Your tour commences this evening in cosmopolitan Frankfurt. Join us tonight for a welcome drink before dinner in your hotel. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know, your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

Late morning we arrive in Charlemagne’s city of Aachen. Dating back 1,200 years this city is steeped in history. The soaring octagonal chapel, in the heart of the cathedral, is bathed in glorious gold frescoes and murals. This is one of Europe’s great cathedrals and the resting place of Charlemagne - Charles the Great, founder of the holy Roman Empire. Because of the grandeur it was also the coronation place of over 30 German kings, and was the first site in Germany to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. All around the Cathedral and the striking Gothic Town Hall are the squares and cobbled streets of the Altstadt – Old Town. Later we arrive into the wonderful town of Valkenburg where we stay the next three nights.  Dinner tonight is included in a local restaurant.

On arrival in Cologne we are joined by a local guide who will walk us through the old town’s narrow cobblestoned lanes and lively squares such as Alter Markt. The highlight will be a visit to the UNESCO Heritage listed, twin spired Cathedral and its remarkable Treasury, the biggest in Germany. Secreted away in the medieval crypt, the ancient artefacts, treasures that include gold and bejewelled crowns, orbs and sceptres are outstanding. Enjoy ‘My Time’ for lunch, and make sure you stroll along the Rheingarten - the river bank green strip with its pedestrian and bike pathways. Along here, and leading right through the pedestrianised old town, you will find a mesmerising array of restaurants, al fresco cafés and bars, all absolutely buzzing with locals.

In the afternoon we take a special detour to the nearby town of Brühl, where we enjoy a guided tour of the UNESCO heritage listed, Augustusburg Palace. Once the sumptuous residence of the prince-archbishops of Cologne, the interior of this grand rococo palace is sheer extravagance, and the grand staircase is a sight to behold. Behind the palace are ponds, waterways, fountains, ornate gardens and shady paths. Your evening is at leisure in Valkenburg.

A very leisurely start today. Mid-morning we drive to the hills north of Maastricht. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the incredible man-made labyrinth of cave tunnels and passageways deep below the St Pietersberg Hill, called the North Caves. Dating back hundreds of years, you will discover underground living areas, hideaways, charcoal murals and paintings on stone cavern walls. During the Napoleonic Wars the locals evaded the French down here. In WWII, allied servicemen were hidden here, locals used them as air raid shelters, and even the Dutch national artworks and priceless treasures were secreted away here. An amazing story. Lunchtime will be 'My Time' relaxing back in the lovely old town of Valkenburg, then mid-afternoon, we return to explore the beautiful, ancient city of Maastricht – birthplace and home to world-famous violinist André Rieu. Dating back to Roman times, and still retaining much of its defensive walls, this very pretty city will surprise and captivate you with its lively squares, stately buildings and narrow streets with excellent shopping and al fresco cafés.

Tonight truly promises to be a night to remember. After dinner in a local restaurant, we take our seats in the gorgeous medieval square for the fantastic hometown concert of the modern day ‘King of Waltz’, Andre Rieu, and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. These wonderful performances end with a firework display at midnight, after which we return to our hotel in nearby Valkenburg.

A leisurely start this morning after such a memorable evening last night. Later we drive through the Eifel National Park to the UNESCO listed city of Trier, where we will spend the next three nights. Dating back 2,000 years this city became important as Rome’s capital of the North.  Your hotel for the next 3 nights is located right in the heart of Trier.

This morning we are joined by a local guide for a walking tour of Trier, which is considered the oldest city in Germany. The city boasts no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, dating from the Roman times to the 13th century Gothic church. Most famous are the Porta Nigra gate, the Roman bridge and amphitheatre, and the acoustics in Constantine’s throne room in the Basilica are absolutely astounding. The Hauptmarkt, a large market square, is delightfully encircled by well-preserved Baroque and Renaissance townhouses. The rest of the day is ‘My Time’- to shop and amble along the broad pedestrian streets. Late afternoon we will take a scenic drive along a section of the Moselle River. First stop will be high up at Castle Burg Landshut, with its massive views down over the Moselle, and the beautiful town of Bernkastel-Kues. Later we enjoy a wine tasting in town before ‘My Time’ to discover your own little Moselle wine restaurant or Stube. The town is littered with historic half-timbered houses, with shops and restaurants, and picturesque little squares. This is the Moselle at its best.

