Bavaria’s Romantic Road: All Inclusive

Meeting our Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras this morning, we board the Eurostar to Brussels. A change of trains in the Belgian capital takes us via Cologne to Ulm. The route passes through picturesque German countryside, with rolling hills blanketed by dense forests lining the tracks.

From Ulm, we transfer by coach to the pretty town of Langenau, our base for the next seven nights. Originally a Roman settlement, Langenau is one of the largest towns in the Alb-Donau region of Baden-Württemberg and sits in the shadow of the impressive Swabian Alps. At our hotel this evening, and each night of our stay, we enjoy a three-course dinner with selected beer, wine and soft drinks available between 6.30pm and 10.30pm.

• Dinner

Our base of Langenau is free to explore at leisure after breakfast. A picnic lunch is provided by our hotel today, and each day of our stay in Langenau. The town's main landmark is Martinkirche, a medieval church that was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. You could also visit the town's Cultural Centre or Museum of Local History.

The town has good rail access to neighbouring towns, including nearby Ulm. This ancient city is dominated by its Gothic minster, boasting the world's tallest church steeple. You could walk along the Danube riverbank where you'll find the 14th-century 'rathaus' (town hall) with its stunning frescoed façade and astronomical clock. As well as its minster's steeple, Ulm has another claim to fame - a Guinness World Record for the most crooked house in the historic Fisherman's Quarter. Another popular place to visit from Langenau is the world-renowned Steiff teddy bear museum in neighbouring Giengen, less than half an hour away by train.

However you decide to spend the day, you can enjoy dinner with drinks back at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel to the island town of Lindau today. Set on the edge of Lake Constance, this pretty medieval town has a stunning backdrop of the Swiss and Austrian Alps. You're free for most of the afternoon to explore the town's historical centre around the market square. The main attraction here is the 16th-century palace, Haus zum Cavazzen, a beautiful building that's now a city museum. It's also possible to take a cruise on the lake from Lindau.

You could also walk along the harbour, not far from the station, to visit the Mangturm - this 12th-century building was once a lighthouse for the lake, and now has a colourful tiled roof after a lightning strike hit it in the 1970s. There are parks on both sides of the island, and a shady promenade along the lakeside with viewing spots and seating areas where you might like to enjoy your picnic lunch.

Travelling back to Langenau later this afternoon, we have dinner with drinks at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A fairytale castle perched on a hilltop, world-famous Neuschwanstein is the epitome of a romantic castle and our first destination today. Travelling by coach to the alpine village of Hohenschwangau, we walk up the hill for a guided tour of the iconic castle. Built by the 'Fairytale King' Ludwig II in the 19th century, Neuschwanstein was an elaborate countryside retreat for the reclusive monarch. With piercing turrets, towering walls and romantic balconies, the medieval-style castle inspired Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'. Strolling around the grounds around the grand interiors the windows reveal magical vistas across the Bavarian countryside.

There's time to enjoy our picnic lunches before continuing to nearby Füssen, a traditional Bavarian town and the southern end of the Romantic Road. You are free to look around the quaint streets and pastel-hued medieval buildings, visiting the Benedictine monastery or admiring the illusory 'trompe-l'œil' architecture of the late-Gothic castle. Perhaps stroll along the river or stop for a local beer in a tavern.

At the end of the afternoon, we return to our hotel for dinner and drinks.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is free for you to explore more of Langenau and other nearby towns, such as Günzberg on the banks of the Danube. A historic marketplace draws visitors to its centre while, on the outskirts, Lego City has recreated some of Germany's most iconic landmarks out of the popular building bricks.

Heading north from Langenau by direct train, you could reach the attractive town of Heidenheim in 35 minutes. Here, you can find Hellenstein Castle which has a number of interesting museums within its charming ruins. Discover remnants of the Roman Empire in nearby Aalen at the Limesmuseum, displaying fascinating artefacts and an open-air excavation of a cavalry fort. With a change of trains in Aalen, you could visit historic Ellwangen and its Romanesque basilica and Baroque castle.

Further afield is the modern cultural city of Stuttgart, famed as a centre of the automotive industry. There is plenty to see here, including museums celebrating Porsche and Mercedes-Benz cars.

With a picnic lunch to take on your travels, you return to our hotel this evening for dinner and drinks.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

One of Germany's best preserved medieval towns, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is our destination today. This picturesque town of half-timbered buildings is the jewel in the Romantic Road's crown.

A guided tour of the colourful Old Town showcases the best sights of Rothenburg, which was one of Germany's largest and most important cities in the 1400s. The gently sloping market square gathered round the grand town hall is lined by broad, colourful buildings, many now housing restaurants. A popular spot for photos is Plönlein, an idyllic location where two cobbled streets split, one rising slightly to a gate tower and the second descending to another. In the middle, a crooked yellow house tilts time-worn towards a small fountain.

After the tour, you're free to enjoy your picnic lunch and continue exploring. There are many interesting museums and shops selling traditional Bavarian wares, while the Turmweg is a walkable route along the 12th-century fortifications taking in some of the town's 46 towers.

In late afternoon, we transfer back to our hotel for dinner and drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There are further opportunities to discover southern Germany today with rail travel included to Munich.

Once there, soak up the delights of Bavaria's capital at leisure. At its centre is the charming Marienplatz, home to the neo-Gothic Town Hall and the famous glockenspiel. Topped by two onion-domed towers, Frauenkirche cathedral also contains the mysterious 'devil's footprint', while a charming glockenspiel can be found on the town hall's clocktower. Of course, the city is also renowned for its historic and atmospheric beer halls. To learn more about the history of brewing, visit the Oktoberfest Museum of the city's oldest beer house, the Höfbrauhaus. The 17th-century Renaissance gardens of the Hofgarten stand behind Munich Residence, the former home of Bavarian dukes and kings, while the expansive English Garden is larger than New York's Central Park and attracts visitors to its lakes, rivers and peaceful Japanese tea house.

Returning to Langenau, we enjoy our final evening of dinner and drinks at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From our base in Langenau, Bavaria revealed its amazing sights during this exploration of the region. From the pretty island town on the shore of Lake Constance to King Ludwig's iconic Neuschwanstein Caste, southern Germany was showcased through fairytale architecture, dense forests, rolling hills and beautiful towns. Connecting them all was the Romantic Road, from the cobbled lanes of Füssen to the incredibly picturesque streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The half-timbered buildings of these historic towns encapsulated the authentic charm of Bavaria and the Romantic Road.

Leaving Langenau after breakfast this morning, we are taken by coach to Ulm. From here, we travel by rail to Cologne, where we change trains and continue to Brussels, ready to catch the Eurostar service to London St Pancras where your holiday comes to an end.

• Breakfast