Swiss Alps & Bavaria

Day 1 : Depart the USA

Our tour begins with an overnight flight to Europe.

Day 2 : Arrive in Switzerland

Herzlich willkommen in der Schweiz! Upon arrival we have a short guided tour of Geneva. See the harbor with the famous fountain Jet d’Eau and the floral clock featuring 6,500 flowers and plants. Continue to the flowery medieval village of Yvoire for lunch and time at leisure. Later we arrive at Villars-sur-Ollon, high above the Rhone Valley featuring breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc massif and Lake Geneva, and check in to our hotel for a one-night stay. Tonight we get to know our fellow traveling companions at a Holiday Vacations Welcome Dinner.

Day 3 : Gornergrat Cog Railway

Begin the day traveling to Zermatt, a village known for its mountaineering and skiing with incredible views of the Matterhorn, its majestic peak rising sharply into the sky. Take the Gornergrat Bahn cog railway to the summit of the Gornergrat Ridge featuring breathtaking Alpine panoramas. We’ll see Switzerland’s tallest peak, second-largest glacier, and 29 mountains over 13,000 feet including the famous Matterhorn. Afterwards we travel to Spiez and check in to our hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 4 : Jungfrau Cog Railway

Board the Jungfrau Bahn for an unforgettable cog railway excursion to the highest railway station in Europe. Our round-trip journey begins in Lauter-brunnen. Then we ascend to a high-Alpine expanse of ice and snow with views of the Eiger North Wall and a stop at Eigergletscher, known for its restaurant and polar dog kennels. At Jungfraujoch, at the heart of a glorious glacier, we may see as far as the Vosges Mountains in France and Germany’s Black Forest.

Day 5 : Trümmelbach Waterfalls

We say farewell to Spiez for a visit to beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley for views of Trümmelbach Falls, where ten glacier-fed waterfalls cut through mountain rock. We travel to the city of Lucerne, located on the shores of Lake Lucerne and at the foot of the Swiss Alps with mounts Pilatus and Rigi just a few miles away. Tour the city with a knowledgeable guide, revealing Lucerne’s medieval streets and covered wooden bridges including the 14th-century Chapel Bridge. We check in to our comfortable accommodations in the city and enjoy an included dinner tonight.

Day 6 : Lake Lucerne Cruise

Following a morning at leisure in Lucerne, enjoy a special Swiss folklore show at the Stadtkeller with live music and performers demonstrating traditional Swiss pastimes and activities. Swiss history and scenery is on display as we cruise the waters of Lake Lucerne. After, climb to the top of Mount Rigi on the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn cog railway, the first railway of its kind in Continental Europe. We take the Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad aerial cable car back down the mountain, which provides phenomenal sights of Lake Lucerne and the Bernese Alps.

Day 7 : Oktoberfest

The world's most famous celebration of Bavarian culture is ours to enjoy today! This morning we transfer to Germany and arrive in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Our admission to Oktoberfest includes dinner and a stein of beer in one of their lively tents. Look forward to vibrant music and dancing, grand beer halls, and riveting rides and games. After an exciting day at Oktoberfest, we check in to our Munich hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 8 : Munich at Leisure

This morning we see some of Munich’s famous landmarks on a walking tour including the Glockenspiel animated clock in the Marienplatz, the town square. We’ll also see Munich’s oldest church, Saint Peter, the open-air market Viktualienmarkt, the Bavarian State Chancellery and more. The remainder of the afternoon is ours to explore the city as we please. Optional attractions include a visit to the Beer & Oktoberfest Museum or browsing the shops at the Marienplatz. Tonight we gather for a joyful Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner at the Hofbräuhaus, one of Germany’s most famous beer halls.

Day 9 : Arrive Home

We fly home with delightful memories of our marvelous European vacation.