Search

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise & Rail

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.

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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

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 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)

Also sold by

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of GBP 3,799 includes all rail travel: Eurostar to and from London, the Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt, the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, and the Drachenfels Cog Railway. Coach and river cruise travel is also included.
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 is included in the price?
Four nights in four-star hotels, seven nights aboard MS Amadeus Amara (five-star river cruise ship), all rail, coach, and cruise travel, breakfast daily, seven lunches, ten dinners, drinks with dinner every night of the cruise, a luggage service from home to ship and back, and sightseeing excursions.
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.
How much walking is involved?
The tour is moderate. You will walk city streets during guided tours in Basel, Chur, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Mountain railway rides (Gornergrat at over 10,000 feet and Drachenfels Cog Railway) involve ascents but are on railways, not hikes. Optional excursions such as the Black Forest tour involve more walking through rolling hills and villages.

Similar journeys