Compare The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites by Tauck vs European Whirl (Paris, Base) by Trafalgar

Day 1 Arrive Munich

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. A transfer is included from Munich International Airport to the city-center Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. Please join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner this evening.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich

PORTOFCALL : Munich

Day 2 Munich & Oberammergau in Bavaria, then an Alpine night in Seefeld

Get a panoramic overview of city sights in Munich before exploring on your own. En route to Austria this afternoon, visit the quaint town of Oberammergau, famed for its once-a-decade performances of the Passion Play (the next occurs in 2020), its woodcarvings and frescoed homes. Your final destination is your mountain resort in Seefeld, Austria; tonight, a festive Tyrolean evening welcomes with traditional food, music and warmth.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Astoria Relax & Spa Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Oberammergau, Germany

Day 3 High adventure from Zugspitze to Linderhof Castle in the Bavarian Alps

Head up Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, this morning, traveling first by cogwheel railroad to the Zugspitzplatt (the glacier plateau), then by aerial cable car to the summit ridge. Be rewarded by spectacular views of the Alps while enjoying lunch on your own. Ride back down by cable car, descending some 6,500 feet in about 10 minutes, to picture-perfect Eibsee Lake below. From Eibsee, you're off to Linderhof Castle in the Bavarian Alps. In 1869, King Ludwig began transforming his father's royal hunting lodge into a mini-Versailles, complete with a Hall of Mirrors, an extravagant bedchamber for the king, fountains and gardens; see them on a private tour.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Astoria Relax & Spa Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Linderhof, Germany

Day 4 Imperial treasures in Innsbruck, Tratzberg & Salzburg

Green domes and red roofs welcome you to the Alpine city of Innsbruck along the Inn River - twice the host city for the Winter Olympics; it's also home to one of the most beautiful medieval city centers in Austria (Gothic Old Town), and impressive imperial architecture that dates back to its days as the capital of late 15th-century Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I. After a walking tour with a local guide, enjoy some free time and lunch on your own. Travel by rail to Schloss Tratzberg, on the slopes of the Karwendel Alps, where an entertaining private tour introduces the castle's half-century of history, and medieval merriment reigns during a private wine reception featuring wines produced from the castle's own vineyards. Your final destination today is Salzburg, where you'll begin a three-night stay at an authentic Austrian country inn - in the very heart of the city.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Tratzberg, Austria

Day 5 Salzburg sightseeing, the Eagle's Nest & a private evening at Berchtesgaden Salt Mines

A guided walking tour this morning introduces Salzburg, a city of intensive cultural traditions that took off with the career of its most famous resident, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You'll see his birthplace and other local attractions, followed by lunch on your own and free time to explore the sights as you wish. This afternoon, depart for the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest), a 6,000-ft. mountaintop tea house. A special mountain coach takes us high up the Kehlstein road; blasted out of solid rock in just 13 months, it is considered a feat of engineering. This evening brings fascinating travel into mountain depths on a memorable visit to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines. You'll don protective overalls (and perhaps a sweater) for an optional slide* down into this centuries-old miners' world, including an illuminated lake and an interactive chamber where you'll learn about the long history of salt mining in the Alps. A private dinner with entertainment follows in the salt mine, today converted into a gasthaus - for Tauck guests only!

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Salzburg, Austria

Day 6 Salzburg at leisure, then a trip to the beautiful Salzkammergut

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Salzburg, a city divided into two halves by the Salzach River. This afternoon, travel to Salzkammergut, a region of peaceful lakes and craggy peaks that you might well recognize from film locations used in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music." Dinner is is on your own back in Salzburg this evening.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Salzburg, Austria

Day 7 Through Grossglockner Pass to the Dolomites with lunch & a schnapps tasting

Leaving Salzburg, and weather and visibility permitting, find yourself on one of the most scenic roads in the world today as you travel through famed Grossglockner Pass. This is what you've come to the Alps to experience - a seemingly endless panorama of towering alpine peaks and mighty glaciers. Opened in 1935, Austria's Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road) paved the way to one of the most impressive and incomparable natural experiences on Earth. The road takes you up into the most spectacular Alpine scenery you could possibly imagine; from the highest point, you'll be able to see more than 30 mountains higher than 8,000 feet! Enjoy a lunch of East Tyrolean fare - along with a memorable schnapps tasting - at a 400-year-old family farm in Kuenz. Continue on to Cortina d'Ampezzo, a Dolomites resort town in northern Italy, famed in winter for skiing and in summer for mountain climbing, for a two-night stay; the town is both chic - and considered chic to be seen in.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Cristallo Hotel Spa & Golf

