Gardens, Castles & Wine: The German Rhineland
with Linda Dietrick May 15 – 26, 2027
Itinerary
May 15, 2027
Arrive Dusseldorf Airport and meet your guide. Our first garden visit is
Nordpark, known for its elegant,1930s-style landscaped design, featuring fountains, themed gardens, and a prominent Japanese garden. We follow this with an orientation bus tour of Dusseldorf. Overnight Dusseldorf. Evening at leisure.
May 16, 2027
Visit to
Dusseldorf Hofgarten, the first and oldest public garden in Germany established in 1769. The garden marks the transition from a strictly Baroque garden style to a natural English landscape garden. Next is a guided tour of the
Botanic Garden Düsseldorf, home to an 18-metre-high hemispherical “cold hall.” This greenhouse showcases around 400 plant species from regions including the Mediterranean, California, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, and Asia. Protea lovers will find a rich collection. Our day ends with a
walking tour of Dusseldorf. Welcome dinner. (BD)
May 17, 2027
Today visit the
International Garden Exhibition. Details of the exhibition have not fully been released but there will be a visit to two exhibition sites such as the Future Garden Dortmund and the Future Garden Gelsenkirchen. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 18, 2027
Enjoy a guided visit to
Schloss Benrath, a pleasure palace built between 1756 and 1773. Set within expansive gardens, the park features the Palace Pond, the Reflecting Pond and 60 different plants including rare trees and shrubs from North America. Next, visit
Hortvs, the private garden of Peter Janke, for a guided tour featuring hellebores, thalictrum, sempervivum, miscanthus, epimedium, and hardy ferns. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 19, 2027
This morning enjoy a guided tour of the
Flora and Botanical Garden in Cologne, home to about 12,000 plant species from all over the world and featuring garden styles, such as English Landscapes, Italian Renaissance and French Baroque gardens. After lunch take a
walking tour of Cologne and a ride on the Kolner Seilbahn (cable car). Evening at leisure. (B)
May 20, 2027
Today take a guided tour of the
University of Bonn Botanical Garden. An orangerie was documented as early as 1650 but today the garden includes nine greenhouses displaying tropical plants, ferns, mangroves, waterlilies, cacti and orchids. Next is a guided tour of the
Foundation Arboretum Park Harle. Nestled on the slopes of the Rhine Valley, the park is home to unusual trees and shrubs. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 21, 2027
Begin your day with a
walking tour of Koblenz including part of the
Empress Augusta Anlagen
Gardens. At
Marksburg Castle the head gardener guides you into the world of useful and ornamental plants of the Middle Ages. Discover aromatic and fragrant herbs, beautiful blossoms, medicinal plants and fascinating stories. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 22, 2027
Begin your day with a
boat trip along the Rhine from Koblenz to Rudesheim. Disembark and visit
Kloster Eberbach on a guided tour of the monastery, vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting experience. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 23, 2027
After a
walking tour of Mainz, explore
Luisenpark—enjoy Mediterranean-themed gardens, visit Europe’s largest Chinese teahouse, wander the jungle greenhouses, and see Humboldt penguins and African storks in the walk-through aviary. Next is
Schwetzingen Palace, renowned for its harmonious gardens, where over 100 sculptures dot the landscape. Highlights include the Türkischer Garten, featuring a mosque by Nicolas de Pigage—the largest of its kind in a German garden. Evening at leisure. (BD)
May 24, 2027
Today visit
Heidelberg Castle, its ruins and garden shrouded in myth. The garden was never completed but the remaining landscaped terraces hint at an awe-inspiring scale. Free time in Heidelberg. (B)
May 25, 2027
Visit the
Hermannshof Display Garden, a privately owned trial garden known for its innovative planting. Today it is known for its vibrant tulips, 50,000 tulips of at least 40 varieties. Free time in Weinheim. Farewell dinner. (BD)
May 26, 2027
Transfer from Weinheim hotel to Frankfurt Airport. Or extend your stay in Germany. (B)
Our Host: Linda Dietrick
Linda Dietrick is a retired professor of German Studies, a past editor of The Prairie Garden, and a trained Master Gardener. Although she grew up in the Philadelphia area as the daughter of a landscape designer, she has lived and gardened in Winnipeg since 1988. In recent years, she and her husband Harold have enjoyed three of Sara Williams’ excellent garden tours. Linda is delighted to have the opportunity to help continue what Sara started.
Tour Information
Tour Length: 12 days / 11 nights
Date: May 15 - 26, 2026
Land Only Price: Prices below are based on a minimum of 20 guests
$7380CAD per person based on double occupancy
$1675CAD Single Supplement
Activity Level:
This is an active but not strenuous tour. Participants can expect to visit two or three gardens or other sites each day, for a daily total of about 3-4 hours of moderately-paced walking (with breaks). Paths may be uneven in places. Some of the gardens are on sloping terrain, so participants should be able to negotiate elevation changes and steps. In many cases, however, there will be benches where one can rest and enjoy the view.
NOTE: German hotels don’t offer porterage; guests are responsible for carrying their own luggage between the bus and their hotel rooms.
Gardens, Castles & Wine: The German Rhineland Includes:
- Airport transfers and transportation per the itinerary
- 11 nights hotel accommodation
- Meals: Breakfast daily and 8 dinners
- Entry and tickets to gardens and sights as listed in the itinerary
- Services of an expert local guide and driver
Gardens, Castles & Wine: The German Rhineland Doesn’t Include:
- International flights
- Travel Insurance
- Accommodation not included in the itinerary
- Meals not included in the itinerary
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Excursions, activities, and entrance fees not included in the itinerary
- Gratuities to guides
- Personal Items
- Porterage
