Group Tour Operator and DMC for the Black Forest, Germany
Black Forest, Cuckoo Clocks and Gâteau! – New and Improved Itinerary
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Freiburg main square, Black Forest
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Lake Titisee
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Panoramic view with Schwabentor Gate in Freiburg ©Francesco Carovillano, GNTB
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Black Forest Cuckoo Clock
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Gengenbach
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Maritim Titisee - main entrance
The Black Forest ‘Schwarzwald‘ is a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France and Switzerland. Renowned for its spruce and fir covered mountains, gentle valleys, spectacular gorges carved by the River Rhine and picturesque villages it is a truly ‘fairytale’ region. It is also famous for its extravagant traditional costumes, cuckoo clocks and, not forgetting, scrumptious Black Forest Gâteau! Our hotel for this tour boasts the stunning backdrop of picturesque Lake Titisee and is highly recommended.
Dates
26 April 2025 and 20 September 2025
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Depart the UK
Take a short sea crossing from Dover to Calais and make an overnight stop in the Lille area. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 2
Travel to the Black Forest
Depart the hotel after breakfast and continue south through France and into Germany and to our hotel on Lake Titisee for the next 5 nights. Enjoy dinner together at the hotel this evening.
Day 3
At leisure – Lake Titisee, Cruise and Gâteau
A day to relax and enjoy the facilities of the hotel and the resort of Lake Titisee which is located in the heart of the southern Black Forest, a region known as the Hochscharzwald (the ‘High Black Forest’). The lake is the largest natural lake in the Black Forest.
Here, you can wander along the lakeside promenade and stroll around the small village which offers plenty of shops selling souvenirs and local specialities together with many cafes. You can also take a relaxing round-trip cruise (using your Hochschwarzwald Card) on the lake to enjoy the scenery followed by some traditional Black Forest Gâteau and coffee back at the hotel.
Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
Day 4
Rhine Falls and the ‘Pigtail Train’
Drive over the border into Switzerland to view the spectacular and thunderous Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. There are many riverside vantage points, or take a ferry ride to a rock in the middle of the falls for a close-up view (not for the faint hearted!).
Make a brief stop in the medieval town of Schaffhausen before continuing to Blumberg for a ride on the Wutach Valley Railway, one of the most unusual and impressive stretches of railway in Germany. Because of the twisting route of its central section, it is popularly known as the Sauschwänzlebahn – the ‘Pigtail Train’. The nickname was coined because the distance between the two end stations is only 9.6km. However, the twisting route it takes to reach the terminus, including Germany’s only loop tunnel, results in a journey of 25km. It’s a memorable experience. Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
(Important information – The pigtail train does not operate every day and most journeys are by diesel train)
Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 5
Freiburg im Breisgau
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, is a beautiful city. It features the Freiburger Münster, a stunning grand cathedral and the church which is famous for its unique Gothic Tower that visitors can climb.
You can admire the most important and beautiful sights in Freiburg’s old town during a walking tour. Discover historical buildings with bizarre gargoyles, picturesque alleys, bright courtyards and colourful houses and maybe dip your toes in the Bächle (open streams of crystal clear water flowing through the streets). Visit the colourful farmers’ market on the Minster Square (Monday-Saturday) with around 130 market stalls selling fresh, seasonal and regional products, handicrafts and plants.
(Alternatively: Take the train from Titisee to Freiburg on the local Höllentalbahn railway which takes about half-hour each way using your Hochschwarzwald card for free travel)
Day 6
Gengenbach, Scenic Drive and the Black Forest Open Air Museum
Our excursion today takes us to the charming and picturesque town of Gengenbach in the heart of the Black Forest, where you can experience the best of German culture, nature and cuisine. We will meet up with a local guide for a short walking tour of the Old Town, where you can admire the colourful half-timbered houses, the medieval abbey and many museums. The town also featured in Tim Burton’s film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.
After some free time for shopping, exploring and lunch, continue on our scenic drive towards Gutach, stopping at the Black Forest Open Air Museum. Here you can see historic farms and experience how people lived and worked in the Black Forest up to 600 years ago! In addition, there are around 15 outbuildings – such as mills, saws and storage facilities – cottage gardens, a herb garden and numerous animals of old breeds.
From here we will drive back to the hotel for our final evening and dinner.
Day 7
Depart the Black Forest
Depart after breakfast for the homeward journey, stopping overnight, once again, in the Lille area. Evening dinner will be at the hotel this evening.
Day 8
Return to the UK
After breakfast we will continue towards Calais for the short sea ferry crossing to the UK.
Maritim TitiseeHotel – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
A superbly located hotel along the shores of Lake Titisee within the pedestrian zone of the local village near to the shops and local facilities. The hotel features 129 bedrooms most with a balcony. There is a restaurant, a bar and a beer garden by the lake, a 5,000 sqm lakeside meadow, indoor bowling alley and free WIFI, swimming pool, sauna and wellness area. Hotel also offers free on-site coach parking. The hotel was inspected by Greatdays staff in 2024.
Note: All hotel guests at the Maritim Hotel Titisee staying for 2 nights or more will be given a free ‘Hochschwarzwald Card’ which entitles them to free use of buses and trains on local transport which also includes free cruises on Lake Titisee as well as adventure golf and the local open-air or indoor swimming pools and much more plus discounts on many other activities and museums in the area.
Maritim TitiseeHotel
| Departure Date | 8 days / 7 nights |
| 26 April 2025 | From £849.00 per person |
| 20 September 2025 | From £849.00 per person |
Single supplement available on request.
