Enjoy a leisurely fly-cruise holiday, sailing from the canals of Amsterdam, through the Moselle Valley and enchanting Rhine Gorge, to the Swiss city of Basel

Your holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow, ahead of a flight to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport*.

On arrival in the Dutch capital, we transfer to our ship where we're greeted by the friendly crew and can sip on a welcome cocktail while taking in the waterside views. There is time to unwind and familiarise yourself with the luxurious new surroundings and settle into your cabin.

Later this evening, we enjoy our first dinner together in the panoramic restaurant accompanied by a performance from a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir - the perfect start to your fantastic cruise down the Rhine.

*If you would like to travel by rail, view our Rail & Cruise option here.

Awaking on our floating hotel, we enjoy breakfast onboard before getting to know Amsterdam on a sightseeing canal boat cruise, soaking up stunning views of the city's picturesque canals and architecture.

Alternatively, take the optional excursion, visiting 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.

Later, we begin sailing to Cologne, embarking on our first relaxing cruise of the holiday and enjoying on board dinner this evening.

On our approach to Cologne this morning, the city's bridges and imposing cathedral hone into view. When we arrive, 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.

After lunch, we head for Königswinter to journey 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.

Departing Königswinter after dinner, we begin sailing towards the winding Moselle River.

During a morning of relaxed cruising, our luxurious ship navigates the tranquil waters of the Moselle River, passing the rolling hills of the Moselle Valley towards 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 cafés, 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.

There's free time 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 Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Setting sail, we encounter a highlight of our cruise after lunch as we drift through the romantic Rhine Gorge. This UNESCO-listed section of the river is 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.

We dock in Rüdesheim and travel to the centre of this renowned wine town by land train. 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 visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. After dinner, you're free to explore the town's cobbled streets, including colourful Drosselgasse.

Cruising towards the Upper Rhine, we arrive in the city of Mannheim after breakfast. From here, we journey by coach 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.

Back onboard, we begin sailing to Speyer after lunch. Arriving later this afternoon, you can discover one of Germany's oldest cities at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the 11th-century cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the most important landmarks of the Holy Roman Empire.

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

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 of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, fairytale villages, dense forest 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.

Following your excursion this afternoon, we return to our ship for lunch and begin our final cruise towards Switzerland, enjoying the picturesque vistas enroute.

The changing landscapes of the Rhine have been revealed on this journey from Amsterdam to Strasbourg and the Black Forest. Enroute, we have soaked up breathtaking scenery from our front-row seats, gliding through the stunning Rhine Gorge and along the meandering Moselle.

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our crew. Making our way by rail from Basel to Zürich Airport, your Rhine cruise experience comes to an end as we fly back to London Heathrow.

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.

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.