Experience the sensational annual Rhine in Flames display as part of the procession on a luxurious cruise along the Rhine and Moselle to explore historic towns and cities

Your holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras for our Eurostar journey to Paris. From here, we continue by rail to the elegant city of Strasbourg, known for its unique blend of French and German culture.

As we step aboard our cruise ship here, we're greeted by our wonderful crew with a cocktail, setting the tone for the incredible experiences to come. With a sense of excitement in the air, we settle into our cabins before enjoying our first dinner onboard.

After breakfast onboard, there is a choice of excursions. The first is a sightseeing trip to Colmar, where you can spend an idyllic morning in this picturesque Alsatian town, with its fairytale charm. Stroll through cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses and pretty flowers. Explore the historic Old Town's maze of narrow alleys, discover quaint cafes and local markets, and gaze at architectural landmarks like the Maison Pfister.

Alternatively, opt for a tour of Strasbourg, taking in the blend of French and German culture amidst picturesque cobblestone streets and enchanting canals. Wandering through its medieval alleys, marvel at the awe-inspiring architecture of the iconic Cathedral Notre Dame and explore the charming La Petite France district.

Whichever option you choose, there is free time in Strasbourg in the afternoon before set sail on our first cruise toward the enchanting town of Rüdesheim.

This morning we sail into Rüdesheim, famous for its white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. Stepping ashore, we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there is a choice of excursions, each promising an insight into the town.

You could experience for yourself why the 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 your excursion, there is time at leisure to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace and see the half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and wine bars in the famous Drosselgasse alley.

Later this afternoon, we begin sailing to St Goar for the spectacular Rhine in Flames display. Arriving after dinner this evening, excitement builds as our ship is decorated with brilliant lights in preparation to be a part of the spectacle. The event is a stunning procession of illuminated boats, fireworks and music along the Rhine River.

We have the best seat in the house from our ship and we celebrate as the sky and river light up in a breathtaking display of colours and sounds that brings together locals and visitors alike. At the end of the procession, we sail to Koblenz where we dock for the night.

This morning is spent cruising through the beautiful scenery of the Moselle river. You could enjoy a beverage as you step out onto the deck to witness the passing views as our ship continues its journey along the river. Sailing into the port of Cochem this afternoon, the stunning Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, traditional wooden houses and the majestic Reichsburg castle perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, boutiques and wine cellars.

On a guided tour after lunch, we explore the Old Town, where we see well-preserved sections of the ancient walls and a former monastery that now houses a cultural centre. Following the tour, you can explore Cochem at your own pace before dinner this evening.

We enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Moselle Valley this morning as we continue our cruise. The town of Bernkastel-Kues unfolds as we moor here after lunch. The picturesque vineyards of the Valley climb up the hillsides, while half-timbered houses with blooming flowers add to the enchanting atmosphere. A sightseeing tour awaits us here.

Setting out with our knowledgeable guide, we visit the Old Town where the cobblestone streets are lined with traditional German buildings with half-timbered façades. We also experience the Market Square, a focal point of the town surrounded by colourful buildings. A highlight here is the St. Michael's Fountain, a Renaissance-style fountain adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. We also enjoy an included wine tasting to sample the local Bernkasteler Doctor speciality.

Following our afternoon of exploration, we reboard our ship for dinner and enjoy an evening cruise towards Trier.

Waking to views of historic Trier, you have a choice between two excursions this morning. The first option is to explore Germany's oldest city with a local guide. The ancient streets are known for their Roman ruins, medieval buildings, and Baroque churches and we delve into this impressive history on our tour. We visit the immense Porta Nigra which guards the entrance to the north of the city, St Peter's Cathedral with its intricate stone carvings and stained glass windows, and the Church of Our Lady, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Alternatively, you could board the coach for an excursion to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. One of the smallest countries in the world, we discover the local history and attractions on a guided tour. The evening is spent on board, sailing back downstream along the meandering Moselle toward Koblenz.

After a morning of relaxed cruising, we arrive in Königswinter where the Drachenfels railway awaits. This 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 on board later this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery toward Cologne. We celebrate the final evening of our cruise with a Gala dinner before approaching the striking city. From the deck, admire the cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing cathedral.

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our crew. We make our way to the railway station where we catch our train to London. Here, you can make your way home with memories of our cruise.

From Strasbourg's history to Rüdesheim's fairytale charm we immersed ourselves in fantastic culture. Cochem crowned the Moselle's beauty, while Bernkastel-Kues' quaint streets were a delight to discover. Exploring ancient Trier and the views aboard the Drachenfelsbahn will stay with us.

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.

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.