Romantic Rhine and Moselle Valleys

Depart the UK

Travel to Hull and take the relaxing overnight cruise ferry to Rotterdam, enjoying many of the on board facilities including bars, eateries and entertainment.  Settle into your cabin as you cross the North Sea.

Alternatively, make the short sea ferry crossing from Dover to France and make an overnight stop enroute in Belgium.

Travel to Boppard

Prepare for an early disembarkation and make your way to Boppard via a stop in Koblenz en route.  This is an historic town nestled at the ‘German Corner’ where the rivers of the Rhine and Moselle converge.  Check in at your hotel in Boppard before enjoying dinner together.

Boppard to Sankt Goar – Rhine Cruise (coach not required)

Meet up with a local guide for a walking tour of Boppard to discover its stories,  secrets and medieval history. It’s visually one of the most beautiful towns in the World Heritage Rhine Gorge.  From the Roman fort to the medieval castle, Boppard has many architectural gems to admire. You can also enjoy the scenic views of the river and the hills from the Vierseenblick lookout. Boppard is also famous for its wine, especially the Boppard Hamm, the largest vineyard in the Middle Rhine valley.

After some free time/lunch step aboard one of many excursion ships for a romantic river cruise to Sankt Goar.  The journey takes about one and a half hours and you will witness magnificent scenery, the splendour of medieval times and some fine tributes to German history. In all, there are six castles on this short route alone: the Kurtrierische Burg in Boppard, Liebenstein with Sterrenberg directly beneath in Kamp-Bornhofen, Maus near St. Goarshausen, Fortress Rheinfels near St. Goar, and Katz Castle above St. Goarshausen.  Most of these old fortresses and castles are now in private ownership, but some of them can be viewed and a few have museums.

The tiny town of St. Goar has unique attractions to surprise you at every turn. Among them is the largest free-hanging cuckoo clock in the world! Hanging outside a souvenir store, this clock is around 3.5 meter high and 2 meter wide. Every hour, the little figures in the clock spin and of course, the cuckoo makes its appearance. This clock also has two faces. If you wish to purchase souvenirs to remember your holiday in St.Goar and Germany, this place is your one-stop shop.

Step aboard the ship once again, for the journey back to Boppard.

Cochem and Moselle Cruise

Take a scenic drive over the Hunsrück low mountain range to the ancient medieval Moselle town of Cochem. 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 Hunsrück mountains.  The town is overlooked by the fairytale Reichsburg Castle.

There’s time to explore the old town to see the medieval squares, the beautiful baroque styled town hall built in 1739, the market-place with its ‘Martin’s Fountain’, and the old gabled houses built on steep, narrow alleys.

Embark on a relaxing panoramic cruise on the Moselle, view the gorgeous vineyards, charming villages with their half-timbered houses and enjoy the landscape tranquility and serenity whilst you cruise along the river.

After the cruise, board the coach and return to Boppard with a stop in Alken at the famous Anton Hammes winery for a tasting of 4 or 5 wines.  The Hammes family have been producing wines since 1846.

Romantic Rüdesheim and Brandy Distillery

Rüdesheim is one of the most famous riverside towns on the Rhine. 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 or take the chairlift over the vineyards to the Germania Monument high above the town for some magnificent views.

After some free time to explore the town, make the short drive to the nearby Asbach Brandy Visitor Centre for a tour and tasting of the famous brandy, which has been produced here since 1892.

Then it’s back to Boppard for our final evening.

Return to the UK

The time has come to leave the beautiful Moselle and Rhine valleys.  Drive to the port of Rotterdam (stopping enroute in Holland for some lunch).  Board the ferry for the overnight crossing to the UK, once again enjoying the facilities on board.  Disembark in Hull early the following morning and travel home.

If you are using the Calais to Dover ferry crossing, then return via Belgium for an overnight stop before continuing to Calais the following day for the short sea crossing to the UK.