How much does it cost?

From £4,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,077 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus Class outbound and return travel from London to Paris, First Class on the Glacier Express, cog railways (Drachenfelsbahn and Gornergrat), and all coach and rail transfers throughout the tour. A Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounted fares on most mountain railways and boat services is also provided.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort you throughout the entire 11 days.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance, tips and gratuities, the chairlift to Vier Seen Blick in Boppard (payable locally), independent dinner in Zermatt on Day 9, and UK rail connections to London St Pancras.

When does the tour run?

Departures are scheduled in August and September 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Rail & River Cruise

Glacier Express & Treasures of the Rhine

Rhine cruise and Swiss Alps rail from London to Paris in 11 days

Great Rail Journeys operates this 11-day escorted tour combining river cruise and Alpine rail travel, departing London and ending in Paris. The journey begins with Eurostar Plus Class travel to Cologne, where you board the MS Amadeus Cara for a seven-night cruise upstream along the Rhine, calling at Koblenz, Boppard, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, and Strasbourg. Days on the water alternate between guided shore excursions (Cologne Cathedral, Heidelberg's Old Town, the Black Forest, and the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock) and time to explore villages independently. From Strasbourg, rail travel takes you to Zermatt for a two-night stay in this car-free Alpine resort with views of the Matterhorn. Day 9 includes an ascent of the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, the second-highest railway in Europe, for vistas of glaciers and snow-capped peaks. The signature experience is Day 10: boarding the Glacier Express in First Class for a daylong traverse through the Swiss Alps to Chur, with a two-course lunch served at your seat as the train passes through emerald meadows, dense forests, and the Rhine Valley. The pace is leisurely; all meals and drinks aboard the cruise ship are included, as are hotel breakfasts and dinners.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £4,499 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Day 9 dinner in Zermatt is independent and not included; all other meals are provided.
The Vier Seen Blick chairlift in Boppard (Day 3) is payable locally and not included.
Single supplement is GBP 2,000 (roughly half the double price per person), a significant premium.
Days 5 and 7 offer a choice of excursions (Heidelberg or Speyer; Black Forest or Strasbourg) that affect the itinerary experience.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Cologne (onboard MS Amadeus Cara)
To Cologne, where we board our luxurious ship
Your rail and cruise holiday begins today at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and group of fellow travellers. We board the Eurostar in Plus Class, enjoying a light meal served at our seats, switch trains in Brussels and continue to Cologne, where a coach transfer takes us to the waterfront. Stepping aboard our luxurious Amadeus ship, our friendly crew greets us with a welcome cocktail. This evening, we gather for our first dinner onboard overlooking the skyline of Cologne.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Exploring Cologne
After breakfast we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Cologne, admiring the Romanesque townhouses and the city's Gothic cathedral, plus a tasting of Cologne's chocolate and beer, before returning to the ship. We sail upstream past Bonn to Königswinter, where we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle, with wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region. We return to the cruise ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
The charms of Koblenz and Boppard
Docking in Koblenz this morning, we explore this former Roman stronghold, including Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. We sail again after lunch, arriving in the picturesque town of Boppard, with time to explore half-timbered houses and Roman fortifications, or take the chairlift to the Vier Seen Blick viewpoint (payable locally), before returning to the ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
We spend the morning sailing through the romantic Rhine Gorge, hearing the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock. After lunch, we dock in Rüdesheim, travelling through vineyards aboard a land train, with a choice of a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. After dinner onboard, you can return to explore Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse alley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Discovering Heidelberg and Speyer
After a morning of relaxed cruising, we arrive in Mannheim, with a choice of excursions: a coach journey to Heidelberg for a guided tour including the ruined red sandstone castle, or staying onboard to continue to Speyer, home to the magnificent Speyer Cathedral. Those visiting Heidelberg rejoin the ship in Speyer in time for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Strasbourg (onboard MS Amadeus Cara)
A scenic day of sailing to Strasbourg
A full day of cruising to the border city of Strasbourg, relaxing onboard with plenty of time for breakfast and lunch while passing diverse riverside landscapes. After we dock and have dinner on the ship, you might like to step ashore to explore Strasbourg's Old Town, with its timber-framed houses, cobbled streets and cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Strasbourg (onboard MS Amadeus Cara)
Exploring the enchanting Black Forest or Strasbourg
A choice of two excursions from our mooring point in Strasbourg: a trip into the Black Forest, Germany's largest nature park, or a city tour of Strasbourg visiting the UNESCO-listed cathedral and the La Petite France district. We return to the ship for lunch, with the afternoon free to discover more of Strasbourg. Dinner is served back onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Zermatt
Into the Swiss Alps to Zermatt
We have our last breakfast onboard before disembarking in Strasbourg and setting off by rail towards Zermatt, travelling via Basel and Visp. On arrival, we check in to our hotel for two nights in this stunning, car-free mountain resort, with incredible views of the surrounding alpine peaks including the Matterhorn. We regroup for dinner at the hotel this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Zermatt
Viewing the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway
A journey on the scenic cog railway as we ascend the Gornergrat to its summit, the second-highest railway in Europe, with stunning views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks and the Matterhorn. We return to Zermatt for a guided tour of the resort. The rest of the day is at leisure, and we dine independently tonight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10railovernight: Chur
The iconic Glacier Express to Chur
We walk to Zermatt's railway station and step aboard the Glacier Express in First Class, weaving through green meadows, evergreen forests and snow-capped mountains, through the Rhine Valley toward Chur, with a two-course lunch served at our seats. Arriving in Chur, we check in to our hotel and can explore Switzerland's oldest town before our final dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to Chur and begin the journey home. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Paris, where we travel in Eurostar Plus to London St Pancras, enjoying a light meal onboard. Arriving in London, we say goodbye to the Tour Manager and the rest of the group.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar light meal

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ascend the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway from Königswinter, passing Drachenfels Castle with views across the Rhine Valley.
Day 4Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, past castles, vineyards and the Lorelei Rock.
Day 9Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to its summit for views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks and the Matterhorn.
Day 10Board the Glacier Express in First Class and traverse green meadows, evergreen forests, the Rhine Valley, and mountain spirals with a two-course lunch served at your seat.

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by our 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 First Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch and 2 dinners during your Glacier Express tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of your cruise including a spectacular gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from your 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 railway journeys
A superb choice of excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance
Gratuities/tips (not included in the price; entirely at the guest's discretion)

Also sold by

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

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,077 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus Class outbound and return travel from London to Paris, First Class on the Glacier Express, cog railways (Drachenfelsbahn and Gornergrat), and all coach and rail transfers throughout the tour. A Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounted fares on most mountain railways and boat services is also provided.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escort you throughout the entire 11 days.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance, tips and gratuities, the chairlift to Vier Seen Blick in Boppard (payable locally), independent dinner in Zermatt on Day 9, and UK rail connections to London St Pancras.
When does the tour run?: Departures are scheduled in August and September 2027.