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Jewels of the Rhine

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7 days Sold out
4.7 stars(20 reviews)
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Discover the timeless favourites of the Rhine valley, with our brand new 7-day leisurely paced cruise itinerary providing the perfect relaxed introduction to river cruising.

2024 Tour code: RBR24

About the tour

Sailing only in daylight hours means that you won't miss a single moment of the breathtaking scenery, as we drift gracefully alongside the riverbanks, discovering the picturesque towns nestled on both sides, each filled with their own unique atmosphere and culture.

Marvel at the legendary Rhine Gorge, gazing in awe at the majestic castles, vineyard covered hills, and lush forests of this a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy the varied wonders of beautiful Strasbourg, the landscapes of the Black Forest, the castle ruins of Heidelberg, and the quaint alleys of Rudesheim. Unwind and explore on a luxury adventure that promises relaxation, discovery, and a front-row seat to Europe's most spectacular landscapes.

Unforgettable Experiences

The Rhine Gorge
The Rhine Gorge
Journey through the enchanting, Romantic Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site with spellbinding castles, verdant forests, vineyard-clad slopes, and the dramatic Lorelei Rock.
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim
Explore Rüdesheim on a tour through the vineyards aboard a land train and enjoy time to wander the famous Drosselgasse, a quaint narrow alleyway lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars.
Drachenfels Railway
Drachenfels Railway
Reach the summit of the majestic Drachenfels on the exhilarating Drachenfelsbahn cog railway to enjoy the splendid views.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’, Heidelberg on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this picturesque riverside city.
Cologne
Cologne
Discover the lively streets of Cologne and its Gothic cathedral, a timeless masterpiece.
The Black Forest
The Black Forest
Venture into the Black Forest to witness stunning fairytale panoramas and discover Strasbourg’s grand architecture.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To Strasbourg where we board our luxurious ship

Our holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris, this morning. From here, we continue by rail to the enchanting city of Strasbourg, where our magnificent ship awaits us.

As we settle into our home on the river, we're warmly greeted with a welcome cocktail before dinner.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

Today, you have a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Later this afternoon, you're at leisure in Strasbourg until dinner this evening. Discover the city's fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character at your own pace.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Traditional Heidelberg and lovely Speyer

Early this morning, we set off on our first relaxing sail toward charming Speyer. Arriving in the afternoon, we disembark and join our coach for an excursion the picturesque university town of Heidelberg, known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll.

We enjoy a guided tour including a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city. From here, we take in the amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape. Returning to Speyer, we board our ship again in time for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Charming Rüdesheim

We spend our morning sailing past the old Roman city of Mainz and spa town of Wiesbaden, to the captivating town of Rüdesheim, famous for its delicious white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. This afternoon, we get to know the history and stories of the renowned wine town during a guided tour through the vineyards aboard a land train and a visit to the Niederwalddenkmal for outstanding views over the Rhine.

After our tour, there's time to wander its cobbled streets at leisure. Meander the charming half-timbered houses and quaint shops. You could even drop in at one of the enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley for a glass or two before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - The magical Rhine Gorge and picturesque Koblenz

After breakfast, we depart Rüdesheim and enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - sailing through the romantic Rhine gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

Our journey through the Rhine Gorge comes to a close, and we moor in the town of Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the quaint, friendly town. We recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Back onboard later, we cruise the enchanting Middle Rhine, sailing by riverbanks lined with lush green meadows and pretty villages. During dinner this evening, we dock overnight in Königswinter.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - The wonderful Drachenfelsbahn and lively Cologne

After breakfast, we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway. This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - which is said to have been the inspiration for the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

During lunch, we enjoy an afternoon sail to vibrant Cologne. Here, we enjoy a tour of the city and explore its lively streets and squares. We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. We then head back to our cruise ship for our Gala dinner onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Homeward bound

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Trains

Drachenfels Railway
Eurostar

Ship

MS Amadeus Star

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Upgrades

London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.7 stars4.7 / 5 · 20 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (14)
  2. 4 stars
    (6)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Michael Edwards

4 stars

Submitted 29/May

First Rhine cruise and it will not be the last - thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, your in house team were excellent. We had a taste of DB in Koln we thought British Rail was bad it was chaos with changing times we were fortunate to have Steve looking after us all - he was truly excellent we would still be in Koln but for him

Collected by Trustpilot

Frank

5 stars

Submitted 28/May

An excellent holiday with good mixture of viewing whilst travelling and specific trips off the ship.

Collected by Trustpilot

Peter Blackbourn

4 stars

Submitted 28/May

We have already completed a review.

Collected by Trustpilot

Ann Walker

5 stars

Submitted 27/May

It was a lovely ship, very comfortable bedrooms, excellent restaurant where we were served three meals a day by very good Waiters , well done to the kitchen staff. Very friendly passengers on the trip . X

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Anne, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. That is very lovely to hear! I will make sure to pass your praise across to our team! Sophie
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Rofrano

4 stars

Submitted 27/May

Much enjoyed it.

Collected by Trustpilot

Bev Maltby

5 stars

Submitted 27/May

Excellent service, comfortable accommodation, good food, interesting outings, the pace was just right. Only downside - single duvets

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Bev, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I am glad to hear that you had such a great time on your tour and that the pace was just right. I will pass your feedback regarding the single duvets across to our team, so we can review this with the ship! Sophie
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

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