17 days · 8 countries
Zurich to Helsinki: Rhine River Cruise & Scandinavia Touring
From AED 26,790per person, twin share
A Rhine River cruise and a Scandinavia tour combined: Lake Lucerne, the Rhine Valley, Strasbourg and Nijmegen, then Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki.
- Duration
- 17 Days / 16 Nights
- Route
- Zurich → Helsinki
- 8 countries on this tour
- Switzerland
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Finland
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- Guided walks through cobbled old towns, free time on foot, and some long coach days in Scandinavia
- Accommodation
- 4-star hotels, 7 nights on the MS Symphonie river ship and a night on the overnight ferry to Helsinki
- Meals
- 16 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus guided city tours
- Transport
- Cruise Ship, Air-conditioned Coach, Overnight Ferry
- Best time to go
- Runs in early September: late summer on the Rhine, early autumn in Scandinavia
Tour overview
The trip opens in Switzerland, at Lake Lucerne, before the river cruise sets off from Basel along the Rhine River. Stops include Breisach, Strasbourg and Mainz, where the printing press was invented, and from the deck you see the Rhine Valley, listed by UNESCO. Historic Nijmegen, a WWII battle site, comes next. After leaving the ship in Amsterdam, a private coach tour crosses Scandinavia: Copenhagen, where bicycles outnumber cars, then Gothenburg, Oslo and Stockholm, with Scandinavian food to try along the way. The tour ends in Helsinki, Finland’s capital.
Highlights
- A cruise on the clear waters of Lake Lucerne
- Welcome cocktails and a dinner on board the ship
- The UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley
- Gala dinner aboard the ship
- A short orientation walk through Bremen
- A guided city tour of Hamburg
- Odense
- A driving and walking tour of Copenhagen
Show all 16 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- A short orientation walk through Gothenburg
- Norwegian dinner in Oslo
- A guided tour of Oslo
- A guided tour of Stockholm
- A Swedish dinner in Stockholm
- Dinner on the overnight ferry to Helsinki
- A guided tour of Helsinki
- A farewell dinner
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Zurich
1 night · Day 1
Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Lucerne
Day 2 · on the way
Basel
Day 2 · on the way
River cruise
7 nights · Days 2–8
MS Symphonie
Breisach
Day 3 · on the way
Strasbourg
Day 4 · on the way
Mainz
Day 5 · on the way
Koblenz
Day 6 · on the way
Show all 22 stopsShow fewer stops
Düsseldorf
Day 6 · on the way
Nijmegen
Day 7 · on the way
Amsterdam
Day 8 · on the way
Bremen
Day 9 · on the way
Hamburg
1 night · Day 9
Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte
Odense
Day 10 · on the way
Copenhagen
2 nights · Days 10–11
Scandic Copenhagen
Helsingør
Day 12 · on the way
Gothenburg
Day 12 · on the way
Oslo
2 nights · Days 12–13
Scandic Victoria
Örebro
Day 14 · on the way
Stockholm
1 night · Day 14
Scandic Park
Overnight ferry, Stockholm to Helsinki
1 night · Day 15
Tallink
Helsinki
1 night · Day 16
Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Zurich
Zurich welcomes you, with check-in available any time of day. Once you have settled in and freshened up, there is free time to explore the city at your own leisure. Take in Zurich’s Old Town, walk along the lakeside promenade and find a spot for dinner. Get an early night: your journey begins tomorrow.
- Overnight
- Zurich
- Hotel
- Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Day 2
Zurich – Lucerne – Basel
Breakfast and dinner includedYour whole group meets formally for the first time this morning, at a short gathering. From there, a scenic drive leads to Lucerne, where a lake cruise with panoramic views awaits, and you have some free time to explore the city, one of Switzerland’s most attractive cities. The coach then continues to Basel, where you board the Rhine River Cruise. This evening, the Welcome Cocktails event takes place, along with your first dinner on board.
Included
- Welcome meeting with your group
- Cruise on Lake Lucerne
- Free time in Lucerne
- Welcome cocktails and dinner on board
- Travel
- Zurich → Lucerne → Basel by coach, then aboard the river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 3
Breisach
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedYou wake surrounded by vineyards, right on the Franco-German border. You can explore Breisach on your own, or take the optional trip to Colmar, known as “Little Venice”. In the afternoon, there is also an optional Black Forest experience: a walk through Freiburg, with a taste of authentic Black Forest Cake, deep in Germany’s famous evergreen forest.
