Country Roads & European Gems

This 11-day guided tour whisks you through scenic Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. In Luxembourg, indulge in a farm-to-table feast at the horse-stables-turned-restaurant L'Écurie du Parc, then stroll past the 12th-Century Clervaux Castle after dinner. Climb to the top of the star-shaped Mardasson Monument for a birds-eye view of the fields where the World War II’s Battle of the Bulge was fought. Cruise through Amsterdam’s canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sailing past 16th-Century merchant houses and the iconic Magere Brug — the skinny, white-painted wood bridge over the Amstel River. Later, join a Local Expert at the Rijksmuseum, where you can view Rembrandt's ‘Night Watch’, and see a shoemaker whittle wood into traditional clogs.

Enjoy the best of Europe on a 14-night premium river cruise. Begin in Amsterdam before floating through some of Germany’s most beautiful towns along the Rhine River. Take in Vienna’s elegance and conclude your tour in Budapest, Hungary’s grand capital. 

 Your Fly, Tour & Cruise Package Includes:

• $3,400 flight credit per person
• 10-night Country Roads of Belgium, Luxembourg & the Netherlands with Insight Vacations, Brussels to Amsterdam
• Tour includes: 10 Breakfasts, 5 dinners, hand-picked stays, top rated highlights plus more
• 2 nights 4-star accommodation in Amsterdam
• 14-night European Gems cruise onboard Travelmarvel Polaris from Amsterdam to Budapest
• Includes 41 meals & beer and local wine during lunch and dinner on your cruise 
• Port charges, fees & taxes onboard your cruise
• 3 nights 4-star accommodation in Budapest  with breakfast
• Castle Hill - Walking Tour

Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 19 June - 18 July 2027

Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

Castle Hill - Walking Tour

Explore the historic Buda Castle District on this expertly guided walking tour in Budapest. Visit Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion while enjoying panoramic views over the Danube.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Welcome to Brussels

Airport transfers depart Brussels airport for your centrally located hotel. After checking in, the afternoon is yours to relax. Join your Travel Director for a visit to the cheeky Manneken Pis statue and a leisurely stroll around the Grand Place, voted the most beautiful square in Europe. Your delightful first evening also includes dinner at a local restaurant in the heart of the Old Town, with an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.

Day 2: The Battlefield of Waterloo or Chocolate Truffle Making Lesson

Explore Brussels with Insight Choice. Learn about Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo, or join a private chocolate truffle making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier, and further explore Brussels with a Local Expert. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to the lively city of Antwerp.

Day 3: Ghent and on to Bruges

In the morning, admire the contrast of the Chinese and Japanese Pavilions and the impressive, metallic spheres of the Atomium. Your journey then crosses the pasture lands of Flanders to reach Ghent, the City of Flowers, offering a fascinating cultural mix of medieval heritage and modern urban life. With a Local Expert, take a stroll through the historical streets and be mesmerised by the outstanding beauty of its quays, churches and squares. Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral, former home of the Eyck masterpiece, and see the Castle of the Counts. Continue to Bruges, where you'll stay for the next two nights. Meet your Local Expert in Bruges for a stroll along cobbled streets, lined with high-gabled houses from the 16th century. Visit the Market Square dominated by the 83 m (272 ft) medieval bell tower, the Belfry of Bruges. Explore Burg Square with its ornate Gothic town hall and glorious frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel.

Day 4: Bruges

Enjoy a relaxed start and leisurely morning to explore the city of Bruges at your own pace. With your free afternoon, perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the historic town of Ypres. Explore the market square and attend the famous Last Post Ceremony, commemorating the fallen Allied Forces on the surrounding Flanders Fields.

Day 5: Luxembourg

Travel into the French-speaking region of Wallonia, where picturesque country roads lead you to the late 19th-century Maredsous Abbey. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Molignée valley, the Benedictine monks have toiled for over 100 years to create a cultural household for arts and crafts and a successful school, brewery and cheese plant. Your visit concludes with a sample of freshly brewed beer and a taste of creamy, golden-crusted cheese. Continue on to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to arrive at your 18th-century château home for two nights. In the evening, you will be served a fresh and delicious Farm-to-Table dinner at restaurant Les Écuries du Parc. See the 12th-century Clervaux Castle illuminated on your stroll after dinner.

