Great European Journey-By River and Rail

Great European Journey-By River and Rail

ALL TOURS
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DETAILS

Journey through the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, cruising the Moselle and Rhine rivers on this 10-night itinerary, which includes a 6‑night river cruise and 4 nights in the Swiss Alps—featuring the Matterhorn and Mount Pilatus. Ride aboard 3 legendary railways—the Gornegrat Bahn for views of the Matterhorn; the Glacier Express from Andermatt to Zermatt; and the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Also enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. Tom Moriarity is our Study Leader on the June 18th departure.

Pricing from
$4,315

Early booking SAVINGS up to $1,580!

Trip Type
Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages, International River Voyages
Departure Dates
Jun 18, 2024 - Jun 29, 2024
Jul 10, 2024 - Jul 21, 2024

SHIP

Amadeus Queen This meticulously crafted river boat, launched in 2018, features all the comforts of a refined hotel. Throughout your voyage, feel pampered by the professional crew who provide attentive service, and dine on expertly prepared, delectable cuisine. Relax in the bright, comfy lounges with large windows for admiring the scenery, and take a refreshing dip in the indoor pool fitted with a retractable roof. The 81 stylish staterooms and suites are among the most spacious of any European river boat (172 to 284 square feet). The suites include a private balcony, and select staterooms feature a floorto‑ceiling window that lowers automatically to French-balcony height. Accommodations have 2 twin beds or 1 queen bed, individual climate control, a sitting area, and a private bathroom with shower.

EXTENSIONS

AMSTERDAM OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Post-Program for June 18 Departure: June 29 to July 1, 2024 (Tour Ends: July 1)

Pre-Program for July 10 Departure: July 8 to 11, 2024 (Tour Begins: July 9)
Get acquainted with this captivating city graced with leafy canals and gabled houses on a 2-night extension at the deluxe DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. Enjoy a cruise along its delightful, 17th‑century waterways, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and view acclaimed art by the great Dutch Golden Age masters at the Rijksmuseum. Venture to Hoorn, a picturesque, 17th-century harbor town and key Dutch East India Company port, and soak up the inviting ambience and historic architecture of Edam, legendary for its tasty cheese.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $1,095
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $1,425

 

TRANSFER INFORMATION

Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS

  • Tom Moriarity

    Tom Moriarity

    Tom Moriarity is a nationally recognized preservationist and urban development specialist. Trained as an architect, Tom was one of the founders of the National Trust’s pioneering Main Street Program. As Managing Principal at Retail & Development Strategies LLC, Tom has been involved in major restoration and urban rehabilitation projects across the U.S. and the world. He will bring his expertise on architecture, architectural history, historic preservation and adaptive use that will help each traveler better understand the beauty and significance of the places we will visit.  Tom holds two degrees in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions applyAirport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

TOUR MAP

GreatJourney_1A-3A_2024_MAP_ZLA

ITINERARY

  • day 1

    Depart Home City

    Depart your home city (6/18 or 7/10) for an overnight flight. The 7/10 departure operates in reverse order.

  • day 2

    Geneva, Switzerland/ Täsch/Zermatt

    Arrive in Geneva and enjoy a panoramic drive to Täsch. Then, board a shuttle train that takes you up to Zermatt, a cozy, car-free, mountain resort town nestled near the Matterhorn at 5,276 feet. Check into the first‑class Hotel Alex and gather for a Welcome Reception, followed by dinner on your own.

  • day 3

    Gornergrat/Zermatt

    Today, revel in a ride aboard the Gornergrat Bahn, the world’s highest open-air cog railway. Ascend through pine and larch forests, take in picture-perfect views of the Matterhorn, and then alight at the Gornergrat, an alpine ridge at roughly 10,000 feet. Glorious, expansive vistas of snowcapped peaks await you! Enjoy free time and return to Zermatt at your own pace.

  • day 4

    Zermatt/Andermatt/ Lucerne

    Check out today and embark the celebrated Glacier Express. Settle in for a marvelous journey as you glide amid ever-changing panoramas of lush mountains, tranquil valleys, and sparkling lakes. Arrive in Andermatt and savor a delicious lunch. Head on to Lucerne and check into the deluxe Hotel Schweizerhof. Your evening is at leisure.

  • day 5

    Lucerne/ Mount Pilatus

    A compact city on Lake Lucerne and the Reuss River, Lucerne boasts wonderfully painted buildings, stately churches, and two medieval, covered wooden footbridges. On a walking tour, see the imposing Water Tower and the famous Chapel Bridge with an inner roof adorned with 17th-century paintings. Afterward, continue to majestic Mount Pilatus, a massif with numerous summits. Ride by cable car to one summit and then ascend in a gondola up to Pilatus Kulm at 6,795 feet. From this vantage point, gaze in all directions at spectacular vistas of Lake Lucerne, forested countryside, and if the weather is clear, dozens of alpine peaks. Relish free time and lunch at the mountaintop complex. On your descent, appreciate the scenery on the other side of the mountain aboard the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel train. Wrap up with a pleasant cruise across Lake Lucerne. This evening, make your own dinner plans.

  • day 6

    Lucerne/Basel/ Embark river boat

    Check out this morning and admire the scenery on the way to Basel, where you will enjoy a guided tour, lunch, and free time. Embark the Amadeus Queen and join the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner later tonight.

  • day 7

    Strasbourg, France

    Discover the medieval grandeur of Grand-Île, the historic center of Strasbourg and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during a walking tour. See the bridges and towers of the 13th-century Ponts Couverts, and meander past the many half-timbered houses in the canal-lined Petite France district, where tanners, millers, and fishermen once lived during the Middle Ages. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, an exquisitely ornamented Gothic beauty.

  • day 8

    Mannheim, Germany, for Heidelberg

    Dock in Mannheim and journey to romantic Heidelberg to visit the Renaissance-era ruins of its grand castle overlooking the picturesque Neckar Valley. Take a walking tour in the lively old town filled with Renaissance and baroque gems, such as the old bridge, Alte Brücke.

  • day 9

    Rüdesheim/Koblenz

    Arrive in the heart of Riesling wine country today. Take in the vineyards near Rüdesheim on a mini-train before sampling fine wines in town. Afterward, cruise through the enchanting Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dotted with some 40 castles, and see the fabled Lorelei Rock. Stop for a walking tour in lovely Koblenz, founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet.

  • day 10

    Cochem

    Sail through a splendid, narrow section of the Moselle River lined with colorful towns and tiered vineyards, then dock in charming Cochem. Delight in its half-timbered houses on a walking tour, and visit hilltop Reichsburg Castle, which offers stunning river views.

  • day 11

    Cologne

    One of Germany’s oldest cities, Cologne is renowned for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, Kölner Dom, built over a period of more than 630 years. Admire the old town’s top sites and the cathedral’s impressive exterior on a walking tour. Enjoy free time afterward and, if you’d like, go inside the cathedral to see the Shrine of the Three Kings, a gilded reliquary. This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.

  • day 12

    Amsterdam, Netherlands/ Disembark/Return to Home City

    After breakfast, disembark the ship in Amsterdam and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Everything you need to know about the tour

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