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The Rhine Valley in Flames

 
4.7 stars(15 reviews)
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Duration
8 days
From per person
£2,799 £2,499
Tour code
FRR25
Mobility Rating 1
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Discover the magical Rhine on a spectacular cruise and witness the sensational colours of the Rhine in Flames celebration

Sail along the enchanting River Rhine on a luxury river cruise which includes the spectacular Rhine in Flames celebration. From the cultured streets of Cologne to the picturesque landscapes of the Middle Rhine, each day unfolds with beautiful passing scenery, historic towns, unspoilt villages, and timeless traditions.

Drift through the enchanting Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with stunning castles, lush forests, and sprawling vineyards. Discover the sights of enchanting Strasbourg, the magical allure of the Black Forest, and the elegance of Heidelberg.

The highlight of our cruise awaits in Oberwesel, where the Rhine comes alive with the spectacular Rhine in Flames procession. Amidst illuminated boats and fireworks, experience a celebration of colour and wonder. Indulge in luxury on this cruise where every bend offers an inspiring moment, as the Rhine reveals the wonderful treasures along its banks.

Unforgettable Experiences

Experience the Rhine in Flames
Experience the Rhine in Flames
Experience the incredible Rhine in Flames procession, an annual spectacle along the Rhine River where the night sky lights up with sensational fireworks and the river shimmers with reflections of vibrant colours.
Romantic Rhine Gorge
Romantic Rhine Gorge
Sail through this enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site where spellbinding castles emerge, verdant forests stretch as far as the eye can see, and vineyard-clad slopes cascade down to the water's edge. We also drift by the dramatic Lorelei Rock, steeped in myth and legend.
Drachenfelsbahn Cog Railway
Drachenfelsbahn Cog Railway
Reach the summit of the majestic Drachenfels on the exhilarating Drachenfelsbahn cog railway. A journey of unparalleled beauty, we wind gracefully up the rolling slopes as the majestic panorama of the Rhine Valley gradually unfolds.
Historic Heidelberg
Historic Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’ on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this picturesque riverside city as we stroll through the historic Altstadt and visit the imposing Heidelberg Castle, perched majestically atop the verdant hills overlooking the city.
Discover Rüdesheim
Discover Rüdesheim
Explore this charming town and the famous Drosselgasse, a quaint narrow alleyway lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars. While here, choose between a fabulous wine tasting or visit the marvellous Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
Enchanting Strasbourg
Enchanting Strasbourg
Venture into the Black Forest, an ancient woodland where towering trees shrouded in mist create an otherworldly atmosphere and discover Strasbourg’s grand architecture, cobblestone streets, and meandering canals.

Discover more amazing experiences

Explore a world of incredible destinations and travel moments, from hidden gems to iconic sights.

The Rhine Valley in Flames & Moselle

8-day holiday

Experience the sensational annual Rhine in Flames display as part of the procession on a luxurious cruise along the Rhine and Moselle to explore historic towns and cities.

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Itinerary

DAY1To Cologne where we board our luxurious ship

Our holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar. In the city of Cologne, we board our magnificent ship, the luxurious Amadeus Imperial, and settle into our home on the river. Our friendly crew warmly greet us with a welcome cocktail as we get ready to immerse ourselves in the wonders of the Rhine. We then gather for our first dinner onboard, savouring the beginning of our cruise experience.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Exploring Cologne

After breakfast, we enjoy a leisurely tour of Cologne and wander through its cheerful 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.

Later this morning, we set off on our first sail. Drifting upstream past Bonn, we begin to see the first signs of lush green hills as we arrive in the enchanting town of Königswinter. Here, we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway.

This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock', inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher. We then head back to our cruise ship for dinner onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY3Picturesque Koblenz and the Rhine in Flames

There's time at leisure this morning to explore Koblenz, once a Roman stronghold. We recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We then begin sailing again after lunch, pausing in the picturesque town of Boppard later this afternoon. From here, we continue cruising to Oberwesel, where we drop anchor this evening for the spectacular Rhine in Flames procession.