Day 6: Luxembourg City and Countryside

Your travels continue to Luxembourg City for sightseeing with your Local Expert this morning. Visit the grave of U.S. General George S. Patton, laid to rest alongside the men who fought and died in his great Third Army. Admire the view over the Petrusse Ravine from the Pont Adolphe and stroll through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Duke. The afternoon is free for you to explore Luxembourg City at your leisure, or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the ancient Roman city of Trier, birthplace of Karl Marx, to explore with a Local Expert. Later, return to your hotel in the stunning scenery of the Luxembourg Ardennes hills.

Day 7: Explore Bastogne then on to Rotterdam

Head for Bastogne to visit the Mardasson Monument, a star-shaped memorial dedicated to the U.S. troops who died during Battle of the Bulge in World War II. You may choose to climb to the top for a perspective of what it might have been like during the winter of 1944. Visit the Bastogne War Museum, a fascinating modern and interactive memorial centre highlighting the causes, events and consequences of WWII. Travel through all three Benelux countries today as your journey continues to Rotterdam, the world's largest port rebuilt after wartime devastation. During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the impressive market hall with its radical modern design and the Erasmus Bridge.

Day 8: Delft and The Hague

Visit the last remaining manufacturer of original Delft blue pottery before moving on to the Hague, the elegant governmental centre of the Netherlands. See where the Parliament is situated, and the impressive Peace Palace. Select departures visit Keukenhof Gardens, one of the world's largest flower gardens, an unforgettable experience not to be missed. Pass through picturesque villages and windmills of the Dutch countryside to Amsterdam for three fabulous nights. In the evening, join a dinner cruise through Amsterdam’s canals, where the menu reflects the city's longstanding Indonesian influence, a legacy of its colonial history. 

Day 9: Amsterdam Sightseeing

Explore Amsterdam at your own pace, where Golden Age architecture and centuries-old canals sit alongside contemporary city life. Stroll past 17th-century merchants’ houses, whose gabled facades tell the story of Amsterdam’s historic trading wealth. Alternatively, choose to venture into the Dutch countryside on an Optional Experience to IJsselmeer. Cruise across the lake to Marken and Volendam — two traditional communities known for their wooden houses, fishing heritage and regional dress. While there, you’ll have the chance to sample Dutch pancakes, a popular local speciality. In the evening, perhaps visit a canal-side cafe, browse an independent gallery or join an Optional Experience dinner. 

Day 10: A True Dutch Delight

Start the morning with a visit to the newly refurbished Rijksmuseum with a Local Expert, Amsterdam's famed treasure trove of Dutch art, housing Rembrandt's ‘Night Watch.' If you choose, continue your cultural exploration with a visit to the Van Loon Museum, an elegant 17th-century canal side house. Later, journey to the village of Monnikendam, learn the secrets of the cheesemaker's craft, from milk to the finished product. Then witness a traditional shoemaker turn a block of wood into clogs. In the evening, join your newfound friends and Travel Director for dinner at a beautiful restaurant in Monnikendam.

Day 11: Depart Amsterdam

Bid farewell to the Dutch capital and your fellow travellers as you transfer to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. 

Cruise Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Amsterdam, Embark Ship

Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to your river ship. Later this evening, join your Cruise Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Day 2: Amsterdam, Utrecht

Board a glass-top boat and glide through Amsterdam’s maze of waterways with a local guide, before enjoying some time at leisure. Afterwards, drive to Utrecht to rejoin your vessel for tonight’s special Gala Dinner.

Day 3: Cologne, Brühl

Learn how the twin spires of Cologne’s famous cathedral, the Kölner Dom, took over six centuries to complete as you cruise into this picturesque city. Disembark and take a short drive to Brühl for your Insider Experience. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the centre of Cologne at your leisure.

