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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GRJ All Inclusive Rhine Valley & Vulkan Express

Seven-day Rhine Valley escorted tour from London via Eurostar and narrow-gauge Vulkan Express

Illustration of GRJ All Inclusive Rhine Valley & Vulkan Express

Great Rail Journeys operates a seven-day escorted tour of Germany's Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region of medieval towns, clifftop castles, and wine-producing landscapes. The journey begins at London St Pancras with an Eurostar journey to Brussels, then continues by rail to Cologne and coach to the picturesque riverside town of Boppard, where you stay for all six nights at Das Ebertor Hotel. Day 3 features a cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, passing the legendary Lorelei Rock and arriving at the wine town of Rüdesheim. Day 5 includes a guided walking tour of historic Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Day 6 takes you aboard the narrow-gauge Vulkan Express, a 19th-century heritage railway running through volcanic scenery in the Brohl Valley. Day 4 is free to explore independently, with options to visit nearby towns by rail. All meals, selected drinks each evening, regional rail travel via VRM Passes, the Rhine cruise, and most excursions are included. The tour suits first-time rail travellers, couples seeking wine and castle scenery, and those who prefer guided comfort with a UK Tour Manager throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • The group can be up to 40 people; confirm the final group size with the operator.
  • Some optional excursions cost extra locally: the Sesselbahn chairlift to Gedeonseck and the cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz are not included.
  • The from-price is GBP 1,199 per person; single-supplement pricing is not listed in the operator's information.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Boppard

    By rail to Boppard in the Rhine Gorge

    Your Rhine Valley holiday begins at London St Pancras where you meet the Tour Manager and rest of the group. Boarding the Eurostar, you travel under the English Channel to Brussels. In the Belgian capital, you switch to a train to Cologne, where you catch your first sight of the Rhine. Arriving in Cologne, you travel by coach along the scenic Rhine Valley to the riverside town of Boppard. The hotel is opposite the train station and boasts a garden terrace overlooking the Rhine. After checking in, enjoy a welcome drink before the first dinner together. Every evening includes a three-course dinner with a drinks package (7pm–9pm) including soft drinks, house beer, wine, tea and coffee.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Boppard

    Visiting Cochem for time at leisure

    Using VRM Passes, travel by rail along the Moselle after breakfast to the picturesque town of Cochem. There is time at leisure to explore independently. Cochem is surrounded by vineyards and dominated by the late-Gothic Reichsburg castle. The old quarter features preserved town walls, three gates, a fascinating arts centre in a former monastery, cobbled streets with half-timbered architecture, the only surviving mustard mill in Europe, and a hidden Cold War-era bunker. Return to Boppard for a three-course dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Boppard

    Cruising through the Rhine Gorge

    Set sail along the majestic Rhine through the most scenic part of the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge. Pass castles on clifftops veiled by verdant forests. On the approach to St Goar, pass the legendary Lorelei Rock. Arrive at Rüdesheim, a riverside town famed for its wine, with free time to explore Drosselgasse alley and Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Music. Sample local Riesling wines or a Rüdesheim Coffee. Return by rail at leisure using your VRM Pass, changing at Koblenz. Note: on April and October departures, this day includes a return cruise to St Goar with a stopover.

    Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Boppard

    Uncover the Rhine Valley at leisure

    A full free day to explore Boppard and surrounding areas at your own pace. Options include the Sesselbahn chairlift to Gedeonseck (payable locally) for views of the largest U-shaped loop of the Rhine, or rail travel to riverside towns such as Bacharach or Bingen. Alternatively, take a scenic rail journey beside the Lahn River to Bad Ems and Limburg, or visit Schloss Drachenburg in Königswinter. The Boppard tourist office offers a guided tour of local vineyards. Dinner and drinks available at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Boppard

    A trip to historic Koblenz

    Travel by rail after breakfast to Koblenz for a guided walking tour of the Old Town. Koblenz was established by the Romans at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Highlights include the Deutsches Eck headland, the 'Four Towers' Baroque houses at Münzplatz, and the 12th-century Basilica of St Castor. After the tour, there is free time and the option to take a cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (payable locally). Return to Boppard at leisure using your VRM Tourist Pass for dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Boppard

    Journey into the hills on the Vulkan Express

    After breakfast, walk into Boppard's historic centre to visit Boppard Castle and its museum, which showcases the town's history and exhibits about furniture maker Michael Thonet. After time to explore independently over lunch, travel by rail along the Rhine to Brohl. Board the historic narrow-gauge Vulkan Express for a scenic journey along the Brohl Valley, viewing picturesque volcanic landscapes on a line opened in 1902. Enjoy a short amount of free time at Engeln station before returning through narrow valleys and over timeless bridges to Brohl, then by train back to Boppard for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7rail

    Homeward bound

    After the final breakfast together, board the coach to Cologne, then continue to Brussels by rail. In Brussels, switch to the Eurostar for the final leg of the journey back to London St Pancras, arriving this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, passing clifftop castles veiled by forests and the legendary Lorelei Rock, arriving at the wine town of Rüdesheim.
  • Day 5Guided walking tour of Koblenz Old Town at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, visiting the Deutsches Eck headland and the Baroque houses at Münzplatz.
  • Day 6Journey on the historic narrow-gauge Vulkan Express through the volcanic Brohl Valley, a heritage railway that opened in the 19th century.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 3-star hotel accommodation at Das Ebertor Hotel, Boppard
  • Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner each day
  • Drinks package of beer, wine and soft drinks included with dinner each day in Boppard (7pm–9pm)
  • Complimentary VRM Tourist Pass providing entry to many sites and free rail travel within the region
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Sesselbahn chairlift to Gedeonseck (payable locally)
  • Cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz (payable locally)
  • Eurostar Plus Class upgrade (available from £110pp each way)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Brussels and back, all regional rail travel in Germany on VRM Passes, and rides on the Moselle railway, Hunsrück Railway, and the narrow-gauge Vulkan Express.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager who accompanies the group from the start in London through to the return on Day 7. Guided tours are included in Koblenz; other days offer free time to explore independently.
What is included in the price?
Six nights at Das Ebertor Hotel in Boppard, all meals (breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner daily), beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner each evening, all rail and coach travel, the Rhine Gorge cruise, and a complimentary VRM Tourist Pass. Guided tours and most excursions are included.
What is not included?
Travel insurance, the Sesselbahn chairlift to Gedeonseck, the cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, and a Eurostar Plus Class upgrade (available from GBP 110 per person each way).
Where do we stay?
Das Ebertor Hotel, a three-star family-run hotel in the medieval town of Boppard on the Rhine. You stay here for all six nights.
How much free time is there?
Day 4 is entirely free to explore Boppard and surrounding areas independently, including optional rail trips to Bacharach, Bingen, Bad Ems, Limburg, or Königswinter. Day 2 includes free time in Cochem after the rail journey. Days 3 and 5 have free time after guided or group activities.

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