|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About This Tour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip. Meals 9 Breakfast(s), 7 Dinner(s) Hotel Accommodations: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service chargesLAUSANNEHotel Alpha Palmiers ZERMATTSchweizerhof Hotel ST MORITZHotel Monopol INNSBRUCKHotel Innsbruck On some dates alternate hotels may be used. Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling. Sightseeing Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1
Overnight Flight to Geneva, Switzerland Day 2 Lausanne, Switzerland Your tour begins in the beautiful Lake Geneva region of Switzerland. This evening attend a special welcome reception and dinner. Day 3 Lausanne - GoldenPass Train Climb aboard the GoldenPass Panoramic Train for your first Alpine rail journey from Lake Geneva region to Gstaad. Discover astonishing views of the countryside and the delightful ambiance of Gstaad, a world-famous ski resort. Traveling to La Maison du Gruyere, learn about the production of this favorite cheese and sample a variety of the Gruyeres. Day 4 Lausanne - Chateau de Chillon - Zermatt This morning travel by motorcoach to visit the legendary medieval Chateau de Chillon, considered the most well-preserved medieval castle in Europe. Next, journey to Zermatt through the region’s beautiful wine country. Traveling along the lush Rhone Valley, pass the villages of Sion, with its twin hills topped with a castle and church, and Sierre, characterized by its 17th-century church, chateau and the old watchtower. Your hotel is in the center of the Alpine village of Zermatt, featuring beautiful panoramic views of the Alps, including the famous Matterhorn. Day 5 Zermatt - Gornergrat Railway - Zermatt Explore this quaint pedestrian-only village and take a ride on the Gornergrat Railway, featuring a special cogwheel that improves traction on steep slopes. This trip provides sweeping views of glaciers and the starkly beautiful Matterhorn. Day 6 Zermatt - Glacier Express Train - St. Moritz Traverse bridges and tunnels while aboard the world-renowned narrow-gauge Glacier Express, the most charming express train in the world. Enjoy the natural beauty of this scenic route through the heart of the Swiss Alps, filled with forests, fragrant meadows, gurgling streams and deep valleys. Marvel at the endless storybook landscapes and rural Alpine villages accessible solely by rail. Tonight, explore the many splendors of St. Moritz. Day 7 St. Moritz - Bernina Express - St. Moritz Embark on the Bernina Express Train, which travels along one of the most scenic railway lines in the world. En route to Tirano, Italy, the train climbs one of Europe’s steepest rail ascents, out of the Engadine Valley toward the Bernina Pass before arriving in Tirano. Enjoy dramatic views of the Italian Alps throughout your journey, including the Morteratsch Glacier. Day 8 St. Moritz - Innsbruck Travel to the magical city of Innsbruck, host to two winter Olympics, nestled comfortably in the mountains. Your home for the next three nights is the lovely Hotel Innsbruck, located just steps away from the well-known Golden Roof villa. The Golden Roof was constructed by Maximilian I of the Habsburg dynasty in the 15th century as a wedding present to his wife. Day 9 Innsbruck - Salzburg - Innsbruck Travel through the Austrian countryside to the magnificent city of Salzburg. Enjoy a leisurely paced walking tour featuring Mirabell Gardens (seen in the Sound of Music), the quaint Getreidegasse (the street where Mozart was born), and many other highlights. While at Mozart’s Geburtshaus, learn about the early years of one of the greatest composers in the world. The afternoon is at leisure to explore and enjoy Salzburg’s unique blend of sophistication and charm. You may opt to explore independently the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which was founded in the 11th century by Archbishop Gebhard, or return to the famous pedestrian street, the Getreidegasse. Tonight you will attend a delightful dinner at the centuries-old St. Peter’s Restaurant, located in the historic city center. Day 10 Innsbruck A local guide leads a city tour of Innsbruck highlighting Maria Theresienstrasse, the Hofburg and the “Golden Roof,” all set against the backdrop of the lovely Austrian Alps. In the afternoon, take an excursion to the famous Innsbruck Olympic Ski Jump, used for the 1964 and 1976 winter Olympics. Your evening features a special farewell dinner and a Tyrolean folklore show. Day 11 Innsbruck - Tour Concludes Your tour ends today in the city of Innsbruck.
Discover breathtaking Alpine scenery as you travel on coach and railway lines through Switzerland, Italy, and Austria.
Set against the backdrop of magnificent Alpine vistas, meet local experts who will enhance your special journey. Explore the spectacular natural history of the Alps as an expert introduces you to the geologic wonders of this fascinating region. Gain insight into Swiss rail travel, including the special engineering necessary for trains to operate in this mountainous area. Learn about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the social and political circumstances of 18th-century Salzburg, which influenced the education of this musical genius. Tours departing BEFORE 4/30/07 may follow a different itinerary than what is listed here. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking.
Sample air inclusive rate is subject to availability and may vary by airline, flight number or routing. Due to tour scheduling, flights on Day 2 should arrive in Geneva prior to 4:00 p.m. Return flights out of Munich should be booked after 10:00 a.m. Tour price does not include fees for a passport, which is required. Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures prides itself on bringing travelers the very best experiences a destination offers. Our itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing sturdy walking shoes. The days and order of sightseeing may change to best utilize your time on tour. If you have not purchased air through Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures and wish to purchase transfers, you must transfer at our pre-scheduled times. Air passengers will arrive into the Geneva airport and depart from the Munich, Germany airport. All transfers will depart from/return to these airports. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
© 2008 Atlas Cruises & Tours. A division of the Atlas travel network.
Site Map | Operators: Collette |Contiki |Cosmos |General Tours |Globus |Insight |Trafalgar