This morning will be spent in the Duchy of Luxembourg. One of three official capitals of the EEC, it is also the seat of the European Court of Justice. The city is heavily influenced by France, Belgium and Germany, all of whom border this tiny nation. A local guide will show us around the sites and then the rest of the day is free to explore. Taking a different route back to Trier we reach Mettlach, where we take the Saarschleife treetop walking path through the forests to an extraordinary elevated lookout platform. They say the river loop here is the most beautiful in Germany, and from a height of 42 metres, the view across it is truly magnificent. As a finale, late afternoon, we stop in the pretty, waterfall town of Saarburg. In the middle of town is a large waterfall, surrounded by cafés and restaurants, and below the falls are a series of ancient wooden waterwheels. Very different!

Today, on our way to the Rhine, we visit the lower section of the Moselle. Dropping down to the river we drive through Bremm. Either side we are flanked by incredibly steep vineyards - the steepest in Europe. One set of vines sit at an incredible 68 degree angle, and they have to use scaffolding and ropes to enable harvesting! In the hills above the riverside town of Cochem we have included a visit to the Bundesbank Bunker Museum. A really strange place - it was the secret underground bunker of the German Federal Bank. It was not built for people, but as a gigantic, bomb proof vault keeping 15 billion Deutsche Mark safe in event of a fiscal or nuclear war. Amazingly, for its entire existence no one knew it was there. Lunchtime will be at leisure in the picturesque town below, with its famous castle looming high above. In the afternoon we also visit the iconic, perched castle of Burg Eltz. Dramatically positioned on top of a rocky promontory and lording magnificently over the forest, we enjoy a guided tour through the castle and staterooms.  Later we continue to the dramatic Rhine Valley where we stay the next three amazing nights right beside the Rhine River in Boppard.  Dinner tonight promises to be a special event as we dine in the old wine cellar cave located beneath our hotel.

Your Rhine Hotel, the Bellevue Rheinhotel, is an excellent ‘grand style’ hotel, beautifully set right on the river’s edge, and it boasts a delightful river side terrace café for relaxing through the long, evening twilight hours. Located in the pretty town of Boppard, in the heart of the most scenic section of the Rhine, it makes a perfect base for our regional excursions.

This morning we will drive down the Rhine to enjoy a short stop in beautiful Bacharach village, with streets of multi storied half-timbered houses.  Continuing on, we arrive in one of the most gorgeous Rhine towns, Rüdesheim. We will ride on a cable car up over terrace after terrace of manicured vineyards to the Niederwald monument. Set on a terrace high over the Rhine, this impressive 32-metrehigh monument of ‘Mother Germany’ commemorates the country’s unification. We have also included a leisurely lunch on the terrace of a nearby restaurant. Time to relax and savour the dazzling views down across the vine clad slopes to the River Rhine far below. Afterwards, you can either catch the cable car or enjoy a gentle walk down through the vineyards to Rüdesheim for ‘My Time’ to explore its old town, museums, squares, and narrow alleys.  The highlight will be the famous Drosselgasse. 144 metres long, this cobblestoned street is at the very heart of the town and is filled with historic buildings, bars restaurants and shops. 

As a finale we will enjoy a relaxing cruise on a historic paddle steamer down the Rhine, past the famous Lorelei Rock to Boppard where we disembark. This is the most scenic stretch of the Rhine with picturesque villages either side, and ruined castles perched high above hillsides covered with neat, terraced vineyards. Delightful!

Our morning will be spent in the ancient city of Koblenz. This is where the Rhine and Moselle rivers join, and on the junction is the giant equestrian statue of William I, the first German Emperor. Here we catch a cable car across the river and up to the huge Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. A local guide will take us through the fortress telling stories and breathing life into its centuries of history. Later, you will have free time to explore Koblenz’s beautiful old town with its riverside walk, picturesque courtyards and pretty squares.  Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner with views onto the River Rhine.

Your tour ends today after breakfast with a morning group transfer to Frankfurt airport and city centre. We recommend you book flights and trains that depart Frankfurt after 1pm.