Cologne & Rhine in Flames 2012 

We depart St Pancras for Brussels by Eurostar in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a complimentary light meal and drinks served at our seats, before transferring onto the high-speed line for the onward journey in Standard Class to Cologne. In Cologne we spend four nights at the 4-star Hotel Maritim, located in the historic Old Town. (E,D)

We begin our stay in the cathedral city with a guided walking tour of Cologne. Just steps away from our hotel lies the iconic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cologne itself is Germany's fourth largest city and one of the oldest, having been founded by the Romans in 38BC. It boasts many museums and Romanesque churches, and also a pleasant Old Town between the Alter Markt and the River Rhine. In the afternoon we transfer by coach into the Rhine Valley to the starting point of our 'Rhine in Flames' evening cruise. Each departure features a different section of the Rhine, with fantastic scenery during dusk, then illumination and fireworks after dark at points along the river, as we enjoy a meal and festivities on board. We return to our hotel in the early hours. (B,D)

Enjoy a day at leisure in Cologne, the capital of the Rhine region. Perhaps explore the Old Town with its pretty alleyways and brewery taverns, visit the city's truly superb chocolate museum, as well as the Farina House 'Eau de Cologne Museum'. (B)

A short rail journey today leads us to the riverside town of Königswinter, which is nestled beneath the Siebengebirge hills. Here we enjoy a return journey on Germany's oldest cog railway, the Drachenfelsbahn, which opened in 1883 and leads from the bottom station up steep inclines and a height difference of 722 feet (220m) to the Drachenfels ('Dragon Rock') and its ruined castle. (B,D)

Departing Cologne, we travel in Standard Class on the high-speed train to Brussels, where we rejoin the Eurostar service for London, travelling in Standard Premier Class. We enjoy a light meal and drinks on board before our arrival into St Pancras International. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday

The highlight of this tours is the spectacular 'Rhine in Flames' event, when a flotilla of ships will sail along the Rhine Gorge as darkness falls, with a blaze of fireworks illuminating the pretty riverside villages and hilltop castles. Each departure features a different section of the Rhine, with fantastic scenery during dusk, then illumination and fireworks after dark at points along the river.