A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

LeShuttle to Calais and on to our hotel in Belgium, where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

We continue our journey, stopping along the way in the Koblenz. Situated at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine Rivers and the Rhineland Valley, this historic city is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights here include the Baroque town hall, colourful Old Town and the hilltop Ehrenbreitstein fortress. A trip over the Rhine via cable car is a must, too! Later, we check into the Rheinstein Hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein, our base for the next five nights.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

After breakfast, we start with a memorable Rhine cruise, which affords fantastic photo opportunities of the famous Loreley Rock on the opposite side of the river. We meander from Rudesheim, past terraced vineyards and charming villages to St Goar, home to the impressive Rheinfels Castle. We then re-join the coach and head to Boppard for free time, so you can stretch your legs amongst the pristine, fairytale-like buildings, before returning to the hotel with a scenic drive through the magnificent Rhine Valley. Dinner has not been included at the hotel this evening, giving you the opportunity to dine at your leisure in one of Rudesheim’s many restaurants.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

Take the chance to relax at the hotel, use the indoor pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi at our hotel’s sister property (the Rheinhotel, locally-payable charge applies) or explore the local sights of Rudesheim am Rhein. Celebrated for its winemaking, there’s plenty to discover! Head to Drosselgasse, a famous alleyway lined with traditional taverns and restaurants, for a taste of local cuisine and music, take the cable car up to Niederwald Monument for breathtaking views of the Rhine Valley and be sure to sample some of the region’s famous Rieslings.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

Today we travel to Engeln for our railway journey on the Vulkan Express, a narrow-gauge railway that takes us up into the beautiful Eifel Mountains and on to Brohl-Lutzing, offering some spectacular photo opportunities along the way.

We also spend time in charming Cochem. Surrounded by steep vineyards, this lovely town of half-timbered houses and winding streets also boasts a flower-bedecked promenade and a magnificent castle that rises dramatically above the town.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

After breakfast, we head to the beautiful town of Heidelberg. Built on the banks of the River Neckar, the city is surrounded by lush green hills and boasts a castle and Baroque-style Old Town full of grand and beautifully-preserved buildings. Choose to spend the time exploring at your own pace, or you may wish to purchase the optional entrance to the mighty fortress, accompanied by a guide. Perched high above the city, there’s plenty to see, such as the inner courtyard, pretty garden, residence ruins and the famous giant barrel. Your optional ticket also includes a trip on the Heidelberger Bergbahn, a historic funicular railway which connects the city to the fortress. Sit back and enjoy the panoramic vistas of the Neckar and beyond, before exploring more of Heidelberg at your leisure.

A Rhine Valley Discovery – Inclusive

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head to Calais for our journey home on LeShuttle.

Ride the heritage Vulkan Express, a narrow-gauge railway threading the Brohl Valley between the Rhine and the Eifel Mountains. Settle by the window as carriages climb through orchards, basalt cuttings and tiny halts, revealing volcanic landscapes shaped by fire and time.

Dating from the early 20th century, the line showcases rural engineering with stone bridges and sweeping views. The unhurried pace invites photography and conversation as villages, mills and wooded slopes unfold in a living postcard of Rhineland countryside.

Explore Cochem Old Town, a riverside maze of half-timbered houses, slate roofs and the flower-trimmed Moselle promenade. Wander market squares and wine taverns as the silhouette of Reichsburg Castle watches from its hilltop above steep, sun-warmed vines.

Trace centuries of trade along the Moselle while sampling the region’s character—stone alleys, bell towers and Riesling culture that permeates daily life. Look for classic photo angles across the river bend, where boats and bridges frame the town’s storybook profile.

Walk Heidelberg Old Town beside the Neckar, following Baroque streets along the elegant Hauptstraße and over the Karl Theodor Old Bridge. Browse boutiques and cafés near the Church of the Holy Spirit, amid squares animated by centuries of university tradition.

Romantic vistas rise from the riverside to the ruined castle on the hill, inspiring artists and writers since the 18th century. Architectural details and lively student energy give the Altstadt a cultured, walkable charm that rewards curiosity at every turn.

Visit Koblenz at the Deutsches Eck, where the Rhine meets the Moselle beneath the equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Gaze across to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and the river-spanning cable cars within the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

Amble through pastel streets to the Baroque town hall and lively squares like Gorresplatz and Jesuitenplatz. Time permitting, you may choose to cross the river by cable car (local cost) for sweeping city and confluence views from the fortress plateau.

Ascend by the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular to Heidelberg Castle for a guided visit, available at additional cost and bookable on tour (£29pp). Explore atmospheric courtyards, terrace gardens and the vast Great Barrel before pausing for panoramic views over the Neckar and the Old Bridge.

Ruined towers and Renaissance facades narrate wars and princely ambition, while museum rooms and arcades hint at courtly life. The combined ticket streamlines access and the ascent, letting you focus on layered history and the cityscape.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Rhine Valley, with curated stops to pause for photos and reflection over vine-carved slopes and meandering bends. Continue to Boppard Old Town to stroll cobbled lanes, Roman walls and a breezy riverside promenade lined with cafés and wine taverns.

Learn how the famed Bopparder Hamm vineyard loop shapes local Rieslings and the town’s relaxed rhythm. Architecture ranges from Gothic churches to handsome squares, creating a compact setting that rewards unhurried wandering and riverside people-watching.

Cruise the River Rhine from Rudesheim to St Goar, gliding past terraced Riesling vineyards, timbered villages and castle-crowned cliffs within the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Photograph the slate banks and the storied Loreley Rock as river traffic slips by and bells echo across the water.

Make landfall near mighty Rheinfels Castle, once the largest fortress on the Rhine, and feel the river’s medieval trade-route history come alive. Commentary and unbroken views turn this gentle voyage into a masterclass in landscape, legend and river life.