Rhine Connoisseur: Brussels to Montreux - Southbound

Tour begins: 2:00 PM. A transfer is included from Brussels Airport to Tauck's riverboat, docked on the River Rhine. Join us for a panoramic tour of Brussels (on foot and by coach) prior to boarding the ship. Tonight, a discovery briefing precedes a cocktail reception and dinner with your fellow passengers aboard the ship.

Welcome to Antwerp! With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, the port city of Antwerp was one of Europe's most important cities in the mid-16th century. Home to the artist, Peter Paul Rubens, it welcomes with cobblestone charms, a riverside fortress, guildhalls and a Gothic cathedral that took almost two centuries to build. Join a local guide for historical walking tour of the Old Town visiting sites such as The Stone Castle, Meat Hall, the Mart Square and City Hall. After lunch aboard the ship, you'll have two excursions to choose from this afternoon. One takes you on a beer tasting tour throughtout the city, sampling different Belgian beers and local establishments and complimented by historical tidbits surrounding the country's rich beer history. Your other option is free time to explore Antwerp as you wish. Re-board your ship in Antwerp and enjoy dinner onboard at your leisure. 

Voted "the most beautiful fortified town in the Netherlands," Gorinchem was founded in 1,000 AD, fortified in the 13th and 14th centuries, and today boasts the largest fully intact fort in the Netherlands. Join our local guide for a walking tour of its historic heart, viewing its charming canals, the well-preserved Renaissance-style and medieval architecture, and pretty parks and gardens. Explore as you wish this afternoon, before joining us for a Tauck Exclusive reception and dinner at Slot Loevestein. Set in a nature reserve on a private island, the 14th-century castle has served as a prison, residence and toll taker, reigning unrivaled over its strategic location where the Maas and Waal rivers come together. Tonight it will be yours to enjoy as the island and castle are open for Tauck guests only.

Spend a leisurely day sailing the Rhine, enjoying the ship's amenities and various onboard activities with your Tauck Directors. Arrive in the late afternoon in Düsseldorf, one of Germany's wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) and avant-garde architecture. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of a walking tour focused on the city's history, architecture and culinary traditions, along with some tasty local treats; a bicycling excursion along the city's Rhine River waterfront; or a craft beer tour that visits a number of breweries to offer a sampling of the varieties of dark Altbier the region is known for. Dinner is at leisure onboard the riverboat this evening.

Spend a leisurely morning cruising through the Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region renowned for iconic landscapes crowned by castles and fortresses, along with terraced vineyards established more than 1,000 years on the steep slopes of the valley. The strategic location of this dramatic stretch of the Rhine between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz reflects its importance as a transportation route; the sixty small towns, terraced vineyards and the castles ruins found here reflect how prosperous this trade route once was since prehistoric times. Your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past vine-covered, terraced slopes, and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and ancient castles standing watch onshore. Arrive in Boppard this afternoon for a guided e-bike ride* or an orientation walk and a gondola ride. Enjoy dinner and musical entertainment onboard ship.

Disembark ship in the "chessboard city" of Mannheim, laid out in a grid formation in the 17th century, for a choice of included excursions. Join a local guide for a walking tour of modern-day Mannheim, rebuilt after WWII. See some of the city's internationally renowned wall mural art; visit Little Istanbul to learn about the importance of Turkish immigrants in German culture, and taste local specialties along the way. Or, visit 18th-century Mannheim Palace, one of the largest baroque palaces in Europe, reconstructed and restored after it was partly destroyed in World War II, on a guided tour. Join us for the Chef's Signature dinner on board tonight as the ship sails toward Strasbourg.

Spend the morning in Strasbourg, disembarking for a choice of excursions after breakfast. Blending Franco-Germanic culture, architecture, and ambiance, this Alsatian city is nestled on the Rhine across the border from Germany and boasts a compelling and complex history. Join a local guide for an epicurean-inspired walking tour of its city center, along with tastings of wine, cheese and other Alsatian specialties. See its Gothic-inspired Notre Dame Cathedral and half-timbered houses and explore its Petite France quarter, criss-crossed by canals and a swing bridge reminiscent of days gone by. Or do as the locals do and explore the sights by bicycle as your local guide leads the way. Have lunch onboard your riverboat as it sails for Basel.

Disembark your riverboat in Basel this morning and journey into the high Alps on a full-day adventure to Glacier 3000. Ascend by cable car to a breathtaking summit where snow crunches underfoot and panoramic views stretch to the Matterhorn and Mont-Blanc. Walk the Peak Walk by Tissot — the only suspension bridge in the world connecting two mountain peaks — or savor the vistas from the restaurant over lunch. Later this afternoon, descend from the glacier and continue to Montreux, where lake and mountain meet in effortless beauty. Check into your lakeside hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening on your own.

Wake up to the sparkling waters of Lake Geneva and choose your path today: wind through the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards aboard a mini train or on foot, stopping for a tasting of crisp local wines; or trace the footsteps of Freddie Mercury on a multimedia walking tour that celebrates Queen's creative legacy in Montreux. Later, you may opt to visit Chaplin's World, a museum-meets-movie-set that honors the genius and humanity of Charlie Chaplin. Or simply enjoy time at your leisure, soaking in the scenery or strolling the promenade. Tonight, gather for a farewell reception and dinner at your elegant hotel.

Tour ends: Montreux. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your hotel, Fairmont Montreux Palace, is included to Geneva Airport, or Geneva or Montreux train station. Allow three hours for flight check-in.