Monschau & Aachen Christmas

Itinerary

6 Day Itinerary

• Dec 22

  Local departure by coach, then to our overnight hotel in Belgium.

• Dec 23 - Aachen

  This morning, we head to Germany to enjoy an included excursion to Aachen, whose brightly lit Christmas market is set around the cathedral and town hall. This lovingly decorated 'Christmas village' on the market square has everything you need. One local speciality you really must try is the Aachen Printen, a kind of gingerbread.

  We continue to Einruhr in Germany for a four-night stay.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Christmas Eve - Valkenburg

  Join today's included excursion as we head into the Netherlands and visit the charming city of Valkenburg to enjoy the festive splendour of the Christmas market in the Town Cave (Gemeentegrot), the oldest underground Christmas market in Europe. The ancient galleries and the stylish dramatisation of an episode from Valkenburg’s rich history provide the perfect backdrop to this uniquely appealing occasion.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Christmas Day - Liege Christmas Markets & Monschau

  Merry Christmas! Join today's included excursion as we head into Belgium for our included excursion to Liege. Home to Belgium's oldest Christmas Markets. Set in Place St Lambert and Place du Marche, the numerous wooden chalets sell a wide variety of wares including Christmas village ornaments, gastronomic delights, local handicrafts and regional souvenirs. At Place de la Cathedrale in the heart of Liege's huge pedestrian zone, skaters will be surrounded by even more shopping, eating and drinking outlets. Proclaimed the Latin capital of Christmas festivities, the Liege Christmas Village has a subtle difference in atmosphere to its Germanic and Alsatian neighbours. Afterwards, continue to Monschau, a photographer’s paradise! Half-timbered façades overlook twisting streets, cobbled walkways and quaint market squares. The city originated around 1195 and takes its names from the castle situated on a mountain spur above the Rur River.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Boxing Day - Eifel National Park Centre & Ahrweiler

  Join our optional excursion as we visit the Eifel National Park Centre which has panoramic views over the Urftsee reservoir – and see the impressive ‘Dreams of the Wilderness’ exhibition.

  We also visit the old town of Ahrweiler, which still retains its medieval gates and fortifications.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Dec 27

  Return home.

  Meals - Breakfast

Accommodation

You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Seemoewe Hotel Simmerath in Einruhr.<_o3a_p>

Overnight stay in Belgium will be in a city-style hotel.<_o3a_p>