Exploring the Alpine Countries

12 DAYS • 17 MEALS STARTING AT £2,449 Pricing is per person, land only, double occupancy, and varies by departure date.

HIGHLIGHTS Vienna • Classical Concert • Schönbrunn Palace • Danube Cruise • Salzburg • Dinner at St. Peter’s Stiftskeller • Innsbruck • Oberammergau • Neuschwanstein • Wine Tasting • Black Forest • Zermatt • Lucerne

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

• Cruise along the legendary

Danube River. • Enjoy a performance by opera singers and ballet dancers set to classical music in Vienna. • Tour Bavaria’s famous

Neuschwanstein Castle.

IT’S YOUR CHOICE!

Be sure to choose your option before departure. • Day 4 — Discover Salzburg on a leisurely paced walking tour of the

Old Town -OR- embark on a tour featuring film locations from The

Sound of Music. • Day 5 — Walk through the charming streets of Innsbruck on a locally guided tour -OR- visit the Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage.

CULINARY INCLUSIONS

11 Breakfasts (B) • 6 Dinners (D)

• Taste local German wines at a lakeside winery. • Dine at the 1,200-year-old St. Peter’s

Restaurant, Austria’s oldest.

ACCOMMODATION

Days 1-2 K+K Hotel Maria Theresia, Vienna Days 3-4 Arcotel Castellani, Salzburg Days 5-6 Alte Post Hotel, Oberammergau Day 7 Hotel Hofgut Sternen, Titisee Days 8-9 Hotel Alex or Hotel National, Zermatt Days 10-11 Ameron Hotel Flora, Hotel Astoria or Hotel Waldstaetterhof, Lucerne On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

The Matterhorn

Discover storybook castles and opulent palaces amidst stunning Alpine vistas as you explore Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Day 1: Vienna, Austria - Tour Begins From regal Austrian palaces to handcrafted German clocks and snowcapped Swiss Alps, set out to experience three Alpine cultures set amid postcard-worthy landscapes. Welcome to Vienna, Austria’s stately capital city. Built by the Habsburg Empire and amplified by classical composers, Vienna exudes an old-world charm that can be found in its cobblestone streets and elegant architecture. This evening, meet your fellow travellers at a welcome dinner in the city. Following your meal, enjoy a performance by opera singers and ballet dancers set to the music of Strauss, Mozart, and more. (D) Day 2: Vienna Come to know Vienna this morning during a locally guided tour that showcases its architectural marvels. Visit the 17th-century Schönbrunn Palace, containing more than 1,440 rooms, and see the impressive St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is yours. Enjoy free time to explore the avenues of Vienna or perhaps visit one of its many museums. (B) Day 3: Vienna - Salzburg Journey through the countryside before taking a cruise along the Danube, one of Europe’s most renowned waterways. Continue to Salzburg, the “City of Music,” and find lush gardens and old-world charm. Step into another time with dinner at the 1,200-year-old St. Peter’s Restaurant. Home to aged stone walls and sleek wooden ceilings, St. Peter’s is the oldest restaurant in Austria and is still owned by monks. (B, D)

Day 4: Salzburg  Choose how you spend your morning because it’s your choice! Discover Salzburg on a leisurely paced walking tour of the Old Town -OR- feel like you’ve joined the Von Trapp family on a city tour featuring iconic film locations from The Sound of Music. No matter how you choose to spend the morning, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the beloved town on your own. (B)

Day 5: Salzburg - Innsbruck - Oberammergau, Germany  Look out upon the Bavarian Alps en route to enchanting Innsbruck, located in Tyrolean Austria. Upon arrival, it’s your choice! Walk through Innsbruck on a locally guided tour and take in landmarks such as the Golden Roof -OR- visit the Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage, peeking into this historic region through traditional costumes and handicrafts. Continue on to the quaint village of Oberammergau, your home for the next two nights, renowned for woodcarvings and the Passion Play. (B, D)

This tour requires you to walk and for long periods of time, navigate uneven ground, and climb into various modes of transportation.

Mirabell Gardens

Day 6: Oberammergau - Neuschwanstein Castle - Oberammergau Step into the pages of beloved fairy tales at Neuschwanstein, Bavaria’s most famous castle. Tour the fabled halls with an expert guide and feel the legends of past royals come to life. Built by King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein is the most photographed castle in Germany and was the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty. Return to Oberammergau for an evening at leisure. (B) Day 7: Oberammergau - Black Forest You’re off to the heart of the Black Forest, a region famous for artisans who create authentic cuckoo clocks and Hummels. On your way, get a taste of local flavours at a German winery. Enjoy a tour before sampling the vintages and looking out over the rows of vines and nearby Lake Constance. End your day amongst the tree-studded mountains of the Black Forest. (B, D) Day 8: Black Forest - Montreux, Switzerland - Zermatt Welcome to Switzerland! Take in your surroundings at the resort town of Montreux, located on serene Lake Geneva. Later, enjoy a short train ride aboard the scenic Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. Travel to Zermatt – a relaxing car-

Lucerne

MAKE MORE OF YOUR TOUR

Choose to add more time to your trip:

1-2 NIGHTS

PRE OR POST NIGHT PRE: VIENNA POST: LUCERNE CALL FOR DETAILS

EVEN MORE TIME? Combine Exploring the Alpine Countries with another tour for one seamless, non-stop travel experience. CALL FOR DETAILS

free village in the Swiss Alps. Take a stroll and breathe in the fresh Alpine air. (B, D) Day 9: Zermatt All of Zermatt is at your fingertips. Spend the day however you’d like – perhaps you will set out on an optional guided hike through the Swiss Alps, passing by rugged peaks and verdant foliage on a one-of-a-kind adventure. (B) Day 10: Zermatt - Grimsel Pass - Lucerne Travel alongside glaciers, crystal-clear rivers, and snowcapped mountains as you venture through the spectacular scenery of the Grimsel Pass. Your destination is Lucerne, the “Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” Upon arrival, set out on a scenic walking tour of the city, including a stroll through its romantic Old Town. (B) Day 11: Lucerne The day is yours to relax or independently explore the best of Lucerne. Perhaps you will embark on an optional excursion to Mount Pilatus, ascending the world’s steepest railway on a panoramic gondola to the summit. Tonight, come together with your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner featuring local specialities and toast the end of a wonderful trip. (B, D) Day 12: Lucerne - Tour Ends Wish the Alps goodbye as your tour comes to a close today. (B)

DOUBLE SOLO

Starting at £2,449 Pricing is per person, land only, Starting at £3,049 and varies by departure date.

Prices based on 1 April 2022 departure.

April 2021

(different itinerary – see note*) 9, 23 April *Itinerary featured is for May 2021 – May 2022 tour departures. Departures prior to this date will vary. Please confirm at time of reservation.

May 2021 – May 2022

(featured itinerary) 14, 21, 28 May 4, 11, 18, 25 June 9, 16, 23 July 13, 27 August 3, 5, 10, 17, 24 September 1, 8 October 1, 22, 29 April 6, 13, 20 May

Please note: This trip requires a passport. Our air passengers will arrive into Vienna and depart from Zurich. All transfers will depart Lucerne for Zurich. Airport transfers are available for purchase. Return flights should not be booked prior to 10:00 a.m. Due to tour scheduling, arrival flights should arrive prior to 4:00 p.m. Danube River Cruise is available mid-April to mid-October. If Neuschwanstein tickets are unavailable, guests will instead visit the nearby castle Schloss Hohenschwangau.

“The scenery was breathtaking. I would recommend Collette to anyone who is looking for an adventure.” – Collette Traveller