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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

GoldenPass & The Romantic Rhine

Rhine cruise and GoldenPass Express rail from Amsterdam to Montreux in 10 days

Illustration of GoldenPass & The Romantic Rhine

Vacations By Rail's 10-day GoldenPass and The Romantic Rhine combines river cruising and Alpine rail travel across four countries. The journey starts with a seven-night cruise on the MS Amadeus Amara from Amsterdam through the Rhine Gorge to Basel, calling at Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and other towns. You are escorted by a Tour Manager and Cruise Director throughout. From Basel, you travel by scenic rail to Interlaken, set between two lakes in the Bernese Oberland, then board the GoldenPass Express panoramic train via Spiez and Gstaad to Montreux on Lake Geneva. The cruise includes a guided tour of Cologne's Gothic cathedral, a ride on the Drachenfels Cog Railway past a historic castle, and wine tastings in Rüdesheim. Each day brings a choice of excursions: Amsterdam or the cheese towns of Volendam and Edam; Heidelberg Castle or Speyer Cathedral; the Black Forest or Strasbourg's medieval quarter. All meals, rail and coach travel, and a Swiss Half Fare Card are included. This tour suits couples, history lovers, and rail travellers who prefer to have transport, accommodation, and meals organised.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of USD 3,195 covers the package; flights and airport transfers are booked and paid separately.
  • Day 2 offers a choice between Amsterdam or Volendan and Edam; Day 6 between Heidelberg or Speyer; Day 7 between the Black Forest or Strasbourg city tour. Final itinerary depends on your selections.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Ship (Amsterdam)

    Boarding our luxurious ship in Amsterdam

    Board the Amadeus ship on the River Rhine in Amsterdam; welcome cocktail and first dinner in the Panorama Restaurant with a Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance.

  2. Day 2overnight: Ship

    Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam

    Choice of a canal boat cruise tour of Amsterdam or a visit to Volendam and Edam for Dutch cheese heritage; sail toward Cologne after lunch.

  3. Day 3overnight: Ship

    Exploring the historic streets of Cologne

    Guided tour of Cologne's squares, Romanesque townhouses and the UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral, plus a local beer tasting.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Ship (Koblenz)

    Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn

    Dock at Königswinter for the Drachenfels Cog Railway past Drachenburg Castle; cruise on toward Koblenz, passing the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Ship (Rüdesheim)

    Through the magical Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim

    Free time in Koblenz; sail through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock; land-train into Rüdesheim for a choice of wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ship

    Discovering Heidelberg or Speyer

    Dock at Mannheim; choice of a guided coach tour of Heidelberg (castle) or staying aboard for a short cruise to Speyer (UNESCO cathedral).

  7. Day 7overnight: Ship

    Strasbourg's Black Forest or city tour

    Choice of an excursion into the Black Forest or a city tour of Strasbourg (cathedral, La Petite France); final cruise toward Switzerland.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Interlaken

    Into the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken

    Disembark in Basel; coach transfer to the station and scenic rail to Interlaken, between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Vevey

    The GoldenPass Express to Montreux

    Board the GoldenPass Express panoramic carriages from Interlaken via Spiez and Gstaad to Montreux, continuing by local rail to Vevey for the night on Lake Geneva.

  10. Day 10rail

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, travel to the railway station and on to Geneva's airport, where the vacation concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board the MS Amadeus Amara in Amsterdam for a welcome cocktail and first dinner in the Panorama Restaurant with a Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance.
  • Day 4Ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway from Königswinter past Drachenburg Castle toward the Rhine Gorge.
  • Day 5Cruise through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock and travel by land-train to Rüdesheim for wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
  • Day 9Board the GoldenPass Express panoramic carriages from Interlaken via Spiez and Gstaad to Montreux on Lake Geneva.

Included

  • Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout
  • 2 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara, Five-Star service, complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout
  • Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Swiss Half Fare Card (50% discounted fares on free days)
  • Superb excursions included

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance (not included but can be arranged)
  • 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. Standard Class rail travel throughout is included, including the GoldenPass Express, the Drachenfels Cog Railway, and coach transfers. Flights to and from the tour are not included.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escorted throughout the 10 days.
What is included in meals?
Breakfast and dinner are included each day, plus six lunches. A drinks package is included with dinner every night of the seven-night cruise.
Where do I stay?
Seven nights are aboard the MS Amadeus Amara, a five-star river cruise ship with complimentary onboard Wi-Fi. Two nights are in four-star hotels in Interlaken and Vevey.
Which trains are featured?
The tour includes the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux, the Drachenfels Cog Railway in the Rhine region, and scenic rail from Basel to Interlaken.
How much walking is involved?
This tour has a Mobility Rating 2, which includes guided walking tours of cities, stairs and luggage handling, and a cog railway ascent. Days also offer free time for independent exploration.

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