Harz Mountains Christmas Markets

Your festive holiday starts at London St Pancras where we meet our Tour Manager to join the Eurostar to Brussels. We continue to Hanover via Cologne, where we are transferred by coach to Wernigerode.

A charming town with elaborate half-timbered buildings, Wernigerode dates back to the 9th century and is overlooked by its stunning castle. At this time of year, it's brilliantly illuminated and adorned with festive decorations. We gather this evening for our first group dinner at the hotel.

• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we experience one of the highlights of the vacation. A wintry journey aboard the Brocken Railway takes us through snowy forests to the summit of Brocken Mountain, part of the impressive Harz Mountain range. The Brocken Railway weaves a scenic route through the Harz National Park up to the summit of the Brocken. Along the way, we enjoy panoramic views of Brothers Grimm-style forests, quaint station houses and frozen rivers.

Apart from being the Harz's tallest peak, Brocken Mountain is also home to Germany's highest narrow-gauge railway station, our arrival point following our journey. After some free time at the summit to admire the views, we return to Wernigerode to explore its traditional Christmas market. There's time to relax before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our rail excursion today takes us to Quedlinburg, one of Germany's best-kept secrets where we enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town. Quedlinburg's Old Town has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, due to having one of the best-preserved collections of medieval buildings in Germany, including its Romanesque church.

Quedlinburg has a rich history and culture with some Art Nouveau architecture. In winter, the town's authentic German Christmas market is held in the Rathaus square, or Marktplatz. After the tour, there is time to explore independently, where you can get some lunch or a mug of hot spiced wine or brandy punch as you soak up the festive atmosphere and browse the colourful stalls to find gifts for loved ones.

• Breakfast

Today is free to explore Wernigerode at your own pace. Railway enthusiasts could take a ride through dense forests on the historic narrow-gauge Harz Railway. You could also wander up to Wernigerode Castle, one of the most striking pieces of neo-Gothic architecture in the area, or visit the nearby aircraft museum.

Alternatively, you could take the train back to Quedlinburg, where you can join the Selketal Railway for a seasonal journey through the snow-frosted scenery of the Selke Valley. However you choose to spend the day, Wernigerode's pretty Christmas market is sure to entice you. Set in front of the Town Hall, beneath a dazzling Christmas tree, the market offers hand-made crafts, festive food, mulled wine and warming hot drinks from its illuminated wooden stalls.

• Breakfast

Today takes us to Goslar, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Adorned with over 1,500 half-timbered houses, it makes a superb setting for one of the most charming Christmas markets in Germany. Nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains and older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is full of historic architecture, some dating back to the early 16th century.

We set out on a walking tour, discovering examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with our local guide. After the tour, you can explore the Christmas market at leisure. The enchanting market is framed by a man-made forest of Christmas trees and sells a variety of local products including home-baked treats and festive drinks.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we begin our journey home. We are transferred by coach to Hanover where we take a train to Cologne, then to Brussels. From here, we join the Eurostar to London. On the train journey home you can reflect on the magical Christmas markets you've visited and look back on photos you've taken, before saying goodbye to the Tour Manager and making your way home.

• Breakfast