An Alpine Christmas Adventure

Your tour commences this evening in Milan. A welcome drink and dinner tonight is included in a local restaurant. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

Driving west, our first stop is in the foothills of the Italian Alps in the historic town of Aosta. Capital of the Valle d’Aosta region, you will find cafes and shops sitting next to Christmas markets and Roman ruins. Passing Courmayeur, we take the Mont Blanc Tunnel under Europe’s highest mountains, to enter the mighty French Alps. This is the Haute Savoie region, filled with a dozen world class ski resorts, and the enormous mountains of the Mont Blanc massif. Chamonix with its designer boutiques, restaurants and après ski bars is the perfect base to stay the next 2 exciting nights.  

This morning we board the historic ‘Red Train’ which winds its way up through the forests and valleys to Montenvers station. From the café terrace you have spectacular views onto some of Chamonix’s highest and most dramatic peaks. At 1,913 metres you will also be able to look down onto the largest glacier in France, the spectacular Mer de Glace –  the ‘Sea of Ice’. Your afternoon is at leisure in Chamonix town.  Time to stroll amongst the cafés, shops and boutiques set under the shadow of the Mont Blanc massif.

This morning we visit Geneva where you have time at leisure to explore Switzerland’s second largest city. On the beautiful foreshore of Lake Geneva you will see the city’s symbolic 140 metre high Jet d’Eau fountain. Later we follow the spectacular stone-terraced, vineyard covered, Lavaux wine road to Charlie Chaplin’s hometown of Vevey. Make sure you have your photo taken next to the statue of the ‘little man with baggy pants’. We also visit Chaplin’s World, a museum dedicated to the legendary artist. We stay the next 2 nights in nearby Montreux, on the exclusive Swiss Riviera.

First stop will be a guided tour through the beautifully preserved Château Chillon. Made famous in Byron’s poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’, this 13th century fortress juts out imposingly into Lake Geneva. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Montreux. Make sure you explore the excellent Christmas markets that stretch all along the grand lakeside promenade and foreshore.

This morning we visit the unique village of Gruyères! With its castle perched on top of a steep rocky hill, the broad cobblestoned main street, flanked by centuries old houses, is an astounding time capsule and one of the great sights of Europe. Lunchtime will be at leisure in Bern. A UNESCO World Heritage landmark, this capital city is set on a spectacular bend above the River Aare. In addition to kilometres of sheltered arcaded shopping ways, an intriguing clock tower and the famous ‘Bärengraben’ bear pits, there are several sets of excellent Christmas markets scattered around the old town. Later we drive deep into the heart of the Bernese Oberland to Grindelwald where we stay the next 3 nights. Grindelwald is known the world over for its dramatic setting surrounded by massive snow-covered peaks and the views directly onto the north face of the Eiger are exceptional.  

Boarding a local train we climb high into the mountains to Kleine Scheidegg. Changing on to the Jungfrau Railway we travel into a tunnel which takes us through the inside of the north face of the Eiger, and up to the Jungfraujoch – the highest rail station in Europe. At 3,454 metres (11,332 ft) the views down onto the Aletsch Glacier are magnificent. You will find several restaurants, an Ice Palace and the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven display. You can also take a lift another 100 metres higher to the dramatic Sphinx lookout point. This afternoon enjoy ‘My Time’ to relax amidst the stunning scenery which surrounds you or perhaps try your hand at a winter sport or take a trip up one of the mountains?  

Following the shore of picturesque Lake Brienz we reach lake side Luzern, where we are joined by an expert local guide. After exploring the town with its covered wooden bridges and beautifully painted houses your time is at leisure amongst the shops, cafes and Christmas markets. Mid-afternoon we visit delightful Interlaken.

First, we explore the historic town of Thun, before boarding a boat for a relaxing cruise down Lake Thunersee to Spiez.  Later we board a train which takes us through the 14 km long Lötschberg Tunnel into the Valais.  Next we climb high up into the mountains to the Alpine Spa town of Leukerbad,  where we stay 3 nights.

Driving into the mountains we reach Taesch, where we catch a cog railway train up to world-famous Zermatt. At an altitude of 1,620 metres (5,315 ft), the village is surrounded by huge peaks and dominating all is the mighty Matterhorn. Petrol-driven vehicles are banned from the village and as such the peace and quiet enhances the wooden chalets and small winding village streets. Stunning! An amazing highlight, we have included a cable car ride to the restaurant and observation platform of the Klein Matterhorn – the highest cable car stop in Europe. At a fraction under 4,000 metres the views one way are down onto the Italian Alps and the other across Switzerland’s peaks that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.

Enjoy a totally free day. Maybe relax and enjoy the hotel’s excellent spa and pampering treatment programme, explore the wonderful village, go on winter walks or play on the slopes high above town.  

At Brig we board the famous Glacier Express panoramic train which takes us along the ‘Valais’ through Switzerland’s finest mountain scenery to Chur. Ranked as one of the world’s top train trips  you will cross some of the 291 bridges, the 2,033 metre  Oberalp Pass and 91 tunnels. We have reserved seats in the panoramic carriages. After free time to explore Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, we continue to Klosters to enjoy 3 nights over Christmas.

Your morning is at leisure to explore Klosters’ old town centre. Filled with cafés and boutiques this is a perfect place for that last-minute shopping. In continental Europe Christmas Eve is the most important festive day. To begin the celebrations, we have included a romantic horse drawn carriage ride through the local countryside. Tonight, our Christmas celebrations continue with a 4 course dinner at our hotel. Later you might like to join the locals for carols, music, stories and mulled wine in the nearby forest.

What a magnificent location to relax in over Christmas!  'My Time 'today to enjoy the stunning scenery which surrounds you, and do as much, or as little, as you want! Whether you are a ‘super active snow sports’ person or a ‘take it easy and relax’ person there are numerous activities you can enjoy, and your Tour Manager will be at hand to assist and advise you.
This morning perhaps hire snow shoes and go for a snowshoe walk.  The skiing is of course fantastic! Non-skiers can easily access all the main peaks by funicular trains, cable cars and chair lifts. At all ‘drop off’ points there are restaurants, cafés and restroom facilities – usually with extraordinary panoramic views. Maybe try your hand at Nordic skiing or simply stroll along winter footpaths. Alternatively enjoy your hotel’s indoor pool and spa facilities.

After a brief morning stop in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, we drive through the Arlberg Tunnel and into the Tyrol region of Austria. Following the spectacular Inn Valley past St Anton, we reach the Winter Olympic resort of Innsbruck. Dinner tonight is included and will be at a local restaurant.

Driving up over the beautiful Fern Pass we enter Southern Bavaria and visit the tiny village of Hohenschwangau. After a brisk walk uphill you enjoy a guided tour of one of the most inspiring and famous castles in the world – ‘Mad’ King Ludwig’s romantic Neuschwanstein Castle. The staterooms, halls and throne room are all reminiscent of a Wagner operatic saga.  Afterwards we continue to Munich for our final evening together and celebrate with a Farewell dinner.

This morning it is time to say farewell as your tour ends.