Explore the Rhine on a scenic cruise through the most breathtaking stretches of the river and a spectacular journey aboard the Jungfrau Express

Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Cologne via Brussels. Arriving in Cologne late afternoon, the elegant MS Amadeus Cara awaits - our home for the duration of this enchanting cruise along the beautiful Rhine River.

Once on board, there's time to settle into your comfortable cabin and begin exploring the ship. After, we are greeted by the friendly crew with a welcome cocktail, the perfect way to begin the holiday.

Later this evening, we gather for our first dinner onboard. With a drinks package included each night of your cruise, you can unwind over a delicious meal as we begin our journey along one of Europe's most iconic waterways.

After breakfast, we enjoy a guided tour of Cologne. After admiring the Romanesque townhouses, we visit the city's impressive Gothic cathedral - 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.

Later this morning, we set off on our first sail. Drifting upstream past Bonn, we begin to see the first signs of lush green hills, hinting at the landscapes to come. We enjoy lunch onboard while taking in the views and by late afternoon, we arrive in the charming town of Königswinter, where we journey on the historic Drachenfels railway.

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. Wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany are revealed as we climb higher. We then head back to our cruise ship for dinner onboard.

There's 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 after lunch, arriving in the picturesque town of Boppard later this afternoon.

In Boppard, there's free time for exploration before dinner this evening. As you wander the cobblestone streets you'll find the town's Roman legacy echoes through its architecture. Admire the half-timbered houses which lead to vineyards scattering the surrounding hills and discover well-preserved Roman fortifications, including the historic town walls and the Roman tower.

If you're up for a bit of adventure, take the chairlift up to the Vier Seen Blick, which translates to Four Lakes Viewpoint (payable locally). From here, you'll be enveloped with panoramic views of the Rhine Valley and the surrounding countryside.

The morning is spent leisurely onboard, sailing through river landscapes including a highlight of our cruising experience - the romantic 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. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

After lunch, we dock in Rüdesheim where we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of this wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions. You may choose to savour the finest varieties at a local wine tasting, or 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's time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace and see the half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley.

This morning after breakfast, you can enjoy time to relax and make the most of the ship's facilities. You might choose to relax on the sun deck, taking in sweeping views as we make our way to the city of Mannheim. Alternatively, you can spend some time in the Amadeus Club, an area with a library, games and a bar, the ideal spot to unwind before an afternoon exploring. Arrivng in Mannheim, we journey 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 magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, you could stay on board and later, take in the sights of the historic German city of Speyer and its famous cathedral at leisure before dinner this evening.

Today we enjoy a full day cruise to the French city of Strasbourg. Relax onboard as we pass diverse landscapes and natural beauty along the Rhine. We arrive in Strasbourg later this afternoon and after dinner, you can experience the city's unique character at leisure.

Sitting near the border, Strasbourg perfectly represents the blending of French and German cultures. The old town is well worth a visit, and here you'll discover timber-framed houses, cobbled streets, and the iconic cathedral, all creating a fairytale ambience.

After breakfast, you have a choice of two excursions. The first is a trip into the Black Forest to witness fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages and dense forests. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could choose a city tour of Strasbourg. During the tour, you'll discover its history and admire its grand architecture, visiting the UNESCO-listed cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district. Following the excursion, we return to our ship for lunch.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to discover more of Strasbourg and you could join our coach into the old town. The picturesque capital of France's Alsace region offers an evening of history and culture, whether you choose to wander the charming streets or relax with a beverage at one of the inviting cafés or wine bars. This evening, we gather for the gala dinner, our final dinner onboard the ship.

Disembarking our ship this morning, we say goodbye to our wonderful crew and make our way by rail to the picturesque town of Interlaken, set between two idyllic Alpine lakes in Switzerland.

Our hotel is well located, allowing for a leisurely stroll through the historic streets. When the skies are clear, the view of the valley is incredible, offering a panoramic vista of the stunning Bernese Oberland.

As we settle into our hotel for the next two nights, you can explore the town at your leisure or simply relax and soak up our new incredible surroundings before dinner this evening.

We enjoy a highlight of the holiday today, a journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest station. Boarding the sensational Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg, the train winds its way up the mountain through breathtaking views of the alpine landscape.

As we keep climbing, the views get more spectacular the higher we go. When we reach Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a World Heritage wonder, which stretches as far as the eye can see.

We return to Interlaken via the scenic Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald, nestled in the green valley beneath the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. You have time to stroll around and take in the traditional wooden chalets, incredible views and charming atmosphere of the village before dinner at our hotel this evening.

Throughout this holiday, the natural beauty along the Rhine has charmed us. From amazing views in Koblenz and Boppard to the fairytale scenes along the Rhine Gorge and renowned architecture in Heidelberg, Speyer and Strasbourg. We marvelled at the majestic alpine peaks in Interlaken, setting the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable journey aboard the Jungfrau Express.

After breakfast, it's time to bid farewell to incredible Interlaken. We head to the railway station and catch our train to London, where we say goodbye.

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 route from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, comprises three different railways. The first leg from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is on the Bernese Oberland Railway, continuing to Kleine Scheidegg on the Wengernalp Railway. From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfrau Railway climbs to Eigergletscher, before entering the 4.43-mile tunnel that ends in the underground station at Jungfraujoch. During the journey through the tunnel, the train makes a short stop at the Eiger Wall for view through the picture window from the north face of the Eiger down to Grindelwald.

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.