Exploring the Alpine Countries Austria - Germany - Switzerland - 2024
Overview
Highlights
- Savor a dinner of local Swiss specialties in Lucerne.
- Dine on Black Forest Cake in the region it originated from.
- Cruise along the legendary Danube River.
- Enjoy a performance by opera singers and ballet dancers set to the music of Strauss, Mozart, and more, in Vienna.
- Come to know Vienna and its incredible Schönbrunn Palace.
- Discover the capital of the Bavaria region, Munich.
- Spend two nights in the beautiful city of Salzburg.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
From regal Austrian palaces to handcrafted German clocks and snowcapped Swiss Alps, set out to experience three Alpine cultures set amid postcard-worthy landscapes.
Welcome to Vienna, Austria’s stately capital city. Built by the Habsburg Empire and amplified by classical composers, Vienna exudes an old-world charm that can be found in its cobblestone streets and elegant architecture. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner in the city.
Come to know Vienna this morning during a locally guided tour that showcases its architectural marvels. Visit the 17th-century Schönbrunn Palace, containing more than 1,440 rooms, and see the impressive St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is yours. Enjoy free time ...
Journey through the countryside before taking a cruise along the Danube,* one of Europe’s most renowned waterways. Continue to Salzburg, the “City of Music,” and find lush gardens and old-world charm. Dine on Austrian cuisine at a local restaurant.
Choose how you spend your morning because it’s your choice! Discover Salzburg on a leisurely paced walking tour of the Old Town -OR- feel like you’ve joined the Von Trapp family on a city tour featuring iconic film locations from The Sound of Music. No matter how you choose to spend the morning, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the beloved town on your own.
Look out upon the Bavarian Alps en route to the most popular Bavaria city, Munich. Upon arrival, it’s your choice! Take a panoramic tour of Munich, highlighting the National Theater of Bavaria and much more -OR- visit the lavish Treasury of the Munich Residence. Both ...
Tour Linderhof Palace, the only palace - out of three - that King Ludwig II lived to see completed. Walk the extraordinary halls that were modeled after Versailles with an expert guide and bask in the luxury of past royals. Later, fairytales become reality during a pi...
You’re off to the heart of the Black Forest, a region famous for artisans who create authentic cuckoo clocks and Hummels. End your day trying the region’s famous black forest cake with the tree-studded mountains as your backdrop.
This morning, hop on the train and journey to Freiburg, a vibrant city in southwest Germany’s Black Forest region. With a local guide by your side, explore Freiburg, a city with a rich medieval flair including its Gothic cathedral at the center of town and Bächle -- n...
Enjoy a scenic drive through the Black Forest region before arriving to Zurich, Switzerland’s luxurious cultural hotspot, also known as a global leader in banking and finance. Join a local guide for a tour of the city on foot, and then enjoy some free time to have lun...
The day is yours to relax or independently explore the best of Lucerne. Perhaps you will embark on an optional excursion to Mount Pilatus, ascending the world’s steepest railway on a panoramic gondola to the summit. Tonight, come together with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner featuring local specialties and toast the end of a wonderful trip.
Wish the Alps goodbye as your tour comes to a close today.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check current availability, prices, specials & more.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Collette Reviews & Ratings
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It was a wonderful trip and experience! We are still sorting all the pictures and memories about it, and some of them I would like to share with you - read my diary ...
Do not travel with Collette They area subpar company
This is worst tour I have ever taken. Poorly planned and not worth the money. Collette brought you to Lisbon where we sat for three days because NO TOURS or sited w...
Tour Operator
True adventures go beyond incredible destinations or inclusive packages. Collette delivers a sense of possibility across all seven continents.
Since 1918, we have been sharing our love of travel. Today our worldwide travel collection features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, family trips, garden holidays and more. With Collette, wake each morning on tour with a new experience in front of you, and when your head hits the pillow, you will know it has been an amazing day. Best of all - we seamlessly handle the details. All you have to do is enjoy the adventure.
Everyone at Collette believes travel is vital to a life well-lived and our executive team sets the tone. Drawing on a diverse set of skills that includes operations, sales, information technology, law and financial planning, they work across three offices to bring you the best experience possible.
