Belgium Steam Weekend 2012 

We depart from St Pancras International and travel by Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival in the Belgian capital we make our way to our base for four nights, the 4-star Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre. (D)

Today we travel by rail to Bruges, where we enjoy a guided tour and discover the remarkable history of the city. Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, and as we walk through the maze of winding cobbled alleys and along romantic canals, it is easy to see why. Following the tour you are free to explore Bruges as you wish - in the Church of Our Lady you can view one of Michelangelo's great works of art, the small but moving statue of the Madonna and Child. If you are feeling energetic you may wish to climb to the top of the Belfry for a bird's eye view of the city. This evening you are free for dinner in Brussels, so why not visit the Grand Place, one of the world's great market squares? (B)

Today we take the train to Mariembourg, where we join the heritage Three Valleys Steam Railway. This weekend it is their special steam festival, and numerous locomotives will be in service to mark this prestigious occasion. We enjoy a return journey to Treignes on the wonderful line, passing pretty woodland scenery as we absorb the ambience of the superb steam engines. (B)

Today's excursion takes us by coach to Valkenburg, a pretty town in the south of the Netherlands. On arrival we enjoy a guided walking tour of this charming town, during which we see its atmospheric castle ruins and the striking Wilhelmina Tower. We then descend to the Gemeentegrot (Town Cave), a set of huge caves mined since Roman times, for an exciting guided tour. Later we enjoy an enthralling steam-hauled* journey from Valkenburg on the South Limburg Railway. Our route takes us through the scenic hills of the region to Kerkrade near the German border. Back in Brussels, this evening we enjoy a final dinner together in the hotel. (B,D)

*Where possible the excursion will be steam hauled.

Following breakfast, today we take the Eurostar back to St Pancras International. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Where shown, these meals, are included in the price of your holiday

Featuring an array of steam locomotives from both Belgium and wider Europe, the Steam Gala is a celebrated highlight in the Three Valleys Railway calendar. There are many opportunities to photograph the engines and the diverse selection of rolling stock, many of which are only used for special occasions such as this.