Little Boats and Trains of the Rhine

5 days from £ 664 *

Little Boats & Trains of the Rhine

Little Boats & Trains of the Rhine - 4*

New for 2023

Brand new for 2023, stay in the elegant 4* Maritim Hotel in Königswinter over looking the Rhine and join us on a journey through scenery of rolling hills, terraced vineyards and picturesque villages to discover the spectacular Rhine Valley, steeped in history and legend. This break offers a wonderful way to enjoy picturesquel landscapes, old world charm and a friendly welcome. Königswinter is a riverside resort town, located at the foot of the Drachenfels (Dragon Rock) mountain and makes an excellent base to explore this picturesque region. Surrounded by vineyards, this is a wine town boasting one of the region's most beautiful Rhine promenades, ideal for a stroll to watch the endless flow of busy barges and pleasure boats pass by.

• Hotel for 4 nights with breakfast and dinner 
• Porterage 
• Tea / coffee after dinner
• Excursions and train fares as stated
• Ride on Drachenfels Rack Railway
• One-way ticket on Vulkan Express Narrow Gauge Railway
• Rhine Cruise Königswinter - Linz
• Entrance to Andernach Geyser with museum & boat trip
• Visit to Cologne with guided walking tour in the Old Town

Itinerary

Day One :

After joining your holiday coach, you travel to Dover for the short sea crossing to Calais, then continue to Germany via the auto-routes of France and Belgium and onto Königswinter. Arrive at the hotel this evening where dinner awaits. DBB

Day Two - Four :

At leisure in Königswinter with three included excursions

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

Drachenfels Railway & Rhine Cruise

It is just a short walk (10 mins) to the base station for the 1.5km ride up to the legendary Drachenfels on Germany's oldest rack railway which has been operating since 1883. Enjoy the comfortable ascent which takes you 220 metres up an incline of (in parts) 22% to admire the breathtaking views of the romantic Rhine Valley from the summit of the 321m high mountain. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing Rhine cruise from Königswinter to enchanting Linz, the medieval 'colourful town on the Rhine' with its lively old town, cobbled alleyways, pretty timbered houses and Linz castle. Your coach will take you back to the hotel in time for dinner.

Vulkan Express & Andernach Geyser

A ride on the privately owned, narrow gauge Vulkan Express is a very special experience. Although named 'express', it is actually a rather slow moving train (diesel service) which takes 90 minutes to travel 11 miles down the Brohl Valley from the volcanic Eifel mountains. So there is time to relax and take in the beautiful scenery such as the volcanic Laach Lake formed millions of years ago. The line opened in 1902 and re-opened in 1953 after it was closed during WW2. Your coach awaits in Brohl to continue on to Andernach to visit the world's highest cold-water geyser, a spectacular natural phenomenon which erupts every 2 hours with an impressive water jet shooting 200ft into the air. Unlike hot-water geysers, which eject water through the steam pressure, this cold-water geyser is driven by carbonic acid. Your visit starts at the Geysir Museum which explains the science behind this geological sensation before a boat takes you to the Namedyer Werth nature reserve for the eruption.

Day in Cologne

Explore Cologne known for its magnificent cathedral, its world famous carnival, kölsch (Cologne's signature beer) and so much more. The city on the Rhine will wow you with its genuine joie de vivre and local history and architecture from its ancient Roman wall to a new post-modern quarter right on the Rhine. The city's attractions are led by the UNESCO World Heritage Site and world-class religious edifice, the landmark Cologne Cathedral whose filigree twin spires dominate the skyline - entrance fee applies to visit the Treasury and to climb the South Tower (533 steps!). A local English speaking guide will take you on a 90-minute walking tour of the Old Town. Many of Cologne's most important sights are concentrated within one square kilometre around the Cathedral, including the town hall and the old town with the Romanesque church of Groß St. Martin. In the old town's narrow cobblestone lanes and lively squares such as Alter Markt, you will get a feeling for life in Cologne past and present.

Day Five  :

An early start takes you back to Calais and the return ferry crossing to Dover, arriving home during the evening.

Hotel information

Further Information

Coach seating arrangements

Your seats on the main coach will be allocated for you in advance, taking into consideration any special requests wherever possible. Your Tour Manager or driver will advise you where to sit as you board the coach. This will be your seat for the duration of the tour. (Seats are not allocated on any connecting services to and from the main coach.)

Joining your holiday

Your final travel documents, including the exact time and place of departure, will be sent to you approximately 7 days prior to departure, providing all payments have been made. We are unable to give exact departure times before this.

Meal arrangements

Where meals are not included, your Tour Manager will ensure there are suitable stops made for you to purchase and enjoy lunch and/or dinner each day.

Triple rooms

The majority of these consist of a double bed and an extra bed that is often only suitable for children. If this is a concern, you may wish to consider booking more than one room for your group.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Single Room Supplement

Single rooms may be available from £ 80.00 

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