Go Guided:
There are so many benefits to letting someone else take on all the details that come with having The Perfect Trip. See why more and more travelers choose to Go Guided — and why they never go back.
5 Reasons to Go Guided:
Go Tour Managers!
On Day 1 of your trip, you’ll meet a friendly person who sure does know a lot about your tour and the destinations you’re visiting. This highly skilled professional is your tour manage and from the moment you meet this key player on your tour, you’ll know you’re in good hands. With their rich travel backgrounds, as well as their useful information about language, currency, and all things local, you can relax and enjoy the ride.
Go Culture!
Visiting a destination gives you a taste of the local culture. But imagine actually becoming part of that culture. Staying overnight in an Irish castle like Old-World royalty…feeling the cool waters of the Great Barrier Reef envelop you as you snorkel in its turquoise paradise…or rolling dough with an Italian chef to make the perfect pizza. It’s not just about all the iconic spots that will make for the best photos, it’s about diving into another world that makes for the best memories.
Go Product Team!
Our product experts are probably on the road right now — scoping out the best of our worldwide destinations. They go, take it all in, and find the moments they love best. Those are the moments they create for you. Those experiences and sights comprise each itinerary and make each one extra-special. Best of all, you don’t have to plan a thing. You just need to choose which itinerary best suits you.
Go Social!
Travel is social by nature. Guided travel is extra social. Meet a cast of characters: your fellow travelers, tour manager, driver, local guides and more. The social aspect of guided travel is one of the best parts! Many travelers on our tours have forged lasting friendships. Think of all the wonderful people waiting to meet you out in the world.
Go Worry-Free!
Your peace of mind is the most important thing to us. And that starts with our roundtrip home to airport sedan service. Forget taxis, airport fees, or public transportation. We will get you there...and back. And if for any reason you need to cancel your tour, you can do so — right up until the day before departure — and receive a full refund (thanks to our travel protection plan).
There are many ways to experience the world:
Among Collette’s worldwide collection of tours we offer a variety of guided travel choices. No matter where (or how) you want to go, Collette can take you there.
Small Groups, Big Experiences
From vibrant cities to remote villages, immerse yourself in other worlds. As part of a small group, enjoy accommodations chosen to capture the spirit of the destination, savor spectacular local cuisine, and take the time to explore on your own. Along the way Explorations sets the stage for the unexpected moments that make travel so special. With just 12-24 passengers, these are the personal adventures that today’s cultural explorers dream about.
Amazing Family Moments Included
Collette's Family tours bring travelers of all ages together to experience the world’s greatest destinations. There’s no better classroom than the world, no better education than taking a walk through history. Today’s parents — and grandparents — want to share the riches of travel with their children and grandchildren. Each tour in our family line is specially crafted with the best local experiences, iconic must-see's, family-oriented hotels and immersive cultural activities. Children ages 14 and under enjoy substantially discounted rates.
Collette's Cancel for Any Reason Travel Protection Plan
The Traveling Well Experience
Our Commitment to Your Well-being and Enjoyment
There’s no denying that life and travel will likely look a little different for the foreseeable future, which is why we worked with our partners all over the world to create enhanced protective measures for our guests. These measures are intended to help safeguard guests’ health and well-being, while allowing for an enjoyable travel experience.
From flexible booking to more open space on the coach and much more – all aspects of travel have been considered. This is The Traveling Well Experience.
- Travel Protection Plan – cancel for any reason up until 24 hours before departure, plus provides numerous on-tour protections
- More Physical Space – on the coach, in restaurants, and more
- Wellness Protocols – for partners like motor coach operators, hotels, restaurants, and airlines
- Enhanced Tour Manager Training – our tour managers are destination experts and highly equipped to handle a variety of unexpected situations – including illnesses and emergencies
Before Your Tour
Cancel for Any Reason Waiver
Our Travel Protection Plan financially protects you in the event you need to cancel or move your trip to a different date. Learn more here
Pre-Tour Health Screenings
We will ask all travellers to complete a wellness declaration form before joining their tour.
Private Sedan Service
Your ride to and from the airport will be stocked with fresh water for every pickup and all surfaces will be disinfected daily and after every passenger.
