Great Rail Journeys
Jungfrau Express & Treasures of the Rhine
10 daysfrom $4,139
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise & Rail Holiday
Glacier Express & Treasures of the Rhine
Discover the beautiful Rhine valley on our brand new leisurely planned itinerary featuring daytime sailing and a journey on the iconic Glacier Express.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Cologne)
To Cologne, where we board our luxurious ship
Your rail and cruise holiday begins at London St. Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers. Board the Eurostar in Plus Class, enjoying a light meal served at your seats. Switch trains in Brussels and continue to Cologne, where a coach transfer takes you to the waterfront. Step aboard the Amadeus ship, greeted with a welcome cocktail. First dinner onboard overlooking the skyline of Cologne.
Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara
Exploring Cologne
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Cologne, admiring Romanesque townhouses and visiting the Gothic cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Enjoy a tasting of Cologne's chocolate and beer. Lunch onboard as you drift upstream past Bonn and arrive in Königswinter. Journey on the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway, passing Drachenfels castle with wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region. Return to the ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Boppard)
The charms of Koblenz and Boppard
Dock in Koblenz for leisure time exploring this former Roman stronghold. Stroll to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, with views of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Sail after lunch, arriving in picturesque Boppard. Explore cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, vineyards and Roman fortifications. Optional chairlift to Vier Seen Blick (payable locally). Return to ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Rüdesheim)
Through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
Morning onboard sailing through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, past vineyards, ancient castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. After lunch, dock in Rüdesheim and travel through vineyards aboard a land train. Choice of excursions: wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. After dinner, optional return to Rüdesheim to explore Drosselgasse alley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Speyer)
Discovering Heidelberg and Speyer
Relaxed morning cruising with breakfast and lunch onboard, arriving in Mannheim. Choice of two excursions: coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour of the Old Town and ruined red sandstone castle, or continue on the ship to Speyer to visit one of Germany's oldest cities and its magnificent cathedral. Those visiting Heidelberg rejoin the ship in Speyer for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Strasbourg)
A scenic day of sailing to Strasbourg
Full-day cruise to the border city of Strasbourg. Relax onboard with breakfast and lunch as you pass diverse landscapes along the Rhine. Strasbourg blends French and German cultures. After docking and dinner onboard, step ashore to explore the Old Town with its timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and iconic cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Strasbourg)
Exploring the enchanting Black Forest or Strasbourg
After breakfast, choice of two excursions: a trip into the Black Forest to experience Germany's largest nature park with rolling hills, picturesque villages and dense forests; or a city tour of Strasbourg visiting the UNESCO-listed cathedral and La Petite France district. Return to ship for lunch. Afternoon free to discover more of Strasbourg. Optional coach into the Old Town. Dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8railovernight: Hotel in Zermatt
Into the Swiss Alps to Zermatt
Last breakfast onboard before disembarking in Strasbourg. Rail journey from Strasbourg to Basel, then by train to Zermatt via Visp. Check in to hotel for two nights in this stunning car-free mountain resort with incredible views of the Matterhorn. Stroll through the village before regrouping for dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9railovernight: Hotel in Zermatt
Viewing the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway
Ascend the Gornergrat on the scenic cog railway to its summit, the second-highest railway in Europe, for stunning views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks and the Matterhorn. Return to Zermatt for a guided tour of the traditional streets and wooden chalets. Rest of the day at leisure. Dine independently at one of Zermatt's many restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 10railovernight: Hotel in Chur
The iconic Glacier Express to Chur
Walk to Zermatt's railway station and board the Glacier Express in First Class. Travel through green meadows, dense evergreen forests and snow-capped mountains, through the Rhine Valley (the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'), spiralling up mountains, crossing viaducts and burrowing through tunnels. Two-course lunch served at seats. Arrive in Chur, check in to hotel. Explore the Altstadt (Old Town) before the final dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 11rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, bid farewell to Chur and make your way to the railway station. Head towards Paris and travel in Eurostar Plus to London St Pancras, enjoying a light meal onboard. Arrive in London and say goodbye to the Tour Manager and group before making your own way home.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal
Included
- Escorted throughout by experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
- 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara
- Five-star service onboard
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- Eurostar Plus Class rail travel
- First Class rail travel on Glacier Express
- All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
- Breakfast each day
- 1 lunch and 2 dinners during Glacier Express tour
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the cruise including a spectacular gala dinner
- Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
- Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
- Swiss Half Fare Card permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railways
- A superb choice of excursions
- Eurostar light meal on outbound and return journeys
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
- Tips/gratuities (at guest's discretion)
- Chairlift to Vier Seen Blick in Boppard (payable locally)
- Independent dinner in Zermatt on Day 9
- UK rail connections to/from London St Pancras (available to book separately)
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