Europe
(152)
Italy
(46)
United Kingdom
(26)
Germany
(22)
France
(15)
Spain
(12)
Czech Republic
(7)
Austria
(6)
Switzerland
(6)
Netherlands
(4)
Ireland
(3)
Slovakia
(3)
Croatia
(2)
Finland
(2)
Greece
(2)
Hungary
(2)
Portugal
(2)
Albania
(1)
Armenia
(1)
Belgium
(1)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(1)
Bulgaria
(1)
Cyprus
(1)
Estonia
(1)
Georgia
(1)
Malta
(1)
Montenegro
(1)
Norway
(1)
Poland
(1)
Romania
(1)
Serbia
(1)
Denmark
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Sweden
Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => France
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Switzerland
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Rhineland
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
)
)
)
Walking the Rhine Valley - Concerts and hikes through woods, fields and vineyards
7
days
from
US$5,770
Book today with a deposit of
US$866
6th - 12th May 2027
Tour highlights
- Five private concerts in beautiful historic buildings (with the option of a sixth), as part of our Beethoven Along the Rhine festival, interspersed with five charming country walks.
- Walk in the company of musicologist and Germanophile Richard Wigmore.
- Some of the finest chamber ensembles in the world (Doric, Leonkoro, Modigliani Quartets; Nash Ensemble), and a grand finale of Beethoven’s violin concerto with the Basel Chamber Orchestra and star violinist Nemanja Radulović.
This tour joins our Beethoven Along the Rhine festival, weaving five private concerts in beautiful historic venues with five walks through some of the most enchanting landscapes of the Rhine valley, Rheingau and Alsace – vineyards, wooded hillsides, riverside paths and picturesque Alsatian villages. The walks are led by Richard Wigmore, one of Britain’s most distinguished music writers and broadcasters, whose deep knowledge of the German-speaking world brings an exceptional dimension to the experience of moving through this landscape with Beethoven as a companion.
Travelling as a small group and staying in hotels rather than on the river cruiser, walkers enjoy an immersion in the delightful countryside that surrounds the concert venues: the music and the landscape become an interwoven experience. Performing at the concerts are musicians of the highest calibre: the Doric, Leonkoro and Modigliani Quartets and the Nash Ensemble bring five chamber concerts of Beethoven’s string quartets and other works, before a grand finale – Beethoven’s violin concerto performed by star soloist Nemanja Radulović with the Basel Chamber Orchestra. The walking/concert tour format has proved enormously popular since its debut on The Rhine Valley Music Festival in 2014; further details of the full 2027 festival programme can be found on our website here.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 11.15am (British Airways) from London Heathrow to Düsseldorf. Drive onwards to Bonn, where the first of two nights are spent.
Morning walk from Bad Godesburg to Rolandseck (10 km). A moderate walk beginning on a level path alongside the Rhine before ascending up to the hills above. There are some steep sections but always on good paths in woodland or on minor roads and country tracks. Rolandseck is a delightful building housing a contemporary sculpture museum. Optional afternoon concert: Beethoven String Quartets (Nos. 4, 7, 15) with the Leonkoro & Modigliani Quartets. An early dinner precedes the evening concert of Beethoven String Quartets (Nos. 10 & 13) with the Doric Quartet. Second and final night in Bonn.
In the morning attend a concert of Beethoven String Quartets (Nos. 3, 8, 12) with the Modigliani & Doric Quartets. An afternoon walk rises steadily passing wood-timbered houses, fields and then through woods before reaching Kloster Heisterbach. Continue on woodland paths, zigzagging up a waymarked route to Petersberg (c. 5km). Continue on to Mainz, for dinner and one night.
Drive south into the picturesque Rheingau. There is a moderate morning walk on the so-called ‘Riesling Route’ from Schloss Vollrads to Am Rebhang (10 km). It traverses vineyards and follows marked woodland paths above the Rhine, where the vines of prestigious wine producers cover broad, south-facing slopes. Stop for lunch before travelling on to Mannheim for a late afternoon concert by the Rautio Trio in Schloss Mannheim: Beethoven’s Archduke Trio, Mozart. Overnight in Mannheim.
Drive to Strasbourg for a morning concert in Villa Quai Sturm with the Nash Ensemble: Beethoven’s Septet, other works by Bach, Crusell. The afternoon is spent walking along part of the Alsace wine route, beginning in Bergheim and ending in Ribeauvillé. The path here is mostly level (c. 5km). Drive to Colmar (France) for the first of two nights here.
The day starts with a challenging walk in the foothills of the Vosges. Beginning with a steep climb from Munster Haut-Rhin, this is a circular route on country lanes, farm tracks and woodland paths, which passes through picturesque villages and farms: (10 km). Drive to Basel for an afternoon concert in the Martinskirche with the Basel Chamber Orchestra & Nemanja Radulović: Beethoven’s Violin Concert, Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony. Final night in Colmar.
