Your day trip from Strasbourg begins when you meet your guide aboard the awaiting minivan in the town center. Settle into air-conditioned comfort for the scenic drive.

The first stop is the village of Colmar, where you’ll go on a walking tour with your guide. The town’s cobblestoned streets are lined with characteristic German-style half-timbered buildings, and you’ll even see some canals. See Colmar’s main sights, including Saint Martin’s Church and the 16th-century Pfister House, and wander historic neighborhoods like Little Venice.

Your next stop is the picturesque town of Riquewihr. The charming town sits inside medieval walls, and is a warren of meandering alleys and chocolate-box houses. Enjoy some time to explore the pretty town at your leisure, including time to have lunch (own expense).

Continuing on your Alsace tour, the next point of interest is the 105-mile (170 km) Alsace Wine Route (Route des Vins d’Alsace). This scenic road curves gently through rolling hills and past acres of vineyards at the foot of the Vosges Mountains. Continue toward your final stop — Haut Koenigsbourg Castle (Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg).

The castle dates from the 12th century, and you’ll have a chance to explore the inside — including where people once lived inside it — and find out how this powerful fortress used to control the salt, wheat and wine routes from northern and eastern Europe. Admire the excellent views from the castle’s hilltop vantage point before climbing back into the minivan for the drive back to Strasbourg at the starting point of the tour.