Enchanting Rhine River Cruise

Journey on the Rhine River

7 night Basel to Amsterdam
and 4 nights land tour of Switzerland

 

 

 

 

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

Arrive in Zurich and transfer to your hotel. Spend your day exploring this beautiful town. (B)

Day 2 ZURICH

Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, seamlessly blends its historic past with its progressive future, which comes to life on your city tour. See Grossmünster Abbey; St. Peter, which boasts the world’s largest church clock face; Old Town and Town Hall. (B)

Day 3 ZURICH - LUCERNE

Depart Zurich for a scenic drive to Vitznau on Lake Lucerne. Admire the spectacular scenery during a lake cruise that takes you to Lucerne. Enjoy free time for lunch followed by a walking tour before being transferred to your hotel. (B))

Day 4 LUCERNE

Spend the day at leisure taking in Lucerne's picture-postcard beauty. Explore the city’s well-preserved Old Town with its candy-colored houses, architectural treasures and ancient covered wooden bridge. (B)

Day 5 LUCERNE - BASEL - EMBARKATION

Visit the iconic Lion Monument before transferring to Basel where you will have free time for lunch before embarking on your ship. (B,D)

Day 6 BREISACH, GERMANY

Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. Alternatively, you may wish to go to Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” (B,L,D)

Day 7 STRASBOURG, FRANCE

One of the most enchanting cities in Europe and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Grand Île, Strasbourg will captivate you. Discover its many treasures with a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République. You'll then walk through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Prefer to enjoy the city more actively, then join a guided bike tour, which also takes you through the Parc de l’Orangerie. (B,L,D)

Day 8 LUDWIGSHAFEN - HEIDELBERG - RUDESHEIM, GERMANY

You'll have a choice of three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher's Path and be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Altpörtel, Old Gate. Later in the day, set sail to Rüdesheim, where you'll have the opportunity to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or enjoy a tasting of Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy. (B,L,D)

Day 9 RUDESHEIM - KOBLENZ

Your exploration of Rüdesheim continues with your choice of three excursions. Take a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the river. Afterwards, indulge your taste buds with a sampling of Riesling wines in the vineyards. If you prefer a more active adventure, you can join a guided bike ride through the town and along the Rhine River to Schloss Johannisberg or hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards. During the afternoon, set sail along the scenic Rhine River Gorge with its fabled legends and many castles to Lahnstein where you’ll enjoy a visit to Lahneck Castle. (B,L,D

Day 10 COLOGNE

Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000 year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral, where the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi— are believed to rest. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. Or visit a local tavern to taste Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce. (B,L,D)

Day 11 AMSTERDAM

Eclectic Amsterdam boasts amazing history, art, architecture, and museums, and you have three choices as to how you wish to explore it. The famous canals of Amsterdam await discovery on your city tour beginning with a scenic canal cruise followed by a walk to Begijnhof, known for its Middle Age buildings. For a different view of the city, you can join the Jordaan District walking tour or the Jewish Heritage tour. The Jordaan District tour begins at the Westerchurch and takes you past the Noordermarkt, the Karthuizerhof and the “9 streets”; afterwards, you’ll stop in a local café for a hot beverage and Dutch apple pie. The Jewish Heritage tour begins with a visit to the 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Museum chronicling the history of the Jews in Amsterdam. (B,L,D)

Day 12 DISEMBARKATION - DEPART AMSTERDAM

Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. (B)