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The Great Journey Through Europe

Program Overview

Journey through the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, cruising the Moselle and Rhine rivers. Spend two nights each in Lucerne and Zermatt. Ride aboard three legendary railways—the Gornegrat Bahn for views of the Matterhorn; the Glacier Express from Andermatt to Zermatt; and the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Also enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. Enhance your “Grand Tour” with the Amsterdam Pre- or Post-Program Option.

Program runs in reverse order on some departures.

Program Details

June 28 to July 9, 2023 (Amadeus Imperial) June 30 to July 11, 2023 (Amadeus Imperial) July 10 to 21, 2023 (Amadeus Imperial) July 12 to 23, 2023 (Amadeus Imperial)
From $4,195 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Extraordinary, specially designed European tour exclusively offered by Gohagan & Company in our tradition of innovative programming and educational travel.
  • Experience three of the world’s greatest railways—the panoramic Glacier Express, the scenic cogwheel Gornergrat Bahn, and the dramatic Pilatus Railway.
  • Twelve-day program, including four nights in the Swiss Alps and a six-night river cruise.
  • A unique combination of river and lake cruising, rail travel, and evenings on land.
  • Specially arranged cruise of Lake Lucerne and wine tasting in Rüdesheim.
  • Incredible value for a comprehensive travel program.
  • Amsterdam Pre- or Post-Program Option.

Day 1 - Depart the U.S. or Canada

Day 2 - Amsterdam, the Netherlands / Embark Amadeus Imperial

Day 3 - Cologne, Germany

Day 4 - Cochem / Reichsburg

Day 5 - Koblenz / Rüdesheim

Day 6 - Mannheim for Heidelberg

Day 7 - Strasbourg, France

Day 8 - Basel, Switzerland / Disembark boat / Bern / Lucerne

Day 9 - Lucerne

Day 10 - Lucerne / Zermatt

Day 11 - Zermatt

Day 12 - Zermatt / Geneva / Return to U.S. or Canada

Itinerary also operates in the reverse direction.

View detailed program itinerary >

Amadeus Imperial

Exclusively Chartered, Deluxe River Boat

The elegant and meticulously crafted Amadeus Imperial, launched in 2020, features all the comforts of a refined and traditional hotel. 72 stylish staterooms and suites are among the most spacious of any European river boat (188 to 284 square feet). Suites include a private balcony, and select staterooms feature a unique floor-to-ceiling window that lowers to French-balcony height at the touch of a button.

Learn more about the Amadeus Imperial >

The Golden Age of Amsterdam Pre- or Post-Program Option

The historical heart of Amsterdam, laced with tree-shaded canals and stately 16th- and 17th-century merchant houses, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect start or finish to your Great Journey through Europe. Accommodations are for two nights at the Renaissance Amsterdam.

The Pre- or Post-Program Option is available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

Admire the awe-inspiring, visionary work and vast scope of Switzerland’s impressive railways as you experience firsthand the sublime majesty of the iconic Alps from incredible perspectives. Journey on three of the world’s great Alpine railways—the panoramic Glacier Express, the scenic Gornergrat Bahn, and the dramatic Pilatus Railway—and, while admiring the innovative engineering necessary to create these routes, savor vignettes of the quintessentially Swiss landscape—including 14,000-foot-high mountain peaks, flowing streams, cavernous gorges, and crystalline glaciers.

Learn more about the Glacier Express >

Schweizerhof Zermatt is situated in a beautiful, quiet location in the center of Zermatt.

The five-star Schweizerhof Hotel is located on the banks of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.

Program Rates

Gohagan & Company reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees, promotions and surcharges at any time.

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Departure

Your trip will begin by departing the U.S. or Canada.

Day 2 Amsterdam, the Netherlands / Embark the boat

Cruise along Amsterdam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site canals, lined with distinctly Dutch 16th- and 17th-century canal houses. Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception.

Day 3 Cologne, Germany

Explore Cologne's Old Town and see the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Kölner Dom. 

Day 4 Cochem / Reichsburg

Enjoy a walking tour of charming Cochem with a visit to the imperial Reichsburg castle and one of the local wineries directly in town. Cruise the narrow Moselle River Valley, known for its abundance of vineyards clinging to the steep sides.

Day 5 Koblenz / Rüdesheim

Dock in Koblenz, positioned at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, for a walking tour. Cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Middle Rhine Valley to see Lorelei Rock, stop in the heart of the Rüdesheim wine country and enjoy a tour aboard the whimsical Winzerexpress mini-train.

Day 6 Mannheim for Heidelberg

Travel from Mannheim to Heidelberg, a highlight of the historical “Grand Tours” of Europe. Discover the city’s Renaissance-Baroque ambiance and visit the ruins of Heidelberg Castle.

Day 7 Strasbourg, France

Walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated city of Strasbourg, where medieval houses line cobblestone lanes and 13th-century bridges span idyllic canals. Attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception on board the ship this evening.

Day 8 Basel, Switzerland / Disembark boat / Bern / Lucerne

Disembark the boat and travel to Switzerland’s capital, Bern. Tour its beautifully preserved, UNESCO-inscribed Old Town and admire the soaring Alps en route to Lucerne. This evening, check into the five-star Schweizerhof Hotel.

Day 9 Lucerne

Begin your walking tour in the Weinmarkt and then see the Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who gave their lives during the French Revolution. Reach Mount Pilatus’ 7,000-foot summit by panoramic gondola for a 360-degree vista. Board the Pilatus Railway to descend nearly 5,400 feet in less than three miles. Cruise across the lake to Lucerne. 

Day 10 Lucerne / Zermatt

Relax during a morning transfer to Andermatt before boarding the Glacier Express, “the world’s slowest express train.” Arrive in the Alpine resort of Zermatt, located beneath the pinnacle of the iconic Matterhorn. Check into the Schweizerhof Zermatt. 

Day 11 Zermatt

Ascend through pine and larch forests aboard the highest cog railway in Europe, the Gornergrat Bahn. Sweeping vistas of breathtaking Alpine scenery unfold from atop the 10,100-foot summit, where the serrated profiles of the Matterhorn, the Liskamm and the Dufourspitze mountains and the vast Gorner Glacier extend beyond your periphery. Return to Zermatt at your leisure with an optional stop at Riffelberg for a picturesque view of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. Enjoy the Farewell Reception this evening in the hotel.

Day 12 Zermatt / Geneva / Return to the U.S. or Canada

Following breakfast, transfer to Geneva for your return flight to the U.S. or Canada.