This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
River cruises are a relaxed, informal way to travel - there are fewer passengers on board compared to an ocean cruise, which means ample opportunity to make lifelong friends. You will pass through the world's most loved cities and towns; disembark and enjoy a shore excursion or two, or simply wander around and explore on your own.
✓ Travel with Collette Tours
✓ Glide along the enchanting Rhine and Moselle rivers
✓ Leisurely journey to the Netherlands, Germany and France
✓ Join a local expert for a tour of Amsterdam
✓ Spend the afternoon in Cochem and sip wine in one of its famous cellars
✓ Tour the 2,000-year-old city of Koblenz
✓ Pause in Rüdesheim to explore the famous Siegfried’s Mechaniches Musikkabinett
✓ Enjoy a guided tour of Strasbourg
✓ Cruise the charming panoramas and know the culture and deep history of the region
✓ 8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 8 Dinners
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Discover a dramatic waterway where winding valleys give way to riverside cities and Alpine hamlets. Venture along the Rhine and Moselle and spend time in beloved European cities, getting a taste of the local culture in each stop along the way. Your tour opens in Amsterdam, a city of narrow canals and stone bridges, where you will board your ship. Your home for the next seven nights, this ship offers an array of amenities including outside staterooms, unlimited wine with every dinner, and daily onboard musical performances.
This evening, meet in the lounge for a cocktail reception followed by a welcome aboard dinner.
Embark on a tour of Amsterdam with a local expert before seeing the city from a different perspective, voyaging along the city’s centuries-old canal system. Sail by charming cafés and famous 16th-century row houses stacked side-by-side.
In the evening, relax as your ship departs the Netherlands and makes its way to Germany.
As the sun rises, glide along the Rhine River and pass through the picturesque German landscapes dotted with medieval towns. Your journey brings you to Cologne, where you will join a guide for a walking tour of the city’s Gothic Old Town. Wander along cobblestone streets and admire the Cologne Cathedral, the Roman Dionysus mosaic, and the Romanesque church of St. Martin.
Cross into the Moselle River to Cochem, a storybook town overlooking the water. Embark on a guided tour through the town and into Reichsburg Castle, a fortress perched high above the surrounding area. End your tour in one of Cochem’s wine cellars, introducing you to the culture with a local winemaker and a tasting of regional Mosel wines.
Continue on to Koblenz and get to know this 2,000-year-old city on a walking tour. See how the city has been reborn after WWII, which took a heavy toll on the main structures. You’ll pass through the renovated old town and see Schaengel Fountain. Your next stop is Rüdesheim, which you’ll explore with an expert guide. Visit the city’s famous Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett (Mechanical Music Museum) and hear the traditional music of barrel organs and medieval instruments.
The river takes you to Mannheim where you will have free time to explore this German city and its parks on your own. Perhaps you will join an optional excursion to Heidelberg, an ancient city of Renaissance buildings and castle ramparts.
Later, sail to Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, and step back in time on a walking tour to explore the Old Gate and the Jewish baths. End your day at the Captain's Gala Dinner – a lively celebration of food, music and entertainment.
Cross the French border and experience Strasbourg, a fairytale town that blends centuries of international influences to create its own unique culture. On a guided tour of the old quarter, Petite France, take in the iconic timber-framed houses, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Place de la République. Make the most of some free time to explore this perfectly preserved town before returning to your ship.
Disembark your ship and travel to Lucerne, the “Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” On a leisurely paced Alstadt (Old Town) walking tour, see the hidden treasures of this 800-year-old city, including the covered Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before ending your day in Zurich.
Wish the river valleys goodbye as your tour comes to a close today.
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
Please follow the 'book now' prompts and select 1 passenger to view the single supplement cost
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Tour Type - Independant
On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible. The choice is yours.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
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