Start your Rhine River adventure with two magical nights in Zurich and two nights in Lucerne. Explore the unique landscapes Switzerland has to offer, then take a 7-night cruise from Basel to the historic city of Amsterdam. Enjoy a walking tour of Breisach, Germany. Visit Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its cathedral, numerous churches, and the medieval Altpörtel (Old Gate). Join a exclusive gondola ride above Rüdesheim to see the Niederwalddenkmal Statue followed by wine tasting with a local vintner, and a guided hike through the town and surrounding vineyards.
Highlights
Enjoy a city tour of the historic Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city
Walk along Lucerne’s famous cobblestone streets and colorful buildings
Discover the iconic red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and Great Vat
Admire Amsterdam's beauty and explore the city’s most notable sights
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Zürich and check-in to your hotel. The balance of the day is free to start exploring this beautiful city.
Day 2: Zurich, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, seamlessly blends its historic past with its progressive future, which comes to life on your city tour. See Grossmünster Abbey; St. Peter, which boasts the world’s largest church clock face; Old Town and Town Hall.
Day 3: Lucerne, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Depart Zurich for a scenic drive to Vitznau on Lake Lucerne. Admire the spectacular scenery during a lake cruise that takes you to Lucerne. Enjoy free time for lunch followed by a walking tour before being transferred to your hotel.
Day 4: Lucerne, Switzerland
1 Breakfast
Spend the day at leisure taking in Lucerne's picture-postcard beauty. Explore the city’s well-preserved Old Town with its candy-colored houses, architectural treasures and ancient covered wooden bridge.
Visit the iconic Lion Monument before transferring to Basel where you enjoy some free time for lunch before embarking on your ship.
Wine-themed Cruise:
Visit the iconic Lion Monument before transferring to Basel where you enjoy some free time for lunch before embarking on your ship. Later in the evening, enjoy a welcome aboard wine toast.
Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. Alternatively, you may wish to go to Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.”
Wine-themed Cruise:
Step back in time with a visit to the enchanting Alsatian town of Riquewihr, which looks almost the same as it did in the 16th century. On your walking tour, admire historic architecture as well as famous sights, such as the Dolder Gate. While there, enjoy a visit to a winery for a tasting of locally produced Alsatian wines. Alternatively, you may wish to go to Freiburg, founded in 1120 and home to the Freiburg’s Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth.” Visit a winery where you have the opportunity to taste their locally produced wines, and then continue on with a walking tour.
One of the most enchanting cities in Europe and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Grand Île, Strasbourg is a captivating destination. Discover its many treasures with a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République. Walk through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Prefer to enjoy the city more actively, then join a guided bike tour, which also takes you through the Parc de l’Orangerie.
Wine-themed Cruise:
One of the most enchanting cities in Europe and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Grand Île, Strasbourg is a captivating destination. Discover its many treasures with a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l’Orangerie, the European Parliament and the Place de la République. Walk through its iconic “La Petite France” district, which appears to have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Prefer to enjoy the city more actively, then join a guided bike tour, which also takes you through the Parc de l’Orangerie. Later in the afternoon, be treated to a special Alsatian wine tasting of some of the region’s most delicious and notable wine. Discover how the Vosges Mountains provide the Alsace with ideal winemaking conditions, and as such, Alsatian wines are not only delightful on the palate, but they’re also highly praised for their fragrant aromas, ranging from bright and fruity to crisp and spicy.
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 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. Later in the day, set sail to Rüdesheim, where you have the opportunity to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or enjoy a tasting of Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy.
Day 9: Rüdesheim | Rhine Castles | Koblenz, Germany
Spend the morning in Rüdesheim and enjoy a tasting of Riesling wines after a lovely gondola ride soaring high above the vineyards en route to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue. Alternatively, opt for a hike that takes you through the vineyards to Ehrenfels Castle, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Rhine. A third choice is cycling along the Rhine and through this scenic town. Later in the day, the ship sails through the enchanting UNESCO-designated Rhine Gorge, the most stunningly beautiful stretch of the river before reaching Koblenz, where you can enjoy a guided walk through the lovely Old Town.
Home to one of Germany’s most revered Gothic masterpieces, the Cologne Cathedral, this 2,000 year-old city is also a bustling cosmopolitan hotspot. 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. Alternatively, ride a bike along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten. Or visit a local tavern to taste Kölsch beer and Reibekuchen—potato pancakes served with apple sauce.
Eclectic Amsterdam boasts amazing history, art, architecture, and museums, and you have three choices as to how you wish to explore it. The famous canals of Amsterdam await discovery on your city tour beginning with a scenic canal cruise followed by a walk to Begijnhof, known for its Middle Age buildings. For a different view of the city, you can join the Jordaan District walking tour or the Jewish Heritage tour. The Jordaan District tour begins at the Westerchurch and takes you past the Noordermarkt, the Karthuizerhof and the “9 streets”; afterwards, stop in a local café for a hot beverage and Dutch apple pie. The Jewish Heritage tour begins with a visit to the 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Museum chronicling the history of the Jews in Amsterdam.
Day 12: Amsterdam, Netherlands | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Bid Farewell to Amsterdam and prepare for your homeward flight.
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Category E
Piano Deck. Fixed Windows, 148 sq. ft.
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Category D
Piano Deck. Fixed Windows, 148 sq. ft.
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Category C
Violin & Cello Deck. French Balcony, 170 sq. ft.
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Category BB
Cello Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
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Category BA
Violin Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 210 sq. ft.
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Category AB
Cello Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
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Category AA
Violin Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 235 sq. ft.
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Category AA+
French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 290 sq. ft.
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Suite
Violin Deck. French Balcony & Outside Balcony, 350 sq. ft.
Notes
Single supplement is 50%, except for Suites which are 100%.
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.