Sail the Moselle and Rhine rivers in autumn where golden vineyards and rolling hills paint the landscape and we visit historic towns and cities, while surrounded by the colours of the season

Your holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras for our Eurostar journey to Paris, then continue by rail to Strasbourg. As we step aboard our magnificent ship* here, we're greeted by our crew with a refreshing cocktail. We stay moored in Strasbourg overnight to take full advantage of daytime sailing and the autumnal riverside views. After settling in, we enjoy a delicious dinner, eagerly anticipating the wonderful experiences ahead.

*Please note: the sundeck may be closed at times during your cruise due to safety reasons or weather conditions.

After breakfast onboard, you have a choice of two excursions. The first option is an excursion to Colmar, a picturesque Alsatian town with 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, stay in Strasbourg for a guided tour taking in the blend of French and German culture amidst cobblestone streets and canals. Wandering through its medieval alleys, marvel at the architecture of the iconic Notre Dame cathedral and explore the La Petite France district. After your excursion, the afternoon is free to explore Strasbourg at your own pace. Back on board later, we set sail on our first cruise toward the town of Rüdesheim.

This morning we sail into Rüdesheim, famous for its white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. As you cruise through this section of the Rhine, the scene is alive with rich colours that capture the essence of the season. The vineyards, bursting with life, display lush green vines beginning to show hints of gold, amber, and burgundy as they prepare for harvest.

Stepping ashore, we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions, each promising an insight into the town. You could experience for yourself why the town is famous with a wine 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's some time at leisure to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace and see the half-timbered houses, shops, and wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley. This afternoon, we begin sailing through the Rhine Gorge.

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. We wind around bends surrounded by a mix of green and yellow vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque towns. As we sail, we hear the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. Arriving in Koblenz later this afternoon, we dock for the evening on the Moselle promenade. There's time to explore before dinner and we recommend strolling the Deutsches Eck for amazing views of the surrounding beauty.

Our morning is spent cruising through river scenery. You could enjoy a drink 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, we have a guided tour after lunch.

The Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, wooden houses and the majestic castle (the Reichsburg) perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars. In the old quarter, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and an arts centre in a former monastery.

We enjoy the 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 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 facades. 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, enjoy the evening's onboard entertainment.

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. 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 to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. One of the smallest countries in the world, immerse yourself in the local history and attractions. We spend our evening onboard enjoying a spectacular Gala dinner, before we set sail downstream along the meandering Moselle toward Koblenz.

After a morning of relaxed cruising, we arrive in Königswinter on the Rhine river, and the Drachenfelsbahn 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 onboard later this afternoon, we continue our cruise toward Cologne. As we approach the striking city, admire the cityscape of bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. You could visit the old town after dinner to sample the local hospitality and the famous Kolsch beer.

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, reflecting on the beautiful autumnal landscapes we've experienced.

From Strasbourg's history to Rüdesheim's fairytale charm, we were enveloped in the season's vibrant colours. Cochem, with its picturesque autumn views, crowned the beauty of the Moselle River, while Bernkastel-Kues' cobbled streets were a delight to discover. Exploring ancient Trier and the colourful views aboard the Drachenfelsbahn will stay with us forever.

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.