The Trans Europ Express 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels, travelling in Standard Premier Class with a light meal and drinks served to your seat. Changing in Brussels, we continue in First Class on a high-speed service to Germany and the cathedral city of Cologne. Here we stay for two nights at the 4-star Maritim Hotel, located in a convenient position at Heumarkt, just steps from the Rhine and the charming Old Town. (E,D)

Today we head up the Rhine's right bank into the Siebengebirge Hills to the wine town of Königswinter. It was on the Drachenfels rock that the legendary hero Siegfried slew the Dragon in the epic poem. Königswinter is also the home of Germany's oldest cog railway, the Drachenfelsbahn. Opened in 1883, in just less than a mile the railway trundles from its base station to an elevation of almost 300m and a height difference of 220m (722 feet), past the turrets of Drachenburg Palace to the summit, where the ruined Drachenfels Castle and a newly-built restaurant offer splendid panoramas of the Siebengebirge hills and the mighty Rhine below. An afternoon at leisure affords time to explore Cologne further. Just across Heumarkt Square from our hotel is the Old Town, whose pavement cafés and cobbled streets meander towards the riverside. Be sure to sample a local Kölsch beer, a speciality of Cologne, in one of the many brewery taverns, take in the history of Eau de Cologne at the Farina House Museum or admire the beauty of Cologne's Romanesque churches. The jewel in the city's crown is unmistakably its majestic cathedral, one of Germany's most famous buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage site. (B,D)

This morning we board the Trans Europ Express 'Rheingold' train. Sit back and experience the pioneering age of high-speed rail travel, as the 'Rheingold' speeds effortlessly through picturesque landscapes along the banks of the Rhine. Following the river's bends, the train heads through scenic riverside towns towards Koblenz, from where the Rhine Gorge opens up and reveals protective castles perched on countless hilltops. Vineyards line the hillsides and riverbanks as far as the eye can see in a region which is passionate about wine. In keeping with the legends of this mighty river, the Lorelei Rock comes into view on the opposite bank at St Goarshausen, where the mythical mermaid enticed boats to their peril. Leaving the Rhine behind, we head south through Bavaria to arguably Germany's most attractive big city, Munich. Here we stay for one night at the Maritim Hotel, conveniently close to the station and the city's main sights. After time to settle in, why not head for Marienplatz, the city's exquisite main square, overshadowed by one of Germany's most ornate town halls, or visit Munich's most famous establishment, the Hofbräuhaus, where the local brew is accompanied by oompah bands and a convivial Bavarian atmosphere? (B,D)

The Trans Europ Express 'Rheingold' continues its journey south today through Bavaria, with the Bavarian Alps looming in the distance and the more spectacular Austrian Alps approaching ever closer. Reaching the Inn Valley, we head for Kitzbühel, Austria's most famous holiday resort, where we stay for three nights in the Astoria Hotel. Ahead of dinner, why not explore the quaint streets, lined with colourful houses, set within a high mountain portrait of the Kitzbüheler Horn and the Hahnenkamm mountains? (B,D)

Today we depart Kitzbühel by coach on Austria's most spectacularly scenic road excursion. The coach navigates a series of dramatic winding bends, with an ever more breathtaking view at each turn, as we enter the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park to ascend Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner. 48 km in length, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road reaches its peak at Franz Josef's Hohe - 2,347m (7,700 feet), where a fantastic viewpoint displays the Grossglockner in its full glory, as well as the longest glacier in the eastern Alps, the Pasterze. Keep a close eye out for the marmots which inhabit this inhospitable yet breathtakingly beautiful terrain, before we descend through the mountains. We make a stop in the wonderfully scenic village of Heiligenblut during our descent. Perched above alpine meadows, surrounded by a dramatic glacial valley, the pilgrimage church of St Vinzenz is reputed to contain a relic of Christ's holy blood, brought here in the 10th century, giving the village its name - 'Holy Blood'. (B,D)

Today's excursion heads westwards through the Inn Valley to the town of Jenbach, where we join the Achenseebahn Cog Railway for a wonderfully scenic steep ascent by heritage steam train from the valley floor into the mountains to Lake Achensee, the largest lake in the Austrian Tyrol. Opened in 1889, the Achenseebahn is Europe's oldest steam-powered cog railway and still operates with beautifully restored carriages dating back to the 1890s. The route takes us high into the mountain to the lakeside itself, where you can relax with a walk along the promenade or maybe take one of the boats for a cruise across Achensee's still waters. (B,D)

Our journey on the Trans Europ Express 'Rheingold' resumes today as we retrace our tracks into Germany, heading for the university city of Heidelberg. Heidelberg has long been popular with British tourists, not least because of its splendidly romantic setting, overlooked by a spectacular castle and nestled on the banks of the River Neckar. An ancient seat of learning, Heidelberg has been home to Germany's most famous university since its founding in 1386. Heidelberg's biggest attraction is undoubtedly its castle, perched on a promontory overlooking the town. Heidelberg was also the setting for Romberg's Student Prince operetta and we get a feel for the unique flair of the city ahead of dinner with a guided walking tour of the Old Town. We stay tonight at the 4* Crowne Plaza Hotel Heidelberg, conveniently situated close to the station and in the centre of town. (B,D)

*Our May departure arrives in Heidelberg to coincide with the Heidelberg Castle illumination display.

The final part of our journey on the heritage Trans Europ Express transports us from Heidelberg to Cologne. In Cologne we change onto a more modern high speed train bound for Brussels, travelling in First Class. In Brussels we board the Eurostar for St Pancras. (B,E)
 
E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday