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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour & river cruise

Glacier Express & Treasures of the Rhine

Rhine river cruise and Glacier Express train through five European countries

Illustration of Glacier Express & Treasures of the Rhine

Vacations By Rail's 11-day Glacier Express and Treasures of the Rhine combines a leisurely seven-night cruise on the River Rhine with alpine rail travel through five countries. Starting from London St Pancras, the group travels by Eurostar Plus to Cologne, then boards MS Amadeus Cara for an upstream journey past castle-lined gorges, through the Rhine Gorge, and to the historic towns of Koblenz, Heidelberg, Speyer, and Strasbourg. After disembarking in Strasbourg, the tour shifts to the Swiss Alps: two nights in Zermatt, where guests ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to glacial views of the Matterhorn, followed by a journey aboard the Glacier Express in First Class through the Rhine Valley to Chur. A Tour Manager and Cruise Director escort the entire trip, and meals are provided daily, from chocolate and beer tastings in Cologne to a two-course lunch service on the Glacier Express. This pace is relaxed, with full-day sailing, optional excursions, and free time in each major stop.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 5 and Day 7 offer guided excursion choices (Heidelberg or Speyer; Black Forest or Strasbourg); final itinerary depends on which you select.
  • Day 11 is an independent transfer: you walk to Chur's railway station and board a train to Zurich to reach the airport on your own.
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; cancellation and travel insurance must be purchased separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Ship

    To Cologne, where we board our luxurious ship

    Meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras to board the Eurostar, switching trains in Brussels for Cologne, then a coach transfer to the waterfront to board the ship, with a welcome cocktail and first dinner on board.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Ship

    Exploring Cologne

    Guided tour of Cologne including the Romanesque townhouses and the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, with a chocolate and beer tasting, then sail past Bonn to Konigswinter to ride the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway past Drachenfels castle.

  3. Day 3overnight: Ship

    The charms of Koblenz and Boppard

    Free time in Koblenz (Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress), then sail to Boppard for free time to explore its Roman fortifications and half-timbered houses, with an optional chairlift to the Vier Seen Blick viewpoint.

  4. Day 4overnight: Ship

    Through the Rhine Gorge to Rudesheim

    Sail through the romantic Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, then dock in Rudesheim for a choice of a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ship

    Discovering Heidelberg and Speyer

    Arrive in Mannheim, with a choice of a coach trip to Heidelberg for a guided tour (including its ruined red sandstone castle) or staying aboard to Speyer to see its historic cathedral, with the group reuniting on the ship in Speyer for dinner.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ship

    A scenic day of sailing to Strasbourg

    Full day of relaxed cruising along the Rhine to the border city of Strasbourg, with free time to explore in the evening after dinner on board.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ship

    Exploring the enchanting Black Forest or Strasbourg

    Choice of an excursion into the Black Forest or a city tour of Strasbourg including its UNESCO-listed cathedral and La Petite France district, with free time in Strasbourg in the afternoon.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Zermatt

    Into the Swiss Alps to Zermatt

    Disembark in Strasbourg and travel by rail via Basel and Visp to the car-free mountain resort of Zermatt, checking into the hotel for a two-night stay.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Zermatt

    Viewing the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway

    Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to its summit for views of glaciers and the Matterhorn, then a guided tour of Zermatt, with the rest of the day free to explore further using a Swiss Travel Card.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Chur

    The iconic Glacier Express to Chur

    Board the Glacier Express in First Class from Zermatt through the Rhine Valley to Chur, with a two-course lunch served at your seat, then check into the hotel and explore Switzerland's oldest town.

  11. Day 11rail

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, walk to Chur's railway station and board a train to Zurich for an independent transfer onward to Zurich's airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Ride the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway (opened 1883, electric since 1953) from Konigswinter past Drachenfels castle overlooking the Rhine.
  • Day 4Sail through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock and dock in Rudesheim for wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
  • Day 9Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to its 10,135-foot summit for views of the Matterhorn and alpine glaciers.
  • Day 10Board the Glacier Express in First Class from Zermatt through the Rhine Valley to Chur with a two-course lunch served at your seat.

Included

  • Escorted throughout by 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 options available
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day, 1 lunch and 2 dinners during the Glacier Express portion
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the cruise, including a gala dinner
  • 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

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?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London to Cologne, the Drachenfelsbahn and Gornergrat mountain railways, and the Glacier Express in First Class from Zermatt to Chur. A Swiss Half Fare Card grants 50% discounts on additional rail and mountain journeys.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Fully escorted. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 11 days, including all guided tours and excursions.
What is included in the price?
Three nights in 4-star hotels, seven nights aboard MS Amadeus Cara, all rail and coach travel, breakfast daily, lunch on the Glacier Express, all dinners including a gala dinner aboard ship, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, drinks with dinner each cruise night, and guided excursions to Cologne, Heidelberg (or Speyer), and other destinations.
Which hotels?
Two nights in Zermatt and one night in Chur (both 4-star). Accommodation on Days 1-7 is aboard MS Amadeus Cara.
How much walking is involved?
Mobility Rating 2: expect city walking tours, stairs, and luggage handling across multiple hotels and ship transfers. Optional excursions include a chairlift and guided town tours.
When does it run?
The operator has not published departure dates in the available information. Contact Vacations By Rail to confirm current availability.

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