Based in the Cologne area, this tour combines sites from World War 2 with an exploration along the Rhine and finally a visit to Valkenburg in the south-eastern Netherlands.
INCLUDED FEATURES
- Return ferry crossings Dublin-Holyhead
- Overnight ferries Hull-Rotterdam (cabin accommodation and meals included)
- 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast in a 3 star hotel
- Visit Arnhem, Cologne & Bonn
- Rack Railway to Drachenfels Castle
- Rhine Sightseeing Cruise
- Entrance to Phantasialand
- See the ‘Drielandenpunt’
- Visit Valkenburg’s Caves and Wilhelmina Tower
COST
6 Days, 5 Nights
From €395 per person
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SUGGESTED ITINERARY
DAY 1
Pick up from school and transfer to Dublin for the ferry to Holyhead, then cross the Pennines to Hull for the overnight ferry to Rotterdam with dinner and breakfast on board.
DAY 2
Disembark this morning and drive to Arnhem, close to the Dutch/German border. This lovely town saw the unsuccessful end of Operation Market Garden in 1944, when an Allied military operation fought in the Netherlands and Germany. It was the largest airborne operation of all time, securing bridges over the main rivers of the Netherlands to allow a rapid advance by ground troops into Northern Germany. The bridge at Arnhem unfortunately proved to be ‘A Bridge Too Far’. Continue to Cologne, devastated during the Second World War and now completely rebuilt and the fourth largest city in Germany. See the city centre with its twin-towered Gothic Cathedral before continuing to hotel.
DAY 3
Start the day with a visit to Bonn, the former capital of West Germany and the birthplace of Beethoven. Enjoy a stroll through the historic city centre then follow the Rhine upstream to the spa town of Bad Godesborg for a ride on the rack railway to the ruins of Drachenfels Castle where Siegfried killed the legendary dragon. The views over the Rhine Valley below are breathtaking! This afternoon relax on a leisurely Rhine cruise from Boppard to St Goar, admiring the castles on either bank and passing the famous Lorelei Rock. Return to the hotel in time for dinner.
DAY 4
Today enjoy a full day visit to Phantasialand Theme Park. The park features six unique themed areas with superb attractions, award-winning shows and thrilling rides.
DAY 5
The homeward journey begins with a visit to the Vaalsenberg, the highest point in the Netherlands whose summit is called ‘Drielandenpunt’ - the point where three countries (Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands) meet. Next to Valkenburg to visit the Town Caves and the Wilhelmina Tower. There’s a chance to try out the chairlift and toboggan-run before returning to Rotterdam and the ferry back to England. Dinner on board.
DAY 6
Arrive Hull after breakfast and travel to Holyhead for the return to Ireland and transfer to school.
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