| Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland
& Austria - Itinerary |
DAY 1 – SAT – UK –
ZURICH
Welcome to Switzerland! After your scheduled flight to Zurich
Airport, there is a complimentary shuttle service to your hotel. Later, an orientation tour of the city
shows you the Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, River Limmat and Frauenmunster, famous for its
stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director.
Hotel: Moevenpick Airport. |
DAY
7 – FRI – VIENNA - VILLACH
Take a delightful drive
through ‘undiscovered’ Austria – the pine forests and sleepy
towns and villages of Styria and Carinthia. Climb the dramatic
Semmering Pass and stop in picturesque Kindberg with its colourful
maypole. Continue alongside streams and through farmlands
to the Austrian Lake District, passing Klagenfurt and Lake
Worth. Arrive in the celebrated spa town of Villach for an
overnight stay. Hotel: City. (BB,D) |
DAY 2 – SUN – ZURICH
- MUNICH
First stop is at the thundering
Rhine Falls before crossing the German border and following
the shores of Lake Constance to the fortified island town
of Lindau with its historic streets. Move on to fun-loving
Munich to see the Olympic stadium, University, Frauenkirche
and Victory Arch. Visit the Marienplatz where crowds gather
at the Town Hall to watch the Glockenspiel. After night falls,
why not enjoy a Bavarian dinner at a typical ‘Bier Keller’?
Hotel: Westin Arabella Park. (BB) |
DAY
8 – SAT – VILLACH - BOLZANO
View spectacular scenery
as you cross the Italian border, taking in the distinctive
formations of the Dolomites, where rugged peaks take the form
of towers, belfries or domes. Travel via the ski resort of
Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and, as
the mountain colours change to soft pinks, reach Bolzano,
capital of the Alto Adige region. Hotel: Alpi. (BB,D) |
DAY
3 – MON – MUNICH - OBERAMMERGAU
Travel into the Bavarian
Alps for a guided visit of King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein
Castle. Admire the exuberantly decorated Throne Room and Lohengrin
Grotto, before continuing to Oberammergau, the setting for
the Passion Play. Hotel: Alte Post. (BB,D) |
DAY
9 – SUN – BOLZANO - ST MORITZ
Drive through the Swiss National Park, and along the beautiful Engadine Valley to the fashionable ski resort of St Moritz. There’s time to browse in the elegant boutiques or take a ride on the famous Bernina Express. Hotel: Monopol. (BB,D) |
DAY
4 – TUE – OBERAMMERGAU - INNSBRUCK
Drive south across the
spectacular Bavarian Alps into Austria and the winter sports
resort town of Innsbruck. Admire the Rococo interior of the
Wilten Basilica before seeing the Golden Roof and Imperial
Palace in the Old Town. Later, consider taking a horse-drawn
carriage ride in a nearby mountain village. Hotel: Innsbruck.
(BB,D) |
DAY
10 – MON – ST MORITZ - LUCERNE
Follow part of the Glacier Express route. Sit spellbound as white stone houses, lush meadows and snow-capped mountains slip past. Journey into Liechtenstein and pause in Vaduz below the capital’s 700-year-old castle. Then it’s on to Lucerne to embark on a spectacular Highlight – ascending Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel train and cable-car. From the summit, enjoy some of the best views of the Alps. Hotel: Astoria.
(BB,D) |
DAY 5 – WED – INNSBRUCK
- VIENNA
Depart for the beautiful
baroque city of Salzburg, the venue for one of the world’s
most important music festivals. With a local guide, visit
the Mirabell Gardens and the great cathedral, and see Mozart’s
birthplace. Drive past picturesque Mondsee Lake and along
the Danube Valley, seeing the impressive Melk Abbey en route
to imperial Vienna, where you will stay for two nights. Enjoy
Viennese specialties at a Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Hilton. (BB,HD) |
DAY
11 – TUE – 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) |
DAY
6 – THUR – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Join a local guide for
a tour of the glorious State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace
– although not into all of its 1400 rooms! The furniture,
fixtures and fittings impressively reflect the lifestyle of
the Palace residents and are of major significance in terms
of cultural history. See its elegant formal gardens before
going on to view the great St Charles’ Church, the imperial
Hofburg Palace, the Parliament and the great State Opera House.
Later, if you feel hungry, pop into one of the celebrated
Viennese cafes for coffee and pastries. (BB) |
DAY
12 – WED – LUCERNE - ZURICH - UK
The tour ends after
breakfast, with transfers to Zurich Airport at 08.30 & 12.30
hours. (BB) |
