Great Rail Journeys
Jungfrau Express & the Majestic Rhine
11 daysfrom $5,608
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise & Rail
Glacier Express & the Majestic Rhine
Experience an unforgettable journey through Switzerland on the iconic Glacier Express before embarking on a luxury Rhine cruise through Germany's romantic Rhine Gorge.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Basel
Arriving in the Swiss City of Basel
Meet the Tour Manager and travel group at London St Pancras. Board the Eurostar to Paris, then switch trains and continue by rail to Basel. Check in to the hotel. Basel is a dynamic city with a red sandstone Gothic minster on the banks of the Rhine. Enjoy a leisurely stroll by the riverside or roam the Old Town before dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Chur
Travelling into the Alps
After breakfast, travel by train from Basel deep into the mountains, past gleaming lakes into the Swiss Alps, arriving in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town. Explore the charming Altstadt with boutiques, restaurants, bars and museums. Check in to the hotel and gather for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3railovernight: Zermatt
The iconic Glacier Express to Zermatt
Board the Glacier Express, one of the world's most famous train journeys, travelling through breathtaking alpine scenery at an average speed of 24mph. Admire wildflower meadows, dense forests, snow-capped peaks, the 'Swiss Grand Canyon', Andermatt, the nine-mile-long Furka Base Tunnel, thundering waterfalls and rugged mountains. Enjoy dinner at your seat before arriving in car-free Zermatt.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Zermatt
Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway
After breakfast, travel by train to Gornergrat. Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway and the second-highest in Europe, to over 10,000ft. Enjoy spectacular views of 29 mountaintops including the Matterhorn. Back in Zermatt, a guided tour reveals the town's connections to the UK including the story of Edward Whymper. Free time before dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine)
Boarding our luxurious ship in Basel
Leave Zermatt after breakfast and travel back to Basel by rail, winding down the Matter Valley to Visp, past Lake Thun and the lakeside town of Spiez. In Basel, a coach transfer takes you to the waterfront where MS Amadeus Amara is moored. Welcome cocktail before dinner in the panoramic restaurant, then set sail on an overnight cruise on the Rhine.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine)
Arrival in Strasbourg with optional Black Forest excursion
Sail into Strasbourg. Choose between a trip into the magical Black Forest (rolling hills, fairytale villages, dense forests and wildflower meadows) or a tour of Strasbourg visiting its striking cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Free afternoon to explore Strasbourg independently before returning to the ship for drinks with dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine, Rüdesheim)
Exploring Speyer or Heidelberg
Wake to views of Speyer. Choose a guided tour of Heidelberg, visiting the magnificent ruined red sandstone castle, or explore Speyer at your own pace, including its UNESCO-listed cathedral. Return to the ship for lunch, then cruise past Mainz and Wiesbaden, arriving in Rüdesheim early evening. After dinner, explore the town famous for its Riesling wine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine, Koblenz)
Through the Rhine Gorge from Rüdesheim
Travel through Rüdesheim on a land train. Choose between a wine tasting of local varieties or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet (Europe's largest collection of mechanical instruments). Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO-listed section with vineyards, hilltop castles and picturesque towns, and hear the legend of the Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Koblenz; explore Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine, Cologne)
Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn
Morning of relaxed sailing north from Koblenz. Watch for the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach, erupting to nearly 200 feet. After lunch, dock in Königswinter for a trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway, passing Drachenburg Castle and reaching the summit for views across the Rhine-Westphalia region. Continue cruising to Cologne, where the city's bridges and cathedral come into view. Dinner and drinks overnight in Cologne.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 10overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rhine, en route to Netherlands)
Exploring Cologne and onwards to the Netherlands
Guided tour of Cologne, visiting its squares, Romanesque townhouses and the iconic UNESCO-listed cathedral, the largest in northern Europe, begun in 1248, rising over 515 feet with spectacular twin spires. Return to the ship for lunch, then set sail towards the Netherlands, enjoying dinner and drinks on an overnight cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 11overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Amsterdam)
Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam
Sail through the Lower Rhine in the early morning, arriving in Amsterdam early afternoon. Take a canal sightseeing cruise of Amsterdam, or choose the optional excursion to Volendam and Edam to uncover their cheese heritage. Return to the ship for a gala dinner accompanied by the Dutch sea shanty choir.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 12rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, disembark and say goodbye to the crew. Make your way to the railway station and head towards Brussels, then catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras, arriving in London this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Included
- Escorted throughout by 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 the tour
- Breakfast each day
- 7 lunches (6 lunches for Standard Class departures)
- 10 dinners
- Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
- Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
- Superb excursions included
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
- Tips/gratuities (at guest's discretion)
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