Start this unique adventure in the vibrant city of Amsterdam and fall in love with its legendary canals and colorful surroundings. Visit the majestic Cologne Cathedral, the historic university town of Heidelberg, the Alsace region, and enjoy a walking tour of the lovely “La Petite France” neighborhood. Hike up the Philosopher's Path to a panoramic viewpoint of Heidelberg. Conclude your journey in beautiful Basel, Switzerland.
Highlights
Cruise through Amsterdam, known as the "Venice of the North"
Enjoy Cologne's old town & its majestic 13th-century Gothic cathedral
Bike along the Rhine River to one of Germany's best wine regions
Visit Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral constructed of red sandstone
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Get acquainted with Amsterdam on a scenic canal cruise, where you can see the beautiful wooden Skinny Bridge and Anne Frank's House. Continue on with a walk to the Begijnhof and be charmed by its Middle Age buildings followed by a city tour that includes the Royal Palace and Westerkerk. Later in the day, enjoy scenic cruising.
Enjoy cruising to Cologne, home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral. Join a guided tour through the enchanting Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral, where the remains of the fabled Three Kings—the Magi—are believed to rest. Continue on and discover the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, the Overstolzenhaus and the Festival Hall. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. Or visit a local tavern to taste Cologne’s traditional Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce.
Cruise through the captivating UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim. Set off on a walking tour through the vineyards and stop to sample wines at three different tasting stations. Or choose to drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue. For a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour along the scenic Rhine River. Later in the day, let Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum charm you with its remarkable collection of self-playing musical instruments; or taste one of the town’s special delights, Rüdesheimer Coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream.
Today choose between three excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany’s Castle Road. Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat, an 18th-century 49,000-gallon wine cask. For a more active adventure while in Heidelberg, join a guided hike up the Philosopher's Path, aptly named during the Romantic Period, and be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, you can visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Speyer, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the medieval Altpörtel, Old Gate.
Strasbourg, the capital city of Alsace, has flavors of both France and Germany because of its borderline location, which you can discover. Enjoy a panoramic bus tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République followed by a walking tour through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Observe the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. The active adventurer can join a guided bike tour, which also takes you through the Parc de l’Orangerie.
Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr. Having survived WWII without being badly damaged, this charming medieval hamlet looks much like it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture and surrounding vineyards as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” Those wishing a more active excursion can cycle through the countryside.
Day 8: Basel, Switzerland | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast and prepare for your return flight home.
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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
32 minutes ago
Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
1 day ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
2 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
2 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
3 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.