We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels. Our journey continues by train to Trier via Luxembourg, where we stay for the next four nights at the family-run Hotel Deutscher Hof. We enjoy a welcoming glass of punch on arrival and dinner at the hotel. (D)

Today we depart by rail to Cochem, the Moselle Valley's most visited town. Along with a small Christmas Market, Cochem features a magnificent 1,000-year-old fairytale castle towering above vine-covered hillsides. Cochem's Old Town is a quaint square featuring halftimbered buildings and charming shops. During this time of year, the Market Square is alive with shopkeepers selling everything from glühwein to handmade trinkets. We also enjoy tasting the region's famous wines. (B)

Today you have a day at leisure to explore Trier's Christmas Market - one of the best in Germany. Trier claims to be Germany's oldest town and features stunning Roman architecture. The Porta Nigra, the largest Roman Gate north of the Alps and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, is simply not to be missed. (B)

After a hearty breakfast, we depart by coach for a full day excursion to Bernkastel-Kues, the famous 700- year old wine town straddling the Moselle. Bernkastel features a lovely market square adorned with several fascinating fountains. Bibliophiles should be sure to visit the St Nikolaus hospital library, which houses many ancient books. We visit Bernkastel's Christmas Market and enjoy a second wine tasting before heading back to our hotel for dinner. (B,D)

We leave Trier by train for Brussels via Luxembourg. Here we join the Eurostar service to St Pancras International. (B)

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

All prices are per person and assume full occupancy of the room.
Please always refer to the website for up-to-date prices and availability.

Can there be a more civilised way to travel than by rail?

Viewing an ever-changing landscape from the comfort of your seat is surely the finest way to travel. When travelling by train, your journey is an integral and delightful part of your holiday experience. What you see from your seat is as much part of the holiday as arriving at the destination.

The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris and Lille in France as well as Brussels in Belgium.

The First Class coaches are divided between Business Premier class and Leisure Select (soon to be re-named 'Standard Premier Class'), which is essentially Eurostar's equivalent First Class service for leisure, rather than business travellers. In your dedicated Leisure Select (Standard Premier Class) carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. Pick up a complimentary newspaper or magazine and look forward to your holiday in your spacious, comfortable seat. As part of the service you'll enjoy drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

Passengers travelling in Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet, which sells a range of snacks, meals, hot and cold drinks - including champagne!

More than fifteen years ago, Eurostar changed the way that people travel to Paris and Brussels forever. The rail service, which directly links the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel, started operating in 1994.

Eurostar launched services from its new London station, St. Pancras International, and from Ebbsfleet International in Kent in November 2007 with the completion of the second section of the UK's first high-speed line. Following the move, Eurostar's fastest journey times have fallen with London-Paris taking 2 hours 15 minutes, London-Brussels 1 hour 51 minutes and London-Lille just 1 hour 20 minutes.

Travelling at up to 186mph (299km/h), Eurostar speeds through the Kent countryside before diving into the 31.4 mile (50.5km) long Channel Tunnel in Kent and emerging in Coquelles in northern France. From here the train travels to Lille before heading on to Paris or Brussels. From the heart of London to the heart of these great European cities, Eurostar services allow travellers to avoid long queues, lengthy transfers and the hassles of air travel while arriving at our destination more quickly than ever.

Our hotels have been chosen based on their location, the facilities and value for money. Where possible we select hotels with individual style and character, preferably run by local families as we find this gives our hotels a friendlier, more personal feel. We have worked with many of our hotels for over a decade.

The 3-star family-run Hotel Deutscher Hof puts you right in the centre of Trier. The Imperial Thermal Baths, the Amphitheatre and Porta Nigra are a short walk away. The hotel features a restaurant offering a range of meals, and also has a beer lounge, skittle alley, sauna zone with a Finnish sauna, tepidarium, steam bath and jacuzzi. Rooms are fully equipped with modern conveniences such as satellite television, radio, telephone and hairdryer.

• What's Included
• Standard Class rail travelthroughout
• 4 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast each day
• 2 dinners
• 2 full day excursions
• All transfers
• Services of your Tour Manager throughout
• Single room prices include the supplement for single occupancy throughout: £90

• Cancellation, medical & travel insurance from £21

Make even more of your holiday with some of these upgrades designed to make your holiday even easier. 

Upgrade to First Class accommodation on Eurostar (Leisure Select Class with a complimentary meal and drinks). Please contact us for a quote.

We can book UK rail tickets from your local station to London to join your holiday. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes. Detailed below are our specially negotiated Standard Class off-peak return prices to London, based on your county of departure. Prices to non-London joining point (ie Edinburgh, Torquay and Holyhead) and prices for First Class travel are also available - please ask us for a quotation.

Prices are per person and are subject to change without notice.

We are able to book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow or Gatwick Airport for the night before your holiday. The hotels listed below are some of the more popular hotels our customers book, others available on request.

Prices are based on 2 sharing a twin room in May 2009, subject to availability. Prices may change without prior notice. Booking conditions apply.

If you wish to avoid taking your cases to and from London, we recommend Carry My Luggage. Carry My Luggage collects your suitcase from a few days before departure and delivers it to your main hotel. The system also works in reverse with luggage delivered to your home a few days after your return to the UK. Please note that Carry My Luggage do not deliver to all the countries we operate in. Prices and further details are available on request.

This page was printed from www.greatrail.com/tours/markets-of-the-moselle-valley-2010.aspx on 11 September 2010.
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