The Grand Alpine Tour
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Frankfurt.
Day 2 - Arrive Frankfurt On arrival at Frankfurt airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. Later, an orientation tour of this city's centre and medieval Römerplatz is followed by a Welcome dinner and drink in a restaurant in the old town with our Tour Director and fellow travelling companions. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Frankfurt (Raunheim) — Rhine Cruise — Heidelberg — Baden-Baden — Black Forest (Titisee) This morning we enjoy a scenic drive through the Rhine Valley en route to St. Goar. Here we embark on a Rhine cruise downstream to Boppard, passing the Lorelei Rock, ancient castles and terraced vineyards. From here we rejoin our coach and head to Heidelberg for a walking tour of the the Castle courtyards and then drive through Baden-Baden to see its pretty gardens and elegant casino. Finally we arrive in our hotel in the Black Forest for dinner and overnight (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4 - Black Forest — Rhine Falls — Engelberg (2 nights) After breakfast, fairytale images are evoked on our drive through the Black Forest. We visit Lake Titisee and continue our journey to the Swiss border, stopping to view the mighty Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. Next it's on to Switzerland and the ski-resort of Engelberg for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Lucerne Excursion This morning it's a short drive to lakeside Lucerne. On our arrival an orientation includes a visit to the Lion Monument and the medieval old town. Then, enjoy some time at leisure, perhaps to take an excursion up a nearby mountain peak and join in the fun of a Swiss folklore show. Later, we return to our hotel at Engelberg. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 6 - Engelberg — Interlaken — Geneva Fantastic scenery on our drive over the Brünig Pass brings us to the resort of Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. Here we admire the mighty Jungfrau before driving via Berne to Geneva where an orientation tour shows us the United Nations' Building, Jet d'Eau Fountains and a walking tour takes us to the Reformation Monumentand the old town. Tonight, why not enjoy a dinner of Savoyarde specialities in a mountainside restaurant" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 7 - Geneva — Mont Blanc — Zermatt (2 nights) Free time this morning to shop or take a cruise on the lake. Then we continue through Alpine France to view spectacular Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. Next back in Switzerland we head through the Rhône Valley, where we ascend by electric mini-buses and taxis to our Zermatt hotel. We dine at our hotel tonight.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Zermatt at leisure Enjoy a full day in Europe's most charming mountain resort. The streets are traffic-free and its views of the Matterhorn are stunning. Perhaps take a ride on the incredible Gornergrat mountain railway for lunch and fantastic views. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Zermatt — Stresa — St. Moritz Today, we descend to Tasch to rejoin our coach for a crossing of the Simplon Pass into Italy. We stop in the pretty resort of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, before we drive along beautiful Lake Como. Back into Switzerland to the Engadine Valley and elegant St. Moritz. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - St. Moritz — Innsbruck We enjoy a scenic drive to Switzerland's Inn Valley and the Austrian frontier near Landeck. We continue through Tyrolean landscapes to Innsbruck, where orientation features the Golden Roof, Wilten Basilica, Hofburg Palace and the Olympic ski jump. Tonight, we enjoy a dinner of Tyrolean specialities in a local restaurant.(Buffer Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 11 - Innsbruck — Berchtesgaden — Vienna (2 nights) Today's drive takes us past crumbling castles and tiny churches nestling below mountain peaks. Next into Germany and the Bavarian Alps to Alpine Berchtesgaden in the beautiful National Park. From here we continue our journey to the Salzkammergut and Imperial Vienna for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 12 - Vienna sightseeing & at leisure We will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour which highlights the Opera, the Hofburg, Parliament, St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Imperial Boulevards. Our walking tour will take us into the oldest part of the city — "Am Hof". This evening, why not dine in a lively 'heurige' inn or take in a Viennese waltz concert (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - Vienna — Dürnstein — Salzburg This morning we drive along the Danube Valley where we see Richard the Lionheart's Castle at Dürnstein. Then we continue past the monastery of Melk to the charming city of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and scene of "The Sound of Music". Here our walking tour explores these locations and features the Residenz Square, Cathedral and the Horse Fountain. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 14 - Salzburg — Munich — Oberammergau This morning after breakfast, we travel back into Germany, passing the Chiemsee Lake where King Ludwig II built a castle to rival Versailles. Then on our arrival in Munich, an orientation tour shows us the Olympic Stadium and Marienplatz. Later we ascend into the Bavarian Alps past picturesque wooden farmhouses and baroque churches to arrive in the Passion Play village of Oberammergau. Orientation here will show us the Passion Play Theatre and the frescoed houses of this charming village. Tonight dinner is included at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 15 - Oberammergau — Rothenburg — Frankfurt We drive along the German Alpine road, then north to the Romantic Road travelling via Augsburg to the old town ofRothenburg — reminiscent of a Grimms fairy tale. The charm of this preserved city isrevealed on our walking tour. Later, it's back to Frankfurt for the final night of our tour(Buffet Breakfast)
Day 16 - Frankfurt — USA Time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer to the airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 17 - Please Note This tour visits France and Italy for a short period. Some countries may require double visas.
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