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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour & river cruise

Glacier Express and The Romantic Rhine Cruise

Rhine River cruise and Glacier Express from Amsterdam to Chur, eleven days

Illustration of Glacier Express and The Romantic Rhine Cruise

Vacations By Rail's 11-day escorted journey pairs a 7-night Rhine River cruise with a passage on the Glacier Express, a renowned Swiss scenic train. The tour departs Amsterdam, sailing south through the Lower Rhine past Bonn and Cologne, then through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge with its hilltop castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, stopping in wine towns like Rudesheim and historic cities including Heidelberg and Strasbourg. On Day 4, travellers ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway from Konigswinter past Drachenburg Castle. After disembarking in Basel on Day 8, the group travels by coach and train to Zermatt, the car-free alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Day 9 features the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway from 1898, climbing to over 10,000 feet with views of the Matterhorn and 29 mountaintops. The Glacier Express then carries the group through the Furka Base Tunnel and past Andermatt to Chur, Switzerland's oldest town. A Tour Manager and Cruise Director guide the entire journey, with daily breakfast, seven lunches, nine dinners, First Class rail throughout, and a Swiss Half Fare Card included. This suits couples and history lovers seeking guided comfort with castle scenery, UNESCO heritage sites, and alpine rail experiences.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of $4,495 is per person on a double occupancy basis; single supplement not stated in the evidence.
  • Day 11 is unguided: you make your own way from the hotel to Chur's railway station and onward to Zurich's airport.
  • Optional excursions on Days 2, 5, and 7 require choosing between alternatives; confirm which are included and which cost extra.
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; the tour begins with independent transfer to Amsterdam's Rhine waterfront on Day 1.

Day by day

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway from Konigswinter past Drachenburg Castle, then sail through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock.
  • Day 6Coach journey to Heidelberg for a guided tour of its ruined red sandstone castle and the city's squares.
  • Day 9Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway from 1898, to over 10,000 feet with views of the Matterhorn and 29 mountaintops on clear days.
  • Day 10Board the Glacier Express through the Furka Base Tunnel past Andermatt to the Swiss Grand Canyon, with lunch served on board, arriving in Chur.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail travel throughout, specifically the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur, the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to 10,135 feet, and the Drachenfels Cog Railway. A Swiss Half Fare Card is also provided, giving 50% discounts on free days for rail, boat, and most mountain railway journeys.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
It is fully escorted. A Tour Manager and Cruise Director team accompany the group throughout the 11 days, and most meals and excursions are included.
What accommodations are included?
Seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Amara river cruise ship and three nights in 4-star hotels: two nights in Zermatt and one night in Chur.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast every day, seven lunches, and nine dinners. The cruise includes a drinks package with dinner every night.
How much walking is involved?
The tour is rated Mobility 2, which includes city walking tours in Cologne and Heidelberg, mountain railway rides to high altitudes, and climbing aboard cog railways. Most walking is at a leisurely pace during guided city explorations and train stops.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance, flights, and airport transfers are not included. The tour provides independent transfer to Amsterdam on Day 1 and independent onward travel from Chur on Day 11.

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