Autumn Along the Rhine: Munich's Oktoberfest

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Schiphol International Airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station to your riverboat; check-in time aboard ship is 4:00 PM for all guests. After a discovery briefing where you'll hear about your travels ahead, join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner aboard your riverboat.

Enjoy a privately guided cruise aboard a canal boat along Amsterdam's 17th-century canals, the heart of the old city. Take in the houseboats along the waterways, the curving bridges, the historic houses that line the banks – and watch Amsterdam's many bicyclists zipping through the streets bordering the canals. Then, take to the streets for a walking tour starting at Westerkerk and ending at Centraal Station, a major international railway hub. Back aboard the ship, enjoy lunch and an afternoon of cruising as your ship charts a course for Nijmegen, which you'll arrive at this evening.

Spend the morning sailing to Düsseldorf, enjoying a talk by your Tauck Director. After lunch, dock in Düsseldorf, a city with a thriving fashion and art scene, and disembark for a walking tour of Old Town, stopping to sample local craft beers. You'll also have free time in town; possibilities include checking out the modern buildings designed by some of the world's leading architects in the revitalized district along the Rhine, visiting Museum Kunstpalast, or strolling the city's high-end shopping street, Königsallee. Return to your ship for dinner.

Spend the day cruising along the Middle Rhine – "the Romantic Rhine" – passing countless castles and fortresses standing watch over the river. Your riverboat is surrounded by splendid scenery; lush vineyards cover the hillsides and historic towns line the riverbanks, seemingly unchanged by time. Late this afternoon, your ship arrives in Rudesheim, where a choice of included activities awaits you on shore. Choose between either a guided walk of the town alongside your Tour Director or an active walk to the Niederwalk Monument, constructed to commemorate the founding of the German Empire in the late 19th-century. Enjoy entertainment onboard your ship this evening.

Dock in Mannheim this morning for a drive to Heidelberg on the Neckar River. A guided tour of Heidelberg Castle introduces you to the picturesque ruins of a pink sandstone edifice centuries old, sprawling high on a hill with breathtaking views of the river. Take a funicular down the hill to Old Town Heidelberg for a Tauck Exclusive beer-pairing lunch of local dishes at an award-winning brewery where you'll meet the brew master. Return to your ship and sail on this evening.

Your riverboat arrives in Strasbourg, a jumping-off point for exploring the Alsatian countryside. Blanketed with vineyards and dotted with historic wine villages, Alsace has a distinct personality – a blend of German and French influences – shaped by centuries of shifting borders. Since World War II, Alsace has been part of France, but many locals consider themselves "Alsatian" first and foremost. Discover this beautiful region on a guided tour beginning at the Place de la République, the city's main square. From there, continue to the grand cathedral (when available) and the storybook Petite France quarter. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local restaurant before returning to your riverboat for an afternoon and evening of sailing.

Dock in Basel this morning for a day in Switzerland, with a choice of excursions. One option takes you to the base of Mt. Pilatus for a gondola ride to the summit – soaring nearly 7,000 feet. After taking in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and villages, descend on the world's steepest cogwheel railway, a thrilling journey through spectacular alpine scenery. Continue on to lakeside Lucerne for an orientation tour, featuring the Renaissance paintings inside the iconic covered Chapel Bridge and the poignant Lion Monument. Alternatively, you may choose to stay in Basel, exploring this lively city on a guided tour of its medieval squares and notable landmarks, followed by time to discover on your own. Back aboard ship, enjoy your captain's farewell reception and dinner this evening.

Disembark your riverboat for a drive through Switzerland and Germany en route to the legendary city of Munich; pause along the way in the lakeside town of Lindau, on Lake Konstanz, for lunch. Upon arrival in the Bavarian capital, prepare for tomorrow's Oktoberfest with an authentic dirndl and lederhosen fitting – a chance to experience the pride and pageantry of Bavarian tradition firsthand. If you wish, explore Munich at your leisure this evening, perhaps dining at one of the city's many restaurants.

This morning, get dressed up in your lederhosen or dirndl for a full Oktoberfest experience. There are "Oktoberfest" celebrations all over the world, but until you experience the festival in Munich, where the tradition began, you haven't really "done" Oktoberfest – a unique mix of beer consumption, Bavarian feasting, live brass bands, communal singing, and dancing. It all started in 1810 when a royal couple invited the citizens to their wedding festivities on the fields in front of the city. The event was so popular that it took on a life of its own. Today, Munich's Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world – nearly 7 million people attend annually. Tauck has reserved seats for you in the center of the action, in a private section in one of the exclusive brewery tents for a three-course lunch, traditional Bavarian live music – including the Ein Prosit toasting song – and lots of festive fun. Word to the wise: the local breweries make an especially strong beer just for Oktoberfest, so pace yourself, or choose to drink a radler (half lemonade, half beer). Shuttles will run back to your hotel after lunch until the evening – allowing you to stay as long as you please. A casual dinner awaits at your hotel when you return.