Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
You'll arrive in Amsterdam and transfer directly to your river ship. Spend the day wandering through the city's famous canal network on your own schedule, taking in the architecture and atmosphere. By evening, you'll meet your Cruise Director and fellow passengers at a Welcome Reception on board.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam's canal network and city attractions
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Network 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
Board a glass-top boat this morning for a guided cruise through Amsterdam's 17th-century canals with a local guide, drifting past historic sights along the water. You'll have free time afterward to explore more of the city before the ship departs. Tonight features a special Welcome Dinner served on board.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Glass-top boat tour of Amsterdam's canals with local guide
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam city centre during free time
Landmarks Amsterdam Canal Network - Day 3
Brühl
The ship takes you into Cologne where you'll visit the cathedral with its twin spires. From there, travel to Brühl for a guided tour of Augustusburg Palace, an 18th-century rococo building with beautiful landscaped parks surrounding it. Later, return to Cologne so you can wander the city centre at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Augustusburg Palace in Brühl, including landscaped parks and Falkenlust hunting lodge
Optional Activities
- Explore Cologne city centre during free time
- Visit Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
Landmarks Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) Augustusburg Palace Falkenlust Hunting Lodge 
- Day 4
Cochem
Cruise through the scenic Moselle River valley, one of Europe's prettier stretches. You'll dock in Cochem and take a walking tour through narrow alleyways with half-timbered houses. After that, visit Cochem Castle sitting on a hilltop overlooking the river.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cochem
- Visit to Cochem Castle
Landmarks Cochem Castle - Day 5
Rüdesheim
The Rhine Gorge is one of the most beautiful sections of the river, and you'll cruise through it today. You'll dock in Rüdesheim and ride the Winzerexpress mini road train through town to reach Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Then wander the Old Town and check out the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas store for decorations and gifts.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Ride on Winzerexpress mini road train
- Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Optional Activities
- Wander through Rüdesheim Old Town
- Visit Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas store
Landmarks Rhine Gorge (Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site) Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum 
- Day 6
Strasbourg
You'll arrive in Strasbourg, which sits on the border between France and Germany. A guided walking tour takes you through the medieval old town to see the cathedral and try local cheeses and sweets. Back on the river ship, you'll have a Farewell Dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell Dinner on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Strasbourg old town
- Food tasting including local cheeses and sweets
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral 
- Day 7
Breisach to Triberg
After disembarking in Breisach, you'll travel by coach through the Black Forest region. Lush pine and birch forests cover the mountainsides as you drive toward the village of Triberg.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (aboard your Travelmarvel river ship)
Included Activities
- Coach journey through Black Forest region
Optional Activities
- Explore Triberg village
Landmarks Black Forest - Day 8
Basel
You'll leave the river ship after breakfast and transfer to your hotel in Basel. This evening, you'll meet your Great Rail Journeys Tour Escort and other travellers at a Welcome Dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome Dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Schweizerhof or similar)
- Day 9
Basel to Giessbach
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll travel to the train station and head to Interlaken by scenic rail. From there, the Giessbach funicular railway takes you up the mountainside to your mountaintop hotel, with views of turquoise Lake Brienz, lakeside towns, and mountain reflections below.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grandhotel Giessbach)
Included Activities
- Train journey from Basel to Interlaken
- Giessbach funicular railway to mountaintop hotel
Landmarks Lake Brienz 
- Day 10
Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway
You'll board the steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway from Brienz and climb through dramatic mountain landscapes with Lake Brienz shimmering in the distance. As the train climbs higher, the scenery gets greener and jagged peaks come into view. At over 2,000 metres, you'll reach Rothorn summit and have free time to explore before taking the train back down to Giessbach.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grandhotel Giessbach)
Included Activities
- Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway steam train journey to Rothorn summit
Optional Activities
- Explore Rothorn peak at leisure
Landmarks Rothorn - Day 11
Glacier Express to Engadine Valley
After breakfast, you'll travel by coach to Spiez and then by rail to Brig where the Glacier Express waits. Lunch is served in the railcars as you travel through tunnels and across bridges and viaducts, climbing over 1,800 metres at the Oberalp Pass using cogwheels to handle the steep grade. You'll finish the day in the Engadine Valley and check into your hotel surrounded by meadows and mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served in rail cars during Glacier Express journey)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (St Moritz)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Giessbach to Spiez
- Train journey from Spiez to Brig
- Glacier Express train journey with lunch on board
Landmarks Oberalp Pass - Day 12
Bernina Express to Tirano
You'll travel on the Bernina Express, one of the highest railway lines in the Alps at over 2,000 metres altitude. Watch turquoise glacial lakes pass below as the train heads to Tirano in northern Italy. You'll have time to explore the town's old quarter at leisure before heading back to Switzerland in the afternoon.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (St Moritz)
Included Activities
- Bernina Express train journey from Engadine Valley to Tirano
Optional Activities
- Explore Tirano's old quarter and town at leisure
Landmarks Tirano - Day 13
Mount Pilatus Railway to Lucerne
Travel to Lucerne to board the Mount Pilatus Railway, the world's steepest cogwheel railway with gradients up to 48%. You'll ascend almost two kilometres from Alpnachstad to Pilatus-Kulm where your mountaintop hotel is located. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel and taking in the mountain views.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Pilatus Railway (cogwheel railway) journey to Pilatus-Kulm
Optional Activities
- Enjoy hotel amenities and mountain views
Landmarks Mount Pilatus 
- Day 14
Lucerne
After breakfast at your mountaintop hotel, you'll return to Lucerne for independent exploring. Visit Chapel Bridge, the city's most famous landmark spanning the Reuss River with 17th-century paintings inside telling Lucerne's history. Wander cobbled streets and visit churches at your own pace. This evening celebrates your trip with a Farewell Dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lucerne)
Optional Activities
- Visit Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
- Visit Lucerne churches
- Wander Lucerne's cobbled stone streets and explore independently
Landmarks Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) Reuss River - Day 15
Lucerne to Zurich
Your journey ends this morning. After breakfast, you'll transfer to Zurich airport by train.
- Meals
- Breakfast
