Great Little Trains of the Rhine Valley

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Great Little Trains of the Rhine Valley

Journey through a storybook landscape of towering hilltops, ancient castles, enchanting forests and old-world towns, which are all infused with history and legends, and bound together by the mighty Rhine. Our relaxing holiday is a wonderful way to see this famous river valley as we step aboard the Vulkan Express, a delightfully preserved railway that whisks you up the Eifel mountains. We also enjoy a journey on the Dragon Rock Railway, the home of German legend; ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the beautiful Ahr Valley; take a scenic boat trip along the Rhine; and discover the pretty wine town of Rüdesheim – all of which is enjoyed from our riverside base with rail travel throughout.

Holiday Highlights

Visit Bonn to explore its famous landmarks
Journey on the unforgettable Dragon Rock Railway
Visit the scenic beauty of the Ahr valley by rail
Experience a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Ahr valley
Journey on the historic Vulkan Express
Visit the riverside town of Rüdesheim by rail and cruise

What's Included

Return Eurostar from London to Brussels
Return rail from Brussels to Cologne and connecting rail journey to Remagen
Five nights’ half board accommodation in Remagen
Services of our experienced Tour Manager

Please note:

We cannot guarantee that all rail journeys will be steam hauled

Itinerary

Day 1: London – Remagen

We journey from London to Brussels by Eurostar, where we join the high-speed rail connection to Cologne. From here we take a local train along the Rhine to Remagen and check in at our hotel, our base for the next five nights.

Day 2: Bonn – Drachenfelfs Railway

Our rail journey today takes us to Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven and the former capital of western Germany. Bonn is a great place to explore, with a long and interesting history to discover before enjoying a scenic boat trip along the Rhine which takes us to Königswinter. From here we take a journey on a small train up the Drachenfels (Dragon Rock). This is the most famous of the seven Siebengebirge mountains and, according to legend, is where Siegfried slew the dragon that lived in a cave on the mountain. Although you aren’t likely to spot any dragons on your train ride, the scenery is striking. After a delightful return journey, we take a train and a ferry across the Rhine and return to our hotel.

Day 3: Ahr Valley

We travel by train along the Ahr valley, an area of broad plateaux and narrow gorges where picturesque half-timbered towns nestle in the landscape and castles crown hill summits. This is the most northerly of Germany’s wine-producing regions that is mostly dedicated to the production of red wines. Seldom is this wine exported so our special excursion to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler will give us the opportunity to sample some and purchase a souvenir bottle or two, as well as enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Day 4: Vulkan Express

We enjoy a nostalgic ride on the Vulkan Express, a privately owned narrow gauge train. The journey, through one of the most scenic valleys of the Rhine, takes 1½ hours, passing castles, crossing viaducts and going through a tunnel as we ascend the Eifel mountains to the village of Engeln.

Day 5: Rüdesheim

Today we travel through the Rhine Gorge by train, passing the legendary Lorelei to reach the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim. The Drosselgasse is the hub, lined with taverns serving the Rheingau region’s finest riesling wines. The Niederwald monument, which depicts the mythical figure of Germania, can be reached by cable car, where spectacular views of the Rhine valley and castles can be enjoyed. The ruins of Ehrenfels Castle is another idyllic location, surrounded by vineyards above the Rhine Gorge. After lunch we cruise along the Rhine river and pass the legendary Lorelei, which soars 120 meters above the river to St Gorshausen, and take the train back to Remagen.

Day 6: Remagen – London

We depart our hotel in the morning and retrace our route to Brussels, where we join Eurostar for the return to London.

HOTEL PINGER, REMAGEN

This 3 star establishment is owned by the Pinger family, who have been running hotels in the area since 1938. It is conveniently located close to the railway station and the town centre, and offers comfortable rooms all of which have en suites, TVs and telephones. Public areas include a restaurant, coffee shop, bar with seating area outside for relaxing, sauna and plunge pool. The hotel also has a lift.

Holiday provided by

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Day 3: Ahr Valley

Day 4: Vulkan Express

Day 5: Rüdesheim

Day 6: Remagen – London

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