This event is a stunning procession of illuminated boats, fireworks and music along the Rhine River. It's a breathtaking display of colours, lights and sounds that brings together locals and visitors alike to celebrate summer nights with a sense of magic, romance and community. We have a great vantage point from our ship, and we celebrate as the sky lights up, the city is illuminated, and the river shimmers with vibrant colours. At the end of the procession, we return to Boppard where we dock for the night.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4The enchanting Rhine Gorge and charming Rüdesheim

Our morning is spent leisurely onboard, sailing through delightful river landscapes including a highlight of our cruising experience - the romantic Rhine gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views and the best place to witness them is from the top deck of our ship. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

Later this afternoon, we dock in captivating Rüdesheim where we travel through steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions, each promising a delightful insight into the town. You could experience why the town is famous with a fantastic wine tasting, savouring the finest local varieties. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments.

After dinner this evening there's time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace and see the charming half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY5Traditional Heidelberg and lovely Speyer

After a morning of relaxed cruising and lunch onboard, we arrive in the city of Mannheim. From here we journey by coach to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. 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.

Alternatively, you could stay onboard and later, take in the sights of the historic city of Speyer and its cathedral at leisure before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY6A scenic sail to Strasbourg

Today we enjoy a full day cruise to the French city of Strasbourg. Relax onboard as we pass diverse landscapes and fantastic natural beauty along the Rhine. We arrive in Strasbourg later this afternoon and after dinner, you can experience the city's unique character at leisure. Sitting near the border, Strasbourg perfectly represents the blending of French and German cultures. The enchanting old town is well worth a visit in your own free time and you'll discover timber-framed houses, cobbled streets, and the iconic Cathedral, all creating a fairytale ambience.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY7The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

After breakfast, 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, 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 UNESCO-listed cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Following your excursion, we return to our ship for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to discover more of Strasbourg and you could join our coach into the old town. The picturesque capital of France's Alsace region offers a captivating evening of history and culture, whether you choose to wander the charming streets or relax with a beverage at one of the inviting cafés or wine bars.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

DAY8Homeward bound

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We head to the railway station and catch our train to London. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers. As you make your way home, look back on the beautiful moments we shared along the Rhine - amazing views in Koblenz and the spectacular Rhine in Flames show, the fairytale scenes along the Rhine Gorge, timeless culture in Rüdesheim, and renowned architecture in Heidelberg, Speyer and Strasbourg.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

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.

What’s included on the tour?

Trains & Ships

More information on the different trains and ships that are used on this tour.

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MS Amadeus Imperial Cabin DS | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Suites - Upper Deck

Travel in luxury and style when you choose one of our Deluxe Suites. Our largest en-suite cabins, at 26.4 square metres, a walk-out balcony, walk-in wardrobe an river-view lounge area.

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Amadeus Imperial Cabin A1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Upper Deck

These en-suite cabins are stylish and impressively spacious at 17.5 squre metres, with a panoramic window balcony, walk-in wardrobe and seating area.

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MS Amadeus Imperial Cabin B1| Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Middle Deck

Deluxe Staterooms

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MS Amadeus Imperial Cabin C1 | Great Rail Journeys
Classic Stateroom - Lower Deck

Our Classic Staterooms offer quality, and elegance with space to relax in comfort at the end of the day. And we recognise the importance of having somewhere inviting to retire to after an engaging day of cruising or excursions. These 16 square metre en-suite cabins offer a wide picture window and large walk-in wardrobe.

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Enhance your holiday

London Hotels

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

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We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

London hotels
UK rail connections

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

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We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

UK train tickets

Reviews

4.7 stars4.7 / 5 · 15 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (11)
  2. 4 stars
    (4)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

BOB THEAKSTON

5 stars

Submitted 01 Oct 2024

Excellent Ship, excellent crew, excrement location

Collected by Trustpilot

Keith

5 stars

Submitted 30 Sep 2024

A brilliant holiday

Collected by Trustpilot

Michael Williams

5 stars

Submitted 30 Sep 2024

As our previous holiday with them this year, a brilliant experience.

Collected by Trustpilot

Ann Frankham

5 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2024

Loved every minute, great ship, fantastic staff and food, excursions excellent. Would highly recommend.

Collected by Trustpilot

Marianne Dyer

4 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2024

Enjoyed the Rhine experience. Well organised with the walking tours in groups according to your ability. Newsletter every day communicating what was happening that day. Kind and helpful staff, nice food and music and dance in the evening. Only thing missing was medical experience on board (Doctor or nurse).

Collected by Trustpilot

Janet Johnson

5 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2024

Fabulous holiday, amazing food, beautiful ship, friendly efficient staff and exceptional tour manager. Would definitely go again and highly recommend

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews
River Cruise Holidays 2026

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Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.

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