Great Rail Journeys
Glacier Express & the Romantic Rhine
11 daysfrom $6,409
Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour & river cruise
Glacier Express and The Romantic Rhine Cruise
Cruise the romantic Rhine, sailing through stunning scenery and exploring historic cities before experiencing the iconic Glacier Express, staying in the alpine resort of Zermatt.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Ship
Boarding our luxurious ship in Amsterdam
Transfer independently to the Rhine waterfront to board the ship, with a welcome cocktail, then meet the Tour Manager and group for a first dinner accompanied by a traditional Dutch sea shanty choir.
- Day 2overnight: Ship
Amsterdam canal boat cruise or exploring Volendam
Choice of a sightseeing canal boat cruise in Amsterdam or an optional excursion to the cheese towns of Volendam and Edam, then the ship sails through the Lower Rhine.
- Day 3overnight: Ship (Cologne)
Exploring the historic city of Cologne
Arrive in Cologne for a guided tour including its squares, Romanesque townhouses, and the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, with an overnight stay in the city.
- Day 4railovernight: Ship
Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn
Sail south past Bonn to Konigswinter for a ride on the Drachenfels Cog Railway past Drachenburg Castle, then sail on toward Koblenz, passing the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach.
- Day 5overnight: Ship
Through the magical Rhine Gorge to Rudesheim
Free time in Koblenz (Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress), then sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, docking in Rudesheim with a choice of a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
- Day 6overnight: Ship
Along the Upper Rhine to Heidelberg and Speyer
Arrive in Mannheim, then a coach journey to Heidelberg for a guided tour including its ruined red sandstone castle, before sailing on to Speyer to see its 11th-century UNESCO-listed cathedral.
- Day 7overnight: Ship
Reaching Strasbourg and optional Black Forest excursion
Choice of an excursion into the Black Forest or a city tour of Strasbourg, including its cathedral and La Petite France district, before the final cruise toward Switzerland.
- Day 8railovernight: Zermatt
Arrival in Zermatt
Disembark in Basel, then a coach transfer to the station for a rail journey to the car-free alpine village of Zermatt, checking into the hotel for a two-night stay.
- Day 9railovernight: Zermatt
Beautiful views on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway
Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway (opened 1898), to an altitude of over 10,000 feet with views of the Matterhorn and, on clear days, 29 mountaintops.
- Day 10railovernight: Chur
The iconic Glacier Express to Chur
Board the Glacier Express through the Furka Base Tunnel and past Andermatt to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon', with lunch served on board, arriving in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town, for a hotel stay.
- Day 11rail
Traveling home
After breakfast, make your own way to Chur's railway station and board a train to Zurich's airport, where the journey concludes.
Included
- Escorted throughout by Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
- 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
- Five-star service onboard
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- First Class rail travel
- All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
- Breakfast each day, 7 lunches, 9 dinners
- Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
- Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
- Superb excursions included
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
- Flights and Airport transfers
