Discover the valleys and peaks of Germany’s Harz Mountains, based in charming Wernigerode with journeys on heritage steam trains and trips to World Heritage towns

Your winter holiday starts at London St Pancras where we meet before departing on the Eurostar to Brussels. Our journey continues by rail to Cologne for an overnight stay. With free time to explore, you could stroll through the Old Town, which has been lovingly and carefully restored to its pre-war appearance. We enjoy a welcome dinner together with the group this evening.

We board the train this morning, travelling across northern Germany to Hanover where we continue by coach into the Harz Mountains. Driving through winter landscapes, we travel through scenes of deep pine forests peppered with pretty lakes.

We arrive in the town of Wernigerode, nestled between picturesque mountains, where we check into our hotel for a five-night stay. There is time at leisure this afternoon to relax and to explore before dinner.

Today takes us on a scenic rail journey aboard the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains at 3,743 feet. We enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park as we wind our way up the snow-covered mountain to the terminus, Brockenbahnhof, the highest narrow-gauge railway station in Germany.

This towering summit has long been associated with dark forces, perhaps most famously in Goethe's Faust, and during the Cold War, Brocken was a military base used for border surveillance; until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the mountain was off-limits to all but the Soviet army. From the mountain's top, we enjoy one of Europe's most spectacular lookout points, commanding views of the sloping tree-lined hillsides below.

We rail back from Brocken to Wernigerode and return to our hotel for dinner.

We travel by rail to medieval Goslar, nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains. Older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is full of historic architecture, including half-timbered houses dating back to the early 16th century. We set out on a walking tour, discovering Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with our local guide.

After the tour, there is time to continue exploring independently. You could visit the Kaiserpfalz, built at the beginning of the 11th century. Designed primarily as a summer residence, this is the largest Romanesque palace in Europe. Alternatively, stop at the Rammelsberg Mining Museum for a fascinating look into the industrial history of Goslar.

You are free to explore Wernigerode today. A highlight of this beautiful town is the grand Wernigerode Castle. Sat on a hill overlooking the town, this is a building straight from the pages of a fairytale. Constructed on the site of an old medieval fortress, it was rebuilt into its current Neo-Romantic style in the 19th century.

A short distance from our hotel is the aviation museum, where you can view the exhibits and enjoy a flight simulation experience, while the fire brigade museum in the town centre contains an array of vintage engines. With its numerous half-timbered buildings and striking architecture, Wernigerode is packed with beautiful sights.

Our excursion today is to the preserved town of Quedlinburg. Here, set out on a journey into the scenic Selke Valley on the Selke Valley Railway. The route ascends along the steepest sections of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway, taking us into the Harz Mountains, through a winter landscape of snow-frosted forests and picturesque mountain peaks.

From Alexisbad, we return to Quedlinburg for a guided walking tour of this charming town. After the tour, you are free to explore at your own pace. Discover the cobbled streets, passing a collection of medieval, timber-framed buildings and Romanesque architecture in the Old Town, which has UNESCO World Heritage status.

Later, we return to our hotel for our final dinner together this evening.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Wernigerode and are transferred by coach to Hanover. From here we continue by rail to Cologne, then change trains to travel to Brussels*, where we join the Eurostar to London. On the journey, you can look back on your wonderful winter holiday exploring quaint towns and riding scenic railways, before saying goodbye at London St Pancras and making your way home.

*Please note: certain departures will travel home via Amsterdam instead of Brussels.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

The Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz Mountain range located in central Germany. A branch railway line, connecting the Brocken to the Harz Mountains' existing narrow-gauge railway, was proposed in 1869 but it was not until 1899 that the eighty-kilometre track was declared operational.

Damaged as a result of bombing and mortar fire in the Second World War, the Brocken Railway was reopened following repair in 1949, but during the subsequent division of Germany the Brocken became a military base, its railway used only for the transportation of supplies.

It was only after the historic reunification of Germany in 1990 that the train was returned to public use, and since 1992 passengers have once again able to make the spectacular rail journey, to the summit of Brocken where they are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the Harz Mountains National Park.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

This quaint railway is arguably the region's best-kept secret. The route ascends into the Harz Mountains through a varied landscape. This metre-gauge railway was dismantled by the Soviets at the end of World War II, but was then subsequently rebuilt as far as Gernrode in the post-war years. With reunification the Selke Valley Railway, or Selketalbahn, was acquired by the Harz Mountain Railways and the line finally extended to Quedlinburg, allowing greater tourist access to this nostalgic journey through dense forests and mountains.

We stay at the elegant 4-star HKK Hotel Wernigerode, located close to the railway station and in walking distance of the quaint Old Town, surrounded by the beautiful Harz mountains. The narrow-gauge railway network, Harzer Schmalspurbahnen, is just a short walk away. Facilities include a two restaurants - one with a terrace - a bistro and bar, a spa and wellness centre, and a range of fitness equipment. The modern guest rooms are equipped with a telephone, flat-screen television, free Wi-Fi, a radio and a hairdryer.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.