Compare Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria - Classic Group, 2022 by Insight Vacations vs Alpine Adventure 2024 by Tauck
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 12 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 4,475 | $ 6,490 |
| Price Per Day | $ 373 | $ 811 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes | N/A |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | No |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | From the famed beer taverns of Munich to the scenic vistas aboard the Glacier Express, this 11-day tour will delight and awe. In Switzerland, a funicular transports you from the scenic shores of Lake Lucerne to a mountaintop Stanserhorn Dinner, at the roof of Europe. Enjoy a delicious meal at 6,000 feet, with stunning views from the Drehrestaurant Rondorama, which slowly rotates to ensure you don’t miss a thing. In Austria, explore Vienna with a unique Insight Choice to tour the many treasures contained within the Schönbrunn Palace, or a stroll through the immense grounds and gardens—with unique insights from a Local Expert. |
Discover the Swiss, Austrian and Bavarian Alps... with whitewater rafting, mountain biking, rock and rope climbing... a look at "Oetzi" and life in Neolithic times... Tyrolean fun and games... rides on cable cars and the world's steepest cog railway at Mount Pilatus... fun at one of Europe's largest waterparks, a ski-jump demonstration and much more! |
Day 1: Welcome to Fun-Loving Munich
Transfers to your hotel leave Munich airport at 10:00 and 13:00. Join your Travel Director at 15:30 for an orientation tour of the city. See the Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the English Garden, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church and the famous Marienplatz. Join your fellow guests for a drink and enjoy a pleasant Welcome Dinner at Donisl restaurant.
Munich Marriott Hotel.
Dinner with Wine
Day 2: Jewels of Munich
In the morning, visit Nymphenburg Palace and join a Local Expert to explore the beautiful Baroque gardens. Then step inside to admire the interiors and artworks of this vast residence, one of the largest Palaces in Europe. Continue to the site of the 1972 Olympic Games for a visit to BMW Welt. See the worldwide headquarters of this Bavarian icon and enjoy the exhibition. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Bavaria's capital city. Perhaps visit one of its many art galleries and museums, or relax and enjoy a coffee in the delightful Marienplatz?
Munich Marriott Hotel.
Breakfast
Day 3: The City of Mozart and on to Vienna
Continue across the Austrian border to Salzburg, 'alive with the sound of music'. Join your Local Expert, who will show you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, Residenzplatz, the city's imposing fortress, the immense cathedral in the Old Town and Mozart’s birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse.Visit Mozart's birthplace. Enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments of the great composer. Continue to the Austrian capital of Vienna.
InterContinental Vienna.
Breakfast
Day 4: Vienna and the Habsburgs
Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose to join 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. Alternatively, join an exclusive MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance workshop and support the visually impaired community. Dancing in the dark, in a specially designed sensory studio, will be a unique experience for all your senses. Then see the city's many highlights, including St. Charles' Church, the Hofburg Palace, Parliament and State Opera House. This evening, enjoy a Dine-Around experience from your choice of specially selected restaurants.
InterContinental Vienna.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 5: Sleepy Austrian Byways to Villach
Take a delightful drive through undiscovered Austria. Climb the dramatic Semmering Pass and stop in Kindberg with its colourful maypole. Continue south to the border to arrive in historic Villach.
Voco Hotel, Villach
Breakfast
Day 6: The Dolomites to Innsbruck
Journey through the High Tauern mountains and see the Dolomites in the distance as you travel to the charming Alpine city of Innsbruck, set in a valley of snow-capped mountain peaks. Your Travel Director provides an orientation of the city to see its 14th century houses of the Old Town, the impressive Imperial Palace and the delightful Golden Roof. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a delightful dinner and wine.
AC Hotel Innsbruck.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 7: Beautiful Innsbruck Relaxed Start
Awake to the beautiful alpine town of Innsbruck, set in a valley of snow-capped mountain peaks. The day is free for you to enjoy the historic town as you wish. Later, consider taking a trip into the Alpine Peaks around Innsbruck for staggering mountain vistas.
AC Hotel Innsbruck.
Breakfast
Day 8: The Engadine Valley and Chic St. Moritz Relaxed Start
Take in the stunning views of the beautiful Engadine Valley, as you enter Switzerland headed for the chic Alpine resort of St. Moritz. Enjoy St. Moritz's marvellous scenery, fresh air and perhaps visit its many luxury boutiques. Perhaps step aboard the Bernina Express to experience one of Europe's most outstanding train journeys?
Crystal Hotel, St Moritz., Hotel Steffani, St Moritz.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: All aboard the Glacier Express and on to Lucerne
Embark on an iconic train journey onboard the Glacier Express, as you take 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 Schollenen Gorge through William Tell country, to lovely lakeside Lucerne, one of Europe’s most popular cities set on the banks of Lake 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.
Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Breakfast
Day 10: Dinner at the ‘Roof of Europe’ in Stanserhorn Relaxed Start
Enjoy the morning at your leisure to explore the city's 14th century covered wooden bridges, painted gables, old walls and watchtowers 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 embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and cable car, to the summit of the stunning Stanserhorn. On a clear day, there are views as far as Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany.Here amid true Alpine majesty, your journey literally peaks with an unforgettable Celebration Dinner, hosted in Drehrestaurant Rondorama, located atop the mountain. Enjoy 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.
Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 11: Leave Lucerne for Zürich
Your Alpine adventures end this morning, with a transfer to Zürich airport arriving at 08:00.
Breakfast
Day 1 Arrive Zurich and on to Engelberg
Tour Begins: 6:00 PM, Kempinski Palace Engelberg. Welcome to the Swiss Alps! A transfer is included from Zurich International Airport to Kempinski Palace Engelberg. Tonight, join us for a private Tauck Bridges welcome reception and dinner at the Kempinski Palace Engelberg.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Kempinski Palace Engelberg
PORTOFCALL : Engelberg Switzerland
Day 2 Zip Lining on Mount Titlis
Get a closer look at the Alpine wonderland that surrounds you today as you ride to the top of Mount Titlis aboard a cable car for lunch and an exciting zip-line adventure. Descend down the mountain and join your Tauck Director for an orientation walk of Lucerne followed by free time to discover spires, covered bridges, fountains and more before a dinner cruise on glacial Lake Lucerne.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Kempinski Palace Engelberg
PORTOFCALL : Engelberg Switzerland
Day 3 A Lake Cruise & The Glacier Express
Feast your eyes on some of the world's greatest scenery today... aboard the famous Glacier Express for what many call the most scenic rail trip in Europe – winding its way through lush Alpine valleys dotted with little villages... the real Switzerland! Arrive in the popular resort town of St. Moritz for a two-night stay in the Engadine Valley.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains St. Moritz
PORTOFCALL : St. Moritz, Switzerland
Day 4 Engadine Valley: Cable Car & Ropes
Start another exciting day in the Alps by climbing up Piz Diavolezza via cable car; you won't believe the views of the Engadine Valley and its many lakes stretching out below you... plus, you'll have a chance to try the highest virtual reality experience in the world! Then it's off to the Morteratsch Glacier for guided mountain hiking*, rock climbing* and abseiling* (descending via ropes)... a visit to an Alpine cheesery for lunch in a meadow and a look at cheesemaking... and a few surprises!* If you wish, hop aboard a mountain bicycle* for a ride back through the Engadine Valley to St. Moritz, where your evening is free to enjoy as you please.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains St. Moritz
PORTOFCALL : St. Moritz, Switzerland
Day 5 Water Wows & An Aqua Dome
After crossing the border from Switzerland to Austria this morning, get wet and wild in Austria's Ötztal Valley today on a trip to Area 47, one of the largest adventure parks in the Alps, and Europe's ultimate outdoor playground. Jump into a neoprene suit and helmet, and head out on a whitewater-rafting adventure*; then do some swimming or try out the slides and other attractions of one of the newest and biggest water parks on the Continent, and enjoy lunch at the park. Arrive late afternoon at your Alpine spa hotel in Längenfeld – the AQUA DOME – offering more aquatic fun for the whole family with a pool, waterslides, spa, sauna, thermal baths and fitness center.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : AQUA DOME – Tirol Therme Längenfeld
PORTOFCALL : Langenfeld Austria
Day 6 An Emperor & Ski Jumpers
This morning, head to Innsbruck – the 15th-century capital of Emperor Maximilian I's Habsburg Empire, and more recently the host of two Winter Olympic Games in the 20th century – and visit the high-tech Bergisel ski-jump complex, designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, for a demonstration of the difficult and daring art of ski jumping. Later, join your local guide in old Innsbruck for a walking tour of this idyllic Alpine city, during which you just might "meet" old Emperor Max and his wives. Following a free afternoon, enjoy an after-hours private visit to Ötzi-Dorf, an open-air museum and archaeological site in the Oetzi Valley, interpreting village life during the time of "Oetzi" – the Neolithic Age of about 5,000 years ago. Dinner tonight in a rustic restaurant includes a memorable evening of Tyrolean fun, games and activities!
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : AQUA DOME – Tirol Therme Längenfeld
PORTOFCALL : Langenfeld Austria
Day 7 Bavarian fun in Munich
Depart Austria, cross the German border into Bavaria, and continue on to Munich, Bavaria's capital city for a city tour followed by time to explore as you please. Cap your memorable family Alpine vacation with tonight's farewell dinner in the historic Palais Keller – once a 15th-century salt store – beneath your landmark hotel in the heart of the city, the Bayerischer Hof.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Bayerischer Hof
PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany
Day 8 Auf Wiedersehen – Journey Home
Trip ends: Munich. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Bayerischer Hof to Munich Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for your flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany
