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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

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ChildrenUnder 18

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Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine (Southbound) 2026

8 days
•
From Amsterdam to Basel
4.6 (236 reviews)
  • Canal with tour boat passing through.
  • Tulips in full bloom by a canal.
  • Panoramic view of Cologne with the Cathedral.
  • Aerial view of Cologne at sunset.
  • St. Stephen's Cathedral with a clear blue sky.
    View all
  • Aerial view of a cathedral by the Rhine River.
  • Colorful traditional wooden houses by a canal.
  • Aerial view of Strasbourg Cathedral and city.
  • Traditional Alsatian houses by a canal.
  • A church on a hill with surrounding town.
    View all

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Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Avalon Waterways
River Cruise
Cruise scenic waterways for effortless exploration
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 160
Ages 8+

Explore our featured adventures

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Places You’ll See

  • Amsterdam
    Amsterdam
  • Cologne
    Cologne
  • Heidelberg
    Heidelberg
  • Breisach
    Breisach
  • Black Forest
    Black Forest
  • Freiburg im Breisgau
    Freiburg im Breisgau
  • Colmar
    Colmar
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Amsterdam on a guided canal cruise
  • Walk through Cologne's iconic Christmas markets
  • Tour the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim
  • Visit Heidelberg Castle and the world's largest wine barrel
  • Discover Strasbourg's Gothic cathedral and old town

Itinerary

View Full Itinerary
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
  2. Day 2 AMSTERDAM
  3. Day 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY
  4. Day 4 RHINE GORGE–RÜDESHEIM
  5. Day 5 MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
  6. Day 6 KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE
  7. Day 7 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
  8. Day 8 BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

Gold Operator
Rating
4.6 (236 reviews)
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
83%
Cancellation policy
Learn more

Avalon Waterways Ship

  • Avalon View
    Avalon View
    The Avalon View is the newest addition to the 2020 Avalon Suite Ship fleet. With the youngest fleet of ships on Europe's waterways, Avalon W… Read more
    Capacity
    Built
    2019
    Guests
    166
    Crew
    47
    Length
    443 ft / 135 m
    Width
    12m / 39 ft
    Suites
    67
    Staterooms
    16
    Registry
    Gross Tonnage
    2775 gt
    Electricity
    Beam
    Cruising Speed
    12 kn / 22 kph / 14 mph
    Generators
    Engines
    Draft
    Staterooms / SuitesDeck PlansDining

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

  • Pierre-Paul4.8•October 2026
    This was a very enjoyable trip despite the change that had to be done due to low water levels in the river. The...
    Show more
  • Charles5.0•September 2025
    We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and...
    Show more
  • Klaus5.0•July 2024
    Led by Nour
    ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
    Show more

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Reach out to the experts at Avalon Waterways with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Trip essentials

Good to know

Tour ID: 288026

The practical details for your trip across Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

  • Deposit only

    Book now with just a $250 deposit. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure.

  • 2 local currencies

    You’ll encounter Euro in France, Germany and Netherlands, Swiss Franc in Switzerland.

  • Plug types C, E, F, J

    You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.

  • Currencies

    €
    Euro

    France, Germany and Netherlands

    Fr.
    Swiss Franc

    Switzerland

  • Plugs & adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, J.

    • Type C

      Only used in France, Germany and Netherlands

    • Type E

      Only used in France

    • Type F

      Only used in Germany and Netherlands

    • Type J

      Only used in Switzerland

  • Visa

    Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.

    This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.

  • Payment information

    Pay now
    A $250 deposit
    Balance due
    95 days before departure
    Currency
    USD
    Booking fee
    None

    Book now with just a $250 deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure, charged automatically to your card. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before January 17th, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.

    Accepted for Avalon Waterways tours

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    • American Express
    • PayPal

    TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.

  • Cancellation Policy

    Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.

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  • Insurance

    Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.

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  • Best price guarantee

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    How it works

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      Spot the same tour cheaper on another site or agency.

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    Your quote needs

    • Same tour and operator
    • Same start and end dates
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    • Same booking and cancellation terms, in the same currency
    • A link to the site or agency offering it

    What doesn’t count

    • Quotes issued more than 24 hours ago
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  • Accessibility

    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

  • People also viewed

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
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Apr
May
Jun
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