Alpine Enchantment: A Family Adventure Through Historic Cities & Scenic Landscapes

Early Morning to Afternoon

Self-Guided Excursion Up Mt Pilatus

Ride the steepest rack-railway in the world at a gradient of nearly 48 percent from Alpnachstad up the giant mountain of Mt Pilatus that looms over the city of Lucerne, or glide up the other side on a gondola from Kriens. The highest point, Tomlishorn, with superlative views of Lake Lucerne, is only 30min on foot from the hotels and restaurants near the top.

9:55 AM

Taxi Transfer to Zurich Main Rail Station

Zurich taxis are generally reliable and honest, so this is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. If you are picked up one hour prior to departure, you should have plenty of time to catch your train.

Early Morning to Late Afternoon

Self-Guided Excursion up Jungfrau

Journey directly through the famous Eiger Mountain to what the Swiss called "The Top of Europe", the icy, windswept gap in the mountain ridges known as Jungfraujoch at 3,454m/11,332ft just below the summit of Jungfrau. The train ride to the top is not cheap, but it's the highest train station in Europe and definitely an unforgettable experience.

8:15 AM

Taxi Dropoff at Rail Station

Interlaken taxis are reliable and honest, so this is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. If you are picked up 45 minutes prior to departure, you should have plenty of time to catch your train.

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Guided Walk Tour of Historic Munich

Munich contains many reminders of a long and varied history but also encompasses the modern features of a strong and vibrant city. The insights of a local help make sense of the traditions, trends, and promises of Bavaria's Capital - sometimes referred to as the city of laptops and lederhosen. On this tour, your guide will show you the highlights of Munich and point out the many hidden treasures.

Morning/Mid-Day

Visit to the Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum (i.e., the German Museum) is the world's largest museum of science and technology. It is located on a small island in the River Isar, which flows through central Munich. The museum's vast and fascinating collection is spread out among 40 different exhibitions. You will encounter examples of technology stretching across humanity's long history, from a reproduction of pre-historic cave paintings to the laboratory where the atom was split.

Morning/Mid-Day

Visit to the BMW Museum and the 1972 Olympic Park

If you have a passion for cars and German engineering precision, then you'll love the shrines to one of Germany's finest automobiles - the ultra-modern BMW Museum and the futuristic-looking BMW World. Adjacent to BMW World are the extensive and beautifully sculpted grounds of 1972's Olympic Park built on top of the mountain of rubble transported there during the post-WWII city clean-up operation.

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Guided Walking Tour of Salzburg

Salzburg is simply overwhelming in all the best ways. It is alive with fascinating history, grandiose and sublime architecture fills every street and square, culture and music permeate the atmosphere, and it is surrounded by breath-taking natural scenery. This guided tour with a local will provide the context needed to bring all of this beauty into perspective, and to connect the physical city to its history, culture, and environment.

Early Morning to Mid-Day

Excursion to the Peak of the Untersberg

The nearly 6,000-foot high Untersberg is Salzburg's nearest Alpine Mountain, and a visit to its peak is the perfect way to experience the Alps without traveling too far.  Don't worry, there's no need to bring your climbing gear. You can take a bus from Salzburg to the base of the mountain, and then take an exhilarating cable lift ride all the way to the limestone summit. There you will find a stupendous view of the Alps spread out before you, and if you feel like wandering a bit, a network of rocky trails spreads out from the summit. The Salzburg card covers both the bus ride to the lift (it's the last stop of bus line #25) and the cable car tickets!

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Guided Walk through Vienna's Inner City

This tour takes you back in history to explore the Vienna that stood within the old city walls. You will learn about the humble beginnings of Vienna before it became the capital of a great empire and one of the most important cities in Europe. You will discover how Vienna's early inhabitants lived and how they left their mark on the city and its beautiful Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

Morning/Mid-Day

Tour the Schönbrunn Palace

The magnificent Baroque palace of Schönbrunn is most famously associated with Empress Maria Theresa, who lived here surrounded by 16 little archdukes and duchesses who also happened to be her children. On your tour of the palace, you will see how Maria Theresa and other past imperial residents lived. No visit is complete without a stroll in the vast gardens surrounding the palace.

Early Morning to Late Afternoon

Danube Cruise in the Scenic Wachau Valley

A one-and-a-half-hour train ride from Vienna brings you to the town of Melk, where you can tour the vast Melk Abbey. From there you can begin a 22-mile cruise through the Wachau Valley, considered the most beautiful stretch of the entire Danube River. You'll pass medieval castle ruins, hills covered in vineyards, and several charming villages, where you can debark to try some wine or take a hike up to a castle. The valley is also a perfect destination for cyclers and winery tours.

To Be Determined

Transfer to the Vienna Airport by Public Taxi

Vienna taxis are generally reliable and honest, so taking a taxi is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. Your hotel will be happy to arrange a pick up for you.  If you are picked up three hours prior to departure, you should have plenty of time to catch your flight.  If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra fifteen minutes or so.