Wonders of Switzerland & Austria

Welcome to Vienna, a city that oozes charm with magnificent Baroque buildings, ample green spaces from parks to vineyards, a vibrant coffee-house culture and masterpiece-filled galleries and museums. Known as the City of Music, Vienna fostered the musical geniuses Mozart and Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud also lived and worked here in the late 19th century. The city boasts the world’s most beautiful boulevard, The Ringstrasse, a legacy of the Habsburg monarchy.  Check in to your luxurious accommodation. Relax in your hotel for the evening or head out to explore the city at leisure.

This morning, join your local guide on a guided tour to see the city’s highlights such as the opulent Opera House, City Hall, the Hellenic-style Parliament Building, the sprawling landscaped gardens of Stadtpark, and St. Stephens Cathedral. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant.

Continue your exploration of Austria and visit the city of Steyr. Your Tour Director will give you an orientation tour of this historic city before allowing you free time to explore at your leisure.   This afternoon, continue through Austria to Salzburg, your home for the next two nights.

Surrounded by alpine peaks and sitting on the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is best-known as the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music. This storybook city has a thriving art scene, music and concert halls filled with classical music, a Baroque old town, and Hohensalzburg, Central Europe’s largest intact fortress that sits high above the rooftops with panoramic views of the city.   Join a local guide who will escort you through this spectacular city to see the iconic Mirabell Gardens, Mozarts’ birthplace and residence, the Getreidegasse shopping street, and the Old Market Square. You’ll also learn about some of the citys most famous residents including Mozart and the Von Trapp family, the inspiration for the classic movie.

Travel by coach through the beautiful Salzkammergut region, often called the Lakes District of Austria. The hills truly are alive in this region, and you will recognise some of the marvellous landscape from scenes of the famous movie, The Sound of Music.   You are bound for the historical Schwangau region, where mountains, lakes, castles and villages with half-timbered house make it one of the dreamiest regions of Europe.

Schwangau is known as a health resort, revered for its clean air, lush green spaces and indulgent spas. This morning, you’re about to step into a fairytale. After a short drive you’ll arrive at the majestic Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Explore its opulent rooms before returning to the hotel to relax.

Depart the pretty alpine region of Schwangau and travel to the town of Chur when you will board the famed Glacier Express train, taking an unforgettable journey through the Swiss Alps to Zermatt. See snow-capped mountains and breathtaking valleys from the window of your seat aboard this world-famous railway.  Nestled at the foot of the world’s most famous mountain, the 4,478-metre Matterhorn, the village of Zermatt looks as though it has been plucked from the pages of a fairytale. When the landscape is blanketed in thick white snow, visitors flock here for exhilarating winter sports, and in summer they come to hike more than 100 trails that weave around its valleys, lakes and ridges.

Zermatt is the highest mountain resort in Switzerland. This morning, go even higher as you ascend the Swiss Alps by rail to Gornergrat. Soak in the magnificent 360-degree views with the highlight being the magnificent Matterhorn.

Travel through the Alps today to the picturesque town of Montreux. Set on the banks of Lake Geneva it has been home to artists ranging from Lord Byron and Tchaikovsky to Freddie Mercury. It’s still a popular retreat for the rich and famous, drawn to its gorgeous scenery and fairytale castle.  Enrich Tonight, you will be taken to a chalet-style Swiss restaurant in the mountains overlooking Montreux where you will be treated to a delicious meal accompanied by traditional live music. Members of the Alphorn Academy of Switzerland will introduce you to the cultural importance of the Alphorn, a long wooden horn that was traditionally used by shepherds to call cows in from the pastures.

Awake in your luxurious hotel room and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before setting out to explore this charming resort town.  Freechoice: Explore your way this morning with one of these excursions: Vaud wine region: The surrounding area is filled with rolling vineyards and this morning you will have the chance to tour one of the region’s best-known wineries. Visit the cellar door and enjoy a tasting of fine wines in idyllic surrounds. Chaplin’s World Museum: Visit the house, studio and park where the legendary comedian, Charlie Chaplin, lived and worked for 25 years. Learn all about one of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists.

Board the Golden Pass Train for a panoramic journey through the Alps. Running between Montreux and Lucerne, the train passes through tall mountains, green valleys, and endless vineyards. Sit back and enjoy breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps and charming villages.  Arrive in Interlaken this afternoon. As the name suggests, Interlaken sits between two lakes in the beautiful Jungfrau region. It’s a charming resort town that is famous for its grand hotels and adventure activities.

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and overshadowed by the towering peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, Interlaken is known for its stunning alpine scenery. Discover more of it on an excursion today.  Freechoice: This morning, choose from these Scenic Freechoice excursions: Cruise on Lake Brienz, the spectacular alpine lake that offers breathtaking views of mountain scenery, picturesque villages and graceful castles. Cogwheel train: Discover Jungfraujoch, which is one of Switzerlands most popular excursions. Take the famed cogwheel train to the top of Europe, the peak of the Jungfrau. Enjoy fabulous views of the towns and valleys below.

Today take a full day excursion to two of Switzerlands most beautiful locations. Your first stop is Engelberg, a quintessential Swiss mountain village, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Your Tour Director will take you on an orientation tour of the village before allowing you free time to explore at your leisure. Afterwards, continue to Lucerne, a charming city nestled at the foot of the Alps and on the shore of its namesake lake. After an orientation tour enjoy some time at leisure to explore the delightful Old Town.  Your final leg of the journey is to Zurich, the heart of Switzerland. Framed by alpine mountains at the confluence of Lake Zurich and the Limmat River, this scenery-rich city is known for the extraordinary quality of life it offers to its citizens. It’s also Switzerland’s largest city, and its commercial and cultural centre.

Discover Zurich’s treasures on a guided walking tour. Wander through the Old Town’s winding streets, the medieval square of Niederdorf, walk across bridges over the peaceful Limmat River, and admire the ninth-century Fraumunster Church with its renowned stained-glass windows created by legendary artist Marc Chagall.  Enjoy time at leisure this afternoon.

Your journey comes to an end this morning. Farewell your fellow travellers and take with you unforgettable memories. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, the journey may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.