Hiking Adventures Hike along the Romantic Rhine in Germany May 26 – June 8, 2024 Hiking along one of Germany’s most popular long distance hiking trails, the Rheinsteig, is a journey back in time -- nowhere are there more medieval castles than here -- and a discovery of some of Germany’s best wines. While the entire Rheinsteig measures 320 km / 200 mi, we will hike along its most scenic section, from the venerable abbey of Eberbach near Wiesbaden to Braubach near Koblenz at the confluence of the Moselle, Lahn, and Rhine rivers. A highlight will be an evening cruise with dinner to view these castles illuminated, culminating with grand fireworks. Itinerary Included meals: BB = buffet breakfast, L = sit down lunch, PNL = picnic lunch, D = dinner Day 1 – Sunday, May 26: arrive in Frankfurt Upon arrival at Frankfurt Airport, claim your luggage, clear customs and proceed by free shuttle bus to the Steigenberger Airport Hotel and check-in. Early evening briefing followed by a welcome get together and dinner at the Restaurant Unterschweinstiege. (D) Sunrise Travel ◾ 22891 Via Fabricante Suite 603 ◾ Mission Viejo CA 92691 ◾ CST 1005170-10 ◾ 949.837.0620 D24 itinerary: Updated 210507 Day 2 – Monday, May 27: to Rüdesheim Our coach brings us to the 900-year-old abbey of Eberbach, where a guide shows us the Romanesque buildings and explain the long history of wine making in the Rheingau. Lunch and wine tasting before walking less than 3 hours along the Rheinsteig to Schloss Vollrads. Twenty-nine generations of the Greiffenclau family lived and made wine here from 1097 to 1997 when the last count died. After tasting the legendary wines grown and produced at Vollrads, we continue by motorcoach to the Hotel Jagdschloss, a former princely hunting lodge in the woods above Rüdesheim. (BB - L - D) Day 3 – Tuesday, May 28: Rüdesheim We walk to the Niederwald monument and through vineyards to the convent of St. Hildegard and the monastery of Marienthal. Picnic lunch en route. Our final destination is the Castle of Johannisberg where Johannisberg Rieslings have their historical roots. In the afternoon we taste the castle’s wines and return to our hotel by bus. (BB - PNL - D) Day 4 – Wednesday, May 29: Rüdesheim - Lorch We walk down to the village of Assmannshausen along the Rheinsteig trail that leads us through vineyards where Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) is grown. As we gain altitude, we enjoy a continuous panorama of the Rhine whose banks are dotted with castles and villages. Walking tour of Lorch with a local guide. We spend the next 4 nights at a schoolhouse that has been converted into a comfortable hotel. (BB - PNL - D) Day 5 – Thursday, May 30: Lorch - Kaub We climb steeply out of Lorch and soon look down on the Rhine, busy with barges and pleasure boats, then descend to the riverside town of Kaub, where we take a boat to visit the island castle of Pfalzgrafenstein. Return to Lorch by train. Dinner at a winery is preceded by a wine tasting. (BB - PNL - D) Day 6 – Friday, May 31: Doerscheid - St. Goarshausen Our coach bring us to the village of Doerrscheid to begin our walk on the plateau through which the Rhine has carved its romantic gorge, and we see far into the gentle hills of the Rheingau. But soon we’ll see the river again, admiring views of castles and villages. The highlight of the day is a visit to the Loreley, the legendary rock 132 m above the Rhine, where poets of the Romantic period imagined a young woman entrancing sailors down below. A few kilometers beyond the Loreley we get a good view of 3 ancient castles including the Katz (cat). We drop down to the town of St. Goarshausen and return to Lorch by train. (BB - PNL - D) Sunrise Travel ◾ 22891 Via Fabricante Suite 603 ◾ Mission Viejo CA 92691 ◾ CST 1005170-10 ◾ 949.837.0620 D24 itinerary: Updated 210507 Day 7 – Saturday, June 1: St. Goarhausen - Kestert We return to St. Goarshausen by train and continue along the Rheinsteig to the impressive castle of Maus. Later, we hike through a former mining area, get more fine views of castles along the Rhine, and finally descend to the village of Kestert. Return by train to Lorch. (BB - PNL - D) Day 8 – Sunday, June 2: Lykershausen - Filsen - Boppard A motorcoach takes us to the town of Lykershausen where we rejoin the the Rheinsteig for the hike to Filsen. En route we have time to explore the castles of the “warring brothers,” Liebenstein and Sterrenberg. We cross the Rhine by ferry to Boppard. Accommodation at the traditional Hotel Bellevue. (BB - PNL - D) Day 9 – Monday, June 3: in Boppard Morning city tour on foot. Balance of the day at leisure. (BB - D) Day 10 – Tuesday, June 4: Boppard - Braubach Back to the right bank of the Rhine by ferry and on foot along the Rheinsteig to the castle of Marksburg, a remarkable fortress that has withstood the ravages of time. An English speaking guide takes us around this impressive stronghold, most of which dates back to the 13th to 15th centuries. Situated atop a hill overlooking the romantic town of Braubach, its concentric walls enclose a keep, residential buildings, baileys, a small garden and gun emplacements. Our visit to the castle kitchen, great hall, bedchamber, chapel, armoury, wine cellar and battlements allows us to travel visually back into the Middle Ages. (BB - PNL - D) Day 11 – Wednesday, June 5: Braubach - Lahnstein This is our last hiking day! Adventurous morning walk across some tributaries of the Rhine with plenty of ups and downs. Tour of Lahneck castle followed by lunch at the castle restaurant. Return by train to Braubach. (BB - L - D) Day 12 – Thursday, June 6: Koblenz We reach nearby Koblenz by train where a local guide takes us around the city and then, via aerial tramway across the Rhine, to the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, the second largest in Europe. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner will be served at a brewery restaurant. (BB - D) Sunrise Travel ◾ 22891 Via Fabricante Suite 603 ◾ Mission Viejo CA 92691 ◾ CST 1005170-10 ◾ 949.837.0620 D24 itinerary: Updated 210507 Day 13 – Friday, June 7: Braubach - Frankfurt Airport We’ll embark around 10 in the morning and relive our adventures aboard the historic and comfortable Rhine steamer Goethe as we cruise up the river. We disembark in Bingen in the early afternoon and continue by train to Frankfurt Airport. We stay again at the Steigenberger Hotel. Farewell dinner. (BB - D) Day 14 – Saturday, June 8: End of Program at Frankfurt Airport After breakfast, participants take the hotel’s free shuttle bus to connect with their departing flight/train. (BB) Tour Cost $3,995 per person sharing twin/bath; single supplement available upon request. Included Services Accommodation at 3- and 4-star hotels (sharing twin/bath) (single room supplement available upon request and at additional cost), breakfast and dinner daily, lunches, transportation, guided tours, visits and wine tastings as shown in the itinerary above, 1 beverage with dinner (1 glass of wine or beer or mineral water), transportation of 1 piece of luggage from hotel to hotel, 1 English speaking leader/guide, tips, taxes and service charges, 1 free land arrangement for 12 paying participants. Per person cost based on tariffs and exchange rates as of 5/1/2021. Minimum group size: 12 paying participants - maximum group size: 16 paying participants. Sunrise Travel ◾ 22891 Via Fabricante Suite 603 ◾ Mission Viejo CA 92691 ◾ CST 1005170-10 ◾ 949.837.0620 D24 itinerary: Updated 210507 .