Alluring Rhine Valley, Germany

Discuss this fascinating rail holiday with our dedicated team of travel professionals, telephone: 01904 730 731

Day 1 - London to Remagen We depart St Pancras International on a late morning Eurostar service to Brussels. We continue on to Cologne on the highspeed train. Under the spires of Cologne cathedral, we transfer to a local train and travel along the banks of the Rhine to Remagen. We spend the next four nights at the 3* Hotel Pinger.

Day 2 - Ahr Valley Enjoy a day at leisure to explore at your own pace. One option is to take a walk along one of the signposted walking trails. Alternatively, today's optional excursion is on a local train along the Ahr Valley, a wine growing region renowned in Germany for its secluded, old world feel. Along the route we stop in the charming little town of Altenahr, on the river Ahr, before continuing on to Ahrweiler, the centre of the Ahr Valley's red wine production. We also include a wine tasting with one of the local vintners.

Day 3 - Königswinter & the Drachfelsbahn This morning we take a leisurely boat ride to the riverside town of Königswinter, nestled in stunning surroundings at the foot of the Siebengebirge hills. Rising above the town is the rocky outcrop known as the Drachenfels "Dragon's Cliff" topped by its striking ruined castle. After having spare time to explore we take a ride on the Drachenfelsbahn, Germany's oldest cog railway, connecting Königswinter with the summit of Drachenfels. Opened in 1883, the railway leads from the bottom of the valley, up steep inclines and a height difference of 722 feet (220m) in one mile (1.6km) of track. We return to Remagen by boat in time for dinner.

Day 4 - Boppard & the Rhine Gorge On our final day in Remagen we take an included excursion by train to the delightful wine town of Boppard. From here we enjoy a relaxing panoramic cruise to the winegrowing town of Oberwesel taking us along the most scenic part of the Rhine Gorge, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We pass the entrancing Lorelei Rock on the bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, which soars some 120 metres above the water line. We return to Remagen by rail, skirting the riverside beneath the lush vineyard slopes, a different castle seeming to appear around every corner.

Day 5 - Remagen to London We leave Remagen by train for Cologne, where we join the high-speed service to Brussels. Here we board our Eurostar to St Pancras International.