Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Rhine on a luxury river cruise through four countries, exploring rich history, stunning landscapes and cultural treasures

Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we continue by rail to Basel.

On arrival in this Swiss city close to the borders with Germany and France, we board our luxury cruise ship and are welcomed by our wonderful crew. There's time to relax into our new home on the river and familiarise yourself with the ship's excellent facilities.

This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner in the panoramic restaurant and set sail on an overnight cruise on the Rhine.

Sailing into the historic Alsace city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a trip into the magical Black Forest to witness stunning views. Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, fairytale villages, dense forests and wildflower meadows. On an exploration of this idyllic setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg. Alsace is now in France but was once part of Germany. The grand architecture of its main city reflects this blend of the two cultures. On the tour, we visit its striking cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district. Home to tanners, millers and fishermen in the Middle Ages, this pretty area is now a UNESCO World Heritage site of cobbled streets, flower-lined canals and beautiful half-timbered houses.

Back on our ship this evening, we enjoy drinks with dinner.

During breakfast, we can admire views of the Upper Rhine as we glide northwards to Speyer.

There is a choice of excursions today, and you can opt to stay in Speyer to discover one of Germany's oldest cities at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Alternatively, join a coach trip to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. The university town is known for its pretty 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 and river.

Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner ahead of a restful overnight sailing upstream.

This morning, we travel through charming Rüdesheim aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here, there's a choice of excursions. You could savour Rüdesheim's most famous produce with a tasting of the finest local varieties of wine or discover Europe's largest collection of mechanical instruments at Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. Afterwards, there's time at leisure.

We begin sailing this afternoon and enjoy a highlight of the holiday - gliding through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO-listed section renowned for its spectacular views. Winding around bends surrounded by miles of vineyards, hilltop castles and picturesque towns, we also hear the legend of the Lorelei Rock. Soaring almost 500 feet out of the water, this monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, including the tale of a siren whose song has enchanted passing sailors.

Arriving in the city of Koblenz, you have time to explore. We recommend visiting Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

Setting sail early this morning, our luxurious ship navigates the tranquil waters of the Moselle River. After a morning of relaxed cruising past the rolling hills of the Moselle Valley, we arrive in 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.

*Please note: On the departure sailing 10/06/2025, the excursion to Cochem will be by coach due to maintenance on the locks

Docking in Königswinter this morning, we return to shore after breakfast for a fantastic trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. Rising high into the forests, we pass the fairytale Drachenburg Castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock' and has inspired many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. Travelling to the summit, we can admire wonderful views across the rolling hills of the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.

Back onboard this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery towards Cologne. During the approach, the city's bridges and imposing cathedral hone into view. On arrival, a guided tour introduces us to its lively squares and Romanesque townhouses before a visit the city's impressive twin-spired cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Standing in awe of this Gothic masterpiece, we also view the stained-glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark.

Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner and drinks before embarking on an overnight cruise towards the Netherlands.

We spend the early morning sailing through the Lower Rhine, with a change in scenery further downstream as we approach the Netherlands. Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, we take a canal cruise sightseeing tour of Amsterdam, a cultural city that's as modern as it is historic, soaking up stunning views of the city's picturesque canals and architecture.

Alternatively, take the optional excursion - 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 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.

Sailing from the Swiss city of Basel to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, has showcased the changing landscapes of the Rhine, from the Black Forest to the Netherlands' tulip fields. Gliding through the stunning Rhine Gorge and along the meandering Moselle allowed us to soak up breathtaking scenes from our front-row seats.

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Arriving in London this evening, your delightful Rhine cruise experience comes to an end.

The Drachenfels Cog Railway carries travellers from the bottom of Königswinger to the top of Drachenfels Mountain. On the way, it passes Schloss Drachenburg, a stunningly beautiful villa that said to have inspired the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. At the top of the mountain, passengers can see the ruins of Burg Drachenfels, a castle built in the 12th century and destroyed 500 years later. The Drachenfels line started running in 1883, using steam-powered trains, and changed to electric traction in 1953.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

At the heart of the Netherlands, with a handsome whistling steam engine and attractive wooden carriages, the Medemblik Steam Train is a wonderfully nostalgic railway which skirts coastlines, tulips and windmills on a pretty Dutch route. This heritage railway was originally opened in 1887, and had operated up until 1941 before being closed down. Nowadays, the railway operates as a heritage train and the livery is that of the cars of 1926, during the golden age of the Medemblik Steam Train

The MS Amadeus Star is a 'masterpiece of design' and offers impeccable cabin spaces with 70 deluxe cabins and 12 Amadeus suites. Made up of 4 decks, the ship features several facilities including the panorama bar, restaurant, river terrace, as well as a wellness centre where you can book a relaxing massage, or arrange one of many beauty treatments. The sun deck on board also provides a fitness suite, which is open all day. Each bedroom onboard comes with a spacious ensuite bathroom, a mini bar, a flatscreen television, walk-in wardrobe, and either a double or twin bed. Some rooms also offer panoramic windows or a balcony.

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.

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.

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.

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.