Day 1 - Travel via your short sea crossing to Calais, arriving at your hotel in Genk early evening.
Day 2 - Germany – Monschau & Aachen
This morning journey into Germany and the first stop is pretty medieval Monschau,
nestling along the river among the Eifel Mountains. After browsing the quaint
cobbled streets with their timber-framed buildings, continue to Aachen, site
of many German coronations, and generally a favourite city of the country’s
former monarchs. The impressive architecture is topped by the UNESCO listed
cathedral.
Day 3 - Holland – Valkenburg & Maastricht
Today’s excursion
is to Holland. Drive first of all to the pretty town of Valkenburg. Visit the
caves (where the markets are located at Christmas time) and the castle. Valkenburg
is perfect for finding somewhere to eat while watching the world go by in its
bustling yet charming centre. Continue to Maastricht, which straddles the River
Maas and as you approach over the Kennedy Bridge and towers and steeples come
into view, you can already appreciate the elegance of this small city. Wide shopping
boulevards and narrow cobbled historical streets both typify this town and there
is plenty to occupy visitors for the rest of the day.
Day 4 - Belgium – Hasselt
Depart your hotel this morning, but make time for a short stop in Hasselt,
with its cosy terraces and squares, highlighting the differences between Flemish
architecture and that of its neighbouring countries. Continue to Calais for
your return short sea crossing.