Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound) 2025 - 8 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel

Call Us 800.528.9300

Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound) 2025

8 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel



Tour Description:

Fairytale settings await on every Rhine River cruise, but an Active & Discovery cruise wit Avalon immerses you in new, interactive ways. As you glide from untouched villages to touching cities throughout Holland, Germany and France, our range of excursions, from Classic to Discovery to Active options, presents the opportunity to move at your desired pace and be moved at every turn.

Clifftop castles, rolling vineyards, and cobblestone lanes become even more enchanting when you experience them from the seat of a bicycle or an artist’s stool. From culinary walks and beer tours to cave, castle and kayaking explorations, you choose exactly how to toast the joys of the Rhine and your moving journey on it.


Move.
Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:

•Paddle through the canals of Amsterdam on a kayak.
•Take an E-Bike tour surrounded by beautiful vineyards at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
•Follow the road less traveled on an exciting hike along Heidelberg’s Philosophers’ Way.


And Be Moved.
Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:

•Discover your inner artist at an Amsterdam painting class inspired by the Dutch masters.
•Explore the lava caverns on a one-of-a-kind volcano encounter below the town of Mendig.
•Join a foodie tour through Strasbourg to discover the cuisine of France’s Alsace region.

Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.

Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Rhine.

Map for Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound) 2025 - 8 Day River Cruise Amsterdam to Basel
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing

Friday 16 May 25 — Saturday 24 May 25Starting at $3,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 23 May 25 — Saturday 31 May 25Starting at $3,499Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 06 Jun 25 — Saturday 14 Jun 25Starting at $3,249Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 13 Jun 25 — Saturday 21 Jun 25Starting at $3,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 04 Jul 25 — Saturday 12 Jul 25Starting at $3,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 25 Jul 25 — Saturday 02 Aug 25Starting at $3,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 05 Sep 25 — Saturday 13 Sep 25Starting at $3,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 19 Sep 25 — Saturday 27 Sep 25Starting at $3,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 03 Oct 25 — Saturday 11 Oct 25Starting at $3,649Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 10 Oct 25 — Saturday 18 Oct 25Starting at $4,299Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Amsterdam (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Amsterdam: Choice of painting class, or kayak tour or canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour
Day 3 Düsseldorf: Choice of guided city sightseeing, or biking tour, or culinary tour
Day 4 Koblenz–Rhine Gorge: Choice of Koblenz walking tour and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with cable car ride, or Volcano Tour experience, or e-biking tour in the vineyards; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breath-taking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; private reception at Rheinstein Castle
Day 5 Speyer. Excursion to Heidelberg: Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with tasting of local special-ties, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers’ Way, or beer tour
Day 6 Kehl. Excursion to Strasbourg: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or culinary walk, or active walk along the river
Day 7 Breisach. Excursion to Black Forest: Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or e-bike tour in the Black Forest or Freiburg guided tour
Day 8 Basel (Disembarkation): Your cruise ends this morning
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.

ITINERARY

Day 1
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION) How Suite It Is! Welcome Aboard Your Avalon Suite Ship®. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. You may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure the colorful cafés, galleries, bridges, and canals. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM AMSTERDAM-ZAANSE-SCHANS.jpg

Day 2
AMSTERDAM Colorful Canals of Amsterdam Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host. ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Kayak Tour for an adventure which will provide you a unique perspective of the “Venice of the North” from the waters of its magnificent canals, OR: DISCOVERY 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, OR: DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Class and be inspired by the masters’ techniques. Paint your own canvas and discover your inner artist, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Canal Cruise to explore the iconic waterways and sites of Amsterdam. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing sailing on the Sky Deck. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DÜSSELDORF AMSTERDAM-KAYAKING.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 3
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY Avant-Garde Architecture and Amazing Altbiers ACTIVE Join a City Biking Tour to discover interesting stories about the sights and the city itself along the way, OR: DISCOVERY Experience Düsseldorf’s Old Town and get an insight into its culinary diversity, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Düsseldorf. Visit the Old Town, but also discover its spectacular subway line, where each station has an individual magic character. This afternoon you might take a Guided Optional Excursion to Düsseldorf’s microbreweries to try a variety of Altbiers. Later enjoy live entertainment on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KOBLENZ DUSSELDORF.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 4
KOBLENZ—RHINE GORGE Fortress Walls and Manor Halls Where the Rhine and Moselle Meet Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. ACTIVE Take a Guided E-Bike Tour in the vineyards surrounding this beautiful city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, OR: DISCOVERY For a unique experience, join us on an excursion to the “Lava City” of Mendig for a Volcano Encounter, including exploring the caverns and corridors where basalt (cold lava) was mined, OR: CLASSIC Enjoy a leisurely Guided Walk of ancient Koblenz, including a cable car ride to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for a spectacular panoramic view. En route to Bingen, 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. DISCOVERY Enjoy an experience fit for royalty during an exclusive private reception at Rheinstein Castle. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BINGEN RHINE-GORGE-RHEINSTEIN-CASTLE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 5
SPEYER. EXCURSIONS TO HEIDELBERG The World’s Biggest Wine Barrel and Famous Vineyards ACTIVE Follow the road less traveled on this exciting Guided Hike along the Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below, OR: DISCOVERY Learn about the art of beer making with an entertaining and exclusive Guided Tour of four breweries in and out of Old Heidelberg, 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. While visiting the city, also enjoy a tasting of local specialties. Enjoy live entertainment on board your ship this evening. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KEHL HEIDELBERG.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 6
KEHL. EXCURSION TO STRASBOURG, FRANCE A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France Ask about today’s energizing or relaxing Adventure Host activities. ACTIVE Enjoy a walking tour along the river and explore Strasbourg’s lovely European District around the Marne-Rhein Canal, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Culinary Walk to discover the Alsatian cuisine and traditions, so influenced by the unique history of a region, whose control alternated between Germany and France for centuries, OR: CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District. This afternoon choose one of the Optional Excursions available. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BREISACH STRASBOURG-PETIT-FRANCE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 7
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest ACTIVE Take a Guided E-bike Tour to experience the magical Black Forest from a unique point of view, OR: ACTIVE Join a Bike Ride north along the Rhine River toward the small fortified Medieval village of Burkheim, OR: 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: CLASSIC Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley. You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL BLACK-FOREST-SCENIC.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 8
BASEL (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Zürich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. BASEL-SUNRISE.jpg

Accommodations

AmsterdamAmsterdamZurich
Movenpick Amsterdam City
Superior First-Class

Hotel as shown or similar

Piet Heinkade 11 Amsterdam Netherlands

A stylish 408-room hotel in the perfect location, this waterfront property offers Free Wi-Fi internet access throughout. The chic restaurant serves creative international cuisine and there is a fabulous bar serving drinks and light snacks which is also a great spot for a nightcap. For relaxation there is a Lifestyle Studio featuring a gym, Finnish sauna, bio sauna & ice fountain.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.