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.
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 later continue our journey through Switzerland and into Austria and our hotel for the next 6 nights the Sporthotel in St Anton, on a dinner bed & breakfast basis. On our arrival we are treated to a welcome drink while our cases are delivered to our rooms.
Day 3: This morning we cross the Fernpass into Germany, passing the mighty Zugspitze to visit the town of Hohenschwangau. Whilst here, we include a guided tour of Hohenschwangau Castle. Sitting at the foot of Neuschwanstein's hill, Hohenschwangau Castle provides an excellent insight into King Ludwig's life.
The history of the castle begins when Ludwig’s father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria, bought the ruined castle and renovated it during the years 1832 to 1836. In fact, he transformed the feudal ruins of this former castle of the lords of Schwangau into a magnificent neo-Gothic castle. After completion, the castle was used as the summer and hunting residence of the Bavarian royal family.
The interior of the Hohenschwangau castle is simply stunning! The walls of the beautifully painted rooms are slathered with the epic myths, medieval legends and exotic decoration of 19th-century Romanticism and illustrate the battles and history of the surrounding area.
The furniture in the royal apartments are in the Biedermeier style and every piece is a used original from the time.
No visit to the castle would be complete without a walk through the romantic castle garden which has beautiful views of the mountains.
This afternoon we visit Fussen where we have a relaxing cruise on Forggensee, Bavaria’s 5th largest lake. The lake takes its name from the former Hamlet of Forggen which was submerged when the lake was formed. The boat trip offers a unique view of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle including Hohenschwangau Castle, the mountains of the Ammergau, Lechtal and Tannheim Alps and the town of Füssen.
Day 4: Today is a free day to explore St Anton. Stroll through the traditional village, browse the shops and take in the postcard-perfect views and take time to relax in one of its many cafés. You can also take advantage of your included St Anton Card giving you free travel on all local buses or you could take a ride on the cable car (price not included)
Day 5: Today we make our war to Innsbruck, Capital of Tyrol and Austria’s fifth largest city and former seat of the ruling Habsburg family. Perhaps visit the Swarovski Crystal shop or, if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the centre, climb aboard the Hungerburgbahn funicular (at own cost) and discover breathtaking views over Innsbruck. Be sure to discover the old quarter with its charming arcaded streets and the famous Golden Roof, stroll along the Maria Theresien Strasse with its bustling shops, or climb the Tower of the City for magnificent views. During you visit a local guide will show you the highlights of this Alpine town, allowing you to familiarise yourself with the area, before enjoying the rest of our visit at leisure.
Day 6: Our excursion this morning takes us 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 make our way to Meersburg where we enjoy a visit to Salem Castle. The former Cistercian abbey and present-day Salem Castle is located in the midst of extensive parks and gardens. Since 1802, when the Margraves of Baden came to acquire the former monastery during the Secularisation, Salem Castle was used as a summer residence for the Grand Dukes. Today, Salem Castle, with its Gothic monastery church and its lovely interior and gardens, is a highly significant and popular tourist destination.
Day 7: 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 8: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel and 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: After breakfast this morning we continue our journey through France and make our way back to Calais for our short sea crossing back to the UK. Arriving late afternoon we continue 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: £1455pp
Single Supplement: £68 (Limited Availability)
Addtional Singles Beyond Allocation From: £308 (May be allocated a true single or a twin/double room for sole occupancy)
Tour Reference: EUR1891
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure