Heritage Stories · Cruise Journeys · Europe
From Swiss Valleys to the Rhine
Following the River that Shaped the Heart of Europe
OVERVIEW
From Swiss Valleys to the Rhine
Following the River that Shaped the Heart of Europe
September 14 – 25, 2027
From $7,689 USD | $10,610 CAD
Rivers have long shaped Europe’s story, carrying people, cultures, and traditions through valleys, cities, and generations. Your journey begins in Switzerland’s quiet Emmental countryside, where rolling hills hold deep ancestral roots for many families in the group. The Swiss land experience is thoughtfully shaped around these heritage connections, with opportunities to encounter ancestral villages, family regions, homesteads, and communities tied to generations past.
From there, you follow the water north to Basel and board a Rhine cruise through France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Along the way, vineyard-covered hillsides, castle-lined banks, and historic cities such as Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, and Amsterdam reveal how rivers, migration, landscapes, and human stories shaped Europe’s cultural heart.
John Sharp
Tour Expert
12 Days
Duration
France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland
Countries Visited
Moderately Active
Activity Level
Trip Highlights
Family Roots in the Swiss Countryside - Explore ancestral villages, family regions, and homesteads connected to generations of Swiss family history and migration.
The Emmental & Bernese Oberland - Experience Switzerland’s rolling valleys, alpine scenery, and rural communities where stories of faith, resilience, and belonging took shape.
Rhine River Journey - Cruise through France, Germany, and the Netherlands aboard AmaFiora without changing hotels.
Castles & Landscapes of the Rhine Gorge - Sail through one of Europe’s most dramatic river landscapes, lined with vineyards, medieval towns, and hilltop castles.
Historic Cities Along Europe’s Waterways - Discover Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Utrecht, and Amsterdam—cities shaped by rivers, movement, culture, and centuries of European history.
DAY 1 • September 14, 2027
Gathering in the City of Reform
Arrive in Zurich and enter the story of Switzerland’s reforming spirit. An introductory walk through the Old Town leads to the Grossmünster, where faith and civic life helped shape the region’s identity. This evening, share a welcome dinner as fellow travellers become companions for the journey ahead.
Overnight: Zurich
DAY 2 • September 15, 2027
Into the Valleys of Memory
Leave Zurich for the rolling hills of the Emmental and Bernese Oberland, where farms, villages, and quiet valleys have held family stories for generations. Heritage connections within the group help shape meaningful encounters with ancestral regions, homesteads, and communities before the day settles near Lake Thun.
Overnight: Lake Thun Region
DAY 3 • September 16, 2027
Land, Faith, and From Valley to River
Spend another day in the Emmental, listening for the deeper stories held in its fields, lanes, and villages. Family roots, faith, identity, and belonging come into focus as you travel through meaningful landscapes. At Trachselwald Castle, reflect on endurance, migration, and the wider currents of European history.
Overnight: Sumiswald Region
DAY 4 • September 17, 2027
From Valley to River
Arrive in Bern, where medieval arcades and the curving Aare River invite a slower rhythm. As these waters move north toward the Rhine, the journey turns from ancestral valleys toward a wider river story. The evening leaves space to wander, reflect, and enjoy the capital’s beauty.
Overnight: Bern
DAY 5 • September 18, 2027
Swiss Stories Meet the Current
Travel from Bern to Basel, where the waters of the Aare meet the Rhine. Here, the journey shifts from land to river. Board the elegant AmaFiora and settle into your stateroom. As the ship departs in the evening, you begin following the Rhine northward—continuing the story that began in the Swiss valleys.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Basel)
DAY 6 • September 19, 2027
Cultures Carried Across Borders
The Upper Rhine opens into Alsace, a region shaped by vineyards, borderlands, and centuries of French and German influence. Storybook villages and layered traditions reveal how rivers carry culture across frontiers. In Breisach, enjoy a walking tour of storybook Colmar, a scenic countryside bike ride, or a hike through the volcanic vineyards and landscapes of the Kaiserstuhl region. By evening, Strasbourg welcomes you with canals, timber-framed houses, and its soaring cathedral.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Breisach)
DAY 7 • September 20, 2027
Where Frontiers Shape Identity
Spend the day in Strasbourg, a city where language, faith, and identity have long met along the Rhine frontier. In the lanes of the UNESCO-listed La Petite France and beside quiet canals, history feels close at hand. Explore the charming Alsatian streets, and Notre Dame Cathedral on a walking tour, or see the city and Parc de l’Orangerie by guided bike ride. This evening, the ship continues north, carrying the journey into new landscapes.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Strasbourg)
DAY 8 • September 21, 2027
Learning Above the River
Travel inland to Heidelberg, where a hilltop castle watches over Germany’s oldest university town and the Neckar River. Here, the Rhine story widens to include learning, beauty, and resilience. From Ludwigshafen, choose a Heidelberg city and castle tour, a Philosopher’s Path hike, a bike ride to Ladenburg, or a visit to historic Speyer. By evening, arrive in Rüdesheim, where vineyards climb the slopes above the river.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Ludwigshafen - Rüdesheim)
DAY 9 • September 22, 2027
Through the Storied Gorge
Begin in lively Rüdesheim before sailing into the Rhine Gorge, one of Europe’s most storied river landscapes. In Rüdesheim, take a gondola ride and Riesling tasting, hike through the vineyards, or bike along the Rhine before sailing through the castle-lined Rhine Gorge to Lahnstein for a visit to Lahneck Castle.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Rüdesheim - Rhine Gorge - Lahnstein)
DAY 10 • September 23, 2027
Faith Along the River
The Rhine leads onward to Cologne, one of its great historic cities. Here, faith, commerce, and river life have met for centuries. Stand before the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, then wander the Old Town, where each street adds another voice to the river’s continuing story, then discover Düsseldorf on a walking tour or active bike ride.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Monheim - Düsseldorf)
DAY 11 • September 24, 2027
Where Water Meets the World
In the Netherlands, the river landscape opens into canals, lowlands, and waterways woven into daily life. Begin in Utrecht with a walking tour or beer tasting, then sail to Amsterdam for either a scenic canal cruise or a tasting-focused stroll past canals, gabled houses, bridges, and houseboats. Arriving by afternoon, the journey reaches a city shaped by water and global connection.
