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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted Tour & River Cruise

Glacier Express & the Majestic Rhine

Glacier Express and Rhine cruise from London to Amsterdam in 12 days

Illustration of Glacier Express & the Majestic Rhine

Great Rail Journeys operates this 12-day escorted holiday blending Alpine rail travel with a seven-night Rhine river cruise. You depart London via Eurostar, travel by train through the Swiss Alps aboard the Glacier Express to car-free Zermatt, then ascend the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to views of the Matterhorn before descending by rail to Basel to board MS Amadeus Amara for the seven-night cruise. The river voyage carries you through Germany's Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site lined with vineyards and castle ruins, calling at Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Days combine guided sightseeing (Cologne cathedral, Heidelberg castle) with optional activities such as Riesling tastings and visits to the Drachenburg Castle on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. All rail, cruise, coach, and accommodation travel is included, as are breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and drinks during the river portion. The itinerary suits travellers seeking guided comfort, alpine scenery, and river romance without logistical complexity.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £500 since 4 Jul, to £4,299.

£4,699£3,7994 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is substantial: priceSingleFrom GBP 5,299 compared to pricePairFrom GBP 3,799 per person (nearly double for a single traveller).
  • Hotel accommodation in Basel, Chur, and Zermatt is listed without specific hotel names except Hotel ABC in Chur; confirm exact properties with Great Rail Journeys before booking.
  • Day 6 and 7 offer optional excursions (Black Forest, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim wine tasting, Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet) that carry additional costs not stated in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Basel

    Arriving in the Swiss City of Basel

    We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, then continue by rail to Basel, checking in to our hotel before dinner.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Chur

    Travelling into the Alps

    We travel by rail deep into the Swiss Alps to the historic town of Chur, checking in to our hotel before gathering for dinner.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Zermatt

    The iconic Glacier Express to Zermatt

    We board the Glacier Express, travelling through the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' and the Furka Base Tunnel to the car-free mountain village of Zermatt, checking in for a two-night stay.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Zermatt

    Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway

    We travel by the heritage Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Europe's second-highest, to an altitude of more than 10,000ft for spectacular Matterhorn views, before touring Zermatt.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard, sailing

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Basel

    We travel back to Basel by rail via Visp and Spiez, then transfer by coach to board our luxury Rhine cruise ship, enjoying a welcome cocktail and dinner before setting sail overnight.

  6. Day 6overnight: Onboard, sailing

    Arrival in Strasbourg with optional Black Forest excursion

    Sailing into Strasbourg, we choose between a trip into the Black Forest or a tour of Strasbourg's cathedral and La Petite France district, before returning to the ship for dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Rüdesheim (onboard)

    Exploring Speyer or Heidelberg

    We choose between a guided tour of Heidelberg's castle or exploring Speyer's Old Town and UNESCO-listed cathedral, before an afternoon cruise past Mainz and Wiesbaden to Rüdesheim.

  8. Day 8overnight: Onboard, sailing

    Through the Rhine Gorge from Rüdesheim

    We choose a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim, before sailing through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, hearing the legend of the Lorelei Rock, and arriving in Koblenz.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Cologne (onboard)

    Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn

    After a morning of relaxed sailing past Andernach, we dock in Königswinter for the Drachenfels Cog Railway to the summit, passing Drachenburg Castle, before continuing to Cologne for an overnight stay.

  10. Day 10overnight: Onboard, sailing

    Exploring Cologne and onwards to the Netherlands

    A guided tour of Cologne includes its UNESCO-listed cathedral, before we return to the ship and set sail overnight towards the Netherlands.

  11. Day 11overnight: Amsterdam (onboard)

    Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam

    We choose between a canal sightseeing cruise of Amsterdam or an excursion to Volendam and Edam for their cheese heritage, before a farewell gala dinner with Dutch sea shanty choir entertainment.

  12. Day 12rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast we disembark and say goodbye to our crew, travelling by rail to Brussels to catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board the Glacier Express and travel through the Swiss Alps at an average speed of 24 mph, passing the nine-mile-long Furka Base Tunnel, wildflower meadows, dense forests, and snow-capped peaks.
  • Day 4Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway, to over 10,000 feet for views of the Matterhorn and 29 surrounding mountaintops.
  • Day 8Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site with vineyards, hilltop castles, and picturesque towns, hearing the legend of the Lorelei Rock.
  • Day 9Ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway from Königswinter past Drachenburg Castle to the summit for views across the Rhine-Westphalia region.
  • Day 10Take a guided tour of Cologne and visit its UNESCO-listed cathedral, begun in 1248, standing over 515 feet tall with spectacular twin spires.

Included

  • Escorted throughout your tour by our experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
  • 4 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
  • Five-star service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • First & Standard Class rail options available
  • Eurostar Plus on First Class departures
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 7 lunches, 10 dinners (6 lunches for Standard Class departures)
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
  • Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
  • Superb excursions included

Not included

  • Tips/gratuities are not included in the price of the cruise
  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys escorts you throughout with an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team. Most activities are guided (city tours, castle visits, railway rides), though some days offer optional excursions or free time to explore independently.
What hotels will I stay in?
One night in Basel (four-star), one night in Chur, and two nights in Zermatt. The specific properties are not named in the tour details; contact Great Rail Journeys to confirm exact accommodation before booking.
When does the tour operate?
Great Rail Journeys has three departures: May 2027, June 2027, and July 2027.

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