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Day 1
Salzburg is a city of beauty as seen in the elegant Baroque architecture that is surrounded by a stunning landscape, and as heard in the gorgeous music that emanates from the shops with inspiration from the city’s rich history. Your flight will land at Salzburg Airport, and your private transfer will greet you at the baggage claim. Mountains tower above the lush plains outside of the airport as the city stands on the shores of the Salzach River, with a skyline dominated by the Salzburg Alps. The largest peak of Untersberg rises to an altitude of nearly 6,080 feet above sea level.
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Day 2
In the morning, the sunlight washes over the Salzach River, and the scent of freshly baked strudel drifts over the cobblestone streets. The sounds of Mozart, who was born in Salzburg, emanate from charming cafes that are filled with locals in search of a delicious cup of coffee. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby eager to show you the endless magnificence of Salzburg, from the home of Mozart to the dominating presence of the baroque and neoclassical styles of the Residenz, the former palace that overtakes the western edge of Residenzplatz.
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Day 3
After breakfast, you will leave the charms of Salzburg for the enchantment of Hallstatt. A mountain town on the shores of the Hallstatter See, you will enjoy this gorgeous mountain town with its lake that glistens shades of opal and aquamarine. The lake is five miles long and has a depth of 410 feet, and the steep, wooded slopes of the mountains that surround it provide the region with fjord-like charisma. The market village contains the 15th-century Roman Catholic Ascension of Our Lady Church.
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Day 4
The emerald forests of the Austrian Alps fade into the chiseled granite cliffs of the Italian Dolomites. The roads wind around mountain peaks that rise to a height of 10,000 feet above sea level. The aroma of pine and evergreen fill the crisp air as you stop in the city of Bolzano, the capital of the Tyrol province. Merchants and travelers often passed through town en route to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which added to the opulent lifestyle and youthful energy of the streets. Pastel-painted houses contrast with the rolling green hills. Walkways and bicycle paths line the riversides market stalls offer samples of alpine cheese and cured ham.
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Day 5
The remarkable greenery around town spreads to the foothills of the surrounding jagged mountains. The alpine meadows add stunning color and refreshing aromas to the region. Wildflowers blossom with yellow and purple petals as goats and cows graze along the wild grassland to manicure the verdant plain beneath the limestone peaks. The area measures three miles by more than seven miles and reaches an altitude of 6,500 feet above sea level. Hikers traverse the gentle trails that crisscross the meadows as farmers milk their free-ranging cows. The bells around the cows’ necks peel into the quiet air around you.
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Day 6
Today you will begin your descent from the Dolomites into the enchanting Bavarian region of Germany. You will make your way to Eibsee, a lake at the foot of the Zugspitze Peak, the tallest mountain in Germany at an altitude of 9,718 feet. The cable car begins at a lower station at nearly 3,200 feet above sea level and ends at the top station to reach more than 9,675 feet above sea level. From the cabin, you will watch the trees change into an ocean of greenery divided by the turquoise of Lake Eibsee. You will come face to face with the mountains that border the lake before ascending higher than the peaks.
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Day 7
The town of Fussen is nestled into the foothills of the Alps and highlights the Romantic Road, an old Roman route that connects medieval towns across Germany. In the morning, the aroma of freshly baked cakes and pastries accompanies the scent of fresh German cappuccino, celebrated for its layers of indulgent foam. An easy, and scenic, walk outside of town leads you to the stunning fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein, as built by King Ludwig II in the 19th-century. The inspiration for the design of Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the heart of Disneyland, Ludwig took inspiration from fairy tales and operas, most notably the works of Wagner.
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Day 8
The aroma of strudel and rich coffee return with the light of the morning. The red hues of the rooftop shingles shimmer against the aquamarine river. After breakfast, you will leave Fussen behind to enjoy the scenic drive into Switzerland with the remarkable view of the world-famous Alps. The village of Lauterbrunnen nestles deep into the mountain-framed Valley of 72 Waterfalls. Half-timbered chalets line the streets as sheer rock walls tower above the edges of the town, including Staubbach Falls, which inspired the famous German author Goethe to write his celebrated Song of the Spirits over the Water.