Overnight: Aboard Ship (Utrecht - Amsterdam)
DAY 12 • September 25, 2027
Departure from Amsterdam
Disembark in Amsterdam, where the Rhine’s long journey reaches toward the North Sea. As farewells are shared, the memories of Swiss valleys, ancestral places, castle-lined banks, and river cities remain. You depart carrying a deeper sense of how water, migration, and faith shaped Europe’s heart.
Pricing
Stateroom Categories
Total tour fare based on shared and single occupancy.
Early Bird Rate: Save 10% off your Tour Fare until September 14, 2026 (per person)
-
Shared Occupancy (per person):
$7,689 USD | $10,610 CAD
Single Occupancy (per person):
$9,991 USD | $13,788 CAD
-
Shared Occupancy (per person):
$9,238 USD | $12,748 CAD
Single Occupancy (per person):
$13,602 USD | $18,771 CAD
-
Shared Occupancy (per person):
$9,838 USD | $13,576 CAD
Single Occupancy (per person):
$14,502 USD | $20,013 CAD
-
Shared Occupancy (per person):
$10,238 USD | $14,128 CAD
Single Occupancy (per person):
$15,102 USD | $20,841 CAD
Optional Amsterdam Heritage Extension
An optional custom-designed Amsterdam extension will be available following the cruise, offering additional opportunities for cultural exploration, Mennonite heritage connections, and time to experience the city beyond the river itinerary. Details and pricing available upon request.
What’s Included
PRE-CRUISE LAND TOUR IN SWITZERLAND4 nights in thoughtfully curated properties chosen for their comfort, quality, regional character, and sense of place
Daily breakfasts and most dinners, including a thoughtfully selected group lunch
Heritage and cultural experiences guided by TourMagination experts and knowledgeable local guides
All excursions, sightseeing, and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary (including gratuities)
Gratuities for included meals, guides, and driver services
Comfortable, private motorcoach and local transportation throughout
LUXURY RIVER CRUISE ON THE RHINE RIVER 7 nights aboard the AmaFiora in your selected stateroom
All onboard gourmet meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Regionally inspired, award-winning dining prepared with locally-sourced ingredients
The Chef’s Table specialty dining experience
Complimentary wine, beer, and cocktails with lunch and dinner
Personalized service from a dedicated Cruise Manager and professional crew
Guided shore excursions and wellness activities in every destination with knowledgeable local guides
What’s Not Included
International airfare and associated taxes or fees
Airport Transfers
Port charge of $280 USD (per person)
Select meals and beverages during the pre-cruise land portion (water is included)
Visas, entry permits, and any required digital travel authorizations (if required)
Optional excursions, activities, transportation, and personal purchases
Gratuities for hotel staff, cruise crew, porters and personal services not explicitly included
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
TOUR EXPERT
John Sharp
Historian · Author · Educator · Pastor · Storyteller · Curious Traveler
John Sharp is a retired historian who taught at Hesston College in Kansas. He previously served as Director of the Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee and Archives. John holds an M.Div. from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and has 15 years of experience as a pastor.
He has been an instructor for Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) courses on Amish life and culture and a frequent presenter for lifelong learning programs. His books include My Calling to Fulfill: The Orie O. Miller Story (Herald Press, 2015) and The Bible as Story: An Introduction to Biblical Literature (WorkPlay Publishing, 2017). Since 2000, John has led numerous TourMagination heritage tours to Western Europe, Prague and Poland, and Central Asia.
Questions?
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or by phone at (877) 668-2732.