16 days · 5 countries
Rhine River Cruise, Switzerland & Paris Touring
From AED 27,980per person, twin share
A seven-day Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, then a private coach tour through Switzerland, France and the Netherlands, sixteen days in all.
- Duration
- 16 Days / 15 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Amsterdam
- 5 countries on this tour
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Switzerland
- France
- Belgium
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- Moderate: a relaxed river cruise gives way to longer coach-touring days through Switzerland, Burgundy and Paris, with plenty of walking and two free days built in
- Accommodation
- 4-star hotels in Amsterdam, Switzerland, Burgundy and Paris (8 nights in total), plus 7 nights aboard the MS Symphonie river ship between Amsterdam and Basel
- Meals
- 15 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 11 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- Tour leader throughout, plus local guides in Lucerne and Breisach
- Transport
- Cruise Ship, Air-conditioned Coach
- Best time to go
- Runs in August: peak summer across the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium, warm throughout with occasional rain along the rivers
Tour overview
This tour combines two ways to see Europe: by river and by land. The Rhine River cruise starts in Amsterdam, with a visit to Zaanse Schans, and continues through Germany and Switzerland, calling at Nijmegen, Mainz and Strasbourg, with the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge on the way and a stop at Breisach, with fine scenery past German and French villages. Then a private coach tour runs from Switzerland into France. You explore Lucerne, have lunch and wine in Lavaux, visit the Basilica of Sainte‑Madeleine and historic Fontainebleau, and see the highlights of Paris, the Eiffel Tower among them, before touring Ghent and ending in Amsterdam.
Highlights
- A welcome dinner in Amsterdam
- The working windmills at Zaanse Schans
- A demonstration of cheese-making and clog-carving on a traditional Dutch farm
- Lunch in the traditional Dutch fishing village of Volendam
- The UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley
- A French wine tasting on board
- Gala Dinner aboard the ship
- A guided tour of Breisach
Show all 22 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- A taste of authentic Swiss chocolate
- Zurich on an orientation walk
- A premium Swiss dinner in Zurich
- Lucerne on foot with a guide
- Harder Kulm, the Top of Interlaken
- Wine tasting and lunch at Lavaux
- The medieval streets of Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital
- The Basilica of Sainte-Madeleine, a UNESCO-listed church
- The Renaissance palace of Fontainebleau
- Paris on a driving tour
- A dinner of French classics in central Paris
- Ghent on a short orientation walk
- The Kinderdijk windmills
- A farewell dinner in Amsterdam
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Amsterdam
1 night · Day 1
Tribe Amsterdam City
River cruise
7 nights · Days 2–8
MS Symphonie
Nijmegen
Day 4 · on the way
Cologne
Day 5 · on the way
Koblenz
Day 5 · on the way
Mainz
Day 6 · on the way
Strasbourg
Day 7 · on the way
Breisach
Day 8 · on the way
Show all 15 stopsShow fewer stops
Basel
Day 9 · on the way
Zurich
1 night · Day 9
Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Lucerne
Day 10 · on the way
Interlaken
2 nights · Days 10–11
Hotel Krebs Interlaken
Burgundy
1 night · Day 12
Hôtel Mercure Beaune Centre
Paris
2 nights · Days 13–14
Appart'City Collection Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard
Amsterdam
1 night · Day 15
Tribe Amsterdam City
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Amsterdam
Dinner includedAmsterdam marks the start of the tour. At the hotel, your tour leader and the rest of the group gather for a short rundown of the days ahead, before everyone settles in. A dinner of traditional Dutch cooking rounds off the evening.
Included
- Welcome dinner in Amsterdam
- Overnight
- Amsterdam
- Hotel
- Tribe Amsterdam City
Day 2
Amsterdam
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedBreakfast comes first, then the route heads to Zaanse Schans, home to its well-known Dutch windmills and a village that keeps to tradition. From there, a Dutch farm shows how cheese and clogs are made. Lunch is included at Volendam’s waterfront before the transfer to the pier, where you board the Rhine River Cruise ship. Cocktails and dinner on board mark the evening.
