DAY 1 – MUNICH, GERMANY
Your tour commences this evening in cosmopolitan Munich. Shopping is always excellent in Munich – particularly around the town hall and the decorated wooden Christmas Market stalls – which if you have time prior to the tour commencing, we recommend you should definitely visit! Before your Bavarian-style buffet dinner, enjoy a welcome drink in the hotel.
Meals Included: Dinner
Stay: Maritim Hotel Munich
DAY 2 – NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE & BAVARIAN ALPS
Driving into the Bavarian Alps we enjoy a brisk walk uphill to visit ‘Mad’ King Ludwig’s romantic Neuschwanstein Castle. Your guided tour will take you through the King’s apartments, staterooms, halls and throne room all reminiscent of a Wagner operatic saga.
Later, cross into the Austrian Tyrol and arrive in Hall in Tirol, the oldest town in the Tyrol, and considered perhaps the prettiest, where you stay two nights.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Parkhotel, Hall in Tirol, Austria
DAY 3 – SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL WORLD, INNSBRUCK & MEDIEVAL HALL
This morning you will visit Swarovski ‘Kristallwelten’ (Crystal Worlds)… a weird and wonderful crystal experience. This afternoon, you visit nearby Innsbruck to explore the picture perfect Christmas Markets in the old medieval square beneath thefamous ‘Golden Roof’. Your evening is free to relax – ‘My Time’ in Hall, with its unspoiled, narrow medieval alleys and period townhouses, Relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the Advent Market, where Advent lights, a mix of stars and Christmas symbols, bathe the city in light, and choirs sing and make music and give the Advent market a festive setting.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stay: Parkhotel, Hall in Tirol, Austria
DAY 4 – LIECHTENSTEIN & KLOSTERS
Crossing the mountains and valleys of Austria we visit the city of Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, a tiny country on the border of Switzerland. Mountains soaring all around us, we continue to the exclusive ski resort of Klosters, where we stay the next two nights.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Seven Alpina Boutique
DAY 5 – KLOSTERS
A magnificent day to enjoy ‘My Time’ in the stunning scenery which surrounds you, and do as much, or as little, as you want! Whether you are a ‘super active snow sports’ person or a ‘take it easy and relax’ person there are numerous activities you can enjoy, and your Tour Manager will be at hand to assist and advise you. You can easily access all the main peaks by funicular trains, cable cars and chair lifts. At all ‘drop off’ points there are restaurants, cafés and restroom facilities – usually with extraordinary panoramic views. Maybe stroll along snowy winter footpaths or alternatively enjoy your hotel’s indoor pool and
spa facilities.
Enjoy some free time to explore Carrara’s old town on your own; view the town’s cathedral, the Duomo, built in white marble, or search for Michelangelo’s bust marking his former home. After an included lunch in Carrara, continue on through the rolling hills of Tuscany, ending the day in a historic Tuscan villa for a rejuvenating 4-night stay.***
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Seven Alpina Boutique
DAY 6 – LUCERNE & INTERLAKEN
You will spend the morning in historic Luzern. A local guide will join you for a short walking tour through the old town, with its Christmas Markets and covered wooden bridges. After lunchtime at leisure, drive over the Brünig mountain pass to Meiringen. Famous for inventing its culinary namesake, they have of course, included some delicious meringue and coffee. You are now deep in the heart of the Bernese Oberland and as a finale they will drive along the shoreline of picturesque Lake Brienz to Interlaken, where you stay the next four nights.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Interlaken, Switzerland
DAY 7 – BERN & INTERLAKEN
This morning you’ll visit Bern, Switzerland’s capital city set on a spectacular bend above the River Aare, and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark. Here they have included a short, guided walking tour through the medieval cobblestoned streets with their sheltered arcaded shopping ways, the Christmas Markets and the famous ‘Bärengraben’ bear pits. Lunchtime is at your leisure in Bern. Your afternoon and evening are free back in Interlaken. ‘My Time’. Nestled between two lakes, and surrounded by soaring peaks, Interlaken is an absolute joy during the run up to Christmas. The shopping is excellent.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Interlaken, Switzerland
DAY 8 – SCHILTHORN
Passing through the delightful village of Lauterbrunnen, flanked by 300 metre (1,000 ft) high, sheer cliffs, you take the cable car from Stechelberg up the rockface to the pretty village of Mürren. From here you are whisked further up to the glass floored observation deck of the Birg restaurant. Around the entire peak is the Skyline Thrill Walk – a metal walkway suspended over a sheer drop below. Thrilling indeed!
Then onwards and upwards by another cable car, suspended between two peaks, to the Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant set on top of the Schilthorn summit. With astonishing 360 degree views they have included a buffet lunch. This was also the setting for the evil Blofeld’s secret mountain hideout in the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. Make sure you visit Spyworld and the ‘Walk of Fame’ that pays tribute to the cast and behind-the-scenes contributors to the iconic movie. Your evening is at leisure in Interlaken.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Hotel Interlaken, Switzerland
DAY 9 – CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN THUN
Following the shoreline of Lake Thun, you reach the old town of historic Thun, with its Christmas markets and excellent shopping. Later we make a photo stop in lake side Spiez before returning to Interlaken. The rest of your afternoon is free – ‘My Time’.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Interlaken, Switzerland
DAY 10 – GOLDEN PASS TRAIN & MONTREUX
A special adventure this morning as you board the Golden Pass panoramic train which will take you across the Alps, past the chic ski resorts of Gstaad and Château-d’Oex to Montreux on Lake Geneva. Sitting in the panoramic carriages, the views throughout the journey are spectacular. Lunchtime will be enjoyed in Montreux. The excellent Christmas markets that stretch along the grand lakeside promenade and foreshore are often considered the best in Switzerland. Look out for the statue of Freddie Mercury who spent his last years here.
Later you follow the broad, snow laden ‘Valais’ through Switzerland’s finest mountain scenery to Täsch. Here you board a cog railway train that takes you up to the world-famous alpine resort of Zermatt. Set at an altitude of 1,620 metres (5,310 ft), the village is surrounded by dozens of huge Alpine peaks and dominating all is the mighty Matterhorn. Petrol-driven vehicles are banned from the village and as such the peace and quiet enhances the wooden chalets and small winding village streets. Stunning!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel National, Zermatt, Switzerland
DAY 11 – GORNERGRAT, THE MATTERHORN & ZERMATT
This morning they have included a ride on the Gornergrat funicular train (cog railway) up to the highest open air railway station in Europe – the Gornergrat. At 3,100 metres (10,170 ft) the view from the top across the Alps is beyond belief. They have also included a warming hot drink on the terrace of the Kulmhotel restaurant, surrounded by one of the great vistas of the world – the mighty Matterhorn and the 28 other 4,000 metre high peaks that surround you.
The rest of the day is free to relax in the crisp, alpine air. Perhaps play in the mountains, go for a walk on the 70 kilometres of winter trails along the valley, or explore this fascinating mountain retreat, from its cafés and boutiques to the little winding streets still lined with traditional stone and slate hamlets and cottages.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel National, Zermatt, Switzerland
DAY 12 – MILAN
Crossing over the dramatic Simplon Alpine Pass you enter Italy, and the stylish city of Milan. On arrival there will be time at leisure amongst the fashion shops of the luxurious Golden Triangle and in the square beside the giant Duomo. This evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local Milanese restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Starhotels Anderson, Milano
DAY 13 – MILAN
Your Christmas Markets tour comes to an end after breakfast and it is time to say farewell.
Meals Included: Breakfast