Air Travel
Specific details will vary by airline, but standard operations typically include flight attendants wearing masks, sanitizing all surfaces between flights and physical distancing. For links to major airlines, head to the bottom of the page, or visit your airline’s website for specific information.
On Your Tour
Smaller Groups
Tours will operate with a number of empty seats to allow guests to space out for a more comfortable experience.
Your Tour Manager
We have employed new and enhanced hygiene & physical distancing protocols for tour managers. They are local experts and highly trained to handle a variety of unexpected situations — including illnesses and emergencies. They are also available 24/7 for guests throughout the tour should any situation arise.
Use of Face Coverings
Face coverings will be included with your pre-tour documents and will be required throughout many experiences on tour including the motor coach and air travel.
Motor Coach
All surfaces will be sanitized often, including regular cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitizer will be available at all times and drivers will wear protective gear when appropriate.
On-Tour Experiences
We work closely with our local partners to ensure adequate physical distancing during meals, experiences, and sightseeing. Guests may be rotated in smaller sub-groups when necessary.
On-Tour Insurance Coverages
When you purchase our Travel Protection Plan, you’ll have access to telehealth services should you need it, plus you’re covered on tour for emergency assistance, baggage loss, trip interruption, medical expenses, and more. Learn more here
Self-Screening
We will ask all travellers to monitor their health throughout their tour, with protocols in place in the event someone becomes ill.
Hotels
Specific protocols will vary from destination to destination, hotel to hotel. Overall, rooms and areas like restaurants, fitness centres, etc. will be deep-cleaned regularly, with rooms disinfected thoroughly between guests. High-traffic areas like lobbies and elevators will be cleaned hourly.
After Your Tour
Post-Tour Survey
After you get home, you’ll be able to share your opinions of your tour experience, allowing us to constantly improve for the benefit of future guests.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- The land price does not include air travel, airline fees, airport or departure taxes, transfers, visas, customary end-of-trip gratuities for your Tour Manager, driver, local guides, hotel housekeepers, cruise ship waitstaff, and any incidental charges.
Accommodation
Mount Pilatus - $90
Lucerne Enjoy the splendor of pure nature while gliding over a clear landscape in panoramic gondolas and spectacular cable cars. Ascend Pilatus via a unique excursion on the steepest railway of the world with a gradient of 48%. Upon arrival at the top, soak in the magnificent Alpine view from 7,000 feet above sea level. During leisure time at the summit, stroll the walkway for views from a different vantage point, or enjoy Swiss culinary delights on your own in one of the various restaurants (lunch is not included). Return back down the mountain by panoramic gondola for yet another bird’s eye view. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. In the off-season (November to mid-May) the cogwheel train is unavailable and both the ascent and descent will be by panorama gondolas and aerial cableway. The option may be cancelled due to maintenance work or inclement weather. Highest elevation: 7,000 feet.Mount Pilatus - $90
Lucerne Enjoy the splendor of pure nature while gliding over a clear landscape in panoramic gondolas and spectacular cable cars. Ascend Pilatus via a unique excursion on the steepest railway of the world with a gradient of 48%. Upon arrival at the top, soak in the magnificent Alpine view from 7,000 feet above sea level. During leisure time at the summit, stroll the walkway for views from a different vantage point, or enjoy Swiss culinary delights on your own in one of the various restaurants (lunch is not included). Return back down the mountain by panoramic gondola for yet another bird’s eye view. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. In the off-season (November to mid-May) the cogwheel train is unavailable and both the ascent and descent will be by panorama gondolas and aerial cableway. The option may be cancelled due to maintenance work or inclement weather. Highest elevation: 7,000 feet.Eagle's Nest - $85
Salzburg A captivating place in history awaits you today as you travel to the Eagle's Nest - Hitler's former private refuge, built as a teahouse for his 50th birthday. Upon reaching the town of Obersalzberg, you will board specially designed coaches for the adventurous and breathtaking ride along the steep rock walls and gorges which lead to the base of the Kehlstein. A large brass elevator will carry you up the final 365 feet into the Eagle's Nest. From here, you are sure to enjoy the spectacular views in every direction. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. This option is available during the months of May - October only.Become a member
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