Optional extras
- Renaissance Route in Colmar · AED 170 per person
- Culture & Cake of the Black Forest · AED 130 per person
- Travel
- Basel → Breisach by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 4
Strasbourg
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedThe ship sails into Strasbourg today. At your own pace, the city is yours to explore: cross historic bridges, with medieval watchtowers and waterways to see along the way. The optional Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise is also available, taking in the Gothic masterpiece of Strasbourg Cathedral, the grand Place de la République and the Petite France quarter, seen from the water.
Optional extras
- Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise · AED 235 per person
- Travel
- Breisach → Strasbourg by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 5
Mainz
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedMainz, birthplace of the printing press, is today’s stop. On your own, you can explore the city, or you might instead join the optional guided tour and visit to the Gutenberg Museum. Highlights include Mainz Cathedral and the windows by Chagall at St Stephen’s Church, plus the Old Town. After dinner, a festive evening of dancing follows.
Included
- Evening of dancing on board
Optional extras
- Historic Mainz & Gutenberg Museum · AED 215 per person
- Travel
- Strasbourg → Mainz by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 6
Koblenz – Düsseldorf
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Today the ship continues from Koblenz, sailing through the Rhine Gorge, with more scenery along the way. There is time for yoga on the sun deck, or the onboard entertainment, before lunch. In the afternoon, castles and fortresses pass by along the Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ship reaches Düsseldorf this evening, and a special gala dinner is served on board.
Included
- Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge
- Gala dinner on board
- Travel
- Through the Rhine Gorge to Düsseldorf by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 7
Nijmegen
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedThe ship leaves Düsseldorf for Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city, where the tranquil River Waal, medieval architecture and more than 2000 years of Roman history sit alongside the WW2 battlefields. You can join the optional Nijmegen & Western Front Walking Tour, which takes you to key historic sites such as Operation Market Garden and the Waal Bridge, the site where American paratroopers landed in 1944. This evening, the ship moves on to Amsterdam.
Optional extras
- Nijmegen & Western Front History Walk · AED 195 per person
- Travel
- Düsseldorf → Nijmegen → Amsterdam by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 8
Amsterdam
Breakfast, lunch and dinner includedAmsterdam is yours to explore today. The Rijksmuseum Gardens are a good place for a stroll, or you could instead settle into a cosy coffee spot, and there is a Stroopwafel workshop and cheese tasting on offer as an optional experience. This afternoon, the Amsterdam Signature Experience can also be booked, with a Heineken brewery visit included, plus a canal cruise through the Jordaan neighbourhood.
Optional extras
- A Taste of Amsterdam · AED 385 per person
- Amsterdam Signature Experience · AED 300 per person
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
Day 9
Amsterdam – Bremen – Hamburg
Breakfast included
Your Rhine River Cruise ends in Amsterdam today. After disembarking, the next part of the journey begins. A city orientation stop in Bremen follows, taking in landmarks such as the Marktplatz and the Roland statue. The group then arrives in Hamburg for a guided city tour that includes the ruins of St Nikolai, whose bombed-out spire still stands.
Included
- Orientation walk in Bremen
- Guided city tour of Hamburg
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Bremen → Hamburg by coach
- Overnight
- Hamburg
- Hotel
- Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte
Day 10
Hamburg – Odense – Copenhagen
Breakfast included
Leaving Germany, the route crosses into Denmark on a Scandinavian journey. There is a pause in Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, before the drive across the Great Belt Bridge to Copenhagen, where a guided tour covers one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals. The evening in the city is free, and you might have dinner at the Torvehallerne market or on the Nyhavn waterfront.
Included
- Stop in Odense
- Guided driving and walking tour of Copenhagen
- Travel
- Hamburg → Odense → Copenhagen by coach, over the Great Belt Bridge
- Overnight
- Copenhagen
- Hotel
- Scandic Copenhagen
Day 11
Copenhagen
Breakfast included
Copenhagen is yours to explore at your own pace today. You can visit the National Museum, see Rosenborg Castle, or instead wander through Freetown Christiania, an alternative community within the city. Alternatively, the optional experience includes a guided tour of Amalienborg Palace, a look at Danish royalty, the Changing of the Guard in the grand palace square, and a premium Danish lunch in the centre of the city.
