Day 1: Following your early morning taxi pick up, we join our platinum executive tour coach and head to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival we continue our journey through the French countryside to our overnight hotel, the Novotel Saint Avold on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning we continue our journey crossing the River Rhine into Germany. We make our way through the Black Forest and cross into Switzerland, where we make a brief stop at the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. The Rhine falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls on the main land in Europe. Visitors can walk around the basin, cross the bridge above the Rhine Falls to the 'Känzeli' observation platform, a most spectacular viewpoint built directly beside the water. We then continue our journey to Austria and our hotel for the next 6 nights, the beautiful Weisses Kreuz in Feldkirch. Sit and enjoy a welcome drink on our arrival while your cases are delivered to your rooms. Whilst staying at the Weisses Kreuz local wines, beers, soft drinks and tea/coffee will be included during your evening meal each evening.
Day 3: After a traditional breakfast we take a short local bus ride to join our guide in the centre of Feldkirch for a leisurely guided walking tour. Feldkirch is an enchanting town on the border between Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and is the second largest town in the Vorarlberg region. The history of this amazing medieval town dates back to the 1200’s with the creation of Schattenburg Castle and the town has seen numerous battles including the Battle of Feldkirch in 1799 between the Austrian and French military. Several remaining sections of the city walls and guard towers can still be seen, and the Katzenturm is one of the finest and most complete examples. This defensive tower stands at over 8 stories high and was built during the Habsburgs reign between 1491-1507 by King Maximillian I as part of the towns fortifications. At the top of the tower hangs the huge 8573kg Katzenturm bell which was added in 1857 and is still rung once a week to this day.
After our guided tour we include entry to Schattenburg Castle Museum. Originally a residence of the Earls of neighbouring Bregenz for over 200 years, the castle then changed ownership to the mighty Habsburg leaders who ruled over the estate until the late 1700’s. The beautiful building with its white walls and brown tiled roofs stands out in Feldkirch and the museum and restaurant inside are of particularly good quality. The museum is split into several different themed rooms, all of which have been restored and feature historical furniture and architecture. After your visit the afternoon is free in Feldkirch.
Day 4: This morning we head to the Swiss Mountains enroute to Chur the capital of the largest Swiss canton, Grisons. Chur is also the oldest city in Switzerland, and here you will board the fabulous Rhaetian Railway. This unforgettable journey takes just one hour, but in that time climbs 1,000m on the journey from historic Chur to the village of Arosa. The Arosa Line is over 100 years old and forms part of the famous Rhaetian Railway.
The journey gets off to a leisurely start in Chur, with a sedate trundle through the historic streets - past the town walls, the Maltese tower and the Obertor gate. Minutes later, the train is wending its way through unspoilt nature and the mountainous landscape of Schanfigg. The route takes you across the famous Langwieser Viaduct, an iconic feat of engineering spanning the Plessur River. Your destination is Arosa, where there will be free time to take in the fabulous views and fresh mountain air before making the return journey back to Chur.
Day 5: Our excursion today takes through the Bregenzerwald where we have an included visit to a traditional cheesemaker.
After our visit we continue over the Riedberg Pass to Oberdorf, famous for the four hills ski jumping tournament. We take the lift up to the impressive ski jump and see the spectators views of the Erdinger arena for a birds eye view.
We then drive to the Bavarian port town of Lindau. Set on the edge of Lake Constance, this pretty medieval town has a stunning backdrop of the Swiss and Austrian Alps. You will have free time to explore the town's historical centre around the market square. The main attraction here is the 16th-century palace, Haus zum Cavazzen, a beautiful building that's now a city museum. (atrractions in Lindau subject to individual choice and payment)
We then return to our hotel passing through Bregenz, the provincial capital of the Vorarlberg, the western most Provence in Austria.
Day 6: This morning we head to Lichtenstein. Aside from its novelty value being one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest countries, it is like something straight out of a fairy tale. Liechtenstein sits on the banks of the Rhine with views of lush alpine landscapes, medieval castles and villages linked by a network of trails. After some free time to explore, we cross the border to Switzerland to visit its smallest village, Werdenberg. This historic town is also the oldest timber-frame settlement in Switzerland and is best known for its castle of the same name, which sits majestically on the hill above the town. The small Lake Werdenberg lends further charm to this medieval town, and is a joy to explore.
Day 7: Today we travel up via the Flexen pass to the famous ski resorts of Zurs & Lech where many famous families have spent their winter holidays, including the Royal families of the Netherlands. Here you can soak up the atmosphere in the villages before we make our return journey to the hotel via the Kloster valley.
Day 8: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel as we head back through Switzerland and the French border. We break our journey with a stop in the popular wine town of Riquewihr. After some free time we continue our journey though the Alsace region before arriving at our overnight hotel. The Novotel Saint Avold.
Day 9: This morning we continue our journey back home with our crossing to Dover, before heading back to Norfolk where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
8 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1485pp
Single Supplement: £255 (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy, depending on availability)
Tour Reference: EUR1896
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 12 weeks prior to departure