Misty castles, climbing vineyards, towering cathedrals, ancient cities and always the rushing water alive with river boats of all sizes and classes. The Rhine river cruise takes you from Cologne, by Mainz, Worms, Speyer and to Strasbourg, with elegant on-board cuisine, warm companionship and an everchanging panorama on both sides of the river.

Day 1, Arrival Cologne
Group arrival at Cologne/Bonn airport to be welcomed by our tour manager. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre.

Day 2, Cologne to Andernach
Breakfast in your hotel. Start city sightseeing of Cologne, including a visit to the famous gothic cathedral. Lunch in a typical restaurant in the old town quarter on the Rhine River promenade. Afternoon board onto a Rhine River cruise ship, departing from Cologne southwards to Andernach. Along this route you'll pass Bonn, Konigswinter with the pictur­esque "Dragon-rock", further Bad Breisig and Remagen. Dinner on board. The ship reaches Andernach and will stop here for the night. Overnight on board.

Day 3, Andernach to Ru desheim
Breakfast and lunch on board. Today's cruise follows one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine valley, passing an uncountable number of castles, the famous Loreley and many vine­yards. Arrival in Ru desheim, the picturesque wine-city. Walk through the historic centre of Ru desheim before boarding the coach. Trans­fer to a local winery for a visit and wine-tasting. Followed by a short visit to the Eber­bach Monastery near Eltville and a visit to a nearby wine-estate including a wine tasting. Dinner at the estate's restaurant. Return to the ship for overnight.

Day 4, Ru desheim to Speyer
The ship embarks from Ru desheim. Breakfast and lunch on board. Today you'll pass along Mainz, Nierstein, Worms and Ludwigshafen. After arrival in Mannheim board the coach for a tour through the local wine-area and visit to some of the largest vineyards. Evening pro­ceed to the city of Speyer and return onto the ship. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 5, Speyer to Strasbourg
The ship embarks from Ru desheim. Breakfast and lunch on board. The cruise continues on the upper Rhine River. Shortly after passing the city of Karlsruhe you're in the French bor­der region. The Rhine River here builds the natural border between the two countries, left shore is Germany and right shore is France. Arrival in Strasbourg/France and disembarka­tion. Board the coach and transfer to your ho­tel for check-in. Guided walking tour through the picturesque "Petit France" quarter of Strasbourg. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 6, Strasbourg to Heidelberg
Breakfast in your hotel. Departure from Stras­bourg and drive into the Alsace countryside to visit a French vineyard. Afterwards cross border back into Germany. Proceed towards Heidelberg with lunch enroute. Visit to a win­ery just at the outskirts of Heidelberg. Finally arrive in the city and check-in to your hotel. Guided walking tour through the historic part of the town with Germany's oldest university, built in 1386.

Day 7, Heidelberg to Frankfurt/M.
Breakfast in your hotel. Departure from Hei­delberg and travel through the small wine-area "Hessische BergstraBe". Visit to two lo­cal wineries, one specialised in producing white wines and one with red wine production. Lunch break in the city of Darmstadt. Proceed to "Mainhattan" Frankfurt/M., the commercial centre of Germany and check-in to your hotel. Farewell dinner in a typical local restaurant.

Day 8, Frankfurt/M. - departure
Breakfast in your hotel. Morning city sightsee­ing or optional leisure of Frankfurt/M. Transfer to Frankfurt/M. airport for departure.
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