Welcome to Vienna! Enjoy your afternoon before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers to enjoy dinner served with wine at a local restaurant.
Join your Local Expert on a private tour of Maria Theresa's magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Be transported to a time of opulence and extravagance, as you marvel at the intricacies of gilded rococo frames, frescoed ceilings and crystal chandeliers. See the city's many highlights, including St. Charles' Church, the Hofburg Palace, Parliament and State Opera House.
A short drive through wonderful Austrian countryside leads us to Salzburg. En route, visit Melk Abbey and Mondsee's Basilica St. Michael, easily recognizable due to its appearance in The 'Sound of Music'.
Join your Local Expert, who will show you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, Residenzplatz, the city's imposing fortress, and the immense cathedral in the Old Town. Visit Mozart's birthplace where you will enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia and musical instruments of the great composer. In the evening, relish the authentic experience of Farm-to-Table dining.
This morning, board a boat across Lake Chiemsee to explore the island sites of picturesque Herrenchiemsee. Visit King Ludwig II’s grandest palace, inspired by Versailles and set amid Alpine lake scenery. Stop at the nearby Fraueninsel, home to a Benedictine convent dating back to the 8th century. Enjoy time at leisure in the manicured palace gardens before continuing by boat to Gstadt. From here, journey by coach to Munich, capital of Bavaria and home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. This evening, enjoy a traditional Bavarian experience with your Travel Director and fellow travelers at a lively local beer hall.
Enjoy an orientation of Munich's sites including the university, Victory Arch and the Marienplatz, where crowds gather at the Town Hall to watch the antics of the Glockenspiel. Afterwards, explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a culinary walking tour in the city center. Alternatively, visit the Munich Residenz, Germany's largest inner-city palace and former seat of Bavarian royalty. Travel to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site for a moment of commemoration and remembrance. Reflect on the weighty history that marks the site and observe the importance of its preservation.
Embark on an exciting visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (subject to availability), bristling with turrets and pinnacles, built as a retreat for the wildly eccentric King Ludwig II. See the extravagantly decorated apartments, including the Throne Room and Lohengrin courtyard. Continue to Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play since 1634. See the immense theater and admire the colorful painted chalets before driving on to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, set in a valley of snow-capped mountain peaks. This evening, for your Dine-Around experience, choose from a fantastic selection of restaurants.
Awake to the beautiful Alpine city of Innsbruck. A Local Expert will guide you through the city to see the 14th-century houses of the Old Town, the impressive Imperial Palace and the delightful Golden Roof. Visit a nearby ski jump, set against staggering mountain vistas. Meet one of the ski jumpers and observe a demonstration jump.
Take in the stunning views of the beautiful Engadine Valley, as you enter Switzerland headed for the chic Alpine resort of St. Moritz. Enjoy the town's marvelous scenery, fresh air and maybe visit its many museums or shop for souvenirs. Perhaps experience one of Europe's outstanding train journeys over the Bernina Pass.
Embark on an iconic train journey onboard the Glacier Express, taking in vistas of ice-capped mountains, stone-built villages and lush meadows. Ascend through the spiral tunnels of the Albula Pass and cross the Landwasser Viaduct before heading down through the Oberalp Valley to rejoin the coach at Andermatt. Continue north, following the staggering Schöllenen Gorge through William Tell country. In Lucerne, join your Travel Director to see the sorrowful sculpture of the dying lion, cut out of a limestone cliff to commemorate the Swiss Guards who died at the Battle of the Tuileries.
Enjoy the morning at your leisure, exploring the city's 14th-century covered wooden bridge, painted gables, old walls and watchtower of the medieval fortifications. Stroll across the Chapel Bridge to the Jesuit Church, or use your free time to shop. Later, head to the town of Stans, where you'll join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a seasonal juice tasting at a former Capuchin monastery. Embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and cable car to the summit of the stunning Stanserhorn. On a clear day, enjoy views stretching as far as Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Here, amid true Alpine majesty, your journey literally peaks with an unforgettable dinner, hosted in Drehrestaurant Rondorama, located atop the mountain. Savor a glass of sparkling wine and admire the stunning panoramic views as the restaurant slowly rotates throughout the evening — ensuring you don't miss a thing.
Your Alpine adventures end this morning with a transfer to Zürich airport.