Included
- Visit the windmills and village at Zaanse Schans
- Cheese and clog-making demonstration at a Dutch farm
- Lunch in Volendam, a traditional fishing village
- Cocktails and dinner on board the ship tonight
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Zaanse Schans → Volendam by coach, then board the river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 3
Amsterdam
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedAmsterdam is today’s focus, whether that means a stroll through the Rijksmuseum Gardens or a cosy coffee spot somewhere in the city. There is also the optional Stroopwafel workshop and cheese tasting, and in the afternoon the optional Amsterdam Signature Experience, with a canal cruise through the Jordaan neighbourhood and a visit to the Heineken brewery.
Included
- Free time in Amsterdam
Optional extras
- A Taste of Amsterdam · AED 385 per person
- Amsterdam Signature Experience · AED 300 per person
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 4
Nijmegen
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedNijmegen greets you this morning, the oldest city in the Netherlands, with more than 2000 years of Roman history, medieval streets, the calm River Waal and reminders of WW2 still standing. The optional Nijmegen and Western Front Walking Tour takes in notable sites such as Operation Market Garden and the Waal Bridge, where American paratroopers came down in 1944. The ship continues on to Cologne this afternoon.
Included
- Free time in Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city
Optional extras
- Nijmegen & Western Front History Walk · AED 195 per person
- Travel
- Nijmegen → Cologne by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 5
Cologne – Koblenz
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Cologne comes into view from the deck this morning, with the option of stepping ashore for a walk up to Cologne Cathedral. The ship then continues through the Rhine Gorge by way of Koenigswinter, where the river narrows between hillsides lined with vineyards. Medieval castles and fortresses line the banks of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Koblenz is reached by evening.
Included
- Morning in Cologne, with views of the cathedral from the ship or a stroll ashore
- Sail through the Rhine Gorge, past medieval castles and vineyard-clad hills
- Travel
- Cologne → Koblenz by river ship, through the Rhine Gorge
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 6
Koblenz – Mainz
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The morning sailing takes in the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, with the Lorelei rock, terraces of vineyards and castles slipping past from the sun deck. Lunch on board follows, once the ship reaches Mainz, where the printing press was invented. In the afternoon, you can explore on your own or take the optional Gutenberg Museum tour, which also takes in Mainz Cathedral, the Chagall windows and the Old Town. Dancing follows dinner this evening as the ship continues towards Strasbourg.
Included
- Sail through the Rhine Valley, past the Lorelei rock and terraced vineyards
- Free time in Mainz, birthplace of the printing press
- Dancing on board after dinner
Optional extras
- Historic Mainz & Gutenberg Museum · AED 215 per person
- Travel
- Koblenz → Mainz by river ship, towards Strasbourg
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 7
Mainz – Strasbourg
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedStrasbourg comes into view today, a unique Franco-German city that is yours to explore at your own pace, or you can join the optional Strasbourg City Tour and Canal Boat Cruise. It takes in the Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral, the grandeur of Place de la République and a waterside view of the Petite France quarter. A French wine tasting on board rounds off the sailing. This evening, the Gala Dinner on board marks a particular highlight of the cruise.
Included
- Free time in Strasbourg, at your own pace
- French wine tasting on board as you sail
- Gala dinner on board
Optional extras
- Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise · AED 235 per person
- Travel
- Mainz → Strasbourg by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 8
Strasbourg – Breisach
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedThe morning is yours to spend taking in Breisach, or you can book the optional excursion to Colmar, known as “Little Venice” for its network of canals. In the afternoon, a guided walking tour of Breisach passes the hillside vineyards of Eckartsberg and the Radbrunnturm, a medieval tower built around a wheel well. Tonight is the last night on board the cruise ship.
Included
- Morning in Breisach
- Guided walking tour of Breisach, including the Eckartsberg vineyards and the Radbrunnturm tower
Optional extras
- Renaissance Route in “Little Venice” · AED 170 per person
- Travel
- Strasbourg → Breisach by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 9
Basel – Zurich
Breakfast and dinner includedBasel is where you disembark today, and where the next stage of the journey begins. A Swiss chocolate tasting comes first, before the route continues to Zurich, the base for tonight. Once there, free time lets you explore and pick up lunch before a walking tour orients you around the city. This evening’s dinner is a taste of Swiss classics, served at a restaurant in town.
