Escape through Amsterdam, the Rhine & Swiss with a River Cruise

Arrival in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - You will meet your driver at the Marcus Executive Car Service office (marked in red on the map) which is located opposite Arrivals 4 and the Starbucks.  From here you will taken by luxurious private vehicle to the Hotel De L'Europe in Amsterdam. The drive, depending on traffic takes about 30 minutes.

Check-in at your hotel is 2pm. Early check is subject to availability at the time of check-in.

2pm: Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken on an interesting walking tour of the historical city center. 

The Van Loon Mansion is housed within the former residence of the Van Loon family and together with its garden and carriage house, constitutes an ensemble that is typical of the ‘Golden Age Grand Town Home’. Today, it is the only remaining architectural ensemble in town. The rooms inside all reflect on fashions associated with wealth and refinement. The walls are graced with family portraits that are grouped so as to showcase the unions between Van Loon and other powerful families.

Since Amsterdam is an excellent walking city, strolling down the paved streets, your guide will point out famous landmarks such as the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the former civic orphanage on Kalverstraat and the neighboring Begijnhof (scenic courtyard complex of centuries-old homes still in use by a community of women, formerly addressed as “begijnen” - a lay catholic sisterhood established in 1389), the Sephardic synagogue in the former Jewish district and the former home of Rembrandt van Rijn. All are within walking distance of most hotels. 

De Jordaan or de Pijp neighborhoods are lovely areas than can easily be incorporated in your tour, should you so desire. Both are home to famous street markets and offer plentiful opportunities for a lunch or coffee break. The Nine Street district with its local stores and boutiques is also interesting to walk through.

6pm The tour will end back at your hotel, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. 

9.00am Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a scenic walk to, and guided tour of the famous Rijksmuseum. 

11.45pm After this exciting tour, there will be a short scenic walk to the historical canal belt area, where you will board a historic Saloon Boat for a private two-hour cruise through the Amsterdam canals. The most relaxed way to get to know Amsterdam with a VIP treatment! During the cruise a fresh and tasty lunch will be served including coffee and tea. Your guide will tell you all about the sights you will see along the way.

2pm We continue the tour with a short walk to the Heineken Experience Amsterdam, which you will visit next.

The tour is a brand experience within Heineken’s oldest brewery, which closed down in 1988 because Heineken increased intensively. Learn the story of how a small, Dutch brewery became the world’s most premium brand of beer. The world of Heineken is one best experienced through all senses; where you feel the hops, taste the wort and smell the authentic scents of the brewery.

Of course, you won’t leave the building without finishing strong, with a nice cold Heineken beer!

3.45pm After this exciting tour, you will be walked back to your hotel, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. 

6.30pm: A table at the Seafood Restaurant has been booked for you. Direct payment - no cash only credit card accepted. 
 

9am Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a scenic walk to, and guided tour of the famous Van Gogh Museum where you will step into Van Gogh’s world. You enter the Van Gogh Museum through the glass entrance building, located on Museum Square that beautifully complements the exhibition wing created in 1999 by Kisho Kurokawa Architect and Associates.

Discover what Vincent wanted to express in the redesigned exhibit of Van Gogh Museum’s collection.

In the layout, you step directly into Van Gogh’s world. You obviously see his masterpieces like the Potato Eaters and the Bedroom, but also his drawings and letters. You discover the ideas and ambitions behind his art. Van Gogh experienced life and the world intensely and wanted his art to portray the great themes of life, such as anxiety, suffering, love and hope. You follow the on-going search of an artist who was constantly trying to improve himself. In this way, you get a new view of an artist you thought you knew. www.vangoghmuseum.nl

11am From here, you will be taken back to your hotel, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. You will be back around 11.30am.

In the afternoon, you will have a private transfer to the harbour where you will board your cruise on the Scenic Ruby.

Relax and raise your glass to the days ahead at this evening’s welcome reception. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Discover charming Volendam and Edam. The quaint fishing village of Volendam is home to many wooden houses and a beautiful harbour, explore the charm of the village before a short drive to the nearby town of Edam, where you will visit a local cheese farm for a delicious tasting.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a scenic ride on the oldest cog railway in Germany and discover splendid Drachenburg Castle.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit a local winery and sample some of the fine wines of this region. Learn about the wine making process while being surrounded by picture postcard scenery.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join a local guide on a historic tour of Heidelberg, where you’ll visit Heidelberg’s Renaissance castle. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, or join a guide for an orientation tour of Heidelberg, followed by free time at leisure to explore the sights of this beautiful city as you wish.

Enjoy a private evening concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt, one of the most magnificent historic venues in the region. It’ll be an evening of grandeur unlike any other and a chance to create memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in charming Baden Baden, a spa town famous for its Roman baths. 

Join your local guide on a tour of this picturesque town and tour the ruins of the Roman baths that have made this city famous, or take an active hike to Hohenbaden Castle and be rewarded with wonderful views overlooking the town. Alternatively, visit the Mercedes-Benz factory and be transported into the world of this luxury car brand, learning about the history and prestige of the global product (available select departures, will be replaced with Speyer Technical Museum), or relax and rejuvenate during a visit to a thermal spa.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Strasbourg and stroll through the Old Town with its half-timbered houses and distinctive Alsatian win stubs. Alternatively, journey to Mittelbergheim in the Alsace and sample some of the best wines the region has to offer, or join a tour through the Black Forest, stopping along the way for a tasting of Black Forest Cake.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you will disembark from your cruise in Basel. Private transfer from Basel pier to Lucerne (approx. 1.5 hours drive).

