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

Today we journey along the famous Romantic Road, a picturesque route of fairytale scenery - half-timbered villages, soaring forests and enchanting castles. We travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a guided tour immerses us in local culture, heritage and 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 beauty the city in its cobbled streets and grand Baroque architecture. We see the ostentatious Residence Palace, the Cathedral of St Kilian and enjoy riverside views of Fortress Marienberg. Later, we travel by rail to charming 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 pretty squares and 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 fantasy appearance and extravagant design, and was the inspiration behind the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. We have time to wander the different state rooms and galleries, taking in the opulence of the wood carvings, chandeliers and paintings. On the way back to Füssen, we stop off at a local brauhaus for a guided tour 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 town of 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, which details the town's violin and lute-making heritage. You could also unwind at one of the popular pavement cafés for a slice of authentic Bavarian Prinzregententorte, a luxurious multi-layered sponge cake covered in chocolate.

• Breakfast

We journey on the Zugspitze Mountain Railway to the breathtaking summit of Zugspitze - the highest mountain peak in Germany. Running through gentle countryside of flat, fertile farmland and glorious meadows, we pass 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 snow-covered crags towering over the dense patches of woodland below. After pausing at Eibsee, our journey continues into the mountains and we pass Eibsee Lake and 'Hell Valley'. We arrive at Zugspitzplatt and continue by cable car to the mountain's summit for wonderful panoramic views over Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The mysterious Church of Wies is our destination this morning. 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' - with its peacock throne - and the castle's extensive parkland.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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

Please Note: For departure 01/09/2023 you will overnight at the Radisson Blu Mannheim in Mannheim.

• 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