Optional extras
- Essential Copenhagen · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Copenhagen
- Hotel
- Scandic Copenhagen
Day 12
Copenhagen – Helsingør – Gothenburg – Oslo
Breakfast and dinner includedThe route leaves Copenhagen for Helsingør, where you board the ferry to Sweden. A short orientation walk reveals Gothenburg’s highlights, including the Poseidon Statue and Kingsgate Avenue. From there, the journey continues to Oslo, a city with a history of Viking and polar exploration, and your base for the night. In the evening, a hearty Norwegian dinner awaits in the city.
Included
- Orientation walk in Gothenburg
- Norwegian dinner in Oslo
- Travel
- Copenhagen → Helsingør by coach, ferry to Sweden, then via Gothenburg to Oslo
- Overnight
- Oslo
- Hotel
- Scandic Victoria
Day 13
Oslo
Breakfast includedThe day starts with a guided tour of Oslo, taking in landmarks such as the Tiger Statue and the Parliament building. After that, you can explore further at your own pace. The MUNCH Museum is worth a visit, or Vigeland Sculpture Park invites a wander. Alternatively, there is the optional Bygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage tour, which goes deeper into Norwegian culture and includes lunch.
Included
- Guided tour of Oslo
Optional extras
- Bygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Oslo
- Hotel
- Scandic Victoria
Day 14
Oslo – Örebro – Stockholm
Breakfast and dinner included
Oslo gives way to Örebro today, with a pause for a look at the lakeside castle, before the journey continues to Stockholm. A guided tour here takes in Gamla Stan, Djurgården park and City Hall. In the evening, a Swedish dinner rounds off the day in this Scandinavian city.
Included
- Stop at Örebro’s castle on the lake
- Guided tour of Stockholm: Gamla Stan, Djurgården and City Hall
- Swedish dinner
- Travel
- Oslo → Örebro → Stockholm by coach
- Overnight
- Stockholm
- Hotel
- Scandic Park
Day 15
Stockholm – Helsinki
Breakfast and dinner includedThe morning brings more time in Stockholm, with the chance to visit the Vasa Museum and its Viking relics, have lunch in the Old Town, or see the Abba Museum. In the afternoon, the overnight crossing into Helsinki begins, once the ferry terminal is reached. A Baltic-inspired ship carries you overnight, with duty-free shopping, entertainment and an included buffet dinner on board.
Included
- Overnight ferry to Helsinki, with buffet dinner
- Travel
- Stockholm → Helsinki by overnight ferry
- Overnight
- Stockholm-Helsinki Ferry
- Hotel
- Tallink
Day 16
Helsinki
Breakfast and dinner includedA guided driving and walking tour, included in the day, gives a thorough introduction to the city, taking in attractions such as Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square. In the afternoon, you can join the optional Suomenlinna experience and see the island’s maritime heritage. This evening brings a Farewell Dinner in Helsinki, a chance to exchange memories with your fellow travellers.
Included
- Guided driving and walking tour of Helsinki: Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square
- Farewell dinner
Optional extras
- Explore Suomenlinna · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Helsinki
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
Day 17
End of Tour in Helsinki
Breakfast includedAfter a last breakfast, you make your way home, or you can extend your stay with some more time in Helsinki. You might browse Sibelius Park, or have a last taste of local cuisine over lunch before heading onward.
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room.
Thu 2 Sept – Sat 18 Sept 2027
Available
AED 26,790
What’s included
Included
- 16 nights in 4-star hotels and on board the cruise ship
- 16 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners
- The cruise ship, an air-conditioned coach and an overnight ferry
- 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.
