Rhine & Moselle Valleys Christmas Markets 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Brussels. On arrival in the Belgian capital, we continue on the high-speed service to Cologne, before heading along the Rhine Valley to the wine town of Boppard for a four-night stay at the Hotel Bellevue, where a welcome drink awaits. (D)

Today's excursion follows a scenic rail line along the banks of the Moselle Valley to Cochem. Along with a small Christmas Market, Cochem features a magnificent 1,000-year-old fairytale castle towering above the vine-covered hillsides. Cochem's Christmas Market takes place amidst the half-timbered buildings of the Old Town. We also enjoy a wine tasting with a local vintner before retracing our steps to the Rhine. (B,D)

You are free to spend today as you wish. Relax in the hotel, and make use of its leisure facilities, or perhaps explore the quaint town, which has a few remains from its time as a Roman settlement. The cities of Koblenz and Mainz are both within easy reach of Boppard by train and offer lovely Christmas Markets as well as a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Alternatively, take a ride on the local Hunsrückbahn Railway. The steepest standard gauge railway in Germany, the Hunsrückbahn climbs 984ft in the space of just 5 miles as it rises from Boppard to the village of Emmelshausen. (B)

Today we join one of the KD cruise ships for a magnificent journey through the Lorelei Valley. Our ship takes us past some beautiful scenery, with hilltop castles overlooking the rows of precious vines and unspoilt riverside villages below, as we make our way to Rüdesheim. Lunch on board is included. In Rüdesheim you are free to explore the pretty town and its 'Christmas Market of Nations', where more than 120 stalls represent 12 nations, their specialities and traditions. Along the Drosselgasse and in the Old Town, shops and stalls offer a variety of produce, and the town's winemakers open their cellars to serve wine and other winter treats. Another option is to take a cable car ride up through the vineyards for panoramic views or to visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. We return to Boppard by rail this evening. (B,L)

We transfer to Cologne by coach and then join the high speed rail service to Brussels. Here we join the connecting Eurostar back to St Pancras International. (B)

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