The Complete Four Seasons Collection 2023-24

T he G reat G erman R ail A le T rail

Back by popular demand our tour of German beers, from Düsseldorf’s Altbier to Cologne’s rival Kölsch plus Bockbier and even smoked ale. Discover a country with colourful regional differences of taste, language, culture and lifestyle. Prost!

9 DAYS

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ Welcome evening guided Altbier tour of Düsseldorf with beer tasting ★ Ride on the Schwebebahn ‘dingle-dangle’ railway ★ Steam to the top of the Brocken Mountain ★ Guided walking tour of picturesque Wernigerode ★ Visit the home of Bock beer in Einbeck ★ Guided sightseeing tour of historic Nuremberg ★ Tour, tasting and dinner at Nuremberg’s labyrinthine Alstadthof brewery ★ Tour the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg ★ Experience Schlenkerla smoked beer with lunch at the brewery restaurant ★ Uncover Munich’s brewing heritage at the Oktoberfest Museum ★ Enjoy lunch at the world famous Hofbräuhaus ★ Farewell Kölsch tasting beer tour and dinner a Cologne Brewery Tavern Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ Breakfast each day, 6 evening meal plus, 2 lunches ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager DAY 1 We depart London St. Pancras International and travel by Eurostar to Brussels and onward by train to Wuppertal . Early evening, we travel to nearby Düsseldorf learn about the city’s Altbier tradition on a guided walking tour of its charming brewery taverns . We return to Wuppertal for a

DEPARTS Saturday 7 October 2023

Fares From £2099

FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to / from Germany including Standard Eurostar

£2099 £2399 £199 £1949 £350

Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return First Class rail travel including Standard Premier Eurostar Join at Wuppertal & Leave at Cologne Single Traveller Supplement Fare inclusive of: 8 nights’ bed & breakfast, 6 evening meals, 2 lunches Standard Class rail travel and seat reservations where available (subject to selected rail travel option)

DAY 5 Today we leave Wernigerode and transfer by rail to Nuremburg . After checking into our hotel for the next three nights, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg that ends in style with a tour of the old cellar labyrinth of the Alstadthof brewery including dinner. (B,D) DAY 6 Today we visit the delightful city of Bamberg , whose cityscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bamberg is famous for its small breweries, arguably the most famous being the renowned Schlenkerla smoked beer. During our visit we enjoy a guided tour and lunch with a smoked beer at Schlenkerla’s quaint restaurant, before returning to Nuremberg for a free evening. (B,L)

All transfers, excursions, and admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

welcome evening meal at the Fleming’s Express Hotel. (D) DAY 2 An amazing and totally unique journey on Wuppertal’s century-old ‘space ships’ - the Schwebebahn elevated railway - before continuing to historic Wernigerode , the capital of the Harz Region, at the foot of the beautiful Harz Mountains and our hotel for next three nights at the HKK Hotel. (B,D) DAY 3 Today we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam hauled journey from Wernigerode through lush landscapes up to the summit of the Brocken mountain to Germany’s highest narrow-gauge station and the Harz region’s highest peak. Returning to Wernigerode, the remainder of the day is free to discover the market square in front of the picturesque town hall. Wander amidst the quaint half-timbered buildings overlooked by Wernigerode’s stunning castle. (B,D))

DAY 4 This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Wernigerode .We then continue to Einbeck by private coach to discover a handsome town whose 600 year old brewery is famous for strong Bockbier. Brewing tradition here dates back to the 14th century, when every citizen had the right to brew beer. With 700 brewers in town, the city council would purchase the excess, exporting it far and wide, leading to Einbeck’s international renown. (B,D)

DAY 8 Leaving Nuremberg, we head and to Cologne for a night at the Maritim Hotel. This evening we enjoy a Kölsch Beer tour with a local guide, ending with dinner at a traditional Kölsch brewery tavern. (B,D) DAY 9 We depart Germany, changing at Brussels for our onward Eurostar service to London St Pancras International. (B)

DAY 7 Heading southwards for the day, we arrive in Munich , learning about the city’s brewing history at the Oktoberfest Museum . After free time to explore the attractive centre around Marienplatz we enjoy a highlight with lunch at the famous Hofbräuhaus . In the 16th century Wilhelm V of Bavaria used to import Einbeck beer that he considered superior to the local brew, but eventually decided to found his own brewery in Munich, the Hofbräuhaus. (B,L)

HOTEL • Fleming’s Express Hotel, Wuppertal

• HKK Hotel, Wernigerode • NH Collection Nuremberg • Maritim Hotel, Cologne For further details of our Great German Rail Ale Trail hotels, please visit our website www.railtrail.co.uk

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Visit: www.railtrail.co.uk – for full tour details and fares, and to book online or call 01538 382323 – to book or to request a detailed tour itinerary