Vacations By Rail
A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine
Nine-day Germany trip: Eurostar rail plus Danube, Main, Rhine cruise
9 daysfrom $3,199
33% rail
Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour
Dresden Steam Festival
Our tour to Dresden for the Steam festival has become an annual favourite. Enjoy lots of steam content over the 16th Festival weekend
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Aachen
Aachen
Early afternoon Eurostar from St Pancras London to Brussels where we connect to the high speed train to Aachen. Our hotel for tonight, the Ibis am Marschiertor, is just a short walk away. Dinner is included.
- Day 2overnight: Dresden
Onwards to Dresden
Travel via regional services and ICE from Aachen to Dresden. Our hotel for the next 5 nights is the IntercityHotel which is situated adjacent to the main station in Dresden.
- Day 3railovernight: Dresden
Dresden Steam Engine Festival
We have 2 days to spend at the festival. Exact details of the festival’s programme will be confirmed by the festival’s organisers closer to the time, but we can expect informative presentations, fascinating displays, steam loco cab rides, diesel engines at the Verkehrsmuseum, model trains and both historic and modern locos. We will have access to the festival area around the railway and Dresden traffic museums and entry also includes an evening, illuminated photo session of steam locomotives at Roundhouse 1, with commentary, and a steam journey ‘special’ (route details are still to be confirmed).
- Day 4railovernight: Dresden
Dresden Steam Engine Festival
Second day at the festival, with access to the festival area around the railway and Dresden traffic museums.
- Day 5overnight: Dresden
Weisseritztalbahn & Loessnitzgrundbahn
Today we make a return trip on the two local steam railways located on the outskirts of Dresden, the Weisseritztalbahn and the 17km Loessnitzgrundbahn line from Radebeul.
- Day 6overnight: Dresden
Paddle Steamer up the Elbe
A journey up the Elbe River by paddle steamer. We take a morning paddle steamer from Dresden to Bad Schandau, stopping off at Pillnitz en route. At Bad Schandau we board the historic Kirnitzschtal tramway which runs through the valley of the Kirnitzch River to the Lichtenhain Waterfall. The return journey to Dresden is by S-bahn.
- Day 7railovernight: Cologne
Cologne
Morning departure to Cologne via ICE train. Following a change of trains in Frankfurt, we arrive in Cologne early evening for an overnight stay.
- Day 8rail
Homeward Bound
We take a morning ICE to Brussels and connect to the Eurostar to London. Arrive back in London mid-afternoon.
Included
- All rail travel as stated in Standard Class
- Entry to Dresden Steam Festival
- Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- Welcome dinner in Aachen
- Excursions as stated
- Local taxes/fees
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour
