rüdesheim, and renowned architecture in Heidelberg, Speyer and Cochem. Your holiday ended with incredible sights of mountainous Switzerland, from Interlaken, the GoldenPass Express and Montreux. In London, we say goodbye and you can make your way home with these new memories.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days before departure.

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.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Star Cabin DS | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Suites - Upper Deck

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.

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MS Amadeus Star Cabin A1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Upper Deck

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.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Star Cabin B1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Middle Deck

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.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Star Cabin C1 | Great Rail Journeys
Classic Stateroom - Lower Deck

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.

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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.

Read more

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

Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 7 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (1)
  2. 4 stars
    (6)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Vandra Iles

5 stars

Submitted 31 Jul 2025

Fabulous holiday

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Vandra, Thank you for your review. Brilliant photos! I'm glad you had such a fabulous holiday. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

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Vandra Iles
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Wish to remain anonymous

4 stars

Submitted 08 Jul 2025

Good cruise shame about tours.

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Brian Martin

4 stars

Submitted 08 Jul 2025

The Rhine Cruise was excellent. The Golden Pass train was a disappointment.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Brian, Thank you for your review. I am glad that you enjoyed your cruise down the Rhine but it is regrettable that the GoldenPass train did not meet your expectations. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Georgina

4 stars

Submitted 03 Jul 2025

Fabulous train journey in Switzerland. Would have liked more time in places visited on the cruise

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Georgina, Thank you for your review. I am delighted that you enjoyed your holiday with us. We appreciate your feedback on how the itinerary of the cruise could be improved! Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Richard

4 stars

Submitted 11 Jun 2025

It's all a bit full on for our holiday tastes. A lot of early mornings for trips. Feel like you need another holiday after this to get over it.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr B Graham

4 stars

Submitted 10 Jun 2025

Too many early starts on day trips and to catch trains. Golden Pass seemed rushed as it was a hotel per day for 3 days. The cruise was excellent with a nice boat, friendly staff and good food and entertainment.

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Show all 7 reviews
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