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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Harz Mountains & Rhine Gorge

Nine-day escorted tour through Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge by rail and coach.

Illustration of Harz Mountains & Rhine Gorge

Great Rail Journeys' nine-day Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge tour departs London St Pancras via Eurostar Plus and ends at the Rhine near St Goar. The journey unfolds across two German regions: the first four days centre on Wernigerode in the Harz Mountains, with excursions on the narrow-gauge Brocken Railway (climbing to 1,142 metres) and the historic Selketal Railway, plus visits to the medieval UNESCO sites of Goslar and Quedlinburg. Days six through eight shift to Assmannshausen, a village on the Rhine, where a cruise navigates the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge past castles and the Lorelei Rock. Throughout, the tour combines First Class rail travel with 4-star hotels, a UK Tour Manager, breakfast daily and five arranged dinners. Two free days (Day 5 in Wernigerode, Day 7 in Assmannshausen) allow independent exploration. The tour suits history lovers drawn to medieval architecture and Cold War heritage, repeat rail travellers keen to ride historic narrow-gauge lines, and couples seeking a structured yet leisurely pace across two distinct landscapes.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is GBP 350 above half the double room rate (GBP 2,049 versus GBP 1,699 base); confirm the final single price with Great Rail Journeys
  • Days 5 and 7 are entirely free with meals independent; four of nine days offer no guided structure
  • Maximum group size is 30 people
  • Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    An overnight stay in Cologne

    Meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras and join the Eurostar to Brussels in Eurostar Plus, enjoying a light meal at seats. On arrival in Brussels, change trains and travel in First Class to Cologne. Arrive around mid-afternoon with free time to explore the historic city, including the Gothic cathedral and riverside. Dinner together at the central hotel. Note: For departure 26th August, travel is via Bielefeld, staying at the Steigenberger Bielefelder Hof hotel.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Wernigerode

    Exploring Goslar on our way to Wernigerode

    Early morning transfer to the train station for a First Class rail journey from Cologne to Hanover, then by coach to the Harz Mountains. First stop is Goslar, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with over 1,000 years of history and 1,500 half-timbered houses. Visit the Imperial Palace and the Rammelsberg mining museum. Continue to Wernigerode, known as 'the colourful town of the Harz Mountains', and check in for four nights. Welcome meeting before dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Wernigerode

    Selketal Railway and a free afternoon in Quedlinburg

    Travel by coach from Wernigerode to Gernrode, then board the Selketal Railway (oldest narrow-gauge railway in the Harz Mountains) for a steam-hauled journey to Alexisbad past mountains, the River Selke, verdant forests and gentle waterfalls. Continue by coach to Quedlinburg, a UNESCO World Heritage city with a Romanesque church and preserved houses. Free afternoon to explore, including Quedlinburg Castle. Return to Wernigerode by coach; dine independently this evening. Note: on September and October departures, the Selketal Railway runs from Alexisbad to Gernrode.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Wernigerode

    The Brocken Railway

    Journey on Germany's highest narrow-gauge railway, the Brocken Railway, deep into the forests of the Harz Mountains. Admire breathtaking views across trees and the national park on the way to the summit on tracks that climb at a gradient of up to 1 in 30. Free time at the top to visit the Brocken House Museum, which covers Cold War espionage history. Return to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Wernigerode

    A free day to explore Wernigerode

    Full day at leisure. Options include visiting Wernigerode Castle via a quaint motorised tourist train, exploring the 16th-century town hall and cobbled main square, riding the Harz Narrow-Gauge Railway (the longest in Germany), or visiting the Museum für Luftfahrt und Technik aviation museum. Dine independently; Restaurant 1835 inside the nearby Hotel Altora is recommended.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Assmannshausen

    To Assmannshausen in the vineyards of the Rhine Valley

    Farewell to the Harz Mountains. Coach transfer to Hildesheim, then First Class rail to Frankfurt, passing rolling hills and dense forests. Continue by local train to Assmannshausen, a picture-postcard village beside the Rhine with terraced vineyards. Check in for three nights at a traditional family-run hotel, originally a 15th-century wine tavern. Dinner at the hotel. Note: August, September and October departures travel by rail to Frankfurt Süd, then by coach to Assmannshausen.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Assmannshausen

    A day at leisure to discover our new surroundings

    Full free day to explore Assmannshausen or the surrounding area. Options include taking a cable car to Niederwald for Rhine views, continuing to Rüdesheim to stroll the Drosselgasse or visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Museum, or visiting a nearby wine estate for tastings. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Assmannshausen

    A cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge

    Coach to the riverside town of Boppard for free time before a Rhine cruise past medieval villages, fortresses and castles to St Goar, overlooked by the 13th-century Rheinfels Castle. Free time to explore and lunch independently. Return by boat to Assmannshausen through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, sailing past the mythical Lorelei Rock. Final dinner together at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9rail

    Homeward Bound

    Leave Assmannshausen by coach to Cologne, then First Class train to Brussels. From Brussels, travel in Eurostar Plus back to London St Pancras, enjoying a light meal at seats.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Visit Goslar, a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 1,000 years of history and 1,500 half-timbered houses, including the Imperial Palace and Rammelsberg mining museum
  • Day 3Board the Selketal Railway, the oldest narrow-gauge railway in the Harz Mountains, on a steam-hauled journey past the River Selke, forests and waterfalls to Alexisbad
  • Day 4Journey on the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken Mountain on Germany's highest narrow-gauge railway, climbing at gradients up to 1 in 30, with views across the national park
  • Day 8Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge from Boppard to St Goar and back to Assmannshausen, passing medieval villages, fortresses and the legendary Lorelei Rock

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus travel (outbound and return)
  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Wernigerode to Assmannshausen
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The tour includes Eurostar Plus (outbound and return), First Class rail on ICE and InterCity trains, the narrow-gauge Brocken Railway and Selketal Railway, a local train from Frankfurt to Assmannshausen, and a Rhine cruise. All rail, coach and cruise travel is included in the from-price of GBP 1,699 (USD 2,269).
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from London St Pancras to Assmannshausen, guiding group excursions and dinners. However, Days 5 and 7 are free days at leisure.
Which hotels are included?
Four nights at HKK Hotel Wernigerode (4-star) in the Harz Mountains, one night at a central Cologne hotel (4-star), and three nights at Alte Bauernschänke Hotel in Assmannshausen (4-star, a traditional 15th-century wine tavern). All are 4-star properties.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Eurostar light meals are served outbound and return. Five dinners are included: at Cologne (Day 1), Wernigerode (Days 2 and 4), and Assmannshausen (Days 6 and 8). Lunch and dinners on Days 3, 5, 7 and 9 are independent.
When do departures run?
Great Rail Journeys offers nine departures across April, May, June, August, September and October 2026 and 2027. Confirm your preferred date directly with the operator.
How much walking is involved?
Days are balanced between rail and coach travel with city and site visits. Free days (5 and 7) offer optional activities including museum visits, cable cars and wine tastings. No hiking or mountain climbing is required.

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