Discover the River Rhine on a cruise that includes the sensational colours of the Rhine in Flames celebration

Your holiday begins this morning as you arrive at London St Pancras and meet the Tour Manager and travel group, ready to board the Eurostar towards Brussels. Arriving in the Belgian capital, we switch trains and continue our journey to Cologne.

The elegant spires of Cologne's UNESCO World Heritage-listed cathedral welcome us to this city on the Rhine. As our train arrives, a coach transfer takes us to the waterfront, where we board our luxurious Amadeus ship and settle into our home on the river. Our friendly crew warmly greet us with a welcome cocktail as we get ready to immerse ourselves in the wonders of the Rhine. Take some time to get acquainted with the ship, and then we gather for our first five-course dinner onboard, savouring the beginning of our cruise experience.

After breakfast onboard, we join a leisurely tour of Cologne, wandering through its historic streets and squares. We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the Gothic cathedral - the largest in northern Europe. Our tour wraps up with a tasting of Cologne's local beer before we return to our ship.

Later this morning, we set off on our first sail. Drifting upstream past Bonn, we see the first signs of lush green hills during lunch. We arrive in the enchanting town of Königswinter this afternoon and journey on the Drachenfelsbahn.

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

Back onboard this evening, we enjoy dinner with a drinks package and an overnight sailing to Koenigswinter.

A holiday highlight lies ahead today: The incredible Rhine in Flames. This breathtaking display of colours, lights and sounds is a highly anticipated annual event, and we bear witness this evening.

Setting sail early this morning, we continue towards Koblenz, where we arrive after breakfast with some free time to explore. You could discover its Roman past or stroll to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers to see inspiring vistas, including that of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

We begin sailing again after lunch, pausing in the picturesque town of Boppard with time to explore later this afternoon. From here, we continue cruising to Oberwesel, where we drop anchor and enjoy dinner before this evening's Rhine in Flames event.

Locals and visitors alike celebrate summer with illuminated boats, fireworks and music along the Rhine river. We have a great vantage point from our ship, and we celebrate as the sky lights up and the river shimmers with colours. As the Rhine in Flames comes to an end, we return to Boppard, where we dock for the night.

Savour a leisurely start to the day with breakfast and lunch onboard and jaw-dropping scenery ahead as we sail through delightful river landscapes, including a highlight of our cruise, the romantic Rhine gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views, and the best place to witness them is the top deck of our ship. As we sail, we hear the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock, which soars nearly 500 feet out of the water.

Later this afternoon, we dock in Rüdesheim, where we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the town's centre. Here, you have a choice of excursions. You could experience why this wine town is so famous with a winery tour and a fantastic wine-tasting experience. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments.

After your chosen excursion, there is free time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace before returning to the ship for dinner.

A relaxed morning spent sailing along the Rhine brings even more beautiful views and another chance to enjoy breakfast and lunch on the ship. Early this afternoon, we arrive in the city of Mannheim and continue by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour. The picturesque university town is known for its Old Town and stunning riverfront, which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city and provides amazing views of the surrounding forests, river and cityscape.

If you prefer, you can stay onboard and join the ship as it sails to Speyer, where those who visited Heidelberg will meet us later this afternoon after transferring by coach. In Speyer, you can take in the sights and ambience of the historic city and its cathedral at leisure before dinner this evening.

Today, we enjoy a full day on the Rhine, cruising to the French city of Strasbourg. Relax onboard, perhaps in the lounge or at a table on the Sun Deck, as we pass the diverse landscapes, small riverside towns and deep natural beauty that frames the Rhine. Breakfast and lunch are served on the ship as our journey unfolds, and there is plenty of time to enjoy the ship's amenities.

We arrive in Strasbourg early this evening, and after dinner, you can experience the city's unique character at leisure. Sitting near the border and having changed hands numerous times throughout history, Strasbourg perfectly represents the blending of French and German cultures. The old town is well worth a visit in your free time, and its timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and iconic Cathedral create a fairytale atmosphere.

On the final day of our holiday, you have a choice of two excursions. The first is a trip into the Black Forest - Germany's largest nature park. Filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests and meadows dotted with wildflowers, this is an undeniable fairytale setting. While touring, you will learn about the region's enchanting history and folklore.

Alternatively, you could join a city tour of Strasbourg, discovering its fascinating history, admiring its grand architecture and experiencing its unique character. Colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets guide our tour as we visit the UNESCO-listed cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Following your excursion, lunch is served back on the ship. The rest of the afternoon is yours to discover more of the history and culture of Strasbourg at your own pace before tonight's special gala dinner onboard.

Having sailed to some of the Rhine's most impressive destinations and witnessed the spectacular Rhine in Flames event, our cruise draws to a close this morning with an early breakfast on the ship. Afterwards, we say goodbye to our wonderful crew and disembark for the final time in Strasbourg.

A coach transfer takes us to Strasbourg's railway station, where we catch our train to Paris. Here, we switch trains, continuing to London, where our magnificent Rhine holiday concludes.

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.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

The Amadeus Cara joined the Amadeus fleet in 2021. Offering impeccable cabin spaces with 73 deluxe cabins and 12 Amadeus suites, each room has a spacious en suite bathroom, a minibar, a flatscreen television and a walk-in wardrobe. Some rooms also offer panoramic windows, balconies, or a comfortable corner sofa. With four decks, the ship features amenities like the river terrace, restaurant, hair salon and fitness centre, where you can exercise or book a relaxing massage.

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.