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Avalon Waterways Romantic Rhine with 1 Night in Amsterdam, Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como (Southbound) (WAZ4)

13 Days from Amsterdam to Lake Como 
One of Europe’s most legendary waterways—the Rhine River—takes you across Germany and touches in Holland, France, and Switzerland! Begin your Romantic Rhine vacation your way with an overnight stay in Amsterdam! Join us for an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets before embarking on your Suite Ship®. Explore this 700-year-old city on an Amsterdam canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”

Visit Cologne, Germany—a 2,000 year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture—to see its famous twin-spired cathedral and Old Town with many shops, cafés, and taverns. Pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Continue your Rhine River cruise to Mainz for a guided walk and visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum, or take an excursion to Heidelberg to visit the ruins of its red-walled castle. In Strasbourg, France, marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Also, stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Visit Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty—best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock.

Disembark your river cruise ship in Basel and continue your vacation in Lucerne and Lake Como. Begin with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas and take a guided walking tour to explore lovely Lucerne. Travel by high-speed train to Como, where an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic-style Town Hall, and the impressive Duomo. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Lake Como to renowned Bellagio with its centuries-old buildings, cobblestone lanes, and charming shops. In your free time, you might like to travel to fashionable Milan, or ride the funicular to the village of Brunate. The perfect end to your magnificent vacation!

Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing

Day 1 Amsterdam: Welcome to Amsterdam

Day 2 Amsterdam (Embarkation): Off the beaten path walking tour; onboard welcome reception

Day 3 Amsterdam: Canal cruise

Day 4 Cologne: Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 5 Rhine Gorge-Rüdesheim: Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host

Day 6 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided walk in Mainz with a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, or a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers' Way

Day 7 Strasbourg: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 8 Breisach: Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach

Day 9 Basel (Disembarkation)-Mount Pilatus-Lucerne: Excursion to Mount Pilatus (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead), guided walking tour in Lucerne with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge

Day 10 Lucerne-Lake Como: Transfer by high speed train (first class) to Lake Como; guided walking tour

Day 11 Lake Como: Boat ride on Lake Como to Bellagio

Day 12 Lake Como: Full day at leisure

Day 13 Lake Como: Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning

Related Avalon Tours

WAZ - Romantic Rhine (Southbound)
WAZ1 - With Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como
WAZ2 - With 2 Nights in Lucerne
WAZ3 - With Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne, 3 Nights in Lake Como & 2 Nights in Milan
WAZ4 - With 1 Night in Amsterdam, Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne & 3 Nights in Lake Como
WAZ5 - With 1 Night in Amsterdam & 2 Nights in Lucerne
WAZ6 - With 1 Night in Amsterdam, Mount Pilatus, 1 Night in Lucerne, 3 Nights in Lake Como & 2 Nights in Milan
WAZQ - With 1 Night in Amsterdam
WZA - Romantic Rhine (Northbound)

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
 Welcome to Holland.

Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION)
 Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding

CLASSIC Discover the true beauty of Amsterdam with an off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through its cobblestone streets for a captivating look at this legendary city.

During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year.

Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM

(B,D)
Day 3AMSTERDAM
 Canals of Colorful Amsterdam

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age."


This afternoon choose among the Guided Optional Excursions available or take some free time to explore Amsterdam’s colorful streets and canal houses, galleries, and shops.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO COLOGNE

(B,L,D)
Day 4COLOGNE, GERMANY
 Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland

ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:

DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.

Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!

Later, local musicians will join us on board for live entertainment.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO RÜDESHEIM

(B,L,D)
Day 5RÜDESHEIM
 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country

En route to Rüdesheim, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.

ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:

DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat.

Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM


(B,L,D)
Day 6MAINZ. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
 Printing Halls, Castle Walls, and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel

ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR:

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk, including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing, OR:

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel”.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO STRASBOURG

(B,L,D)
Day 7STRASBOURG, FRANCE
 A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France

Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities.

ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.

Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII fortifications designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.

Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH


(B,L,D)
Day 8BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
 German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest

DISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:

DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting.

You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL

(B,L,D)
Day 9BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)–MOUNT PILATUS
 Spectacular views in Switzerland

This morning disembark your Avalon ship and take a motorcoach transfer to Mount Pilatus.

CLASSIC Enjoy a special highlight excursion to Mount Pilatus. Journey almost 7,000 ft. (2,132 m) up for spectacular views over central Switzerland (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead).

LUCERNE

A Historic Bridge and Heart of a Lion

CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking tour to explore beautiful Lucerne, which includes Thorvaldsen’s poignant Lion Monument and the famous Chapel Bridge.

(B)
Day 10LUCERNE–LAKE COMO, ITALY
 History in Grand View

Travel by high-speed train (first class) to Como, the city on the lake that bears its name.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking tour, which includes the charming historic center, the Broletto (Town Hall) with its fascinating Gothic façade, and the imposing, marble-clad Duomo.

(B)
Day 11LAKE COMO
 Legendary Lake Houses

CLASSIC Experience a Boat Ride on Lake Como for panoramas of stunning mountain scenery and luxury lakeside villas. Disembark at picturesque Bellagio for exploration on your own, returning by boat to Como.

(B)
Day 12LAKE COMO
 Italian Beauty on the Banks

Enjoy a free day to explore Como and its surroundings at your own pace. Como offers you every kind of solutions for your spare time. Choose a boat trip on the lake, a relaxing walk on the riverbanks or make shopping in the city centre. And be sure to taste the authentic Italian specialties in a local restaurant!

(B)
Day 13LAKE COMO
 Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(B)

Avalon Pricing Details

Gateway city for departures is Milan.

Port charges:
$210

Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation details and prices. Triples not available.

Avalon Notes

  • In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
  • Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
  • Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

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