Alpine Discovery

Welcome to Munich, Germany's third largest city and capital of Bavaria. This picturesque city is famous for its beer halls, lederhosen and centuries-old buildings.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 5:00pm.

Meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director this evening for a welcome drink at the hotel.

The city of Munich was founded in the 8th century, evolving impressively from its humble roots as a small monastery. The local monasteries have played an important role in the city's history, not least by starting the beer brewing traditions that has brought Munich international fame.

This morning we'll take a walking tour, admiring some of Munich's iconic buildings including the Frauenkirche (the Munich cathedral), and Marienplatz, the city's main square. We'll also visit the famous Viktualienmarkt, an original farmers market which has developed into a gourmet and culinary paradise.

The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore at your own pace. During your free time, why not try some local dishes? Munich is known for its unbeatable bread, so perhaps try a salty pretzel or a yeast bun with raisins from one of the many bakeries surrounding the city. Tonight, we'll enjoy a traditional Bavarian welcome dinner.

Today we'll take a day trip into the stunning hills of Bavaria to visit the imposing Neuschwanstein Castle, the archetypal fairytale castle that was Walt Disney's inspiration for Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The castle perches high above the quaint village of Schwangau and was built in the late 19th century as a retreat for King Ludwig II. The king had a particular interest in the romance of the Middle Ages and the operatic works of Richard Wagner, which is evident in the Romanesque castle that he built.

We'll enjoy a guided tour including a horse carriage ride before we continue to the picturesque alpine town of Oberammergau. Here in the early 17th century, the villagers began performing a ‘Passion Play' to keep a vow they made after begging to be spared from the ravages of the bubonic plague. The play involves over 2,000 people in its production and is performed every 10 years.

In the afternoon we'll visit Schloss Linderhof. This palace was also commissioned by Ludwig II and is the smallest of the three palaces he built.

Enjoy the beautiful alpine scenery as we make our way to Salzburg, Austria this morning. The city is famous for being the former home of Mozart and the shooting location for ‘The Sound of Music'. Salzburg offers a vibrant arts scene and delectable cuisine, within a breathtaking setting of charming fairytale-like buildings, perfectly landscaped parks, and quaint side streets.

Before arriving in Salzburg, we visit the infamous Eagle's Nest, or the Kehlsteinhaus as it is locally known, a building from the Third Reich era. A unique engineering feat, the structure was built as a teahouse for Adolf Hitler and sits high atop a rocky outcrop. Its architecture reflects the monumentalism favoured at the time. To gain access we head into a 100-metre-long tunnel that leads straight into the side of the mountain. Here an elevator takes us up through the mountain and into the building itself.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Salzburg and embark on a Sound of Music tour, discovering the famous sights associated with the popular movie. We visit the Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain where Maria and the children sing Do-Re-Mi, Hellbrunn Palace gardens, and St Michael's Church in Mondsee. We will also see the Benedictine Nonnberg Abbey, St. Gilgen, and the Wolfgangsee where the breathtaking opening scenes were shot.

This morning we travel to the nearby town of Hallein to visit one of the oldest salt mines in the world, located in the mountainside in the Dürrnberg Plateau.

The Hallein Salt Mine is an underground mine which has been used for centuries, bringing enormous wealth to the surrounding communities. In fact, the salt mined from this region was referred to as ‘white gold'. Here we'll go deep into the mountainside to learn how salt was extracted from the mountain.

We'll return to Salzburg where the afternoon is free for you to explore more of this delightful city at your own pace.

Today we continue to the picturesque town of Bled located in the heart of the Julian Alps of northwestern Slovenia. The region around Bled is beautiful, set amongst mountain peaks and brimming with forests and greenery, waterfalls and streams.

Sit back and relax as we wind our way along the scenic Grossglockner High Alpine Road. This impressive road across Austria's highest peaks will provide us with panoramic views over the surrounding alps. We'll see vibrant green pastures, colourful meadows and snow-capped mountains.

On arrival in Lake Bled, we check into our hotel before making our way to a café. Here we try a local Slovenian dish, known as the Bled Cream Cake or ‘kremna rezina'. Following a traditional recipe dating back to 1953, this delicious cake is made with layers of puff pastry, custard and whipped cream.

Once we have enjoyed our sweet treat, you'll have the rest of the evening to enjoy at your leisure.

This morning we'll embark on a sightseeing tour to explore the charming town of Bled, including the scenic lakeshore and the magnificent Bled Castle, which is perched atop a cliff overlooking the lake. Bled Castle was first mentioned in 1011 when the German emperor Henrik II gave it to the Bishops of Brixen. The castle is now a museum and exhibition space.

Next, we travel to the lake valley of Bohinj, beautifully set amidst dense woods and spectacular mountains. The journey will take us through some very old, typical Slovenian villages with gorgeous landscapes.

Special Experience: Visit the Alpine Dairy Farming Museum, learning about the life of herdsmen in an authentic environment and tasting the locally produced cheeses.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity. You can choose to join your guide for an afternoon walk along the boardwalk through Vintgar Gorge, a stunning turquoise oasis of rapids, waterfalls and crystal-clear pools.

Today we travel to the breathtaking Dolomites. The Dolomite mountains developed into what they are today thanks to geological activity from over 230 million years ago. The foothills of this famous region are beautifully striking with green pastures, the occasional shepherd's house, and forests stretching into the distance. The houses in this town resemble adorable Swiss style chalets, low with gentle sloping roofs and window boxes adorned with colourful flowers.

On the way we'll stop at the heart of the upper Tagliamento river valley for lunch.

