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Top of Europe & The Majestic Rhine

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
11 days From £2,795 per person
4.2 stars(13 reviews)
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Tour & Cruise

Experience the breathtaking ‘Top of Europe’ on the Jungfrau Express before a luxurious seven-night cruise along the magical Rhine river.

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2024 Tour code: MER24

About the tour

A holiday which combines an iconic rail trip to the 'Top of Europe' and a stay in beautiful Interlaken with the stunning landscapes of a luxurious Rhine Cruise.

Starting from our base in the picturesque town of Interlaken, nestled between two serene Alpine lakes, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Bernese Oberland as we take a scenic journey on the Jungfrau Express to the 'Top of Europe'.

Then, we set sail to the captivating towns of Heidelberg and Rüdesheim, before cruising through the beautiful Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with stunning castles, lush forests, and sprawling vineyards.

For the perfect ending, we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway, explore the vibrant city of Cologne, and tour the lively streets of Amsterdam.

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You might also like our similar tour Top of Europe and The Romantic Rhine!

Unforgettable experiences

Ice Palace, Jungfraujoch
Ice Palace, Jungfraujoch
Travel on the spectacular Jungfrau Express to Jungfraujoch, the ‘Top of Europe’, enjoying jaw-dropping 360 views of snow-capped peaks before entering the magical Ice Palace.
Interlaken
Interlaken
Stay in beautiful Interlaken, surrounded by Swiss mountains and Alpine meadows.
The Rhine Gorge
The Rhine Gorge
Sail through the lush scenery of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site defined by fairytale castles, green forests and the legendary Lorelei Rock.
Cities of the Rhine
Cities of the Rhine
See the highlights of the glorious Rhine from our luxurious cruise ship, visiting Heidelberg and Speyer, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne.
Drachenfels Railway
Drachenfels Railway
Enjoy a fabulous rail excursion on the Drachenfels Railway to the summit of the Drachenfels mountain with wonderful views across the shimmering river and beyond.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To delightful Strasbourg

Our holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before travelling on the Eurostar service to Paris. From here, we continue by rail to the enchanting city of Strasbourg where we spend the first night of our holiday.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Stunning Interlaken

We're bound for the stunning setting of Interlaken today. We make our way by rail to this picturesque town, set between two idyllic Alpine lakes, in Switzerland.

Our hotel is well located, allowing for a leisurely stroll through the charming historic streets. When the skies are clear, the view of the valley is simply incredible, offering a panoramic vista of the stunning Bernese Oberland.

As we settle into our hotel for the next two nights, you can explore the town at your leisure or simply relax and soak up our new incredible surroundings before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The sensational Jungfrau Express

We enjoy a highlight of our holiday today, a journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest station. Boarding the sensational Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg, we're accompanied by an expert guide. As the train winds its way up the mountain, we soak up the breathtaking views of the surrounding alpine landscape and pause at the halfway station.

Our guide delights us with a fascinating talk about the mountains and geology around us, and describes the history and construction of this remarkable railway line as we keep climbing, the views getting more spectacular the higher we go. When we reach Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see.

We return to Interlaken via the scenic Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald where you have time to stroll around before dinner back at our hotel this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - To Strasbourg where we board our luxurious ship

Waking up in our beautiful alpine surroundings, we enjoy breakfast this morning before travelling the scenic rail route to Strasbourg. Here we're escorted to our luxury cruise ship where our friendly crew greets us with a welcome cocktail before dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - The enchanting Black Forest or delightful Strasbourg

Today, there's 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 enchanting setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg, where you'll discover its fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character. 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Traditional Heidelberg and Lovely Speyer

Waking to views of charming Speyer, you can choose to enjoy a guided tour of Heidelberg today. The picturesque university town is known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape. If you'd prefer to stay in Speyer, you can discover the city at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Returning to our ship for lunch, we enjoy a scenic afternoon cruise. Sailing downstream, we pass the famous Roman city of Mainz and spa town of Wiesbaden and arrive in Rüdesheim early this evening. After dinner, you could enjoy the sounds and sights of the captivating town, famous for its delicious white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Charming Rüdesheim, the magical Rhine Gorge, and picturesque Koblenz

This morning, we have time at leisure to explore Rudesheim and wander its cobbled streets and see the charming half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley. Later we 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. After a guided tour, you have time to explore and we recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - The magical Middle Rhine and the wonderful Drachenfelsbahn

During breakfast this morning, we cruise the enchanting Middle Rhine, sailing by riverbanks lined with lush green meadows and pretty villages as our Cruise Director narrates the region's history and highlights points of interest along the way.

In the afternoon, we dock in Königswinter, where 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Lively Cologne

Our views this morning are of vibrant Cologne where we enjoy a tour of the city after breakfast. As we explore its bustling streets and lively 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 a relaxed lunch before beginning our cruise through the Lower Rhine, with a change in scenery as we sail downstream towards Holland. As the ship glides along the river, we enjoy another evening of delicious food and drinks onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Vibrant Amsterdam and the Medemblik Steam Train

We arrive in Amsterdam where we spend the full day and have the choice of two exciting excursions. The first is a city tour of Amsterdam, a city that's as modern as it is historic. On the tour, you'll see some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Rijksmuseum and Dam Square. You'll also get to explore the famous Flower Market and enjoy a canal boat cruise, soaking up stunning views of the city's picturesque canals and architecture.

Alternatively, you could journey through the enchanting Hoorn countryside aboard the Medemblik Steam Train. Admire the picturesque landscape of tulip fields, windmills, and charming villages - the epitome of Dutch culture.

We return to our ship for a final dinner accompanied by the delightful songs of the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir - the perfect end to our magnificent cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - 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.

Hotel

Hotel Metropole Interlaken, Interlaken

Hotel Metropole Interlaken, Interlaken

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Trains

Drachenfels Railway
Eurostar
Jungfrau Railway
TGV

Ship

MS Amadeus Star

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Upgrades

London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 13 reviews

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

Melinda Roe

5 stars

Submitted 13 Oct 2023

Was a fantastic trip in some of the most beautiful places Reps were really helpful food on cruise was amazing also met some lovely people

Collected by Trustpilot

Customer

4 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2023

Overall pretty good trip , some of the excursions could have been a bit better, especially the Medemblik steam railway. No time in Medemblik at all which was very disappointing.

Collected by Trustpilot

Colin Sharpe

4 stars

Submitted 29 Aug 2023

A great holiday with the weather making the Jungfrau visit the holiday highlight. The Rhine cruise was a good experience too with a nice, sunny day for viewing all the castles from Rudesheim. The Amadeus Cara was a spendid boat to sail on with all the crew so helpful and friendly.

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Mrs Elizabeth Cook

5 stars

Submitted 31 Jul 2023

Fabulous. Trip of a lifetime.

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Philip Door

4 stars

Submitted 24 Jul 2023

Excellent Tour Guide for Jungfrau , loved Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch , River Cruise was very good, excellent food and facilities on board.

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LD

5 stars

Submitted 24 Jul 2023

Excellent holiday.

Collected by Trustpilot

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