Fly from Basel, arriving at London Heathrow at c. 12.15pm.
Expert speaker
Mr Richard Wigmore
Music writer, lecturer and broadcaster for BBC Radio 3. He writes for BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone and has taught classes in Lieder history and interpretation at the Guildhall, Trinity College of Music and Birkbeck College. He read French and German at Cambridge and later studied Music at the Guildhall. His publications include Schubert: The Complete Song Texts and Pocket Guide to Haydn. Twitter: @wigmoresworld | Website: wigmoresworld.co.uk
More tours led by Mr Richard Wigmore
Practicalities
Two sharing: US$6,050 or US$5,770 without flights. Single occupancy: US$6,720 or US$6,440 without flights.
5 private concerts, with the option of a 6th; hotel accommodation as described below; travel by private coach; breakfasts, 1 lunch and 6 dinners with wine; tips for waiters, drivers and local guides; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Königshof, Bonn: 4-star with modern rooms and a restaurant with views of the Rhine. Hyatt Regency, Mainz: 4-star on the banks of the Rhine. Radisson Blu, Mannheim: a smart 4-star hotel, located within walking distance of the concert venue. Maison des Têtes, Colmar: a charming, independent 5-star hotel located in the historic centre of Colmar with an exceptional restaurant. All single rooms are doubles for single occupancy.
This is a walking tour, graded ‘moderate’. It is essential for participants to have appropriate walking footwear, be in good physical condition and to be used to country walking with uphill and downhill content. There are a few moderately steep climbs, but no walk is more than 6 miles or 3 hours. There is not always the opportunity to return to the hotel to freshen up before every concert or dinner. As we are following the path of the Rhine, by necessity there are a few long drives. Average distance by coach per day: 67 miles.
Between 12 and 22 participants.
Before booking, please refer to Travel.State.Gov to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting. As a British company we follow the advice of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Dates & prices
USD Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrgbq56th28y04bm98d9m
[published] => 1
[start] => 2027-05-06 00:00:00
[end] => 2027-05-12 00:00:00
[range_type] => Fixed
[version] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrfwb2qy7rpk5nx8qky5f
[name] => 2027
)
[inventory] => Array
(
[type] => Allocation
[capacity] => 20
[errata] =>
)
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Mr Richard Wigmore
[description] =>
)
)
[fields] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[__typename] => StringFieldData
[name] => onlinetalk_booking_link
[string] =>
)
[1] => Array
(
[__typename] => StringFieldData
[name] => tb_departure_code
[string] => MN351
)
[2] => Array
(
[__typename] => StringFieldData
[name] => tb_departure_setup_id
[string] => 30117
)
[3] => Array
(
[__typename] => StringFieldData
[name] => tb_link_speakers
[string] => [{"id":12400,"title":"Mr","forename":"Richard","surname":"Wigmore","type":"Lecturer"}]
)
)
[elements] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrgctr3j4m6eh6g6htjt4
[element] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrg04tmtdqfrx8282sax6
[category] => Array
(
[name] => Tour Space
)
[name] => Tour Space
[published] => 1
[is_package] => 1
)
[prices] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrgdrfzyjzg8fa454t3vq
[currency] => USD
[value] => 5770
[on_sale] => 1
[previous_value] =>
[deposit] =>
[option] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrg4sx4mwa9dma4h06sd8
[name] => Tour Space
[category] => Array
(
[name] => Price
)
[constraints] =>
[web_bookable] => 1
[published] => 1
)
)
)
)
[1] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrge1fa1p3qvkyx0yh3et
[element] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrg7frq87qppfex1dsgvh
[category] => Array
(
[name] => Flights
)
[name] => Flight
[published] => 1
[is_package] => 1
)
[prices] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrgezex6vyt3dhmen170a
[currency] => USD
[value] => 840
[on_sale] => 1
[previous_value] =>
[deposit] =>
[option] => Array
(
[id] => 01knvmrg9jgwjjaya595g1ympq
[name] => Price
[category] => Array
(
[name] => Price
)
[constraints] =>
[web_bookable] => 1
[published] => 1
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
6th - 12th May 2027
Speaker:
Mr Richard Wigmore
Price:
from US$5,770
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Richard Wigmore was delightful company, an encyclopaedic source of music history and an engaging lecturer.
”
“This is our fifth Martin Randall tour and we have been satisfied with each one and particularly the quality of the lecturers.
”
“Great variety of styles, periods and performances.
”
Related tours and events
Sign up to our e-newsletter
e-newsletter recipients are the first to hear about our future plans and our tours as they come on sale. By signing up you agree to our Privacy policy.
Or request your free brochure here
My Wishlist
Please note that all saved tours will be removed if you clear your cookies.