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GoldenPass & the Romantic Rhine

 
4.1 stars(7 reviews)
You are viewing the 2027 itinerary. Select your departure year
20262027
Duration
10 days
From per person
£3,399
Tour code
GPR27
Mobility Rating 2
View Dates & Pricing
View Dates & Pricing
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Discover the scenic route of the GoldenPass Express, staying in Interlaken between two peaceful lakes, and enjoy an enchanting cruise on the Rhine

Experience a holiday of a lifetime with an enchanting Rhine cruise followed by a rail journey on the GoldenPass Express. From the canals of Amsterdam, where historic landmarks meet modern charm, to the legendary Rhine Gorge, every moment is a cultural experience.

Luxury and comfort await on our Amadeus ship as we sail to Cologne, traditional towns like Rüdesheim and Heidelberg, and Strasbourg. Docking for the final time in Basel, the journey ends in the Swiss alpine destinations of Interlaken and Montreux, where the GoldenPass Express unveils Swiss majesty.

Unforgettable Experiences

Experiencing the iconic GoldenPass Express
Experiencing the iconic GoldenPass Express
Enjoy a beautiful journey in panoramic carriages direct from Interlaken through the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland to the lakeside resort of Montreux.
Sailing through the Rhine Gorge
Sailing through the Rhine Gorge
Drift through this UNESCO World Heritage site where spellbinding castles emerge, forests stretch as far as the eye can see, and vineyard-clad slopes cascade to the water's edge.
Exploring Heidelberg
Exploring Heidelberg
Visit the ‘Jewel of Germany’ on a guided tour, delving into the highlights of this riverside city as we stroll through the historic Altstadt and visit the imposing Heidelberg Castle.
Visiting Rüdesheim
Visiting Rüdesheim
Wander the city and its famous Drosselgasse, lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars, and choose between a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
Riding the Drachenfels Cog Railway
Riding the Drachenfels Cog Railway
Reach the summit of the Drachenfels hill on this historic route, winding gracefully up the verdant slopes as a sprawling panorama of the Rhine Valley gradually unfolds.

What’s included on the tour?

Itinerary

DAY1 Boarding our luxurious ship in Amsterdam

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.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2 Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

DAY3 Exploring the historic streets 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY4 Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY5 Through the magical Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY6 Discovering Heidelberg or Speyer

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY7 Strasbourg’s Black Forest or city tour

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional Excursions

DAY8 Into the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY9The GoldenPass Express to Montreux

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY10Homeward bound

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.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days before departure.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

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Trains & Ships

More information on the different trains and ships that are used on this tour.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Amara Cabin DS | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Suites - Upper Deck

Travel the rivers in the utmost comfort and style when you choose to stay in one of our incredible Deluxe Suites. These cabins are larger than the others on board, at 26.4 square metres, and come with additional touches that add just that extra touch of opulence, including private walk-out balconies and lounge areas.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Amara Cabin A1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Upper Deck

Discover the perfect balance of luxury and relaxation when you choose to stay in one of our Deluxe Staterooms. Offering 17.5 square metres, these cabins offer plenty of room to ensure a comfortable experience, with a drop-down panoramic window to take in the river views.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Amara Cabin B1 | Great Rail Journeys
Deluxe Stateroom - Middle Deck

Discover the perfect balance of luxury and relaxation when you choose to stay in one of our Deluxe Staterooms. Offering 17.5 square metres, these cabins offer plenty of room to ensure a comfortable experience, with a drop-down panoramic window to take in the river views.

Find out more
MS Amadeus Amara Cabin C1 | Great Rail Journeys
Classic Stateroom - Lower Deck

Designed with both style and practicality in mind, our 16 square metre Classic Staterooms offer a peaceful and well-equipped space for your journey, offering an inviting space to relax and unwind after an engaging day of cruising or excursions.

Find out more

Enhance your holiday

London Hotels

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.

Read more

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.

London hotels
UK rail connections

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.

Read more

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.

UK train tickets

Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 7 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (1)
  2. 4 stars
    (6)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Vandra Iles

5 stars

Submitted 31 Jul 2025

Fabulous holiday

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Vandra, Thank you for your review. Brilliant photos! I'm glad you had such a fabulous holiday. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

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Vandra Iles
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Wish to remain anonymous

4 stars

Submitted 08 Jul 2025

Good cruise shame about tours.

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Brian Martin

4 stars

Submitted 08 Jul 2025

The Rhine Cruise was excellent. The Golden Pass train was a disappointment.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Brian, Thank you for your review. I am glad that you enjoyed your cruise down the Rhine but it is regrettable that the GoldenPass train did not meet your expectations. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Georgina

4 stars

Submitted 03 Jul 2025

Fabulous train journey in Switzerland. Would have liked more time in places visited on the cruise

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Georgina, Thank you for your review. I am delighted that you enjoyed your holiday with us. We appreciate your feedback on how the itinerary of the cruise could be improved! Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Richard

4 stars

Submitted 11 Jun 2025

It's all a bit full on for our holiday tastes. A lot of early mornings for trips. Feel like you need another holiday after this to get over it.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr B Graham

4 stars

Submitted 10 Jun 2025

Too many early starts on day trips and to catch trains. Golden Pass seemed rushed as it was a hotel per day for 3 days. The cruise was excellent with a nice boat, friendly staff and good food and entertainment.

Collected by Trustpilot

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