How much does it cost?

From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this trip escorted?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 10 days.

What meals are included?

Breakfast and dinner each day, six lunches, and a drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise. The optional chairlift and some activities like wine tasting or museum visits in Rüdesheim are at additional cost.

Where do we stay overnight?

Seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara river ship (Cologne to Strasbourg) and two nights in a four-star hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys offers departures in September 2026, October 2026, August 2027, and September 2027.

What is the highest elevation reached on this trip?

Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, reached by the Jungfrau Express. The journey is by train; no strenuous hiking is required to reach the viewing platform.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted Rail & River Cruise

Jungfrau Express & Treasures of the Rhine

Rhine river cruise and Alpine rail to Europe's highest station from London

Great Rail Journeys combines a leisurely river cruise with Alpine rail travel on this 10-day escorted journey from London to Interlaken. The trip opens with Eurostar Standard class from London St Pancras to Cologne, where guests board the five-star MS Amadeus Cara for seven nights of sailing through the Rhine Valley. Days unfold with guided tours of Cologne's Gothic cathedral, a cog-railway ascent of Drachenfels near Königswinter, the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge with its castles and vineyards, and visits to Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and the Black Forest. After disembarking in Strasbourg, the itinerary shifts to the Swiss Alps: a two-night stay in Interlaken between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, followed by a day journey on the Jungfrau Express to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station at 3,454 metres. All rail, coach, most meals, and onboard drinks are included. A Swiss Half Fare Card provides discounts on optional excursions. This tour suits couples, repeat rail travellers, and those seeking guided comfort with five-star onboard service and historic European cities.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,999.

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

Single-supplement price (GBP 4,599) is nearly 50% higher than the per-person double rate (GBP 3,099), making solo travel costly on this trip.
One optional chairlift (Vier Seen Blick in Boppard) is payable locally; all other excursions and rail journeys are included.
The tour ends in Grindelwald on Day 10 after a train journey from Interlaken, but the route back to London is not detailed in the itinerary.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Cologne)
To Cologne where we board our luxurious ship
Meet at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Cologne via Brussels, arriving late afternoon to board the MS Amadeus Cara with a welcome cocktail and first dinner onboard.
Day 2railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara
Exploring Cologne
A guided tour of Cologne including its Gothic cathedral, then sail upstream past Bonn with lunch onboard, arriving at Königswinter for the Drachenfels railway before returning to the ship for dinner.
Day 3overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Boppard)
Picturesque Koblenz and quaint Boppard
Free time to explore Koblenz and the Deutsches Eck, then sail after lunch to Boppard for free time among its Roman fortifications and half-timbered houses, before dinner.
Day 4railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Rüdesheim)
Through the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
A leisurely morning sailing through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, then dock at Rüdesheim for a land train into town and a choice of wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, before dinner.
Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Cara
Discovering Heidelberg and Speyer
Sail to Mannheim, then travel by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour including the ruined castle, or remain onboard and visit Speyer and its cathedral independently, before dinner.
Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Strasbourg)
A scenic sail to Strasbourg
A full day cruising to Strasbourg, arriving in the afternoon, with dinner onboard and free time to explore the city's old town in the evening.
Day 7overnight: MS Amadeus Cara
The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg
Choose an excursion into the Black Forest or a city tour of Strasbourg including its cathedral and La Petite France district, with free time before the gala final dinner onboard.
Day 8railovernight: Interlaken
Leaving the ship and heading to stunning Interlaken
Disembark and travel by rail to Interlaken for a two-night stay, with time to explore the town at leisure before dinner.
Day 9railovernight: Interlaken
To the 'Top of Europe' on the Jungfrau Express
Board the Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg for the journey to Jungfraujoch and the Sphinx viewing platform, then return to Interlaken via Grindelwald for dinner.
Day 10rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, head to the railway station and catch the train back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ascend the Drachenfels cog railway from Königswinter past Drachenfels castle, enjoying panoramic views across the Rhine-Westphalia region.
Day 4Sail through the Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage site, viewing castles, vineyards, and the legendary Lorelei Rock.
Day 6Master of Wine Conal Gregory delivers a talk and wine tasting on Alsace, Rhine, and Moselle wines during the full-day cruise to Strasbourg.
Day 9Board the Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg and climb to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, visiting the Sphinx viewing platform and seeing the Aletsch Glacier.

Included

Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout your tour
2 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast and dinner each day, 6 lunches
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 is not included in the price of the tour
Tips are not included in the price of the cruise, nor is a daily gratuity added to the bill

Also sold by

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

Vacations By Railfrom $3,195

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,051 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this trip escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 10 days.
What meals are included?: Breakfast and dinner each day, six lunches, and a drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise. The optional chairlift and some activities like wine tasting or museum visits in Rüdesheim are at additional cost.
Where do we stay overnight?: Seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara river ship (Cologne to Strasbourg) and two nights in a four-star hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys offers departures in September 2026, October 2026, August 2027, and September 2027.
What is the highest elevation reached on this trip?: Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, reached by the Jungfrau Express. The journey is by train; no strenuous hiking is required to reach the viewing platform.