Renaissance Route in Colmar
Day 3AED 170per personWalk the canals and half-timbered streets of Colmar’s Petite Venise quarter, and see the birthplace of Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. €40, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryCulture & Cake of the Black Forest
Day 3AED 130per personFreiburg’s Old Town and Minster, the Bächle legend, cuckoo clocks, and a slice of Black Forest cake where it was first made. €30, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 3 in the itineraryStrasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise
Day 4AED 235per personA guided walk through Strasbourg’s UNESCO-listed Grande Île, then a canal cruise past Petite France and the city’s landmarks. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryHistoric Mainz & Gutenberg Museum
Day 5AED 215per personMainz’s Old Town and cathedral quarter, and the Gutenberg Museum, with two original Gutenberg Bibles and reconstructed printing presses. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryNijmegen & Western Front History Walk
Day 7AED 195per personWith a local guide, stand near the Waal Bridge, where American paratroopers came down during Operation Market Garden, then see St Stephen’s Church and the medieval centre. €45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itineraryA Taste of Amsterdam
Day 8AED 385per personMake your own stroopwafel using a recipe that is 200 years old, then learn how Dutch cheese is made and taste five kinds. €90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 8 in the itineraryAmsterdam Signature Experience
Day 8AED 300per personA behind-the-scenes tour of the Heineken brewery with a beer tasting, then a canal cruise through the Jordaan. €70, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 8 in the itineraryEssential Copenhagen
Day 11AED 425per personA guided visit to the royal apartments of Amalienborg Palace, the Changing of the Guard in the palace square, and a premium lunch in central Copenhagen. €100. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 11 in the itineraryBygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage
Day 13AED 425per personCross the Oslofjord to Bygdøy and step aboard the polar ship Fram in its museum, then, after lunch, see the Norsk Folkemuseum and its 13th-century Gol Stave Church. €100, lunch included. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 13 in the itineraryExplore Suomenlinna
Day 16AED 425per personTake the ferry across Helsinki’s harbour to the UNESCO-listed sea fortress of Suomenlinna for a premium lunch, the fortress museum and a guided walk. €100, lunch included. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 16 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.
Traveller reviews
No reviews yet
Travelled on this tour with us? Be the first to tell other travellers how it went.
Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Every country on this tour is in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers the whole trip, river cruise included.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, 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. You can apply up to six months before you travel, and appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer, so start early.
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 aren’t included. Check-in at the tour hotel in Zurich is from 3pm on day 1, and the tour ends in Helsinki after breakfast on day 17, at about 10am. You’ll get your check-in time and the hotel’s name a few days ahead of the tour.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to Zurich and home from Helsinki to match the tour.
Life on the river ship
From day 2 to day 9 you live on the MS Symphonie, a river ship with a restaurant, a bar and a sun deck. Cabins come with two beds, which can be joined together or left apart, and a private bathroom. You unpack once, and the ship carries you from city to city.
Meals and dietary needs
16 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners are included. Most are on the river ship, which serves lunch and dinner on every full cruise day. The other meals are yours to choose, with time to try local food. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
You’ll use five currencies: Swiss francs in Switzerland; euros in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Finland; and Danish, Norwegian and Swedish kroner. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and Scandinavia is close to cashless, so a card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay. Keep a few euros in cash for small purchases.
Optional extras booked on tour are priced in euros and paid to your tour leader in cash or by card.
Weather and packing
The tour runs in early September: late summer on the Rhine, then cooler, changeable weather in Scandinavia, where evenings can be chilly and rain is common. Pack layers, a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns.
Cabins on the river ship have limited storage, and you change hotels several times after the cruise, so a medium suitcase and a small day bag work best. Keep what you need for the night in your day bag for the ferry to Helsinki.
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 Zurich, and home from Helsinki. 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 Zurich to Helsinki: Rhine River Cruise & Scandinavia 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
More tours

10 countries
18 days
Northern Explorer
Eighteen days across Scandinavia, through Central Europe and on to the Baltic states, on the Northern Europe tour.
FromAED 16,230 per person
Next: Thu 17 Dec 2026

10 countries
18 days
Northern Explorer Christmas & New Year
Northern Europe over the festive season, where you spend Christmas Day in Helsinki and bring in the New Year in Berlin.
FromAED 17,885 per person
Next: Thu 17 Dec 2026

4 countries
13 days
Copenhagen to Helsinki
Thirteen days across Scandinavia and Finland, through the scenery of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
FromAED 14,395 per person
Next: Mon 21 Dec 2026
From AED 26,790per person, twin share
Book now



















