How much does it cost?

From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish, and most days include guided tours and excursions. Day 5 in Wernigerode is free time.

When does this tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys has two departures: January 2027 and February 2027.

What hotels are included?

The HKK Hotel Wernigerode, a 4-star hotel, is your base for five nights. One night is spent in Cologne (hotel not named in the itinerary).

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

The Harz Mountains in Winter

Seven-day winter escape to Germany's Harz Mountains on heritage railways

Great Rail Journeys operates this 7-day winter escape through Germany's Harz Mountains, departing January and February 2027. The tour departs from London St Pancras and returns there, traveling via Eurostar to Belgium, then by train and coach into the mountains. Your base is Wernigerode, a timber-framed town beneath snow-capped peaks, where you stay five nights in a 4-star hotel. Days follow a blend of guided experiences and free time: you ride heritage railways including the famous Brocken Railway to the highest narrow-gauge summit in Germany, tour the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Goslar and Quedlinburg with a local guide, and enjoy a full free day to visit Wernigerode Castle or the nearby aviation museum. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Breakfast is served daily, and four dinners plus Eurostar light meals are included. This pace suits couples, history lovers, and rail enthusiasts who want the security of guided tours with time to wander medieval streets.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £1,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement is 180 GBP on top of the from-price (1879 GBP total), significantly higher than half the double rate.
Maximum group size is 30 travellers; this is a larger escorted tour.
Day 5 is unguided; you are on your own to explore Wernigerode, though the castle and aviation museum are listed as nearby options.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Cologne
From London to Cologne
We meet at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing by rail to Cologne for an overnight stay, with free time to explore the Old Town.
Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Wernigerode
To the Harz Mountains and our charming base in Wernigerode
We travel by rail across northern Germany to Hanover, then by coach into the Harz Mountains to Wernigerode, our base for five nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Wernigerode
A trip on the Brocken Railway
A scenic rail journey aboard the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains at 3,743 feet, with panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Wernigerode
A guided tour of UNESCO-listed Goslar
A rail journey to the medieval town of Goslar for a guided walking tour, with free time to visit the Kaiserpfalz or the Rammelsberg Mining Museum.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5overnight: Wernigerode
A free day in fairytale Wernigerode
A free day to explore Wernigerode, including the Wernigerode Castle, the aviation museum, and the fire brigade museum.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6railovernight: Wernigerode
A tour of Quedlinburg and the Selke Valley Railway
A coach to Gernrode for a scenic journey on the Selke Valley Railway through the Harz Mountains, then a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed town of Quedlinburg.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7rail
Homeward bound
We are transferred by coach to Hanover, then by rail via Cologne to Brussels, joining the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: ride the Brocken Railway up the snow-covered slopes to Brocken summit at 3,743 feet, the highest narrow-gauge station in Germany, with panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park.
Day 4Day 4: guided walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage Goslar, a medieval city with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque half-timbered houses and architecture from the early 16th century.
Day 6Day 6: journey on the Selke Valley Railway through winter forests and mountain peaks, then a guided walking tour of the preserved town of Quedlinburg.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
6 nights’ 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus, Standard Class rail travel - all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar Light Meals; breakfast each day, 4 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish, and most days include guided tours and excursions. Day 5 in Wernigerode is free time.
When does this tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys has two departures: January 2027 and February 2027.
What hotels are included?: The HKK Hotel Wernigerode, a 4-star hotel, is your base for five nights. One night is spent in Cologne (hotel not named in the itinerary).