Romantic Road and Bavarian Alps

We meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing to Würzburg for two nights.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

We journey along the famous Romantic Road, a picturesque route lined with fairytale scenery of half-timbered villages, soaring forests and enchanting castles. We travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a guided tour immerses us in the local culture and heritage; this is a destination which still celebrates its storied past, in particular, medieval music. This is followed by a private visit to the town's magical Christmas Museum. Celebrating all things festive, a guide explains the history of the different decorations, as well as giving us time to look around the gift shop.

• Breakfast

We discover Würzburg on a walking tour, exploring the wealth of beauty the city has to offer in its cobbled streets and grand Baroque architecture. We see the ostentations Residence Palace, the Cathedral of St Kilian as well as enjoying spectacular riverside views of Fortress Marienberg. Later, we travel by rail to Füssen for five nights, set amongst the rugged Bavarian Alps. Perched on the banks of the Lech River, Füssen offers a snapshot of traditional German life, with its pretty squares and its cobbled streets.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We visit two of Europe's most stunning castles, beginning at King Ludwig's childhood home, Hohenschwangau. Set on a verdant hill, this honey-coloured fortress is covered in towers and turrets. We continue to Neuschwanstein for a guided tour. This castle is known worldwide for its extravagance, and was famously the inspiration behind the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. We enjoy time to wander the different state rooms and galleries, taking in the opulence of the wood carvings, beautiful chandeliers and lavish paintings. On the way back to Füssen, we stop off at a local brauhaus and brewery for a guided tour of the facility and a tasting of the excellent beer. Staying on site for dinner, we're treated to a spread of Bavarian specialties, served with locally-brewed beer and overlooking the gorgeous scenery of the Bavarian Alps.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your day is free in Füssen to explore this picture-book destination home to colourful houses, medieval walls and historic churches. It's also home to an impressive Gothic castle, Hohes Schloss, which houses a wonderful regional art museum, or you could make a visit to the Museum of St Mang's Abbey, detailing the history of the town's historic violin and lute-making heritage. You could also unwind at one of the popular pavement cafés for a slice of authentic Bavarian life alongside a helping of Prinzregententorte or Semmelschmarrn.

• Breakfast

We journey on the Zugspitze Mountain Railway to the summit of Zugspitze - the highest peak in Germany. Running through gentle countryside of flat, fertile farmland and glorious meadows, we continue past a scattering of small villages before the line begins its ascent, using a rack-and-pinion system to negotiate the steep gradient. Once we reach the base of the mountain, the scenery becomes ever-more dramatic, with the spiky, snow-covered crags towering over the dense patches of woodland below. After pausing at Eibsee, our journey continues into the mountains, using a series of wide curves to gain height as we pass Eibsee Lake and 'Hell Valley', where a narrow gorge gives way to steep valley walls. We arrive at Zugspitzplatt and continue by cable car to the summit for panoramic views over Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The mysterious Church of Wies is our destination this morning. Found nestled among the deep forests of Bavaria, its magnificent halls are classic examples of Bavarian Rococo architecture and feature ornate stonework and golden furnishings. Later, we visit Linderhof, the smallest palace commissioned by Ludwig II. Adorned with gold, the king's bed chamber is a masterpiece itself, draped with luxurious cloth and extravagant carvings. We also see the striking Hall of Mirrors, the 'Moorish Kiosk' - bedecked with a glass chandelier, marble fountain and peacock throne - and the castle's extensive parkland, home to the Grotto of Venus, which was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser".

• Breakfast, Dinner

We return to Cologne on the train for an overnight stay.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Checking out of our hotel, we transfer to the station for our journey to Brussels. Here, we connect with the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal