Harz Mountains Steam - The Jewel of Germany

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Wuppertal for our overnight stay at the Flemings Hotel where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

Today, we journey on the unique 'Schwebebahn' suspended monorail - Wuppertal's landmark - dating from the early 1900's and floating high above the River Wupper covering 20 stations (only 4 of which run above solid ground!). Afterwards, we will rejoin the German rail network continuing to Wernigerode, the capital of the Harz region, and our hotel for five nights, the HKK Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our evening meal together.

DAY 3

After breakfast this morning, we board the fantastic Bimmelbahn Road Train for a trip up the hill to Wernigerode Castle, a stunning and romantic castle in the baroque style of architecture. This afternoon is at leisure to explore further, stroll the gardens, or discover the quaint cafés of the market square before we reconvene for our evening meal together.

DAY 4

This morning, we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam-hauled journey from Wernigerode through scenic landscapes up to the highest peak of the Harz region. At 1,125m altitude, Brocken Station is the highest narrow-gauge station in Germany and offers a breathtaking panorama of the Harz National Park. We enjoy these beautiful views with time at the summit before returning to Wernigerode in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 5

Today, we make our way to Quedlinburg for a charming, rural journey on the narrow-gauge Selketalbahn through the romantic Selke Valley and beautiful forests to Alexisbad. On our return, we enjoy a light lunch before our guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site at Quedlinburg which is widely considered one of the best examples of a medieval town and the Collegiate Church, which overlooks the town, is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.

DAY 6

After breakfast, we enjoy the day at leisure in Wernigerode and have the chance to explore this pleasant Harz town, affectionately referred to as the 'Pearl of the Harz', with its attractive market square and picturesque town hall. We can stroll around this quaint town with its timber-framed houses or why not visit the fond favourite of the Railtrail Tour Managers, Bar Altora, located near to the railway station with a miniature railway that delivers your drink to your table… a perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon!

Day 7

We bid farewell to Wernigerode and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner