Spring in Belgium and Luxembourg

This all new tour combines the charm of steam railways, the seaside scenery of Belgium’s coastal tramway, relaxing river cruises and the ambiance of historic cities in the Low Countries.

• Take advantage of short distance rail travel by Eurostar and Intercity trains from London to Belgium and back.
• Stay in the historic cities of Namur, Luxembourg and Bruges at centrally located quality hotels, enjoying their unique ambiance and beautiful architecture.
• Experience private charter steam train journeys in idyllic at the Three Valleys Railway in Belgium and at the Train 1900 heritage railway in Luxembourg. 
• Enjoy a relaxing river cruise in the resplendent city of Liege and explore Belgium’s coastal tramway on a day in Flanders.
• Take advantage of easy and convenient excursions on SNCF and CFL trains.

Wednesday 13 May 

By train from London to Namur

You travel from London St. Pancras by high speed train to Brussels Midi, where you change onto an SNCB Intercity directly to Namur. Namur, which dates back to Roman times, is the capital of Wallonia. For the next three nights you are based in this delightful historic city, which is attractively situated at the confluence of the Rivers Meuse and Sambre and framed by a hilltop fortress and its pretty cobbled streets are lined with lively cafes and independent shops. You have some free time to explore this charming city and its delights, before dinner is served at the hotel. (D)

Thursday 14 May

Steam in Wallonia at Mariembourg

Today you visit a marvel of a heritage railway deep in the woods of southern Belgium. You travel to Mariembourg on SNCB service trains via Charleroi. The delightful Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées is one of the oldest heritage railways in the Low Countries and operates a nostalgic steam service through the namesake Three Valleys on a 14 km (9 mile) long route. You make a full return trip with photo stops and enjoy the comforts of a reserved coach. In the late afternoon you once again return by regular SNCB train to Namur and enjoy another dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Friday 15 May

River Cruise and Tramways in Liege

After breakfast you take a train from Namur for the 45 min journey to Liege. Liege is famously warm and welcoming, nicknamed the City of a Hundred Steeples and a fast-evolving, vibrant blend of past and present. There you have a sightseeing cruise on the River Meuse, gaining great impressions from the city’s attractive skyline and riverside promenade. You will also have time to ride the city’s brand-new 12 km long single line tramway that only opened in April 2025, including redesigned city squares and revived urban spaces. Your complimentary ticket will take you past all the major landmarks, including the best places to either enjoy Belgian street food like frites, waffles and of course beer! You will have the benefit of an individual train ticket from Liege to Namur, so you can return to the hotel in Namur when it best suits you. (B)

Saturday 16 May

Steam at the Train 1900 in Luxembourg

In the morning you take a direct EuroCity train for a two hour journey through the Ardennes forest to Luxembourg. You check into your centrally located hotel near the station and have lunch, before taking a local CFL stopping train to Petange, just west of the city. There you will enjoy a private steam charter on Luxembourg’s premier heritage railway. A vintage tank engine will pull your steam charter for the full length of the line and through beautiful scenery on a meandering and very curvy route to the industrial heritage park at Fond-de-Gras, site of a former iron mine. Rich in industrial archeology and history, this location is ideal for discovering further and is a great opportunity for photography. Afterwards you return by steam train to Petange, and on to Luxembourg by service train, where your evening dinner is served in the hotel restaurant. (B D).

Sunday 17 May

Tramways, funiculars and leisure in Luxembourg

Today you may spend entirely at leisure, enjoying one of the finest European cities and all that it has to offer. From the beautiful old town with impressive churches and quaint cobblestone streets, to lofty bridges and viaducts, Luxembourg is well worth exploring. Small, densely populated and wealthy Luxembourg has ancient roots, built on the foundations of a formidable fortress so strong it protected the surrounding area for a thousand years. The Old Quarters at Ville Haute are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle dating back to the year 963, the Adolphe Bridge, Modern Art museum Mudam, Place d'Armes, Grand Ducal Palace and Notre-Dame cathedral make the city unique.

Add peaceful places like the lovely riverside gardens, the international shopping and the superb cuisine, and there’s something for everyone. It has all new and modern transport attractions, such as a recently built and extended tramway and also an urban funicular. Public transport is free to use for everyone in Luxembourg, so you can easily hop on and hop off. (B)

Monday 18 May

In Bruges

Depart Luxembourg in the late morning on an international Intercity direct to Brussels, where you change for the short onward journey to the beautiful medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage site of Bruge. Experience Flanders and famed Flemish art and architecture at its very best. After checking in to the hotel you may explore the city and its wide culinary offer at leisure. (B)

Tuesday 19 May

A day on Belgium’s coastal tramway

Bruges is just a short service train ride to Oostende on Belgium’s Channel coast.

Here you can enjoy a mixture of windswept beaches, historic cities and quaint villages on Belgium’s North Sea shoreline which boasts the longest tramway in the world, the so-called Kusttram. It connects Oostende at the centre of the line with Knokke to the north and De Panne to the south, with Nieuport being a special attraction along the way. You will receive a complimentary rover ticket and will be free to explore and roam at your leisure. You may also opt to join your Tour Manager on a suggested route and itinerary for enjoyable exploration featuring the right balance between light trail, culture and nature. In the late afternoon you return to Bruges for a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Wednesday 20 May

Bruges at leisure and return to London

You still have the morning to make the most of beautiful Bruges and enjoy all that this UNESCO World Heritage site has to offer before taking an afternoon SNCB Intercity service to Brussels Midi. Here you change onto a Eurostar high-speed train for your return to London St. Pancras. (B)