Special Experience: Take a chairlift up the mountains to the open-air museum of the 5 Torri, which bears the scars of WWI battles fought between the Italians and Austro-Hungarians. The museum is situated on the site of the 5 Torri Mountain peaks, which were heavily fortified during the war and saw intense fighting between the two armies. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of the old fortifications and view exhibits of weapons, uniforms, and other artifacts from the war.

The day is yours to enjoy at leisure! Why not discover Lake Misurina on a walking tour with your guide and enjoy the healing properties of the mountain air?

After breakfast this morning we cross the border into Switzerland and make our way to St Moritz, a world-renowned luxury alpine resort. Nestled high in the Swiss Alps, St Moritz plays host to international jetsetters and is one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world. The stunning town boasts a beautiful lakeside setting and has a long history as a winter sports destination.

Along the way, we will stop in the town of Merano for some free time for lunch and for a photo opportunity at Morteratsch Glacier situated just on the outskirts of St Moritz.

This morning we discover St Moritz on a sightseeing tour. Among the highlights is the town's very own leaning tower, dating back to the 12th century. This 33-metre-high tower has a tilt even greater than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, at 5.5 degrees. We'll also visit Heidi's Hut, used during the filming of the famous Swiss children's stories, before some free time for lunch.

We'll then ride a cable car up to Corviglia summit on the eastern slopes of Piz Nair, at an elevation of 2,486 metres. Here we'll be treated to spectacular views over St Moritz and the surrounding region.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore at your own pace.

Today we'll make our way to the beautiful town of Zermatt, lying beneath the peak of the famous Matterhorn Mountain.

Special Experience: Board the famous Glacier Express to Andermatt, winding its way around mountain landscapes, across deep gorges, through beautiful valleys and tunnels and over hundreds of bridges. Spiralling up through the Albula Valley, we'll cross the emblematic Landwasser Viaduct, the Oberalp Pass (at the summit of the trip – 2,033 metres) and continue down to disembark the train in Andermatt.

Our coach will meet us here to drive deeper into the Alps to the town of Täsch. Here we'll board another train to take us to magical Zermatt.

Today we'll wake up in the charming alpine town of Zermatt, set against a stunning backdrop of snowy peaks – this fairytale-like town will enchant your senses like never before.

Special Experience: Ride a cable car up the slopes of the imposing Matterhorn to Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe, for breathtaking views over the Italian, French and Swiss Alps. At 3,883 metres above sea level, this station boasts views as far as Italy's Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. The summit features an observation platform, restaurant, shop, and cinema lounge, and we'll have some free time here to explore and bask in the incredible views.

Today we're headed to Bönigen, a quaint village on the outskirts of majestic town of Interlaken, which is located on the shores of the Brienz and Thun Lakes. The beauty of this region is astounding – from the towering mountains and the lush green meadows to the turquoise waters of the dazzling lakes.

First, we travel to Martigny and visit some of the mountain's most famous inhabitants – the St Bernard dogs. These magnificent canines were bred here by the monks and trained to both carry loads and work as rescue dogs finding the victims of avalanches.

We continue through central Switzerland and the Gruyere Pays-d'Enhaut National Park to Maison de l'Etivaz, where we'll stop to try some classic Alpine cheese. This region is famous for its l'Etivaz cheese, characterised by a smooth, creamy texture and strong taste with hints of fruit and hazelnut.

This afternoon we'll also stop in the traditional Swiss village of Rougemont to admire the traditional timber architecture.

The evening is free for you to explore Bönigen at your own pace.

Now in the spectacular Jungfrau region of central Switzerland, our destination today is the famous Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Oberland Alps. At 3,466 metres high and nestled between the famed mountains of Mönch and Jungfrau, it's no surprise the Jungfraujoch is often described as the ‘Top of Europe'.

We board the train in Grindelwald and enjoy the journey through the spectacular countryside, winding our way through stunning valleys and picture-perfect villages to Jungfraujoch.

Make sure to bring sunscreen when travelling up to Jungfraujoch, as you'll sunburn faster at higher altitudes. Don't forget to drink plenty of water, as this can help with the effects of high altitude.

Special Experience: At the top of Jungfraujoch, admire 360-degree views, visit Lindt's Swiss Chocolate Heaven, and see the unique ice palace that was hand-carved into the glacier ice.

Sit back and relax during a scenic cruise on Lake Brienz this morning. We'll travel from Bönigen to the quaint village of Brienz on the northeastern shore. Enjoy some free time to discover the town and to admire the 18th century wooden chalets and sculptures before making the return trip. It's the perfect way to experience the region's beautiful scenery.

The remainder of the day is free for you to explore at leisure, or to simply kick back and relax. The choice is yours!

Today our eyes are set on Zürich. Recognised as one of the world's most liveable cities, it's so much more than a business centre. Balanced on the northern tip of Lake Zürich, it's the financial hub of Switzerland. The Old Town, where the river Limmat flows out of the lake, is a beautiful area complete with old churches, cobblestone streets and museums.

We travel to Zürich via the picturesque town of Lucerne, where we'll enjoy some free time to wander. Lucerne is famous for two iconic landmarks: the 14th century wooden bridge known as the Chapel Bridge or Kapellbrücke; and the Lion Monument, sculpted in honour of the hundreds of Swiss guards massacred during the French Revolution. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for the gracious swans along the riverfront – they make for a great photo!

We'll continue to Zürich this afternoon where we will take a short orientation tour. The rest of the afternoon is free before our group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning and marks the completion of our amazing Alpine adventure. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!