Discover the scenic route of the GoldenPass Express, staying in Interlaken between two peaceful lakes, and enjoy an enchanting cruise on the Rhine

Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras, ready to take our seats on Eurostar, bound for the Netherlands. Our destination is the capital, Amsterdam, where our magnificent Amadeus ship awaits boarding on the River Rhine. On arrival, a coach transfer takes us to the waterfront, and we're greeted onboard by our friendly crew. Enjoy a welcome cocktail while soaking up the waterside views before taking some time to familiarise yourself with our hotel on the river and settle into your comfortable cabin.

Later this evening, we have our first dinner in the ship's Panorama Restaurant and enjoy our meal while accompanied by a traditional Dutch Sea Shanty choir performance - the perfect start to our cruise.

After breakfast this morning, we step ashore with two incredible excursion options for the day. The first choice is a tour of Amsterdam featuring a canal boat cruise with stunning views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined by gabled mansions, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam - a city unlike anywhere else.

Alternatively, you could choose a visit to Volendam and Edam to uncover the unique cheese heritage of the Netherlands. As well as being famed for Dutch cheese, Volendam is a stunning old town, with traditional houses lining serene canals and a small harbour.

We return to the ship in time for lunch, at which time we begin our first sail towards the historic city of Cologne.

Awaking on the ship this morning, you could head out to the sun deck to soak up the changing scenery before sitting down to breakfast and lunch onboard. We dock in Cologne this afternoon, where we embark on a guided tour that introduces us to its squares and Romanesque townhouses. This German city sits beside the Rhine and was founded as a military camp by the Romans, who named it Colonia, from which the modern term 'colony' is derived.

The city's most iconic landmark is its impressive cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Construction of this UNESCO-listed edifice began in 1248 to house relics of the Three Wise Men. Rising more than 515 feet with spectacular twin spires, this Gothic masterpiece is the most visited attraction in Germany. There's time here to stand in awe and marvel at its ornate carvings and stained-glass windows.

We also enjoy a tasting of Cologne's local beer before some free time to continue admiring this riverside city at your own pace. Dinner is back on the ship this evening.

Enjoy a morning of relaxed sailing as we leave Cologne and continue along the Rhine. After lunch, we dock in Königswinter for a fantastic trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. Rising high into the forests, we pass the fairytale Drachenburg Castle - the name of which translates as 'Dragon's Rock' and has inspired many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. Travelling to the summit, we can admire wonderful views across the rolling hills of the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.

Back onboard this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery towards Koblenz. As the boat nears Andernach, keep your eyes peeled for the highest cold-water geyser in the world that erupts up to heights of nearly 200 feet. Enjoy dinner with excellent views of the river before arriving in Koblenz, where we dock for the night, late this evening.

There is time at leisure this morning to explore Koblenz, once a Roman stronghold. Perhaps stroll to Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers to witness inspiring vistas, including Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We then begin sailing again, and, after lunch, enjoy a cruise highlight - the 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. We wind around bends surrounded by miles of vineyards, ancient castles and riverside towns. As we sail, we hear the story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water.

Docking in Rüdesheim, a land train takes us through steeped vineyards to the town centre. Here is a choice of excursions. You could experience why this town is famous for its wine with a tasting experience or visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet to discover Europe's largest collection of mechanical instruments.

After dinner this evening, there is time to explore the town's cobbled streets at your own pace.

Breakfast is served onboard as we approach the city of Mannheim, where we dock this morning. Stepping on land, we journey by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour. This university town is known for its Old Town and 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 views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, you could stay onboard as we take the short cruise to Speyer. Arriving later this afternoon, 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 this evening, we enjoy dinner and a restful overnight sailing upstream.

Sailing into the city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two excursions. The first is a trip into the Black Forest to witness its 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, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could join a city tour of Strasbourg, discovering its history and grand architecture. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On the tour, we visit its cathedral and the La Petite France district.

