Search

Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Lindau & Lake Constance

Nine-day escorted rail tour around Lake Constance from Cologne to Bonn

Illustration of Lindau & Lake Constance

Ffestiniog Travel's nine-day escorted tour makes Lindau, a charming German town at the north-eastern corner of Lake Constance, your base for exploring three countries. You depart London by Eurostar, travel through the Rhine Valley by train to arrive in Lindau for a six-night stay, then take a series of included excursions by regional train, narrow-gauge railway, and boat. Day 3 brings a circular tour of the Appenzell Region by narrow-gauge electric train into Switzerland; Day 4 takes you over the Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck in Austria; Day 5 visits Oberstdorf in the Bavarian Allgäu; and Day 6 combines train and boat travel along the Rhine and across Lake Constance. A Standard Class InterRail Pass is included, and most excursions are optional, allowing you to set your own rhythm. The tour suits repeat rail travellers and couples who want escorted structure without rushing, with a mix of guided outings and free time in the town and region.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed (September 2026); confirm availability before committing
  • Days 3 to 7 are based in Lindau with optional excursions; you can use the InterRail Pass independently or skip activities to rest in town
  • The tour includes a Standard Class InterRail Pass; first and second-class rail upgrades are not mentioned

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Morning Eurostar train from London St. Pancras to Brussels with connection for Cologne. We arrive in time for a relaxing evening in the old city.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lindau

    The Scenic Rhine Valley

    Our train follows the Rhine with its many castles and river traffic upstream to Mainz, then via Stuttgart and Ulm to Lindau for a 6-night stay in the centre of the town which is within easy walking distance of both the Insel station and the quayside.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lindau

    Switzerland’s Appenzell Region

    All excursions over the next three days are optional in the sense that they can be taken free of charge using your InterRail Pass with your tour leader or you can simply enjoy Lindau and its surroundings at your own leisurely pace. We visit St. Gallen and have a circular tour of the scenic Appenzell Region by narrow gauge electric train.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lindau

    Innsbruck in the Austrian Tyrol

    Today we head over the Arlberg Pass for a few hours exploring Innsbruck.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lindau

    Oberstdorf

    Staying within Germany, we visit the resort of Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region. This area, dotted with lakes, has a mountain backdrop.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lindau

    Around the Lake

    We take the train to Schaffhausen in Switzerland, then river boat up the Rhine to Stein am Rhein, train along the southern Swiss shore to Rorschach Hafen and finally boat across the lake back to Lindau.

  7. Day 7overnight: Lindau

    At Leisure

    By now you will have discovered other things you would like to do in the area – perhaps the Zeppelin Airship Museum at Friedrichshafen or the Insel Mainau (Flower Island) on Lake Constance. Today is your opportunity to explore at your leisure.

  8. Day 8overnight: Bonn

    Bonn

    Our homeward stopover is in the lovely city and former federal capital of Bonn where our hotel is adjacent to the station and close to the old city.

  9. Day 9rail

    Return to London

    A short rail journey brings us back to Cologne from where we catch a mid-morning train to Brussels. This connects with a Eurostar service to London, arriving late afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Your train follows the Rhine Valley upstream through Mainz and Stuttgart, passing many castles and river traffic, before arriving in Lindau
  • Day 3Narrow-gauge electric train circular tour through the scenic Appenzell Region in Switzerland
  • Day 4Train journey over the Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck in the Austrian Tyrol
  • Day 6Combined train and boat day: rail to Schaffhausen, river boat up the Rhine to Stein am Rhein, train along Lake Constance's southern shore to Rorschach, then boat back across the lake to Lindau

Included

  • Standard Class InterRail Pass
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Excursions as listed
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. A Standard Class InterRail Pass covers all rail journeys. Eurostar is included from London St. Pancras to Cologne and return from Cologne to London.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London throughout the nine days.
Where do you stay?
One night in Cologne (City Class Hotel am Dom), six nights in Lindau (Hotel Insel), and one night in Bonn (InterCity Hotel). All accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis.
What excursions are included?
Visits to St. Gallen and the Appenzell Region by narrow-gauge train, Innsbruck over the Arlberg Pass, Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region, and a combined train and boat journey to Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, and Rorschach. All excursions are included with no extra charge.
Can I explore on my own?
Yes. Day 7 is designated at leisure, and days 3 to 6 allow independent exploration at your own pace; you can skip excursions or take them with the tour leader using your InterRail Pass.

Similar journeys