9 DAYS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RHINE VALLEY

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon, your guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby to take you on a 3-hour Frankfurt Highlights Tour. The city at the river Main is full of exciting stories, breath-taking records and many different treasures and cultures to explore. You will learn how diverse the city of Frankfurt is and you will experience history and modernity from the Old Town to the shopping mile to the townhall of the Romans and the imperial cathedral.

Spend the day visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Valley – home to more than 40 castles, world class wines and gorgeous landscapes. Familiarise yourself with the landscape and culture of one of Germany’s most romantic regions, exploring picturesque villages and historic castles and enjoying a wine tasting experience at one of the prestigious wineries.

After breakfast, meet your drive and transfer to the beautiful town Heidelberg (approx. 100km, 1.5hrs).

In the afternoon, your private guide will meet you at your hotel lobby for a walking city of this bustling university town, showing you pretty little historical squares, impressive Renaissance buildings and churches that are all contemporary witnesses of former centuries. Next, you will be visiting the beautiful Heidelberg Castle – its ruins rise 80 meters majestically over the roofs of the former residential city and dominate the Old Quarter. The castle was previously property of the Palatine electors of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

Enjoy a full day trip to explore the towns overlooking vineyards around Heidelberg. Along the Weinstrasse, you will first explore the famous Speyer Cathedral before continuing to Neustadt, a small town which is known for its gothic abbey church, weekly markets and the Hambacher Palace with its panoramic views over the winelands and the Rhein River. Next, make a stop at Bad Dürkheim for a glimpse of its giant wine drum and enjoy a tasting experience of its selection of fine wines.

Transfer to Freiburg, known as the ‘capital of the Black Forest’ (approx. 190km, 2hrs), where you will discover Germany’s sunniest town, surrounded by vineyards and a popular stop for wine connoisseurs and gourmets. This market town has a picturesque old quarter or Altstadt with twisting lanes, pretty courtyards, little streams known as ’Bächle’ as well as traditional restaurants and quaint bars, which you will explore with your guide on a half-day tour. Learn about its 900 years of history and many legends born through the centuries, before finishing at the highlight of the town – The Munster or Freiburg Cathedral, whose unique spire soars high above the city.

After breakfast, depart from Freiburg to stunning Lake Titisee where you can take a scenic lake cruise to learn more about the region. Stop in Triberg, famous for the House of the 1000 Cuckoo Clocks, a Black Forest must-see. We recommend also taking a hike through the forest to Triberg Waterfalls, Germany’s highest.

After lunch, if time permits, you could continue to Wolfach where craftsmen still use the traditional method of glassblowing at the famous Dorotheenhütte glass factory, or drive to the village of Gutach to explore the Vogtsbauernhof open air museum which is a historically reconstructed Black Forest village. Drive along the tranquil Kinzig Valley towards Baden-Baden where you can make stops at local villages which still retain their quaint half-timbered houses.

Today you will explore Mummelsee, a beautiful lake in the heart of the Black Forest which will mesmerize you with unique insights of untouched nature. While there, you can admire a beautiful view and learn something about the lake’s history, and also try a local delicacy – the famous Black Forest cake. Next, visit the Favorite Palace also known as the ‘porcelain palace’ because of its huge porcelain interior furnishing. End the day with some delicious wine tasting with different regional wines.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Baden-Baden, an elegant city known for its hot springs and striking architecture from the belle epoque era with plenty of lovely green spaces. There is also a vibrant cultural scene with events and art exhibitions throughout the year. Make a trip up Merkur Mountain on the funicular railway – the longest in Germany for views of the city and the Black Forest beyond, and you could take a hike back down to town and end the day with a full pampering experiences at one of the luxurious thermal spas.

After breakfast, transfer to Frankfurt airport (approx. 170km, 2hr) for your onward journey.