Included
- Swiss chocolate tasting
- Orientation walk through Zurich’s Old Town
- Dinner of Swiss classics at a local restaurant
- Travel
- Disembark in Basel, then Zurich by coach
- Overnight
- Zurich
- Hotel
- Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Day 10
Lucerne – Interlaken
Breakfast included
After breakfast, the day continues on to Lucerne for a guided look around the city. Afterwards, there’s time to continue at your own pace, or you can choose the optional Lucerne Lake Cruise excursion, with lunch out on the water. From there, the route continues to Interlaken, where the funicular climbs to Harder Kulm for views across the Swiss Alps. The evening is left free, to spend however you like.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Lucerne, including the Chapel Bridge and the Musegg Wall
- Funicular ride to Harder Kulm, for views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
Optional extras
- Lucerne Lake Cruise With Lunch · AED 470 per person
- Travel
- Zurich → Lucerne → Interlaken by coach
- Overnight
- Interlaken
- Hotel
- Hotel Krebs Interlaken
Day 11
Interlaken: Free Day
Breakfast included
The day is free in Interlaken, whether that means relaxing in Höhematte Park or a walk by the shores of Lake Thun. As an alternative, the optional Jungfraujoch excursion carries you on the Jungfrau Railway up to the “Top of Europe”, for views over glaciers and snow-capped peaks. Tonight, you can choose the optional Alpine Dinner Experience for a taste of traditional cuisine, or find your own spot for dinner.
Included
- Free day in Interlaken, at your own pace
Optional extras
- Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe · AED 960 per person
- Alpine Dinner Experience · AED 215 per person
- Overnight
- Interlaken
- Hotel
- Hotel Krebs Interlaken
Day 12
Lake Geneva & Burgundy
Breakfast and lunch includedThe Swiss countryside leads to the Lavaux Vineyards, a UNESCO-listed stretch where a wine tasting comes with a light lunch. From there, it’s on to France and the town of Beaune, known for medieval streets and a heritage of Burgundy wine. An orientation walk is followed by free time to explore the town, with dinner left to your own leisure before checking into the hotel for the night.
Included
- Wine tasting and lunch at the Lavaux vineyards, overlooking Lake Geneva
- Orientation walk in Beaune, wine capital of Burgundy
- Free time in Beaune
- Travel
- Interlaken → Lavaux → Beaune by coach
- Overnight
- Burgundy
- Hotel
- Hôtel Mercure Beaune Centre
Day 13
Paris
Breakfast and dinner includedParis is today’s destination, reached by way of Vézelay’s countryside village, home to the UNESCO-listed Basilica of Sainte-Madeleine, where the Camino de Santiago also begins. From there, the grandeur of Fontainebleau comes next, its palace and surrounding forest, before the final approach into Paris. A scenic driving tour around the city follows, with dinner included this evening.
Included
- Stop at the Basilica of Sainte-Madeleine in Vézelay
- Stop at the Château de Fontainebleau
- Driving tour of Paris, past the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe
- French dinner in Paris
- Travel
- Beaune → Paris by coach, via Vézelay and Fontainebleau
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- Appart'City Collection Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard
Day 14
Paris: Free Day
Breakfast included
Paris belongs to you today, whether that means a stroll through parks and museums or a stop for coffee and croissants. Alternatively, the optional Elegant Paris excursion takes in a demonstration of perfume, the Palais Garnier opera house and a lunch with views over the Seine. This evening, there is also the optional Montmartre tour: a guided walk, a ride on the funicular, a visit to the museum, and a traditional French dinner to finish.
Included
- Free day in Paris, at your own pace
Optional extras
- Elegant Paris · AED 595 per person
- Montmartre: The Heart of Bohemian Paris · AED 450 per person
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- Appart'City Collection Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard
Day 15
Paris – Amsterdam
Breakfast and dinner includedThe route leaves France for the Netherlands, with a stop in the Belgian city of Ghent for an orientation tour, with free time afterwards. From there, it continues to Kinderdijk, for photos of the windmills, a familiar Dutch symbol. Amsterdam is reached by evening, with a farewell dinner marking the last night of the tour.
Included
- Orientation walk in Ghent
- Photo stop at the Kinderdijk windmills
- Farewell dinner in Amsterdam
- Travel
- Paris → Ghent → Kinderdijk → Amsterdam by coach
- Overnight
- Amsterdam
- Hotel
- Tribe Amsterdam City
Day 16
End of Tour in Amsterdam
Breakfast includedAfter a last breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and exchange contact details with new travel companions before heading home, or to stay on a little longer in Amsterdam. The open-air stalls of Albert Cuyp Market are worth a browse, and there is time for lunch and a few last photos around Utrechtsestraat.