PORTOFCALL : Grossglockner, Austria

Day 8 A day in the Dolomites

From Cortina d'Ampezzo, head out with experienced mountain guides to spend a full day in the Dolomites, their sheer rock walls standing like silent stone sentinels against the sky. You'll have an opportunity in-depth exploration of this starkly beautiful region, which was the scene of harsh, bitter fighting between Italian and Austrian troops during World War I; the frontline passed through the area you'll visit today. Enjoy a Q&A with a noted Italian mountain climber during lunch today; return to your hotel for an evening spent as you wish, and dinner on your own.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Cristallo Hotel Spa & Golf

PORTOFCALL : Dolomites, Italy

Day 9 From Bolzano in the South Tyrol to Davos in the Swiss Alps

Enjoy time at leisure in the well-preserved city of Bolzano this morning amidst stunning mountain landscapes, medieval architecture and a fusion of Italian and Austrian cultural influences. Your journey across the border to Davos, Switzerland, this afternoon takes a twist you may not expect when your entire coach boards a train to go through the Flüeli Pass (conditions permitting). Tonight, join us for a quintessential Swiss dinner of fondue and wine at your hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : InterContinental Davos Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Bolzano, Italy

Day 10 Alpine cheese, Monstein brews & more on your Swiss Alps tour

Like the Swiss farmers who bring their cows from the valleys up to Alpine pastures each summer, you'll find yourself in the mountains surrounding Davos this morning on the Clavadeler Alp for a cheese-making demonstration. From the locals, learn why Swiss cheeses, like gruyère, raclette and emmanthaler, are enriched when cows graze on summer's high grasslands, hear the resonating tones of an alphorn, once used by lone herdsmen to gather and calm their charges. In the village of Monstein, visit the highest brewery in Europe where beers are crafted with water sourced from mountain streams; enjoy a demonstration and tasting at the brewery, and a guided visit to the village. Return to your hotel in Davos after a pretty perfect day in the Swiss Alps.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : InterContinental Davos Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Davos, Switzerland

Day 11 Vaduz in little Liechtenstein & back to Germany

Make your way out of the Swiss Alps and head for little Liechtenstein this morning. Although the principality is diminutive in size, its capital, Vaduz, is known today as an international center of finance and banking. After a guided introduction to the town's historic center, you'll be treated to an exclusive visit to the modern Parliament building; a wine tasting at the Hofkellerei, the Prince's private cellars; and lunch at a local restaurant. Spend some time exploring Vaduz on your own before continuing from Liechtenstein and crossing back into Germany; arrive in the Bavarian spa town of Bad Wörishofen, where an à la carte dinner awaits at your hotel this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Steigenberger Hotel Der Sonnenhof Bad Wörishofen

PORTOFCALL : Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Day 12 The Wieskirche & Kneipp water therapy in Bavaria

Today, enjoy a visit to The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, also known as the Wieskirche. Dating back to the 18th century, the church was erected on the site of a purported miracle - the appearance of tears on a wooden figure of Jesus Christ - that drew large numbers of religious pilgrims to the area. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rococo design and cultural significance, the Wieskirche continues to house the original wooden figure of Christ from the 1700s, and remains a popular pilgrimage site for many seeking cures for various ailments. After some free time to explore and lunch at the Hotel Mueller, you'll return to your hotel for a presentation on the history and concepts behind the Kneipp approach to wellness. Tour the spa facilities and herb garden and then enjoy your very own relaxing, individual water treatment. Join us this evening for a Bavarian farewell reception and dinner... a perfect ending to your German, Austrian, Italian and Swiss Alps tour.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Steigenberger Hotel Der Sonnenhof Bad Wörishofen

PORTOFCALL : Schwangau, Germany

Day 13 Journey home

Tour ends: Munich. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Steigenberger Hotel der Sonnenhof, Bad Wörishofen to Munich International Airport (approximately 71 miles). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

Day 1: Welcome to London

The vibrant British capital where you will spend the next two nights, enjoying the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new.

The Tower

Day 2: Discover Historic London

Join a Local Specialist this morning for a tour to see the iconic sites of London, including Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping on Carnaby Street, consider visiting one of London’s museums or wander along the Thames watching ambitious Londoners pound the pavements.

The Tower

Breakfast

Day 3: Eurostar™ to Brussels and on to Amsterdam

This morning we meet our Travel Director before traveling to London's St. Pancras International where we will board the Eurostar™ for a high-speed train journey to Brussels and a luxury coach journey to Amsterdam. Enjoy an orientation of this historic Dutch city before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a dinner cruise on its canals.

