Day 1: Arrive in St. Goar
St. Goar, our scenic Rhine river home base,
is a convenient train connection away from Frankfurt's
airport. Meet around 5 p.m. at our hotel for a "Welcome
to Germany" get-together. After introductions, we'll
take an evening walk through the town and enjoy dinner
together. Overnight at Hotel in St. Goar .
Day 2: The Rhine River
Today you will begin your day by exploring a
brooding castle with a commanding view, then cruise the
Rhine River, passing spectacularly situated castles and
vineyards. We'll tour the delightful village of
Bacharach with a local guide and then return to St. Goar,
where you'll have free time to stroll the cobbled
streets. Dinner together. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 3: To Baden-Baden via Mosel
River
Today you will take the scenic route to
Baden-Baden, via the Mosel River and tour the mighty
Burg Eltz Castle. After lunch, we'll visit historic
Trier, Germany's oldest city with its best Roman ruins.
Overnight at Hotel in autobahn in Baden-Baden
Day 4:Baden-Baden
Today you will be free for touring the
casino; we'll have the rest of the day and evening free
to 'do the spa,' wander along the shaded riverside
promenade, and/or hike to viewpoints above the town. The
curative mineral waters and elegant surroundings have
soothed the rich and famous for years. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 5: To French Switzerland
via Black Forest
Today we will explore the Black Forest this
morning, stopping to visit a fascinating open air museum
with demonstrations of traditional village life. Our day
ends in French Switzerland, in the serene lakefront
village of Murten. Dinner together at our hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Murten.
Day 6: All day in French
Switzerland
Today you will enjoy a tour to the
lake-hugging 13th century castle, Château Chillon, and
then hop aboard a lake steamer (spring and summer tours)
for a cruise on Lake Geneva. We'll meander back through
farms and vineyards to Murten, taking time to explore
this land of wine, cheese and joie de vivre.Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 7: To Berner Oberland
Today begins with a drive past a parade of
finely carved chalets and traditional villages. We'll
end our day in the nearby mountain lovers' paradise of
the Berner Oberland and eat dinner together. Overnight
at Heidi in the cliff-top town in Murren.
Day 8: Free day in Berner
Oberland
Today you will have all day free for a
riverside stroll through the glacier-carved
Lauterbrunnen Valley, or hike the high meadows amidst
the Eiger and Jungfrau mountains-the most beautiful
chunk of the Swiss Alps. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 9: Munich
It's a scenic, all-day drive across the
border into southern Germany and the underbars Bavarian
countryside, taking time to enjoy the pristine mountain
and lake scenery before we arrive in Munich, Bavaria's
vibrant capital. Overnight at Hotel.
Note:
September tours will have lots of time to see all the
sights and excitement within Munich, but may sleep in a
nearby village.
Day 10: Munich
After an informative walking tour with a
local guide, you'll have the rest of the day to stroll
the lively heart of Germany's most livable city, to
admire its many museums, or to rent a bike and
appreciate how much fun two wheels can be. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 11: Salzburg via
Neuschwanstein
This morning we'll head south to
Neuschwanstein, "Mad King" Ludwig's fairy-tale castle.
After touring this famous folly, we should have just
enough time for one of Europe's great cheap thrills: a
slide down a luge course (weather and season
permitting). Then we'll head for Austria and arrive in
Salzburg in time for an orientation walk through the
perfectly preserved historic center. Overnight at Hotel
in Salzburg.
Day 12: Salzburg
After a morning walking tour, you'll have the
rest of the day and evening free. You can wander
Salzburg's magnificent gardens, walk in Mozart's (and
Julie Andrews') footsteps through the old town, pedal a
rented bike into the countryside, or just relax with a
cup of coffee and an incredibly rich pastry. Remember,
this is "Sound of Music" country - there's nearly always
an evening concert (or frothy beer garden!).Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 13: Austria's Lake District
Today we make our way to tiny Hall statt,
located in the heart of Austria's idyllic Salzkammergut
Lake District. Enjoy a free afternoon communing with
Mother Nature on foot or by boat, or explore a salt mine
on your own. Overnight at peacefully in the
postcard-pretty, lakeside village of Hallstatt.
Day 14: Vienna
It's back to the city today as we head east
to Austria's magnificent capital of Vienna, stopping en
route to visit sobering Mauthausen, the Nazi
concentration camp. We'll also tour the opulent
Schönbrunn Palace, Austria's rival to Versailles.
Day 15: Vienna
Today we will start our day with a walking
tour of this refined and graceful city. The rest of the
day is free to explore more of Vienna's highlights, such
as its grand opera house, world-class museums, or cozy
coffee houses. As it's our last night together, we'll
enjoy a farewell Viennese feast. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 16: Return Home
Today you will have a flight towards your own
Destination.
