A Majestic Alpine Tour: Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland & France

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.