Arrive in Lucerne  and check-in at the hotel located by the Lake. Rest of the day is at leisure.

The historical city of Lucerne lies in Switzerland in the heart of Europe, located right on Lake Lucerne. You will find everything here: the lake, the mountains, the city – a distinctive consonance of nature and work of man, which has been preserved and carefully developed for centuries. See the Chapel Bridge with its gabled paintings of old battles and the adjacent quaint quarters with little streets and take a leisurely walk through a maze of small streets, bridges, promenades and plazas dominated by countless historical towers, fountains and frescoed buildings. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you will explore the surroundings of Lucerne. Both excursions are fully covered by your Swiss Travel Pass and you can choose on the spot which excursion you would like to do. 

Mount Rigi
Mt. Rigi - "The Queen of the Mountains" - so much loved by famous author Mark Twain! Travel by train from Lucerne to Arth-Goldau from where you ascend by the Arth-Rigi-Railway which started operation in 1875. In 1907, the electrified service on the Goldau-Kulm mountain route was inaugurated. The Arth-Rigi-Railway was the first standard gauge rack-and-pinion railway in Switzerland which changed to electric traction. After 45 minutes you reach Rigi Kulm (1800m/5900ft). "My aim is to enable people to view the beauty of our glorious land from up high" declared engineer Nicklaus Riggenbach, in 1863! There is plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, to stroll along one of the many footpaths and to breathe the pure "Swiss air". Descend by another cogwheel train to Vitznau, the oldest mountain railway track in Europe, opened in May 1871. From Vitznau you take the boat back to Lucerne enjoying a leisurely cruise on Lake Lucerne. 

Mount Stanserhorn
Enjoy a train ride from Lucerne to Stans where you will board the old-time funicular, built in 1893 decorated with red curtains for an exciting ride to "Kälti" – the middle station. Here, you change to the world’s first topless aerial cable car “Cabrio” which sweeps you up to Mount Stanserhorn at an altitude of 1,900m (6,300ft). Enjoy the breathtaking view on the snow-capped Swiss Alps. Have a seat for a delicious lunch at the modern revolving restaurant “Rondorama” and let the Alps revolve around you. Where else is it possible to admire the glorious views of the mountain range “Eiger”, “Mönch” and “Jungfrau”, ten lakes and 100km (60mi) of alpine vistas while enjoying a tasty meal on mountain top? Mount Stanserhorn – the place to visit to see Switzerland as its best. 

Today evening, we will book at table for you at the Old Swiss House Restaurant (to be paid on the spot). Table to be booked at 6.30pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you will take a taxi from your hotel to Lucerne train station (not included). 

You will embark on a scenic train ride to Interlaken onboard The Luzern–Interlaken Express. During this train ride of roughly two hours, you will marvel at five crystal clear mountain lakes that gather the waters from various rivers and waterfalls. At the lakeshore, steep rock faces of surrounding mountains rise up protectively and provide unique photo motifs.

Arrive in Interlaken and walk to the next platform to board your train to Grindelwald (35 minutes).

Arrive in Grindelwald train station and transfer by shuttle to your hotel (complimentary shuttle provided by the hotel). 

The Eiger village of Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland lies embedded in a welcoming and green hollow, surrounded by a commanding mountains cape with the Eiger north face and the Wetterhorn. This mountains cape and the numerous lookout points and activities make Grindelwald one of the most popular and cosmopolitan holiday and excursion destinations in Switzerland.

In the afternoon, you will visit Männlichen.

Almost endless views of the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau – welcome to Männlichen.
Plenty of variety, a stunning panorama and a wide choice of hiking trails – Mount Männlichen can be reach from Grindelwald by gondola. The views over the Jungfrau Region during the gondola ride are breathtaking. Your cable car reach the top where you closely will find the mountain guest house which is the points of origin for unforgettable hikes. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you will visit Lauterbrunnen.

Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the most impressive valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colorful alpine meadows and lonely mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland and a popular recreation spot. In 1779, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the valley, and was inspired by the roaring waters to write his well-known poem ‘Spirit song over the waters’.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today your luggage will be transferred to your hotel in Zurich by our supplier " Swiss Travelling Bellboy service":

• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Insurance CHF 2,000.00 per piece of luggage in case of loss or damage included
• Customized luggage tag
•  2 persons – up to 10 pieces of luggage
• Luggage must be ready by latest 10:00 AM to guarantee delivery the same day at 5.00 PM the latest at the next hotel

Shuttle transfer to the train station (complimentary shuttle provided by your hotel), where you will board your train to Zurich (please note the train ride approx. 3 hrs, and there is no direct train, so you will have to change train in Interlaken).

Arrive in Zurich train station and private transfer to the hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Private guided walking tour of Zurich with Culinary tastings, 2 hours

The walking tour will give you a good general idea of Zurich in all its aspects like the business and shopping center (famous Bahnhofstrasse) and the old town.

Continue to the vantage point Lindenhof – beneath this elevated square in the city center are the ruins of a Roman customs post, and a late Roman fortress. This spot also offers magnificent views over the old town. Continue to Neumarkt (New Market), a beautiful and picturesque medieval alley in the old town, and Spiegelgasse, which was once the home of Lenin.

You will also see the Grossmünster – the symbol of the city with its distinctive twin towers, and St. Peters – the biggest church clock face in Europe. See the Town Hall, Zürich's baroque town dating back to 1694.

The tour will also bring you to the Schipfe - a street of artisans at the river Limmat – in one of Zürich's oldest districts.

Rest of the day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace.

After breakfast, check out for the hotel and meet your driver for your transfer to the Airport.

End of the tour.