Insider Experience – Augustusburg Palace: Explore the former residence of Archbishop-Elector Clemens August, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Augustusburg Palace in Brühl. Hear fascinating stories and stroll through the landscaped parks and gardens linking the palace and the Falkenlust hunting lodge. Together, they are among the finest examples of 18th-century Rococo architecture in Germany.

Day 4: Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim

Experience a true holiday highlight as you cruise through the Rhine Gorge, considered the most scenic stretch of the Rhine. Your ship docks in Rüdesheim, where the Winzerexpress mini train takes you through the town to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Here, discover one of Germany’s finest collections of automated musical instruments.

Day 5: Miltenberg 

Enjoy free time in Miltenberg exploring this well-preserved town and its half-timbered buildings dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.

Day 6: Würzburg

Board a coach and travel through the rolling hills to Würzburg. Visit the magnificent Würzburg Residence, a Baroque palace renowned for its opulent interior, and stroll through the beautiful Court Gardens. Later, you may choose to enjoy an optional visit to Rothenburg.

Day 7: Bamberg

Spend a leisurely morning cruising the final stretch of the Main River before arriving in Bamberg. Enjoy a guided tour, during which you’ll see highlights such as the old town hall and Bamberg Cathedral, followed by free time to explore. Later this evening, your ship reaches the Main–Danube Canal.

Day 8: Nuremberg 

Explore Nuremberg, once the setting for Hitler’s infamous rallies. Wander its cobblestone streets, discovering hidden boutiques and artisan shops. Later, cruise the Main–Danube Canal, crossing Europe’s Continental Divide via its remarkable series of 16 locks.

Day 9: Regensburg

Having reached the Danube River overnight, arrive in Regensburg. Docked in the heart of town, spend the day exploring this charming city on a guided walking tour of its main sights. Later, you may choose to join an optional excursion to Kuchlbauer’s World of Beer in nearby Abensberg, a family-owned brewery featuring the distinctive Kuchlbauer Tower designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Insider Experience – Bavarian Evening on Board: This evening, enjoy an authentic Bavarian celebration on board, sampling local beer and snacks accompanied by traditional folk music, song and dance.

Day 10: Passau, Linz

As you enjoy breakfast, arrive in Passau, otherwise known as the 'City of Three Rivers', where the Ilz and Inn rivers meet the Danube. You may choose to join an optional excursion to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic, or travel to Salzburg. Alternatively, remain on board and enjoy a relaxing day sailing to Linz. 

Day 11: Melk, Dürnstein

After crossing into Austria, dock in Melk and join a guided tour of Melk Abbey. Since 1089, this Benedictine monastery has stood atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. Later, cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley to Dürnstein, a town overlooked by the hilltop ruins of the castle where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the 12th century. Enjoy the afternoon free to explore the cobbled streets, townhouses and taverns, or perhaps join an optional regional wine tasting.

Day 12: Vienna

In Vienna, join a guided walking tour taking in St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Graben, Hofburg and the Albertina museum. Afterwards, you may wish to visit the Naschmarkt. This evening, perhaps enjoy an optional concert featuring music from Mozart to The Sound of Music.

Day 13: Vienna

With the day at leisure, perhaps explore the Hofburg district or wander along Kärntner Straße, the city’s famous shopping boulevard. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Schloss Hof or travel to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Day 14: Budapest

Today, enjoy views of one of the Danube’s most enchanting riverside cities as your ship glides into the heart of Hungary’s capital. After breakfast, join a local guide for a tour of Budapest. Later, you may wish to join an optional visit to the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum.

Insider Experience – Hungarian State Opera Performance: Visit the Hungarian State Opera for a guided tour, then enjoy a glass of sparkling wine while a private opera recital is performed.

Day 15: Disembark Ship, Depart Budapest 

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Prices listed are per person in AUD, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 13-10-2026 and can be withdrawn without notice.   Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated.  Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included.  Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.