Mercure City

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Journey to the Rhineland and a Scenic Cruise

Driving through the lush landscapes of the Netherlands and Germany, we arrive in Boppard where we board a cruise along the Rhine to St. Goar, passing vineyard-clad hills and medieval castles perched above riverside towns. Arriving in the Baroque city of Heidelberg, we explore its unexpected highlights before traveling to our Rhineland hotel.

Sinsheim

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Off to Innsbruck

Crossing the Swabian Alps on the edge of the Black Forest, we arrive in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Our orientation takes us past the Hofbrauhaus, reputedly the most famous Beerhall in the world, and the neo-Gothic Town Hall which dominates the Marienplatz. We cross the Austrian border next, arriving in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. Admire the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the Old Town, including Emperor Maximilian's famous Golden Roof with its ornate façade and consider an evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment.

Tivoli Innsbruck

Breakfast

Day 6: Onwards to the Canals of Venice Make Travel Matter

Journey through the emerald-green landscape along the Brenner Pass into Italy and across the Dolomite Mountains to Venice. We cruise the beautiful Venetian lagoon by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. View the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sound made by condemned prisoners as they took one last longing look at their beautiful city before meeting their fate. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll witness the centuries-old craft of Venetian glassblowing. You’ll learn how the master craftsmen shape the molten glass to make the exquisite and delicate works of art that adorn homes all over the world and perhaps be inspired to buy your own souvenir as a reminder of this special visit. There’s time later to enjoy the city your way. Get lost in Venice, cross bridges and discover hidden campi where locals share their daily stories over a glass of Venetian Spritz.

Novotel Mestre Castellana

Breakfast

Day 7: All Roads Lead to Rome Connect with Locals

Travel south across the Veneto Plain, passing Bologna and the dramatic Apennine Mountains as well as the green and golden fields of Lazio before reaching Rome, the 'Eternal City'. En route, we Connect With Locals over lunch at a Be My Guest experience and enjoy true Tuscan hospitality with a local family on their private estate in the Chianti countryside.

A. Roma Lifestyle

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Discover Ancient Rome and the Vatican City

Our first stop today sees us discover the divine beauty of the Vatican City. We'll visit St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist to view Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece, the Pietà. We continue to Ancient Rome to view Roman Forum, the walls of the iconic Colosseum and Circus Maximus, once the site of exhilarating chariot races centuries ago. The afternoon is yours to explore the city on your terms. Sit on the Spanish Steps savoring a tasty gelato, shop up a storm on the trendy Via Condotti or perhaps join an Optional Experience to see the magnificent frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

A. Roma Lifestyle

Breakfast

Day 9: Continue to Renaissance Florence

From Rome, we travel north through the rolling countryside of Tuscany and along the Arno valley to the 'Cradle of the Renaissance', Florence. Delve into the rich Medici heritage of this beautiful medieval city with your Local Specialist. Visit the political hub of the city, Piazza della Signoria, with its impressive sculptures and stunning palazzi. View the imposing Duomo, crowned by Brunelleschi’s dome, and the Baptistery, renowned for its sculptured bronze doors.

Hilton Metropole

Breakfast

Day 10: Across the Alps to Lucerne

Drive via the scenic Italian Lakes District, across the Alps into beautiful Switzerland, where we'll spend the next two nights in the medieval lakeside city of Lucerne. View the mournful, mortally wounded lion hewn from rock to commemorate the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending Louis XVI. Walk along the flower-lined 14th-century covered Chapel Bridge, crossing the river Reuss.

Grand Europe

Breakfast

Day 11: Explore Lucerne

This morning join an exciting Optional Experience to one of the surrounding peaks for breath taking views of the Swiss countryside. We have some time later to discover the best Swiss chocolates in town.

Grand Europe

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: On to Captivating Paris

Crossing the border into France this morning, we travel past the picturesque vineyards and country towns of Burgundy en route to the 'City of Lights'. Spend some time this evening strolling along the Seine and grand boulevards in search of a cozy bistro for fine French cuisine or consider an Optional Experience to a colorful Parisian cabaret.

Evergreen Laurel

Breakfast

Day 13: Discover the Sights of Paris

Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour of this romantic city. View the sophisticated Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the 19th-century Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought for France, and Notre Dame Cathedral, then enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. Our European Whirl is almost at its end, we spend the evening with fellow travelers and our Travel Director, enjoying a Farewell Dinner in a local bistro.

Evergreen Laurel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Farewell Paris

Today bid adieu to your fellow travelers and Travel Director at the end of your memorable experience.

Breakfast