Railtrail Tours_Europe Brochure 2015

10 / 22

Book now – online at or telephone: 01538 382323
10
Berlin, the Brocken &
Germany’s Glorious Gardens
DAY 1
Our journey begins by Eurostar in Standard
Premier Class with a light meal. Changing at
Brussels and Cologne, we arrive in Berlin for
three nights at the historic Hotel Ellington. (E,D)
DAYS 2-3
Our time in Berlin begins with a guided coach
tour, taking in the contrasts of both the
east and west sides of this once-divided city.
Following this the rest of days 2 and 3 are free
to explore independently. Close to our hotel
is the KuDamm, West Berlin’s centre with its
famous KaDeWe store. The public transport
system is uncrowded and easy to navigate,
which gives easy access to the Brandenburg
Gate, Reichstag, Museum Island, Checkpoint
Charlie and Alexanderplatz. Alternatively, a
short train ride away is Potsdam, home of
Frederick the Great’s palaces. (B,D)
DAYS 4-5
Leaving Berlin by coach, we pay a visit to
Germany’s National Garden Show - BUGA.
DEPARTS
HOTEL
Friday 26 June 2015
Friday 7 August 2015
Friday 18 September 2015
First Class rail, Brocken by steam, four nights in a Palace Hotel, three
more in a Berlin landmark, the German Garden Show, Dessau’s Garden
Kingdom, the world’s largest rose collection – all on one tour!
© GNTB
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Dessau Wörlitz
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
★ ★ First Class rail travel to Germany and
return including Standard Premier
Eurostar
★ ★ Stay in the heart of Berlin at the
Ellington Hotel with its musical heritage
★ ★ Discover Berlin’s fascinating contrasts
★ ★ Spend a day at the German National
Garden Show
★ ★ Stay in style at the Schlosshotel
Ballenstedt on the edge of the Harz
Mountains
★ ★ Experience UNESCO World Heritage at
Dessau Wörlitz Garden Realm
★ ★ Steam train to the top of the Brocken
Mountain
★ ★ Admire the world’s largest rose
collection in Sangerhausen
★ ★ Try Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn ‘dingle-
dangle’ railway
Fares
From
£1495
9
DAYS
2015 is the turn of the Havel Region to host
the exhibition, which will take place across five
sites. We begin in Brandenburg an der Havel,
which will boast impressive themed gardens,
before moving on to Rathenow to visit the floral
displays at the Optikpark. We then continue
our journey towards the Harz region and our
hotel, Schlosshotel Ballenstedt, now a modern
hotel perched on the edge of the palace park.
Day 5 is free to relax with a stroll around the
park landscape or to enjoy the hotel’s leisure
facilities. (B,D)
DAY 6
More garden delights await on our excursion
today to Dessau Wörlitz, home of the UNESCO
World Heritage ‘Garden Kingdom’. One of the
first and largest English gardens in Germany,
they were created by Duke Leopold III following
a grand tour of Europe. During our time here we
discover more about the gardens on a guided
tour, also taking to the water for a relaxing
cruise through the verdant landscape. (B,D)
DAY 7
Travelling through the Harz to Wernigerode,
we join the Brocken Railway for a steam ride
through deep forests to the top of the Brocken
Mountain. Formerly part of East Germany,
the mountain was off-limits, however, today
it is a nature reserve and we can enjoy the
magnificent views in peace. On our way back
to Ballenstedt, we visit the fabulous Europa
Rosarium at Sangerhausen. The 8,300 varieties
of rose on display within its 12½ hectares make
the Rosarium the largest collection of roses in
the world. (B,D)
DAY 8
Bidding farewell to Ballenstedt, we transfer
to Aschersleben station for the journey to
Wuppertal. In Wuppertal we can enjoy the
Schwebebahn suspended railway ahead of
our final evening and dinner together at the
InterCity Hotel. (B,D)
DAY 9
Bidding farewell to Wuppertal, our journey
home in First Class involves a change of trains
in Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar
service to London St Pancras, travelling in
Standard Premier Class with a light meal served
to our seats. (B,E)
The Ellington Hotel, Berlin
Located in the very heart of West Berlin,
close to the KuDamm, the Ellington boasts
a unique history. Opened as the ‘Femina
Palast’ dancehall in the ‘Golden 20s’, it was
resurrected as the Berliner Theater in 1948.
However, the basement of the building
became the ‘Badewanne Club’ in 1949, the
hotspot of the Berlin jazz scene, with artists
such as Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. A
further brush with fame came in the 1970’s,
when the building became the ‘Dschungel’
club and hangout of David Bowie and Mick
Jagger. Now a stylish and modern hotel within
a listed building
Schlosshotel Ballenstedt
Originally built in the 18th century to house
the guests of the ducal house of Anhalt-
Bernburg, the Schlosshotel Ballenstedt is a
reconstruction within the palace park grounds
and opposite the historic theatre. Today it is a
modern 4* hotel with restaurant and bar, plus
leisure facilities including a swimming pool,
sauna and steam bath.
Also included in your Tour Fare:
★ ★ Dinner every evening
★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour
Manager
★ ★ Hotel Porterage
FARE
From London St Pancras International:
First Class rail travel
to/from Germany, including £1495
Standard Premier Eurostar
Single Traveller Supplement £190
JUNE / SEPT Departure Supplement £100
8 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Eurostar Standard Premier rail travel
First Class rail travel throughout
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
Fares based upon sharing a twin-bedded en-suite
room; single rooms available for a supplement.
GUARANTEED FARE
NEW
T OU R