Cologne & Valkenburg Christmas Markets
3 days - by Air

Join us on a festive break to remember as we take you on a 3-day seasonal odyssey from Amsterdam to Cologne’s magnificent traditional Christmas Markets, and finally to the unique subterranean winter wonderland bazaar held in the Velvet Cave, Valkenburg.

Amsterdam
Immerse yourself in this lovely city for a few hours of festive sight-seeing or browsing - you will only have time to experience a taste of what Amsterdam has to offer, but you can always come back another time! If culture is your thing you will find a wealth of museums and art galleries to choose from, or you may simply prefer to soak up that special Amsterdam atmosphere. The best way to experience the city is either on foot or by canal boat.

If shopping is more your style, Amsterdam is the shopping capital of the Netherlands and whether your taste is traditional, high-end or eclectic, you will find a shopping area to suit you. For high street brands and familiar names try Kalverstraat, or the Dam Square area with its Di Bijenkorf department store. If designer labels appeal then head for Hooftstraat, and for quirky, vintage wares try ‘De 9 Straatjes’ (The Nine Little Streets). An added shopping bonus during the festive season are the numerous Christmas Markets which pop up throughout the city.

Cologne
Considered to be Germany’s cultural city, Cologne provides a beautifully cosmopolitan backdrop to the season’s festivities. At Christmas time it plays host to a total of eight different Christmas Markets in a variety of locations around the city, including a nautically-themed market located on the waterfront! The central area around the Cathedral has well over 160 traditional wooden pavilions selling a wide selection of gifts, crafts and edible fare so you are sure to find plenty to tempt you.

Watch street entertainers and artisans at work as you select fine hand-crafted Christmas gifts for your loved ones, from brightly coloured children’s toys to incredibly delicate glassware. Nearby is the Christmas Market on the Alter Markt, located in the Old Town, which has a romantic, nostalgic feel with its narrow-gabled houses and half-timbered stalls. After all that retail therapy, you may wish to indulge in some of the delicious local delicacies stollen or gingery lebkuchen washed down with a glass of hot glÜhwein makes a tasty festive treat!

Valkenburg
The delightful Dutch town of Valkenburg aan de Geul is home to one of Europe’s most unique and spectacular Christmas Markets, held in the Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave) beneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle, the country’s only hilltop edifice. Open for the 26th time this year, twinkling fairy lights reflect off the walls and soft Christmas music gently permeates the serene atmosphere as you make your way through the labyrinth of passages and caverns where over 40 stallholders display their wares in this festive wonderland. Offering a diverse range of Christmas gift items and seasonal edible delights, as well as giving demonstrations of old Dutch trades and handicrafts, this subterranean bazaar will give you gift ideas aplenty!

Discover too a treasure trove of impressive wall murals, inscriptions, strange sculptures in the soft marlstone walls and a romantic chapel dating from the 18th century. Outside, the streets of the town hum with Christmas cheer, and as well as choirs, bands and music groups playing on a stage in the centre of town, you will find a further tempting selection of stalls, shops and restaurants to complete your festive shopping experience.

This tour is organised and operated by Omega Holidays plc ABTA V4782 ATOL 6081

• Return flight from your chosen UK airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol†
• Airport taxes and coaching whilst on the continent
• Two nights stay in a twin/double bedded room* at the 3 star Best Western Hotel Leverkusen, Leverkusen. (Upgrade to the 4 star Lindner Hotel BayArena, Leverkusen for a supplement of £40pp)
• Dinner on the Friday evening and breakfast on the Saturday and Sunday mornings
• Visits to the Cologne and Valkenburg Christmas Markets
• Entrance to the Velvet Cave and the Gemeentegrot subterranean market in Valkenburg
• Free time in Amsterdam
• Services of an English-speaking representative
• All airport taxes and security charges and the government tax onair travel (APD)
• VAT at the government's prevailing rate at the date of travel

†Our prices include your flights for which we have allowed a reasonable budget. However, at your time of booking, should the cost of your flight exceed this budget, we reserve the right to charge a supplement, which we will advise you of before we confirm your reservation. Flight supplements are payable in full at the time of booking. The date of operation, and flight times are subject to change and availability will be confirmed at the time of booking. Flight times are stated in local times.

Please note: Due to operational reasons, there may be a short wait of up to approximately one hour at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for clients arriving on other flight(s).

Day 1 - Following an early morning flight from your chosen UK airport, you will be met at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol airport by our English-speaking representative and transferred by coach to the centre of Amsterdam where you will have some time at leisure. Enjoy a little shopping, sample some of the local cuisine or, for a small extra cost, you could join our optional canal boat tour◊. In the mid afternoon we will depart for your chosen hotel in Leverkusen, over the border in Germany, arriving in plenty of time for you to relax before dinner and your first night’s stay.

◊One hour canal boat tour of Amsterdam; £10 per person.

Day 2 - After a leisurely breakfast, we will make the short journey to the delightful city of Cologne for a full day visit to its Christmas Markets. You will find plenty to see and do, and if you need a break from shopping, you may wish to visit Cologne’s magnificent cathedral or take a stroll by the Rhine. As dusk falls, and the fairy lights begin to twinkle, the atmosphere becomes truly magical and we have allowed time for you to savour the ambience and enjoy an early evening meal in Cologne before returning you to your hotel later in the evening°.

° Please note: Dinner on the Saturday evening is not included in our package price. We will provide a late afternoon transfer back to Leverkusen for clients wishing to return earlier. Guests staying at the Lindner Hotel BayArena should note that if there is an event taking place in the arena the hotel restaurant may not be available until 8.45pm.

Day 3 - We will depart from the hotel immediately after breakfast and return to the Netherlands, bound for the quaint hilltop town of Valkenburg and its simply unique Christmas Market held in the Velvet Cave and Gemeentegrot. You will have plenty of time here to browse around the numerous stalls in the ancient galleries of this underground grotto, and also to enjoy the music, shopping and refreshment opportunities in the town itself. We will leave Valkenburg in the mid afternoon and travel to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for your return flight home after a most memorable festive break.

This break is a day trip and therefore does not use a hotel