Fairytale Castles & The Bavarian Alps

We meet at our Departure Office in London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival, change trains and continue to Stuttgart for an overnight stay.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

We continue to Bavaria by rail (Standard Class) today. One of Germany's most popular regions, Bavaria is known for its stunning natural landscapes, studded with fairytale castles and quaint medieval towns. We arrive in Füssen on Germany's Romantic Road, set in an idyllic location in front of the Bavarian Alps, where we check into the 4-Star Hotel Schlosskrone in the heart of the town.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, and on Day 4, you are at leisure to soak up the quintessential Bavarian charm of Füssen. Füssen found on the banks of the Lech River and near the Forggensee lake, with its settlement dating back to the times of the Roman Empire. The town is filled with delightful buildings with rust-coloured red roofs and squares of bars, cafés and restaurants. Well worth a visit is the pretty St. Mang's Abbey. This wonderful old Benedictine Monastery boasts ornate plasterwork and splendid interiors within its noble old buildings. With the town itself being used as a retreat for the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg, there are strong religious connotations here, and St. Mang's Abbey is a demonstration of the wealth which the visiting Prince-Bishops bestowed upon the region.

• Day 3 - Breakfast
• Day 4 - Breakfast

Today we enjoy one of the region's most popular rail journeys, as we take an excursion on the Zugspitze Railway, reaching the summit of Zugspitze - which at 9,718 ft (2,962 m) is the highest mountain in Germany. Our train departs from the town centre and climbs along the mountain base, passing the Eibsee Lake as well as 'Hell Valley', named so thanks to it's narrow gorge that gives way to steep valley walls, on its way to the Zugspitzplatt, situated by the impressive Schneeferner glacier. Boasting of the title of Germany's largest glacier, this is a popular place for skiers after being formed in the 'Little Ice Age' in the 19th century.

From here our journey continues by cable car (weather permitting) high above the dense forests to the very summit of Zugspitze. The rocky peak offers breathtaking panoramic views over Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. We pause at Eibsee on our descent, where you have free time to soak up the natural beauty of the lake before returning to our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today's full-day excursion is arguably the highlight of our tour, as we visit 2 of Europe's most beautiful castles. We begin with a visit to King Ludwig's marvellous childhood home of Hohenschwangau. Situated on a verdant and tree covered hill, this yellow fortress is covered in towers and turrets that lend an air of the fanciful to the entire building. Here, we learn about the fascinating history of the two structures. Hohenschwangau was built on the site of the 12thcentury Schwanstein Fortress, but fell into disrepair during the 18th century. It was sold, and then lovingly reconstructed by Ludwig's father in the 1830s.

From here Ludwig planned his own larger, more impressive castle, just a stone's throw away: Neuschwanstein. We continue to this spectacular building, bristling with turrets and parapets, for a guided tour. The castle was the inspiration behind one of the most famous castles in modern times - the famed Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. Surprisingly enough, for the time it was built, Neuschwanstein was equipped with many modern conveniences, but incredibly was only occupied for 170 days before Ludwig was deposed. We take in the opulence of this awe-inspiring palace - one of Germany's most popular attractions - with its sumptuous wood carvings, beautiful chandeliers and lavish paintings which adorn the majestic rooms.

Day 7 is spent at leisure in picture-book Füssen. The nearby Forggensee lake is an attractive proposition, with the town itself having many transport links to this gentle lake where you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Munich, the capital of Bavaria. The city has a wonderful collection of museums, art galleries and architectural treasures.

• Day 6 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 7 - Breakfast

This morning we visit the mysterious Church of Weis, a remarkable building whose immaculate Rococco architecture is found nestled among the deep forests of Bavaria. Its magnificent halls are classic examples of Bavarian Rococo architecture, featuring ornate and curved stonework, vibrant and luxurious colours and shimmering golden furnishings. It's been a church of pilgrimage ever since the neighbouring hamlet experienced a miracle when tears appeared on a wooden figure of Christ, and its significance earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983.

In the afternoon, we visit Linderhof, the smallest palace commissioned by Ludwig II. The whole complex incorporates a range of architectural influences and here we explore the striking Hall of Mirrors which was supposedly used by the king as a type of living room, he was known to spend a lot of his time sat here reading solemnly, candles would burn through the night and create a unique atmosphere because of the myriad of reflections generated in the room.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Füssen today, we travel to Nuremberg (Standard Class), where you have some free time to explore the attractive city. You may like to visit the Old Town, which dates back to medieval times and boasts several wonderful Gothic Churches. We spend the night at a local hotel.

On Day 10 we travel to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar service to London.

• Day 9 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 10 - Breakfast, Eurostar Meal