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Day 9
In the morning, your chalet fills with the aroma of decadent hot chocolate. Your view from your window overlooks the valley beyond town and the continuous waters of Staubbach Falls. The day is yours to explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfrau massif at your leisure to enjoy the towns, peaks, and vistas at your pace. Hike along the trails and walkways of the Valley of 72 Waterfalls, or travel the heights of the Schilthornbahn on a cableway that reaches 22,857 feet from the valley floor to the station summit at nearly 9,745 feet above sea level.
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Day 10
In the morning, leave behind the glowing splendor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley for the thrills and comforts of Chamonix in the French Alps, a resort town that housed the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The scenic drive takes you beneath the dramatic rugged peaks and highlights the white heights of Mont Blanc massif. The massif contains Mont Blanc, the largest peak on the European continent at an altitude of 15,780 feet above sea level.
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Breakfast
Day 11
In the morning the scent of roasted coffee beans provides a warm and comforting atmosphere. The beauty of the village and the surrounding landscape take shape in the spreading sunlight. After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy the French Alps at your leisure. Take part in Europe’s longest gondola ride to the Aiguille du Midi viewpoint or indulge in the sweets of a well-loved cafe. Find your way to the Mer de Glace, one of Europe’s largest glaciers; the name means “Sea of Ice,” because the glacial expanse reaches a length of more than four miles.
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Day 12
The view from the top of Aiguille du Midi provides an unadulterated view of the Swiss, French, and Italian Alps. The sun shines brighter in the thinner atmosphere, and the breeze blows colder as the snow looks even whiter. A separate gondola takes visitors to the Pointe Hibronner summit terrace at 12,604 feet above sea level. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel to escort you back to Switzerland and the Geneva airport for your flight home.
What's Included:
Transfer
Breakfast
Trip Highlights
Detailed Description
The Alps provide endless opportunity for crisp, clean air with stunning meadows blanketed in blossoming wildflowers, and a compelling history with castles, music, and charm. Your 12-day tour of the Alps takes you through Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and France to visit quiet villages with chic boutiques and secluded towns with unparalleled views of the surrounding scenery. Your luxurious journey will begin with your arrival at the Salzburg airport where your private transfer will meet you at the baggage claim to escort you into the heart of the old town and the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Next morning, your guide will meet you in the lobby to lead you through a secret tour of Salzburg’s highlights of Baroque architecture and its opulent past, along with the lesser-known buildings and the stories they tell. The rest of the day is yours to indulge in the city life to relax at a café and partake in a Sound of Music Tour to see where the Von Trapp family lived, sung, and visited when they lived in the city. Move on to the town of Hallstatt, located in the mountains outside of Salzburg. Tour the small market town on the lakeshore, or venture deep into the mountain on a tour of the salt mine, considered to be the world’s oldest. For the next day, relish a scenic drive through the mountains as you pass into the Italian Dolomites to visit the city of Bolzano.
Stroll through Castel Roncolo to see the exhibits in the Museum of Archeology before settling in at a chalet in the heart of the Alpe di Siusi. The next day takes you around the fabulous pastures and stunning peaks around the Alpe di Siusi at your leisure, from the small town of Castelrotto to the bountiful scenic chairlifts. Continue on to enjoy a gondola ride to the peak of Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain. Travel to the charming medieval town of Fussen, in Bavaria, and enjoy some leisure time to explore the historic streets.
You will then have the entire day ahead to discover the beauty around Fussen. You can hike, bike, or stroll around the landscape and find the fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Travel into Switzerland with a scenic drive through Berner Oberland to arrive in the spectacular waterfall-laced cliffs of Lauterbrunnen Valley. You will then have a chance to see the breathtaking scenery at your own pace, whether you follow the trails through the Valley of 72 Waterfalls and venture to the top station at Schilthorn for a 360-degree view of the Jungfrau massif.
Your journey takes you next into France and the remarkable alpine village of Chamonix, once a host to the Winter Olympics as you enjoy a scenic gondola ride to the station at Le Brevent. Wake up the next day, and the Alps are once again yours for thrills and scenery with a hike to the soaring figure of Mont Blanc, or you can take in one last gondola ride to along Europe’s longest route to Aiguille du Midi viewpoint. Your private transfer then meets you at the hotel and escorts you from Chamonix into Switzerland for your flight at Geneva Airport.
Starting Price
$4,795 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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