This trip includes the absolute BEST of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Alps. While the itinerary is packed with world-class sites and scenery, there are only three cities where we headquarter, which means you’ll spend more time EXPERIENCING the Alps and less time packing and unpacking your suitcase. The package includes all ground transportation, accommodation, 10 meals in addition to daily breakfast and admission to all tours. Some highlights:
- 3 nights in Berchtesgaden, Germany; 4 nights in Innsbruck, Austria; and 5 nights in a car-free Swiss village in the Jungfrau region;
- Visit all three of Bavarian King Ludwig II’s castles, including world-famous Neuschwanstein;
- Discover sights filmed in the Sound of Music during our visit to Salzburg and region;
- Experience an evening of Alpine music and culture in Innsbruck;
- Ascend to the top of the Schilthorn in the Jungfrau region, made famous in a James Bond film;
- See the majestic waterfalls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, which inspired J.R.R. Tolkien among others;
- Travel by bus, train, cable car, funicular, cogwheel train, boat, and more!
- Pre-trip webinars provide you cultural and historical context so you’ll get more out of your trip.
- Group size limited to 10 – 12 to ensure a more personalized experience.
- All the details are organized for you so you don’t have to do any of the planning.
Prices starting at $5,100 plus airfare. Trip includes accommodation including breakfasts and all meals indicated above, all ground transportation, and admissions for all tours. Does not include other lunches and dinners or spending money. Find out more by reading the detailed itinerary below:
Day 1: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Overnight flight to Munich
Day 2: Thursday, June 26, 2025
We’ll meet our mini-bus driver after passport control and gathering our luggage and going through customs. From the airport, we’ll head south along the Autobahn with a lunchtime stop at the picturesque town of Rosenheim and take in the Bavarian Alp foothills. Following lunch, we’ll meander down to Berchtesgadener Land, a national park dominated by the massive Watzmann mountain. If there’s time, we’ll have a tour of the Salt Mines. Overnight in Berchtesgaden.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Tours included: Salt Mines
Day 3: Friday, June 27, 2025
The Hills will be alive with the Sound of Music and Mozart today as we make our way to beautiful Salzburg and area. You’ll see numerous sites from the film, including the wedding basilica in the nearby town of Mondsee. This is truly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tours included: Castle Hellbrunn
Day 4: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Today you’ll experience the stunning beauty of the national park Berchtesgadener Land. We’ll take a small boat cruise on the Königssee, which includes visits to the chapel of St. Bartholomä and a short hike. We’ll also take in the Eagle’s Nest on the Kehlstein and enjoy lunch with a view. Afterward, we’ll take a short drive around this scenic wonderland.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Tours included: Cruise on Königssee,Bus to Eagle’s Nest
Day 5: Sunday, June 29, 2025
Our journey today takes us from the Berchtesgadener Land to the charming “Capital of the Alps”, Innsbruck, Austria. En route we’ll stop in Prien along the Chiemsee, where we’ll take a boat out to the Herreninsel and visit King Ludwig II’s palace modeled after Versailles, Herrenchiemsee. After that tour, we’ll take a short hop on the boat over to the Fraueninsel for lunch and then make our way to Innsbruck.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch on the Fraueninsel
Tours included: Boat ride on Chiemsee, Castle Herrenchiemsee
Day 6: Monday, June 30, 2025
Today’s route will be a big circle back into the Bavarian Alps to see some of the major highlights on the tour. We’ll make our way up from the Inn Valley and cross into Germany near Mittenwald. Today’s visits include the other two of Ludwig II’s famous castles, the baroque castle Linderhof and the world famous Neuschwanstein. Between those two castles, we’ll see the gorgeous monastery of Ettal, lunch in the Passion Play village of Oberammergau, and see the Asam brother’s stunning Church in the Meadow (Wieskirche). We’ll return to Innsbruck for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tours included: Castle Linderhof, Castle Neuschwanstein
Day 7: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
We’ll spend the day in Innsbruck, including sightseeing in the lovely old town with it’s famous “Golden Roof”, take the funicular and cable car up to the “Top of Innsbruck”, and explore the Hapsburg influence in the city and perhaps take in the Castle Ambras.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tours included: Innsbruck Card for all public transportation and Castle Ambras
Day 8: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Another full day in Innsbruck is on today’s agenda, including visits to the ski jump, the Tyrolean Heritage Museum, and have some time to shop and explore on your own. This evening we’re in for a treat as we visit the Tyrolean Evening, which includes dinner and typical Alpine performances.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tours included: Innsbruck Card for all museums and public transportation; Tyrolean Evening
Day 9: Thursday, July 3, 2025
Today you’ll take in the splendor of the Austrian and Swiss Alps as we take the train from Innsbruck to our hotel in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, which is anchored by the city of Interlaken. We’ll change trains in Zurich and Berne and follow along Lake Thun as we make our way to Interlaken and the onward journey up to the car-free mountain village of Wengen, which will be our home base for the next five nights.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tours included: Train from Innsbruck to Wengen
Days 10 – 13: Friday, July 4 through Monday, July 7, 2025
The Jungfrau area is jam packed with days of activities to keep us busy. Each day I will offer a program including major highlights of this spectacular region. Our public transportation passes will take us all over this region via boat, rail, funicular, cable car, and cogwheel train.
