Day 1: Following your home taxi pick up, we join our platinum executive tour coach and make our way to Kent for the channel crossing to France. Our journey then takes us through Belgium into Germany and to Boppard, our destination for the next 5 nights. Dinner this evening will be a buffet style, including a welcome glass of wine.
Day 2: This morning we cross the river and head to the ‘wine town’ of Rüdesheim, home to the vibrant ‘Drosselgasse’, a narrow alley lined with restaurants, shops and bars, many playing traditional Rhineland music and the perfect place to enjoy a glass of local wine or beer. En-route we make a quick stop at the Loreley rock viewpoint. The Loreley is the centre of several fairy tales, myths and legends. The most famous is probably the one about a blond, long-haired girl named Loreley, sitting on the rock above the Rhine and brushing her golden hair while singing a sweet melody. Her face and the vocals were so enchanting that the skippers looked up to the Loreley and drove towards the dangerous reefs, rocks and shoals of the Rhine. (weather permitting). We continue our journey to Rüdesheim, one of the most famous resorts in the Rhine Valley. Here, the Christmas Market will be in full swing. Set in the Old Quarter and beautifully decorated with twinkling Christmas lights, Rüdesheim is the perfect festive destination where you'll find a market consisting of 120 stalls selling a large collection of food and gifts perfect for that unique Christmas present.
Day 3: (Christmas Eve) – This morning we will be taken on a leisurely stroll into Boppard to see the local sights. Whilst out an ‘umtrunk’ will be served which is German for a social drink. Following the walk, lunch will be served at the hotel. We then make the short journey to Norwich’s Twin city of Koblenz which is famed for the mighty Ehrenbrietstein Fortress. At the famous Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, where the Rhine and Moselle converge, lies one of Germany's oldest and most beautiful cities: Koblenz. Vineyards, forests and four mountain ranges form the unique backdrop to this 2,000-year-old city. French joie de vivre and German tradition have produced a truly unique cultural fusion in Koblenz, characterised by cosy wine taverns, narrow alleyways, romantic spots and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Points of interest include the Guard House, which dates back to 1689, and the Schängel fountain, which stands in the courtyard of the Town Hall and is one of the city's main landmarks. We will have a few hours to explore before returning to our hotel for a traditional German Christmas Eve dinner, accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine while a pianist is playing Christmas carols.
Day 4: (Christmas Day) - Merry Christmas to you all! Enjoy a Christmas buffet breakfast and then perhaps take a stroll in Boppard before returning for your traditional 3 course Christmas buffet lunch where we will also receive a small gift. This afternoon we enjoy a return journey on the Hunsruck Mountain Railway. The journey is one of the most delightful mountain railway routes in Germany, and we will travel over 2 viaducts and through 5 tunnels as it takes us through Boppard’s forest. The rail track was opened in 1908 and was formally a rack railway. On its way to Buchholz, it climbs more than 300 metres in 5 miles. On the way back we will stop at Cäcilien Höhe viewpoint and enjoy a glass of mulled wine. This evening’s festive buffet dinner is followed by dancing with live music in the Klosterkeller bar.
Day 5: Boxing Day - After breakfast, we board a river cruiser for a relaxing cruise along the Rhine. We then return to the hotel for a traditional German speciality lunch of Pea Soup and Frankfurter. This afternoon will be spent at leisure. This evening, we enjoy our farewell buffet dinner.
Day 6: Sadly this morning we say”auf weidersein” to our hotel and make our way back to France for our crossing to Kent. Upon arrival we continue our journey back to Norfolk where our taxi service will be waiting to return you home.
Festive programme is subject to change
Holiday Information:
5 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1066pp (Please note the price increase from the brochure price due to the German Government VAT increase)
Single Supplement: £180 (Limited Availability) (Will be allocated a double room for sole occupancy)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: EUR1853
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure