Country Roads of Bavaria Switzerland and Austria - 12 Days

From the glorious cruise through the Wachau Valley to the enthralling Bernina Express, this tour offers up an Alpine world of enchantment and unrivalled beauty like no other.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale castle built in the 19th century by "mad" King Ludwig II
    * Join a scenic cruise along the Wachau Valley, the most beautiful part of the Danube
    * Enjoy a guided tour of Vienna's magnificent Scönbrunn Palace & its formal gardens
    * Experience one of Europe's most outst&ing train journeys aboard the Bernina Express
    * Ascend to the summit of Mount Pilatus, offering views of Lucerne, the lake & countryside

Included Personal Insights

    * An entree to the history & significance of Viennese café culture

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * See the sights of Munich including the Marienplatz with its Town Hall & Glockenspiel
    * See the brightly painted houses & Passion Play Theatre in Oberammergau
    * Visit the Wieskirche, the most beautiful rococo church in Bavaria & UNESCO world heritage site
    * Ascend to the town of Berchtesgaden, in the shadow of Hitler's infamous 'Eagles Nest'
    * See the Music Festival locations & Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg
    * See Mozart's birthplace & visit the Cathedral in Salzburg's Old Town
    * View Collegiate Church at Mondsee, featured in 'The Sound of Music'
    * Visit medieval Dürnstein, crowned by the ruined castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart
    * Tour the Ring Street in Vienna seeing the City Hall, Parliament & St Charles' church
    * See the Maypole at Kindberg
    * Stop in the mysterious moated town of Friesach
    * Visit the the fashionable ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites
    * See the Golden Roof & Imperial Palace & visit the Wilten Basilica in Innsbruck
    * Visit St Moritz with its luxury hotels, spas & shops set against a scenic Alpine wonderland
    * See the 700 year old Vaduz Castle in the Principality of Liechtenstein
    * See the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church & Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
    * Scenic drives – Bavarian Alps, Semmering Pass, the Dolomites, Engadine Valley

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 12
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Choose from a selection of restaurants in Vienna for your Dine-Around evening (DA)
    * 11 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 5 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - MUNICH

Welcome to fun-loving Bavaria! On arrival at Munich Airport, your airport transfer leaves for the tour hotel at 10:00 & 13:00. Later your orientation tour shows you the Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, English Garden, Hofbräuhaus, St Peter's Church & famous Marienplatz. Tonight, get together with your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Westin Grand.

Day 2 - BAVARIAN ALPS EXCURSION

Witness the beautiful mountain scenery of the German Alps today! First visit Oberammergau, home since 1634 of the Passion Play; see the immense theatre & colourful chalets. Continue along the German Alpine Road to the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian rococo. View King Ludwig's castle of Hohenschwangau before visiting his ultimate folly Neuschwanstein. Return to Munich where you are at leisure. (BB)

Day 3 - MUNICH - BERCHTESGADEN - SALZBURG

Ascend to the resort of Berchtesgaden in the shadow of Hitler's infamous 'Eagle's Nest'. A short drive over the Austrian border leads to Salzburg, one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Sightseeing with a local guide shows you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, the imposing fortress, the cathedral in the Old Town & Mozart's Birthplace.

Hotel: Castellani Park Hotel. (BB,D)

Day 4 - SALZBURG - DANUBE VALLEY - VIENNA

First stop is Mondsee to see the 'Sound of Music' church. Then in the shadow of the great Monastery of Melk join a scenic cruise along the River Danube through the Wachau Valley, where vineyards cover hillsides overlooked by ruined castles. Alight in Dürnstein, a medieval gem of towers & ramparts. Finally head for Austria's great Imperial capital, Vienna. Tonight, for your dining pleasure, enjoy a range of cuisine from our selection of restaurants.

Hotel: Hilton (BB,DA)

Day 5 - VIENNA SIGHTSEEING

Join a local guide for a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, full of frescoed ceilings, crystal ch&eliers, huge mirrors & gilded ornaments. Spend some time in the formal gardens before going on to view the St Charles' Church, imperial Hofburg Palace, the Parliament & State Opera House. Cafés are an institution in Vienna; round off your tour with an explanation of the history & important role they play in local culture. (BB)

Day 6 - VIENNA - ST VEIT

Take a delightful drive through 'undiscovered' Austria - the pine forests & sleepy towns of Styria & Carinthia. Climb the dramatic Semmering Pass & stop in Kindberg with its colourful maypole. Continue to Friesach, still encircled by its moat. Stay tonight in St Veit an der Glan, former seat of the Dukes of Carinthia. Your hotel is only minutes from the old town square with its graceful Town Halland Plague Column

Hotel: Blumenhotel (BB,D)

Day 7 - ST VEIT - CORTINA - INNSBRUCK

Head for the distinctive rugged peaks of the Dolomites. Enter Italy by way of Lago di Misurina & the Tre Croci Pass to pause in the fashionable ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Cross back into Austria & continue to Innsbruck, set in a valley of snow-capped mountain peaks. Relax among the typical Austrian cafes of the Old Quarter, with its narrow arcades & gabled shop fronts.

Hotel: Hilton (BB,D)

Day 8 - INNSBRUCK - ST MORITZ

On this morning's orientation tour see the Triumph Arch, the lovely Golden Roof of Emperor Maximilian & the Royal Palace. Then enter Switzerland & drive along the beautiful Engadine Valley to the chic Alpine resort of St Moritz.

Hotel: Monopol (BB,D)

Day 9 - BERNINA EXPRESS EXCURSION

Board the panoramic viewing carriages of the Bernina Express for one of Europe's outst&ing train journeys. Enjoy a visual feast of glaciers, lakes & forest as you ride this roller-coaster route up the Bernina Pass, only to descend via a series of sharp zigzags & tortuous loops. Alight in the Italianate town of Poschiavo. Maybe soak up the sunshine at a terrace café before returning to your hotel by coach? (BB)

Day 10 - ST MORITZ - VADUZ - LUCERNE

Sit spellbound as you follow part of the Glacier Express route, while white stone houses, lush meadows & snow-capped mountains slip past. Your journey takes you into Liechtenstein to pause below the capital's 700-year-old castle. Then it's on to Lucerne for a spectacular ascent of Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel train & cable-car. From the summit, enjoy some of the best views of the Swiss Alps.

Hotel: Astoria (BB)

Day 11 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

See the sorrowful sculpture of the dying lion, hewn out of a limestone cliff to commemorate those Swiss Guards who died at the Battle of the Tuileries. Then a stroll across the Chapel Bridge to the Jesuit Church, before using your free time to shop. (BB,D)

Day 12 - LUCERNE - ZURICH AIRPORT

Your departure transfer arrives at Zurich Airport at 08:00. Please do not schedule any flights before 10:00am. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

MUC01 - BIERKELLERS DINNER
Lively Bavarian dinner with music, drinks and entertainment in one of Munich's famous "Bierkellers". EURO 47

INN01 - TYROLEAN EVENING
Enjoy a lively evening of traditional entertainment, featuring dancers in national costume, yodelling and entertainment typical of the life, crafts and traditions of the Tyrolean people. Two drinks are included. EURO 39

INN07 - TYROLEAN HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDE
We visit a typical mountain village and then enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride which takes us through the mountains and valleys of the Tyrol. We make a stop in a quaint tavern for a drink, before returning to Innsbruck. EURO 35

VIE01 - IMPERIAL VIENNA
A visit to see the fabulous Imperial Treasury of the Austrian and Holy Roman Empire or the Crypts and Vaults of the Imperial Family and the world famous Opera House (when accessible). EURO 36

VIE14 - GALA VIENNESE CONCERT
A wonderful concert of Viennese Classical music including some of the most famous works of Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by highly acclaimed soloists and dancers. A glass of champagne is also included during this special evening. EURO 47

VIE16 - VIENNA WOODS & GRINZING
We drive to the west of this Imperial City to the romantic Vienna Woods where we have dinner with drinks and musical entertainment in a typical "heuriger" tavern. EURO 56

VLL03 - SLOVENIA EXCURSION
We drive through the modern Karawanken tunnel to Slovenia, the first country of former Yugoslavia to gain its independence. Visit the beautiful lake resort of Bled, where we take a traditional boat ride to the island. Visit the pilgrimage church and ring the famous 'wishing bell' for your personal wish. Then we have coffee and a delicious pastry in the Villa Bled, the former hunting castle of Marshall Tito. EURO 45

LCR01 - LAKE LUCERNE CRUISE
The true beauty of Lake Lucerne is revealed as we cruise the tranquil waters and enjoy the stunning scenery of snow-capped mountains, green pastures and dense forests. EURO 30

LCR07 - SWISS ALPINE SHOW WITH LUNCH
Enjoy a typical Swiss lunch including cheese fondue and two drinks whilst being entertained by a lively show featuring song, dance, Alpenhorn blowing and traditional Swiss flag throwing. EURO 61

LCR14 - CARRIAGES & COUNTRYSIDE
A chance to meet the Swiss, as local farmers take us on a delightful countryside tour in horse-drawn carriages. Enjoy stunning scenery as we trot around a typical rural community, en route to a local farm where local drinks and snacks will be served. EURO 50