Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam by 3:30 pm and board your river cruise ship by 5 pm. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city freely. During tulip season, there's a guided optional excursion to Keukenhof gardens with over seven million flowering bulbs available. If you're visiting outside tulip season, you can join a guided optional tour to Zaanse Schans instead to see historic windmills and traditional Dutch houses.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens (during tulip season)
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses (outside tulip season)
Landmarks Keukenhof Zaanse Schans - Day 2
Amsterdam to Cologne
This morning starts with a guided canal cruise through Amsterdam's colorful canals, passing stately homes from the Golden Age. You'll head to the Adventure Center where various activities are available. In the afternoon, you can either join guided optional excursions or spend time freely visiting one of Amsterdam's many museums or galleries. Later, you'll board your cruise ship and sail overnight toward Cologne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions (specific options not detailed in itinerary)
- Visit Amsterdam's museums or galleries (free time activity)
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal - Day 3
Cologne
In Cologne, you have several options for the day. Bike with your Adventure Host like a local, take a guided walking tour focused on the city's Jewish heritage, or join a guided city walk to see the iconic twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. Afterward, try a glass of Kölsch pale lager, a local pale lager brewed here for over 100 years. Live entertainment from local musicians will perform onboard your ship this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike ride with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with Gothic cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 4
Cochem
You're in the Moselle Valley where the morning brings a guided optional excursion to Eltz Castle. For the rest of the day, you can bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host, visit the former Deutsche Bundesbank bunker with its Cold War-era underground vault, or take a guided walk through Cochem to see half-timbered houses and the hilltop Reichsburg Castle with valley views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike along the Mosel river with Adventure Host
- Visit former Deutsche Bundesbank bunker with underground vault
- Guided Walk of Cochem with half-timbered houses
- Visit Reichsburg Castle with bird's-eye-view of Moselle Valley
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Eltz Castle
Landmarks Eltz Castle Reichsburg Castle Deutsche Bundesbank Bunker - Day 5
Trier
In Trier, Germany's oldest city, you'll walk with your Adventure Host or join a guided sightseeing tour starting from Porta Nigra through the city center. Alternatively, take a history-focused Roman Trier tour to learn about Roman civilization, see the ruins of a 20,000-seat amphitheater, and visit the imperial baths. Guided optional excursions are available this afternoon, and live entertainment happens onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk in and around Trier with Adventure Host
- Guided Sightseeing tour of Trier from Porta Nigra through city center
- History-focused Roman Trier Guided Tour with amphitheater and imperial baths ruins
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions (specific options not detailed in itinerary)
Landmarks Porta Nigra Trier Amphitheater Imperial Baths of Trier - Day 6
Bernkastel
The charming wine village of Bernkastel is your destination. You can bike along the Mosel river with your Adventure Host or take a guided walking tour to see the medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses. This afternoon, select a guided optional excursion to a local winery where you'll participate in a wine tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike along the Mosel river with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Bernkastel wine village with medieval marketplace and 17th-century gabled timber-framed houses
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to local winery for wine tasting
Landmarks Bernkastel - Day 7
Koblenz to Rüdesheim
Koblenz offers fortress walls and manor halls to explore. Bike around the Mosel side with your Adventure Host, take a guided city walk through ancient fortress walls and monuments, or visit Sayn Manor House on a guided tour. Later, you'll cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge on your way to the wine village of Rüdesheim, where you'll have free time this evening to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike exploration of Koblenz's Mosel side with Adventure Host
- Guided City Walk of Koblenz amid fortress walls, towers, squares and monuments
- Guided Tour of Sayn Manor House
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Sayn Manor House - Day 8
Ludwigshafen via Heidelberg and Speyer
In Heidelberg, walk the Philosophers' Way with your Adventure Host, explore Schwetzingen Palace and its gardens, or tour Heidelberg Castle to see its renaissance ruins and the Great Vat, the world's largest wine barrel. A short sail brings you to Speyer in the afternoon where you'll have free time to explore before continuing on to Strasbourg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk in Heidelberg on the Philosophers' Way with Adventure Host
- Discover Schwetzingen Palace, palace gardens, and historic palace square
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with ruins and Great Vat
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Speyer at own pace
Landmarks Philosophers' Way Schwetzingen Palace Heidelberg Castle - Day 9
Strasbourg to Breisach
Strasbourg features a grand cathedral and the charming La Petite France district. Bike around the city with your Adventure Host or take a city sightseeing tour showcasing the Gothic cathedral with its stained-glass windows, ancient murals, and astronomical clock, plus the La Petite France neighborhood. This afternoon, choose from guided optional excursions or take free time to visit a museum or walk through the city center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bike exploration of Strasbourg with Adventure Host
- City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral with stained-glass, murals, astronomical clock and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursions (specific options not detailed in itinerary)
- Visit museums or stroll city center (free time activity)
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral La Petite France - Day 10
Breisach to Basel
You have two main options for a full day. Join a guided tour to the Black Forest to visit the Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, or visit a local winery in Breisach to learn about German winemaking and enjoy wine tasting. There's also an optional guided excursion available to the charming village of Colmar with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest with Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration
- Visit local winery in Breisach with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to charming village of Colmar in the morning
Landmarks Black Forest Vogtsbauernhof Colmar - Day 11
Basel
Your river cruise ends this morning after breakfast. You'll disembark and arrange your departure from either Basel or Zurich airport. Keep in mind that flights shouldn't leave Zurich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am.
- Meals
- Breakfast