Armed with your individual transportation pass, however, you can also venture out on your own if you prefer. While the hikes suggested during the day trips are not strenuous and suitable for all ability levels, there are transportation options for those who do not want to take the hikes.
Meals included: Breakfasts are included all days during our stay in Wengen and Dinners are included four of the five days (three at our hotel and one at Harder Kulm in Interlaken), which gives you one night to search out dinner on your own.
Here are the four day trips I’ll offer during our stay in the Jungfrau region:
Day Trip #1
We’ll board a boat on turquoise colored Lake Brienz in Interlaken and ride the length of the lake to the town of Brienz, which contains one of the most beautiful streets in Switzerland. From there, we’ll take the cogwheel train up the Rothorn and take in its spectacular views. Once we’ve returned to Brienz, we’ll take the train back to Interlaken and have a dinner of cheese fondue after taking the funicular up from Interlaken to the Harder Kulm.
Day Trip #2
We’ll take the cable car from Wengen to the best view of the region on Männlichen. You’ll take in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, as well as the Grindelwald Valley and the “Big 3 mountains”: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. We’ll take short hikes from Männlichen to the Royal View and along the Panorama Path, both easily accessible to people of all ability levels. Train transport takes us to Grindelwald, which offers a variety of activities, restaurants, shopping, etc. Adventuresome travelers may want to travel by cable car to Grindelwald First for alpine thrills. Return to Wengen for dinner.
Day Trip #3
We’ll take in the breathtaking Lauterbrunnen Valley and its 72 waterfalls as we make our way to the series of cable cars that will take us to the Schilthorn and brunch in a revolving restaurant at nearly 10,000 feet. The Schilthorn was the site of filming for a James Bond 007 movie, so there’s plenty to see in addition to the unmatched vistas. Tickets for the Schilthorn and brunch are included in the trip price and are not covered by our transportation passes.
After brunch, we’ll return to the Valley via Mürren and Gimmelwald before taking in the slot canyon waterfalls of the Trümmelbach. People will have the option of walking down the valley back to Lauterbrunnen, an easy hike, or taking public transportation.
Day Trip #4
We’ll take a day trip by train to the lovely city of Lucerne, which is situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne. You’ll experience the famous wooden chapel bridge as well as the carving of the “Lion of Lucerne”. Lucerne’s Old City features numerous squares with painted buildings, turrets along the old city wall, and gives you an idea of what life is like in a small Swiss city. We’ll return to Wengen for dinner.
Day 14: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
We’ll be up early to take the train back down the mountain to Interlaken and then on to Zurich Airport.
Prices starting at $5,100 plus airfare. Trip includes accommodation including breakfasts and all meals indicated above, all ground transportation, and admissions for all tours. Does not include other lunches and dinners or spending money.
Optional pre- and post- trip add-ons:
Maximize your time in Germany and/or Switzerland by adding completely customizable time before the main trip in Munich or afterward in either Berne or Zurich.
3 night Pre-Trip stay in Munich:
Depart Sunday, June 22, 2025 for 3 nights in Munich; includes hotel, breakfast, public transportation ticket, and as much or little of a guide as you’d like.
Cost: $1,000 (subject to change based on number of participants)
3 night Post-Trip stay in Berne or Zurich:
Stay for three additional nights in Zurich or Berne, the capital of Switzerland; includes hotel, breakfast, public transportation ticket, and as much or little of a guide as you’d like.
Cost: $1,000 (subject to change based on number of participants)
Return to the United States on Friday, July 11, 2025