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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise & Rail Tour

GoldenPass & the Romantic Rhine

Rhine river cruise and Swiss rail journey from Amsterdam to Paris via Interlaken

Illustration of GoldenPass & the Romantic Rhine

Great Rail Journeys' GoldenPass and the Romantic Rhine is a 10-day escorted journey that pairs a seven-night luxury river cruise with Swiss alpine rail travel. The tour begins at London St Pancras with Eurostar to Amsterdam, where you board the MS Amadeus Amara and sail along the Rhine through Germany and France, docking in Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg and Strasbourg. Each day includes a guided or optional excursion: ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway to a summit overlooking the Rhine Valley, explore Cologne's Gothic cathedral, taste Rüdesheim wines, or venture into the Black Forest. After disembarking in Basel, the journey continues by scenic train to Interlaken, set between two lakes with Bernese Oberland peaks visible, followed by the distinctive GoldenPass Express in panoramic carriages to Montreux on Lake Geneva. A tour manager oversees the entire itinerary, with breakfast and dinner included daily plus most lunches and evening drinks onboard. This trip suits couples seeking romance and history, repeat rail travellers drawn to different train experiences, and those who prefer guided comfort with built-in choice.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement price of GBP 4,899 is substantially higher than half the double price, reflecting premium accommodation and service costs
  • Day 6 and 7 offer a choice of excursions (Heidelberg or Speyer; Black Forest or Strasbourg city); your final choice depends on the operator's scheduling
  • Days 2 and 7 include optional excursions; if not selected, time is spent onboard or in free exploration

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Amsterdam)

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Amsterdam

    Meet at London St Pancras and board Eurostar bound for Amsterdam. On arrival, a coach transfer takes you to the waterfront where the Amadeus ship awaits. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and settle into your cabin. First dinner in the Panorama Restaurant accompanied by a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (en route to Cologne)

    Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam

    Choice of excursions: a canal boat cruise of Amsterdam with views of its picturesque waterways and architecture, or a visit to Volendam and Edam to uncover Dutch cheese heritage. Return to the ship for lunch, then begin sailing towards Cologne.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (Cologne)

    Exploring the historic streets of Cologne

    Enjoy the changing scenery from the sun deck before breakfast and lunch onboard. Dock in Cologne for a guided tour of its squares, Romanesque townhouses, and the iconic Gothic cathedral, the largest in northern Europe and most visited attraction in Germany. Enjoy a tasting of Cologne's local beer before free time. Dinner back on the ship.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Koblenz)

    Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn

    Morning of relaxed sailing from Cologne. After lunch, dock in Königswinter for a trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway, passing Drachenburg Castle and reaching the summit with panoramic views. Continue cruising through beautiful scenery towards Koblenz, passing the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach. Arrive in Koblenz late evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: MS Amadeus Amara (Rüdesheim)

    Through the magical Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim

    Morning at leisure in Koblenz, stroll to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Then sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site with vineyards, ancient castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Dock in Rüdesheim; a land train takes you to the town centre for a choice of wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. Free time to explore cobbled streets after dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (en route to Strasbourg)

    Discovering Heidelberg or Speyer

    Dock in Mannheim and journey by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour of the Old Town and the magnificent ruined red sandstone castle. Alternatively, cruise to Speyer to explore its beautiful Old Town and UNESCO-listed cathedral at your own pace. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight sailing upstream.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Amara (en route to Basel)

    Strasbourg's Black Forest or city tour

    Sail into Strasbourg after breakfast. Choice of 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 its cathedral and the La Petite France district. Return to the ship for lunch and begin the final cruise towards Switzerland.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8railovernight: 4-star hotel, Interlaken

    Into the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken

    Last breakfast onboard before disembarking in Basel. Coach transfer to the station, then a scenic rail route to Interlaken, spectacularly located between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun with Bernese Oberland peaks in view. Check in to the hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to wander the lakeshores or town centre. Dinner with the group this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Hotel, Montreux

    The GoldenPass Express to Montreux

    Board the GoldenPass Express in its royal blue and gold panoramic carriages for a three-hour journey from Interlaken. Pass Lake Thun at Spiez, wind up to Gstaad (the mountain resort favoured by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore), then travel through pine forests and the Pays-d'Enhaut Highlands to Montreux. Check in to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure on the shores of Lake Geneva. Perhaps explore the Old Town or visit Chillon Castle before the final dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  10. Day 10rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, make your way to the railway station. Travel to Lausanne, switch trains and continue to Paris, then board the Eurostar to London St Pancras where the holiday concludes.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar at London St Pancras and transfer by coach to the Amadeus ship in Amsterdam, where a welcome cocktail and Dutch sea shanty choir mark arrival
  • Day 4Ride the historic Drachenfels Cog Railway from Königswinter to the summit overlooking the Rhine Valley and Drachenburg Castle
  • Day 5Sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, passing the legendary Lorelei Rock and vineyard-clad castle slopes toward Rüdesheim
  • Day 9Board the GoldenPass Express in panoramic carriages for a three-hour journey from Interlaken through Gstaad and pine forests to Montreux on Lake Geneva

Included

  • Experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team throughout
  • 2 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
  • Five-star service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Standard Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • 6 lunches
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
  • A superb choice of excursions
  • Eurostar travel (London St Pancras to Amsterdam and return via Paris)

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Eurostar (London to Amsterdam outbound, Lausanne to Paris to London return), the GoldenPass Express in panoramic class, the Drachenfels Cog Railway, and the scenic Basel-to-Interlaken rail route are all included, as is all coach travel.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 10 days.
What is included for meals?
Breakfast and dinner every day, six lunches (five onboard ship, one on Day 8), and drinks with dinner throughout the cruise are included.
Which hotels are included?
A 4-star hotel in Interlaken for one night and a hotel in Montreux for one night. The ship MS Amadeus Amara provides accommodation for seven nights.
When does this tour depart?
Great Rail Journeys offers departures in May, June and July 2027.
How much walking is involved?
Guided city tours in Cologne, Heidelberg and other destinations involve walking through historic streets and squares. The Drachenfels Cog Railway carries you to the summit; otherwise most travel is by ship, coach or train.

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