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The Majestic Rhine & Glacier Express 2027 - 11 Days (11 destinations)

11 days
•
From Frankfurt-am-Main to Zurich
4.1 (40 reviews)
  • Vibrant autumn scene of Basel’s historic riverside houses and cathedral spires glowing at golden hour
  • Aerial view of the grand red-sandstone Mainz Cathedral dominating the cityscape along the Rhine River.
  • Twilight aerial of Zurich’s historic center with church spires and the lake outlet glowing under evening lights.
  • Warm sunset light on Basel’s medieval cathedral and riverside houses overlooking the gently flowing Rhine.
  • Rhine riverside town with twin-spired church, colourful facades, and a river cruise ship passing at golden hour.
    View all
  • Cruise itinerary map from Koblenz through Baden-Baden to Zurich and Zermatt

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Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Emerald Cruises
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 - 182
Ages 12+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Intro

    Introduction

  2. Day 1

    Frankfurt to Mainz

    Frankfurt to Mainz
  3. Day 2

    Rüdesheim to Koblenz

    Rüdesheim to Koblenz
    Meals
    Dinner (Welcome Dinner on board your luxury Emerald Star-Ship with fellow guests)

    Included Activities

    • Visit to Schloss Johannisberg Winery in the Rheingau wine region
    Landmarks
    Schloss Johannisberg Winery
  4. Day 3

    Koblenz

    Koblenz
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • German beer garden experience in Koblenz with local brews
    • Guided e-bike tour of Koblenz and surrounding riverscapes

    Optional Activities

    • Eltz Castle visit - fairytale castle with 8 towers, treasury, armoury, and 15th-century murals (extra expense, moderate activity level, 3.5 hours)
    Landmarks
    Burg Eltz
    Rhine River
    Moselle River
  5. Day 4

    Mannheim

    Mannheim

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Heidelberg starting at the Renaissance ruins of Heidelberg Castle

    Optional Activities

    • Vineyards hike and wine tasting in Bad-Dürkheim at Fitz-Ritter Winery
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
    Mannheim Palace
    Fitz-Ritter Winery
  6. Day 5

    Rastatt

    Rastatt

    Included Activities

    • Guided walking tour of Baden-Baden
    • Evening Concert at Bruchsal Palace

    Optional Activities

    • Entrance to the Casino Baden-Baden (extra expense)
    • Baden-Baden spa experience (extra expense, approximately 3 hours)
    • Visit to Rastatt Palace & Gardens (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Baden-Baden
    Rastatt
    Favourite Palace
    Bruchsal Palace
    Casino Baden-Baden
  7. Day 6

    Strasbourg

    Strasbourg

    Included Activities

    • Alsatian beer tasting
    Landmarks
    Neustadt district
  8. Day 7

    Breisach

    Breisach

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Colmar

    Optional Activities

    • Guided e-bike tour from Breisach to Colmar
    • Guided tour of Freiburg with market tasting (extra expense, easy activity level, 5 hours)
    Landmarks
    Colmar Old Town
    Freiburg Altstadt
  9. Day 8

    Basel to Zermatt

    Basel to Zermatt
    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Welcome drink with Tour Director and fellow guests
    Landmarks
    Basel
    Montreux
    Zermatt
  10. Day 9

    Zermatt

    Zermatt
    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Guided city tour of Zermatt

    Optional Activities

    • Visit to Gornergrat Matterhorn (extra expense, easy activity level, 2.5 hours) via the Gornergrat Bahn cog railway
    Landmarks
    Matterhorn
    Gornergrat
  11. Day 10

    Zermatt to Zurich

    Zermatt to Zurich
    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Glacier Express 2nd class train from Zermatt to Chur with panoramic views of Alpine landscapes
  12. Day 11

    Zurich

    Zurich
    Meals
    Breakfast

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional

Operated by

Emerald Cruises

Gold Operator
Rating
4.1 (40 reviews)
Response time
12 hours
Response rate
80%
Cancellation policy
Learn more

Emerald Cruises Ship

Reviews from other tours by Emerald Cruises

  • Prabha5.0•July 2026
    We had a great time on the cruise
  • Wendy5.0•May 2026
    We had a fabulous cruise. Everyone was very friendly, helpful and professional. The weather wasn’t cooperative as it...
    Show more
  • Gary5.0•August 2026
    This was our first river cruise experience, and it was fantastic. We didn't know what the difference would be with...
    Show more

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Good to know

Tour ID: 342301

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

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  • 2 local currencies

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

  • Plug types C, E, F, J

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

  • Currencies

    €
    Euro

    France and Germany

    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 and Germany

    • Type E

      Only used in France

    • Type F

      Only used in Germany

    • 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

    Currency
    USD
    Booking fee
    None

    Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee.

    Accepted for Emerald Cruises 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.

    Checking the cancellation terms for this tour…

    Your money is protected. TourRadar is an authorized agent of Emerald Cruises, and we handle payments so you don’t have to. Payment is securely transferred to the operator based on your departure date.

  • 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

    1. Find a lower price

      Spot the same tour cheaper on another site or agency.

    2. Send us the quote

      Contact us before you book.

    3. We match it

      If the quote qualifies, you book with us at that price.

    Your quote needs

    • Same tour and operator
    • Same start and end dates
    • Same number of travelers
    • Same inclusions and destinations
    • 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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    • Itineraries that are similar but not identical
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  • Accessibility

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  • 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
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec