During the autumn grape harvest in the Rhine Gorge there are celebrations and firework displays to mark the new wine season. Our base is in beautiful parkland part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we explore Monschau, Ahrweiler, Boppard, Koblenz and the beautiful banks of the Rhine. On Saturday night we board a river boat in Boppard for dinner and cruise toward the Lorelei Rock, where the Rhine River Lights firework display will illuminate the night sky.

ITINERARY

Day 1 This morning we travel to Dover for our morning ferry to Calais. We then travel through France and into Belgium to our overnight hotel in Aachen.

Day 2 A day of beautiful scenery and pretty towns begins with a visit to Monschau, a charming town of half-timbered houses, narrow alleys and its own castle. We then travel east through the gentle hills of the Eifel Region to Ahrweiler. This is an attractive medieval town encircled by walls and criss-crossed by lanes lined with half-timbered houses. From here we continue across the Rhine and reach our hotel above Lahnstein, close to Koblenz.

Day 3 After a leisurely breakfast, we leave mid morning for a drive up the Rhine. We visit St Goar, a beautiful village on the riverside below the sprawling ruins of Rheinfels Castle, before returning to Boppard for free time to explore until we board our boat late afternoon. During the cruise toward the Lorelei we have included a rustic single course dinner and you will be entertained by music and dancing as the firework displays blossom overhead. (Drinks are not included). We return to our hotel late evening.

Day 4 Today we have a leisurely start before we travel the short distance to Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle. Stroll among the romantic narrow streets and alleyways, historic squares, and visit the Romanesque Basilica of St Kastor, the museums or just enjoy the shops and cafés.

Day 5 Leaving after breakfast, we make our way up to Calais for the late afternoon ferry to Dover and our return to the local area.