The Grand Alpine Tour

16 Days
Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria

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Day 1  Depart USA Overnight flight to Frankfurt.

Day 2  Arrive Frankfurt (Offenbach) On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel. Later, an orientation tour of Frankfurt's city centre and medieval Römerplatz is followed by a welcome drink with our Tour Director. (Dinner)

Day 3  Frankfurt (Offenbach) - Rhine Cruise - Baden-Baden 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. Next we rejoin our coach and head to Heidelberg where we view its Castle before arriving in fashionable Baden-Baden. On arrival an orientation tour shows us the casino. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 4  Baden-Baden - Black - Forest - Engelberg (2nights) Fairytale images are evoked on our drive through the Black Forest. We visit Lake Titisee and continue to the Swiss border, stopping to view the mighty Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. Then it's on to Switzerland and the ski-resort of Engelberg. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 5  Lucerne Excursion It's a short drive to Lucerne where an orientation tour includes a visit to the Lion Monument and the medieval town. Later, enjoy some time at leisure, perhaps head up a nearby mountain peak and join in the fun of a Swiss folklore show. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 6  Engelberg - Interlaken - Geneva Fantastic scenery on a drive over the Brünig Pass to the resort of Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. Here we admire the Jungfrau before driving via Berne to Geneva where an orientation tour shows us the United Nations Building, Jet d'Eau Fountains and Reformation Monument. Tonight, why not enjoy a dinner of Savoyarde specialities in a mountainside restaurant? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 7  Geneva - Mont Blanc - Zermatt (2nights) Free time this morning to shop or take a cruise on the lake. On through Alpine France to view spectacular Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. Back in Switzerland and on through the Rhône Valley, we ascend by electric mini-buses and taxis to our Zermatt hotel. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 8  Zermatt at leisure 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/ Dinner)

Day 9 Zermatt - Stresa - St. Moritz We descend to Visp to rejoin our coach for a crossing of the Simplon Pass into Italy. We stop in the pretty resort of Stresa, 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 Today enjoy a drive to Switzerland's Inn Valley and the Austrian frontier near Landeck. On through Tyrolean landscapes to Innsbruck, where orientation features the Golden Roof, Wilten Basilica, Hofburg Palace and the Olympic ski jump. Tonight, why not take in a traditional folklore show? (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 11  Innsbruck - Berchtesgaden - Vienna (2nights) We drive past crumbling castles and tiny churches nestling below mountain peaks. Into Germany and the Bavarian Alps to Alpine Berchtesgaden in the beautiful National Park. From here we continue to the Salzkammergut and Imperial Vienna for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 12  Vienna sightseeing & at leisure The highlights of this elegant capital are revealed on our sightseeing tour featuring tour features the Opera, Hofburg, Parliament, St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Imperial Boulevards. 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 on past the monastery of Melk to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and scene of "The Sound of Music". Here our sightseeing tour explores these locations and features the Residenz Square, Cathedral and the Horse Fountain. Dinner is at our hotel this evening . (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 14  Salzburg - Munich Today back into Germany, we pass the Chiemsee Lake where King Ludwig II built a castle to rival Versailles. On arrival in Munich, an orientation tour shows us the Olympic Stadium and Marienplatz. Then free time. Why not visit the Hofbräuhaus this evening, the world's most famous beer hall? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 15  Munich - Rothenburg - Frankfurt (Offenbach) Today we by-pass Augsburg on to the Romantic Road to Old Germany's jewel, Rothenburg. The charm of this preserved city is revealed on our orientation tour. Later, it's back to Frankfurt for the night. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 16  Frankfurt - USA We transfer to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)

Please note: This tour visits France and Italy for a short period. Some countries may require double visas.