Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria
Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria
$6075
Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria
12 Days Starting in Vienna and ending in Zurich
Visiting: Vienna, Melk, Mondsee, Salzburg, Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, Innsbruck, Saint Moritz, Andermatt, Lucerne, Stanserhorn, Zürich
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE727ZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
From the famed beer taverns of Munich to the Disney-inspiring turrets of Neuschwanstein Castle among the Alps, this 12-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. A journey aboard the Glacier Express offers vistas of ice capped mountains, dramatic valleys and frozen waterfalls.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
- Munich: Embark on a culinary walking tour in the heart of the city.
Top Rated Highlights
- Melk Abbey: Visit Melk Abbey where the Benedictine monks have been living and working since 1089.
- Vienna: During your orientation led by your Travel Director, travel along the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
- Vienna: A private, guided exploration of Schonbrunn Palace will have all your senses tingling. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames where Mozart performed as a child prodigy.
- Neuschwanstein Castle: Visit the archetypal fairy-tale castle that allegedly inspired many of Walt Disney's castles. Led by a local historian, walk through the magnificent halls, take in the lavish decoration and enjoy spectacular views.
- Oberammergau: Explore the town and see the theater where the Passion Play has been performed since 1634.
- Innsbruck: The host for your visit to the Bergisel Ski Jump is a local Ski Jumper who will show you a trick or two (weather permitting).
- Innsbruck: Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town, with your Local Expert, learn about its history and admire the Baroque and Gothic architecture.
- St Moritz: See the spa quarter and glacial lake of this charming alpine resort.
- St Moritz: Travel along the route of the world-famous Glacier Express, through looping tunnels and dizzying viaducts, in the scenic heart of the Swiss Alps, on a regional train fully powered by hydroelectricity.
- Lucerne: See the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
- Stanserhorn: Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
- Salzburg: Join your Local Expert to visit the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace and Residence Square - both locations used in 'The Sound of Music.' You will also see the imposing fortress, the immense cathedral and Mozart's birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse.
- Dachau: Experience a powerful and moving visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site with a Local Expert.
Make Travel Matter
Stans: Taste a refreshing seasonal juice at a renovated Capuchin monastery producing sustainable crops from the alpine region. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Authentic Dining
Vienna: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a drink, followed by a pleasant dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Innsbruck: For your dining pleasure, you are offered a selection of Innsbruck's vibrant restaurants. With drinks, a delicious 3-course dinner and Gluhwein in abundance, your Dine-Around evening is a culinary experience not to be missed.
Stanserhorn: A spectacular journey by cable car and cogwheel railway takes you to the summit. Enjoy expansive mountain views over Lake Lucerne for your dinner. Fill your glass with wine and toast to newfound friends.
Insight Choice
Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
Munich: Embark on a culinary walking tour in the heart of the city.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Vienna
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: InterContinental Vienna.
Accommodation Name: InterContinental Vienna.
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Vienna! Enjoy your afternoon before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers to enjoy dinner served with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Vienna And The Habsburgs
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: InterContinental Vienna.
Accommodation Name: InterContinental Vienna.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join our 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.
Day 3: On To Salzburg
Location: Vienna, Melk, Mondsee, Salzburg
Accommodation: ARCOTEL Castellani, Salzburg.
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Center
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 'Sound of Music'.
Day 4: The City Of Mozart
Location: Salzburg
Accommodation: ARCOTEL Castellani, Salzburg.
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 5: Salzburg To Munich
Location: Salzburg, Munich
Accommodation: Munich Marriott Hotel.
Accommodation Name: Munich Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, board a boat to explore the sites of picturesque Herrenchiemesee. Visit the palace and the Fraueninsel. Enjoy time at leisure in the gardens over lunch before continuing by boat to Gstadt. Journey by coach to Munich, home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. This evening, revel in a truly Bavarian experience as you dine at a local beer hall.
Day 6: Explore Munich And Dachau Relaxed Start
Location: Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Munich
Accommodation: Munich Marriott Hotel.
Accommodation Name: Munich Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 7: On To Innsbruck
Location: Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, Innsbruck
Accommodation: Hotel Innsbruck.