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room.
Thu 26 Aug – Fri 10 Sept 2027
Available
AED 27,980
What’s included
Included
- 15 nights in 4-star hotels and on board the cruise ship
- 15 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners
- The cruise ship and an air-conditioned coach
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
A Taste of Amsterdam
Day 3AED 385per personA stroopwafel-making workshop using a 200-year-old recipe, followed by a Dutch cheese tasting with five different flavours. €90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryAmsterdam Signature Experience
Day 3AED 300per personA tour and tasting at the Heineken brewery, followed by a canal cruise through Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighbourhood. €70, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryNijmegen & Western Front History Walk
Day 4AED 195per personA guided walk through Nijmegen’s history: the Waal Bridge, where American paratroopers came down in 1944, then St Stephen’s Church and the medieval old town. €45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryHistoric Mainz & Gutenberg Museum
Day 6AED 215per personA guided visit to Mainz’s old town and cathedral quarter, and the Gutenberg Museum, home to two original Gutenberg Bibles and reconstructed printing presses. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryStrasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise
Day 7AED 235per personA guided walk through Strasbourg’s UNESCO-listed old town, past the cathedral and the Petite France quarter, then a canal cruise for a view of the city from the water. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itineraryRenaissance Route in “Little Venice”
Day 8AED 170per personA walk through Colmar’s preserved Renaissance streets and half-timbered houses in the Petite Venise quarter, with its connection to the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. €40, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 8 in the itineraryLucerne Lake Cruise With Lunch
Day 10AED 470per personA scenic boat cruise on Lake Lucerne, with views of the surrounding mountains and lunch served on board. €110, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 10 in the itineraryJungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe
Day 11AED 960per personThe Eiger Express cable car up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres, with views over the Aletsch Glacier and a visit to the ice palace. €225, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 11 in the itineraryAlpine Dinner Experience
Day 11AED 215per personA Swiss evening built around a cheese fondue starter, a hearty main and something sweet to finish. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 11 in the itineraryElegant Paris
Day 14AED 595per personA visit to the Fragonard perfume museum, a tour of the Palais Garnier opera house, and a lunch cruise along the Seine. €140. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 14 in the itineraryMontmartre: The Heart of Bohemian Paris
Day 14AED 450per personA ride on the Montmartre funicular, a guided visit to the Montmartre Museum, a walk through the neighbourhood’s streets and dinner to finish. €105. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 14 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium are all in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers the whole tour, river cruise included.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa, applied for in the country where you spend the most nights: our visa team works out which one for your dates. You can apply up to six months before you travel, and appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, and have been issued within the last ten years. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to Amsterdam before Day 1 and home from Amsterdam after Day 16 aren’t included.
Day 1 starts at the hotel in Amsterdam at 3pm, where you meet your tour leader and the rest of the group. The tour ends back in Amsterdam on Day 16 after breakfast, with no further activities planned. The river cruise and all coach travel between destinations are included.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
15 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners are included across the cruise and the touring: lunch in Volendam, the welcome cocktails and dinner as you board, the gala dinner in Strasbourg, Swiss classics in Zurich, and the farewell dinner in Amsterdam among them.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc; the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium all use the euro. A card with no foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to cover both.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
The tour runs in August: warm summer weather across the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium, with occasional rain along the rivers.
Pack comfortable shoes for the walking in Lucerne, Beaune and Paris, light layers for the warm days, and a rain jacket for the cruise and the Alpine stop in Interlaken.
Free days and optional excursions
Two days are left free: Interlaken on Day 11 and Paris on Day 14. In Interlaken, the optional Jungfraujoch excursion reaches 3,454 metres, noticeably colder and brighter than the valley, so dress warmer than you think you need to if you book it. In Paris, the free day leaves room for an optional Montmartre or Elegant Paris excursion, or simply time of your own.
Your tour leader can tell you more about any of the optional extras before you decide.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Amsterdam and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Most days start with breakfast before the main sights. Some days include longer drives, which reach more places and leave plenty of time to explore each one at your own pace once you arrive. Expect a fair amount of walking, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 51 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Rhine River Cruise, Switzerland & Paris Touring?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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