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About this tour

The centerpiece of this vacation is a leisurely-paced cruise of the Rhine River. After winding past Holland's picturesque countryside, cruise through the medieval villages and towns, past breathtaking castles and hillside vineyards of Germany's romantic Rhine region with stops in Cologne, Konigswinter, Rudeshiem and Heidelberg. Following your lovely Rhine River cruise, disembark in Strasbourg and enjoy a leisurely walking tour of "Petite France" the city's Old Quarter and see the city's masterpiece, the stunning Cathedral of Notre Dame. Then you're off to travel along the Alsace Wine Route where sunshine, dry weather and fertile soil combine to produce seven varieties of wine including Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer. Other highlights include a river boat ride through the winding water canals of Amsterdam and a lesson on the art of cheese-making at a Volendam cheese factory. You'll explore Cologne's historic old town and Hohe-Strasse, a true shopper's paradise. A leisurely-paced walking tour of Lucerne highlights such medieval treasures as the Lion Monument, the covered Chapel Bridge, and the famous Water Tower. A visit to the Bernese Oberland Mountain range in the heart of Switzerland sets the stage for incredible views of the Alps.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 0: Overnight Flight

Begin your Rhine River Cruise with an overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Day 1: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Tour Begins - Board Ship

Your tour begins in Amsterdam, land of waterways and bicycles. Board your cruise ship this afternoon, followed by welcome cocktails and dinner on board. This evening take a river boat ride through the romantic winding water canals of Amsterdam.

Day 2: Amsterdam - Volendam

After breakfast you may wish to explore the many beautiful streets of Amsterdam. This afternoon you will discover the quaint town of Volendam. While here you will visit a cheese factory and learn the careful art of cheese making. On your journey back to the cruise, you will pass by many beautiful windmills.

Day 3: Amsterdam - Nijmegen - Krefeld, Germany

LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Your cruise continues through the picturesque Dutch countryside to Nijmegen. Later in the day, you sail into Germany and dock in Krefeld.

Day 4: Krefeld - Cologne - Konigswinter

The romantic scenery of the Rhine River unfolds as you cruise past the provincial capital of Dusseldorf and the medieval town of Zons. Mid-afternoon, you arrive in Cologne where you can explore the historic old town and Hohe-Strasse, a true shopper's paradise. Next, cruise past Bonn, the old university town and birthplace of Beethoven, and arrive in Konigswinter, where you dock for the night.

Day 5: Konigswinter - Rüdesheim

After breakfast, cruise alongside Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the Moselle River. Continue along the most beautiful part of the Rhine, typified by breathtaking castles nestled in hillside vineyards, and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Your final destination for the day is lovely Rüdesheim. Upon arrival, the "Winzerexpress" mini-train takes you to Siegfried´s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum for a fascinating guided tour. Next, enjoy a stop at a local winery where you will sample some of the local varieties. Enjoy leisure time to explore the city's medieval houses, or visit the famous Drosselgasse, renowned for its dance halls and bands.

Day 6: Rüdesheim - Speyer*

Sit back and relax as you enjoy a leisurely day cruising the upper Rhine, passing breathtaking scenery and charming towns. After lunch you will arrive in historic Heidelberg and enjoy a sightseeing tour of this beautiful city. After docking in Speyer, you are invited to the "Captain's evening."

Day 7: Speyer - Strasbourg, France - Disembark Ship - Colmar, France

Your cruise continues through Gambsheim and Iffezheim, two of the largest locks of the Rhine. Your journey leads you to the fascinating city of Strasbourg, where your river cruise ends. After disembarkation, enjoy a leisurely walking tour featuring the Old Quarter, known as "Petite France," and the stunning Cathedral of Notre Dame.

Day 8: Colmar - Alsace Wine Route

Today you visit charming villages of the Alsace wine route. First is the well-preserved medieval town of Riquewihr, filled with vintners’ houses dating back to the 15th century. Your next stop is Kaysersberg, a village offering historic houses and castles, as well as a 16th century fortified bridge. Tonight join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable trip.

Day 9: Colmar - Tour Ends

Your tour ends in Colmar this morning.

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About ColletteVacations

A step above your mid-range tour programs, offering hotels with better locations and more included sightseeing.

Traveler profile

Caters mainly to couples of 55+, younger travelers or single travelers may feel like the tour is moving too slowly.

Group size

Collette offers Explorations by Collette tours, which are only 16-24 guests, significantly less than their regular average tour group size.

Tour directors

Collette prides themselves on quality of their guides. Most if not all are full time employees, not independents that come and go. Guides generally have 2-3 years experience (unlikely you'll get a new guide).

Hotel type

First Class & Luxury. Collette puts an emphasis on booking hotels with good locations.

What's included

Most city tours included. Many of the optional add-ons include meals.

Booking Policy

No Worries Protection Plan

We have the best cancellation waiver in the industry-period. You can cancel your trip up until the day prior to departure for any reason - sickness, change of heart or any reason whatsoever-and you will receive a full refund, minus the small cost of the insurance. That's a cash refund, not a voucher or certificate. There's no risk when you book with Collette.

Let's say you were planning to take our Italian Vistas tour for 13 days. The land-only waiver is just $170 per person. That breaks down to about $13.07 a day-just a little over eight euros! The land and air waiver is only $30 more. That's airplane peanuts compared to the peace of mind you'll enjoy.

Plus, you're covered on tour.
Our cancellation waiver and insurance plan covers you on tour. If you have to stop your trip or return home early, need medical assistance or evacuation, suffer a baggage loss or delay; or are delayed on tour for 12 hours or more, you're covered.

* Prices do not include taxes and fees, may not include airfare and are based on double occupancy. Tour information including pricing may not be up to date.

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