Following your chosen excursion, return to our ship this afternoon for lunch and to begin our final cruise towards Switzerland, enjoying the vistas enroute.

Following our last breakfast onboard this morning, we disembark in the Swiss city of Basel. From here, a coach transfer takes us to the station, where we join a scenic rail route to Interlaken. This resort town has a spectacular location between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, with the peaks of the Bernese Oberland within view in the distance.

On arrival, we check in to our hotel, which has spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. The town's compact size means that most of its sights can be discovered on foot, and with an afternoon at leisure, you can do just that. You might like to wander along one of the lakeshores or to stroll round the town centre before returning to the hotel in time for dinner with the group this evening.

Today, we board the stylish, royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for an incredible journey. This route is a feat of engineering that has been more than 100 years in the making.

Leaving Interlaken, we pass Lake Thun at Spiez, and our panoramic carriages provide better views of the lake and fairytale castle than any other tours of the region. We then wind up the hills to the halfway point of this three-hour journey - Gstaad, the mountain resort favoured by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore. The last stretch of our journey to Montreux takes us through pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut Highlands, dotted with small villages and alpine meadows.

Arriving at our destination, we check in to our hotel for the night. You are at leisure on the shores of Lake Geneva, framed by the Alps, for the remainder of the afternoon. Perhaps explore the Old Town with its cobblestone streets and historic buildings, or visit the iconic Chillon Castle, steeped in medieval history, before our final dinner this evening.

After breakfast this morning, we make our way to the railway station for our journey back towards London St Pancras, where this breathtaking cruise and tour holiday began.

Along the Rhine, we experienced fantastic destinations, including Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg and Strasbourg, and experienced the fairytale scenery of the Rhine Gorge, where legends meet picturesque views. Our cruise took us all the way to Basel in Switzerland, where our journey ended with sights of mountainous Switzerland, enjoyed from Interlaken, the GoldenPass Express and Montreux.

Today's return route takes us to Lausanne, and here, we switch trains and continue onwards to Paris. In the French capital, the last leg of our trip takes us on the Eurostar to London, where your holiday concludes on arrival this evening.

The Drachenfels Cog Railway carries travellers from the bottom of Königswinger to the top of Drachenfels Mountain. On the way, it passes Schloss Drachenburg, a stunningly beautiful villa that said to have inspired the castle in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. At the top of the mountain, passengers can see the ruins of Burg Drachenfels, a castle built in the 12th century and destroyed 500 years later. The Drachenfels line started running in 1883, using steam-powered trains, and changed to electric traction in 1953.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Train journeys on The GoldenPass Line are a wonderful introduction to Switzerland and give you the opportunity to see the country at its very best. Travelling on ultra-modern panoramic trains, you experience unparalleled views of some of Switzerland's finest scenery from weathered timbered chalets sat in peaceful sunlit valleys to dramatic peaks, glittering lakes and remote, untouched forest.

The GoldenPass Line's picturesque route stretches between Montreux on the Swiss Riviera and lakeside Lucerne in the historic heart of Switzerland, taking us through Zweisimmen and Interlaken along the way. Various sections of this route are featured in a number of our Swiss tours.

Joining the fleet in summer 2025, the MS Amadeus Amara is the latest addition to the award-winning Amadeus river cruise collection. Combining elegant design with modern luxury, the ship offers 12 spacious Amadeus suites and 70 cabins, all designed to provide a breathtaking experience on the water.

Across its 4 stylish decks, guests can enjoy a range of facilities including a panoramic bar and lounge, elegant restaurant, indoor pool and a wellness centre offering massage services and a fitness room. The sun deck features sweeping views of the riverbanks, the perfect place to relax with a drink and soak up the scenery.

Each cabin is equipped with a spacious ensuite bathroom, flatscreen TV, minibar, walk-in wardrobe and either a double or twin bed. Many cabins also feature floor-to-ceiling windows, letting you soak up the views from the comfort of your room.

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.

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.

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.

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.