Group Tour Operator and DMC for the Rhine Valley, Germany

Depart the UK

Drive to Dover and take a short sea crossing to Calais or Dunkerque.  Continue through France and into Belgium for an overnight stop.  Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Travel to Rhine Valley

Continue after breakfast through Belgium, via Liege and over the border with Germany, passing Aachen and on to the hotel in  Rüdesheim for the next 5 nights.  Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Rüdesheim Sightseeing and Rhine Cruise (Driver’s rest day)

Rüdesheim is one of the most famous riverside towns on the Rhine, and with good reason. Take a stroll along the famous Drosselgasse, a lively, narrow cobbled street with bars, cafes and restaurants. Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum to see and hear some remarkable musical instruments (entrance cost extra payable locally). You may want to take a ride in a cable car over the vineyards to the Niederwald monument high above the town for some magnificent views of the vineyards and river.

In the afternoon, embark on a round trip cruise along the Rhine passing castles, vineyards and the famous Loreley Rock in the middle of the river.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Heidelberg Castle and Neckar Cruise

Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest and most famous university town with a combination of the beautiful setting on the River Neckar, the picturesque Old Town, and the half-ruined castle sitting in its prominent hilltop position, attracts around 12 million visitors each year. Entrance is included to the castle but guided tours are optional. Look out for the ‘Heidelberg Tun’, the world’s largest wine barrel.

After the visit there will be some free time for lunch before enjoying a scenic cruise along the River Neckar to see the city from a different perspective.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Koblenz and Moselle Cruise

At the famous ‘German Corner’, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers converge, lies Koblenz, one of Germany’s oldest and most beautiful towns. From here, follow the Moselle river by road to the ancient town of Cochem with its famous gates and the fairytale Reichsburg Castle rising above the town.  The town enjoys a wonderful setting in one of the most romantic parts of the Moselle Valley, where the river curves between the Eifel and the Hunsruck Mountains.  There’s time to explore the many medieval squares and lovingly restored houses before embarking on a relaxing round-trip cruise on the Moselle which is surrounded by vineyards and charming villages.

Before returning to Rüdesheim we can arrange an optional wine tasting at the famous Anton Hammes winery, who have been producing wines since 1946 (please ask for details).

Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Frankfurt, Main Cruise and Eberbach Monastery

Travel into Frankfurt, perhaps best known as financial and conference city, has a magnificent old town to explore before embarking on a round trip cruise on the Main River with views of the famous skyline of skyscrapers.  In contrast, on the opposite bank is the historic district of Old Saschenhausen, home to Frankfurt’s famous apfelwein restaurants.

On the way back, make a stop at the preserved 12^th century monastery of Eberbach including  a wine tasting in the monk’s wine cellars.

Return to the hotel for dinner and final evening in Germany.

Depart Germany

Depart after breakfast, retracing our steps into Belgium for an overnight stop.  Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Return to the UK

Continue the homeward journey, travelling into France and the ferry port and take the short sea crossing back to the UK.