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Travelmarvel (APT Travel Group) · Rail and River Cruise

Scotland by Rail with European Gems

Scottish Highlands rail, then 14-night Danube cruise to Budapest

Illustration of Scotland by Rail with European Gems

Travelmarvel, part of the APT Travel Group, offers a 24-day journey combining Scotland's wildest landscapes with Central European river culture. The first nine days take you from Edinburgh through the Highlands by three celebrated railways: the Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig (passing the Glenfinnan Viaduct), the Kyle Line through remote mountains and lochs to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the West Highland Line beneath Ben Nevis. You spend three nights in Inverness, one each in Fort William and Glasgow, and enjoy a traditional Scottish show and dinner in Edinburgh. On Day 10 you board a Travelmarvel river ship in Amsterdam and spend 14 nights cruising the Rhine, Main, and Danube, stopping at Cologne, Bamberg, Vienna, and Budapest, where the tour ends. Throughout, Travelmariel provides a Cruise Director, Tour Director, and local guides, 56 meals, and beverages with lunch and dinner on board. This suits travellers who want heritage rail journeys paired with the relaxed pace and cultural depth of a guided river cruise.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights are not included in the package price; book separately.
  • The tour books to 21 July 2026 with a 250 AUD per-person deposit; confirm current departure availability before planning.
  • Nine of the 24 days involve rail; the remaining 15 days are river cruise based. This is a hybrid itinerary, not a rail-focused tour.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Edinburgh

    Arrive Edinburgh

  2. Day 2overnight: Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

  3. Day 3overnight: Aberdeen

    Edinburgh, Aberdeen

  4. Day 4overnight: Aberdeen

    Aberdeen

  5. Day 5overnight: Inverness

    Aberdeen, Keith, Inverness

  6. Day 6overnight: Inverness

    Inverness, Loch Ness

  7. Day 7overnight: Inverness

    Inverness, Kyle of Lochlash

  8. Day 8overnight: Fort William

    Inverness, Fort William, Mallaig

  9. Day 9overnight: Glasgow

    Fort William, Arrochar, Glasgow

  10. Day 10overnight: Amsterdam

    Glasgow, Amsterdam, Embark Ship

  11. Day 11overnight: Utrecht

    Amsterdam, Utrecht

  12. Day 12overnight: Brühl

    Cologne, Brühl

  13. Day 13overnight: Rüdesheim

    Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim

  14. Day 14overnight: Miltenberg

    Miltenberg

  15. Day 15overnight: Würzburg

    Würzburg

  16. Day 16overnight: Bamberg

    Bamberg

  17. Day 17overnight: Nuremberg

    Nuremberg

  18. Day 18overnight: Regensburg

    Regensburg

  19. Day 19overnight: Linz

    Passau, Linz

  20. Day 20overnight: Dürnstein

    Melk, Dürnstein

  21. Day 21overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

  22. Day 22overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

  23. Day 23overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

  24. Day 24

    Disembark Ship, Depart Budapest

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Traditional Scottish cultural show with Highland dancing and classic Scottish dinner in Edinburgh.
  • Day 8Jacobite Steam Train journey to Mallaig along the West Highland Line, passing the Glenfinnan Viaduct and mountain scenery.
  • Day 7Kyle Line scenic rail journey through remote Highlands to Kyle of Lochalsh, winding past mountains, lochs and moorland.
  • Day 6Loch Ness cruise with views of Urquhart Castle ruins on the water.
  • Day 13Rhine Gorge river scenery and exploration of Rüdesheim on the Main and Rhine.

Included

  • Three nights in Inverness, two night in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and one night in Fort William and Glasgow
  • 14 nights cruising on a Travelmarvel river ship
  • 56 meals - 23 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 20 dinners
  • Beer, wine and soft drink with lunch and dinner on board, plus tea, coffee and water
  • Services of Travelmarvel Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides
  • Explore 22 towns, villages and cities
  • Board the Jacobite Steam Train for a scenic journey to Mallaig along the last section of the West Highland Line
  • Enjoy a traditional Scottish dinner and lively cultural show in Edinburgh

Not included

  • Flights (unless specified)

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?
The Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, the Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the West Highland Line from Fort William toward Arrochar. Regular trains connect other Scottish cities.
Is the trip escorted or independent?
Escorted throughout by a Travelmarvel Cruise Director, Tour Director, and local guides.
What is included in the price?
Nine nights in Scottish hotels, 14 nights aboard a Travelmarvel river ship, 56 meals (23 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 20 dinners), beverages with meals on board, a Scottish cultural show in Edinburgh, and sightseeing guided by local experts.
How many nights do we stay in each location?
Three nights in Inverness, two nights each in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, one night each in Fort William and Glasgow, then 14 nights cruising by river.
When does this tour run?
A 2027 departure is available; booking closes 21 July 2026.
What is not included?
Flights and any travel insurance.

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