Accommodation Name: Innsbruck
Meals Included: Breakfast
Embark on an exciting visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (subject to availability), bristling with turrets and pinnacles and 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.
Day 8: Beautiful Innsbruck
Location: Innsbruck
Accommodation: Hotel Innsbruck.
Accommodation Name: Innsbruck
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 9: The Engadine Valley And Chic St. Moritz Relaxed Start
Location: Innsbruck, Saint Moritz
Accommodation: Crystal Hotel, St Moritz., Hotel Steffani, St Moritz.
Accommodation Name: Crystal, St. Moritz, Steffani, St. Moritz
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 10: All Aboard The Glacier Express And On To Lucerne
Location: Saint Moritz, Andermatt, Lucerne
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Accommodation Name: Astoria, Lucerne
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a seasonal juice tasting. Onwards to 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.
Day 11: Dinner At The ‘Roof Of Europe’ In Stanserhorn Relaxed Start
Location: Lucerne, Stanserhorn, Lucerne
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Accommodation Name: Astoria, Lucerne
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy the morning at your leisure to explore 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 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 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.
Day 12: Leave Lucerne For Zürich
Location: Lucerne, Zürich
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your Alpine adventures end this morning with a transfer to Zurich airport.
What's Included
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Meals
5 dinners, 11 breakfasts, and 1 dinner with wine are included.
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Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Munich.
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Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets are provided to give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights without missing any commentary.
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Hotel and Restaurant Tips
Hotel and restaurant tips are included, along with all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
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Luggage Handling
Your bags are carried for you and promptly delivered to your hotel door.
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Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, a local specialty representing the destination.
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Wi-Fi
Stay connected with complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
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Transfers
Transfers are available at scheduled times if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates.
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Luxury Coach
Enjoy the comfort of Insight’s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom.
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Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and other travel documentation costs are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort aboard Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Enjoy iconic train journeys like the Glacier Express and scenic boat rides.
Accommodation
Stay in luxurious accommodations including the InterContinental Vienna, Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Center, Munich Marriott, Hotel Innsbruck, Crystal Hotel in St. Moritz, and Hotel Astoria in Lucerne.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
- Salzburg: Visit the house where Mozart was born in 1756. Enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments of the great composer, plus a fascinating collection of portraits.
Summary
- See Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, English Garden, Hofbräuhaus and Marienplatz in Munich • the church featured in ‘The Sound of Music' in Mondsee • Hofburg Imperial Residence and Opera House in Vienna • Old Town, Imperial Palace and Golden Roof in Innsbruck • St. Moritz • Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?
You can expect a variety of dining experiences including dinners with wine, a Dine-Around evening in Innsbruck, a Bavarian dinner at a local beerhall in Munich, and a unique dinner at the rotating restaurant atop Stanserhorn with panoramic views.
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Are there any special activities included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes several special activities such as a private tour of Schönbrunn Palace, a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, a boat trip to Herrenchiemsee Palace, a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, and a journey on the Glacier Express train.
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides transportation in a luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. Additionally, there are scenic journeys by funicular railway, cable car, and the iconic Glacier Express train.
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Will there be any guided tours during the trip?
Yes, there will be guided tours including a private tour of Schönbrunn Palace, a guided exploration of Munich, a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, and a guided tour of Innsbruck with a Local Expert.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour package?
Airport transfers are included if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights' accommodation, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will stay in high-quality hotels such as the InterContinental Vienna, Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Center, Munich Marriott, Hotel Innsbruck, Crystal Hotel in St. Moritz, and Hotel Astoria in Lucerne.
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Is there any free time during the tour for personal exploration?
Yes, there is free time allocated in various locations such as Lucerne, where you can explore the city's medieval fortifications, shop, or visit local attractions at your leisure.
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What kind of cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes cultural experiences such as a visit to Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg, a culinary walking tour in Munich, and a visit to a Capuchin monastery in Stans for a seasonal juice tasting.
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Are tips and taxes included in the tour price?
Yes, hotel and restaurant tips are included, as well as all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
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Is Wi-Fi available during the tour?
Yes, complimentary Wi-Fi is available on the coach and in the hotels where you will be staying.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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