Tour Itinerary
Day 1: 19 December - Vienna
Your tour commences this evening in the Imperial city of Vienna. If you have arrived today on your international flight, experience tells us it is best to keep active through this afternoon and Vienna is such a wonderful city at this time of year with so much to see and do. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel. But first enjoy our welcome drink in the hotel bar. This is an ideal chance to get to meet and know your fellow Christmas travellers.
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Your Vienna Hotel - Hotel Stefanie
Originally dating back over 450 years, the current building is a charming, traditional First Class Viennese-style hotel. The Stefanie is perfectly located in the heart of Vienna near the Danube Canal and within easy reach of the Opera, St Stephen’s Cathedral and the pedestrian mall. Your hotel offers 130 rooms with very tasteful décor, private facilities, TV, radio and hairdryer with an excellent restaurant and bar.
Day 2: 20 December - Vienna
Our panoramic city tour this morning will bring to life all the sights, gardens and monuments of this Imperial City, from the State Opera House and the Hofburg Palace to the spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Later we take a delightful drive winding up through the Vienna Woods to the ‘Hellental’ where we take a privately-guided tour through the Heiligenkreuz Monastery. We also visit the memorial Chapel in Mayerling before heading back to the old city for lunchtime. This afternoon we have included entrance and a guided tour through the State Apartments of the magnificent Royal summer residence – the Schönbrunn Palace. We have timed this day so that it is dusk when you complete the Palace tour – perfect for the Christmas Markets in the main courtyard. This evening is at leisure.
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Day 3: 21 December - Vienna
Your day is completely free. Relax and enjoy this enchanting city of museums and style. Christmas shopping? Try the excellent Christmas Markets outside the Town Hall where you will find mulled wine, ginger biscuits, music, fabulously decorated trees and folklore displays. You simply must indulge in the world of the traditional Viennese coffee houses. How about a tall aromatic coffee and a calorie-busting apfel strudel? Maybe a rich chocolate torten cake? Mmmm! Dinner tonight (included) is a special welcome treat as we have reserved tables at the nearby Griechenbeisl Inn. A ‘mere’ 500 years old this beautifully preserved Inn has been a social gathering point of so many famous historical figures from Beethoven and Schubert to Wagner and Mark Twain (who have autographed the walls!)
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Day 4: 22 December - Saalfelden in Salzburgerland
Joining the Danube at Melk we have included entrance and a privately guided tour through the enormous Melk Monastery – an astonishing Baroque creation. Later we continue to the Salzkammergut – a land of clear alpine air and blue mountain lakes which formed the stunning back drop to the famous film the ‘Sound of Music’. We stop here in the village of Mondsee, on Lake Mondsee, for a relaxing lunchtime and to visit the film’s ‘wedding church’. In the afternoon we drive deep into the Salzburgerland Mountains to Saalfelden – a picturesque little village near to Zell-am-See – for a truly festive Christmas. After a welcome drink on arrival you will stay four nights here. All dinners, traditional Christmas Eve Dinner plus Christmas Day Turkey Lunch are included.
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Your Saalfelden Hotel - The Gasthoff Schoerhof
Located outside of the town of Saalfelden the Schoerhof is a chalet style hotel with charming wooden panelling throughout the public areas and extremely comfortable rooms. The Schoerhof also has an excellent ‘Wellness Centre” with a tastefully designed indoor pool, sauna, solarium and massage facilities.
Day 5: 23 December - Saalfelden in Salzburgerland
We have included a full day excursion today. En route to Salzburg our first stop is at the nearby village of Oberndorf where we visit the famous ‘Silent Night Chapel’ on the site the Christmas carol was first performed. We then continue on to Salzburg – the Baroque city of Mozart sitting beneath its enormous Festung (Fortess). A walking city tour with an expert local guide will introduce you to this enchanting city, including several locations used in the film ‘Sound of Music’. As a finale you will assemble amongst the fir trees in the small stone courtyard of the St Peter's Keller, dating back to the 1500’s and Salzburg's oldest restaurant, for some hot chocolate and biscuits. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city. The huge castle makes a fascinating visit and don't forget to soak up the atmosphere of the famous Salzburg Christmas Markets.
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Day 6: 24 December - Saalfelden in Salzburgerland
There is nothing quite like a day in the mountains! First stop this morning is the fashionable ski resort of Kitzbuhel. Dating back hundreds of years the main streets still maintain all their old charm with beautifully painted houses, overhanging roofs and ornate gables. Perfect for that last minute Christmas shopping. Lunchtime we continue on through the steep hills and mountains to the year round lake side resort of Zell-am-See. Here you may wish to enjoy a stunning cable car ride (not included) up to the lofty heights of the Smittenhöhe which towers 6,450 feet over the township. The view from the top is considered one of the finest in the Alps. Later, back in the comfort of your hotel, the warm glow will continue through this evening as we enjoy a festive Christmas Eve dinner - Austrian-style. For those interested you can attend midnight mass in the village church.
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Day 7: 25 December - Saalfelden in Salzburgerland
Christmas as it should be…in a wonderful location - relaxing, eating, drinking and definitely no Indiana Jones repeats, washing up and unwelcome long lost relatives! A Christmas turkey lunch is included today. Highlight of the day will be your ride in a horse-drawn sleigh through the local countryside. In the evening you will enjoy traditional music with dinner.
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Day 8: 26 December - Innsbruck
We depart our Christmas hotel and follow the spectacular Inn Valley. We will soon stop for a break in the village of Rattenberg - a medieval gem and a perfect place to take morning tea amongst the old cobbled streets. Next will be a visit (entrance included) to the Swarovski 'Kristallwelten' (Crystal Worlds)... a weird and wonderful crystal experience. Just before lunchtime we continue the short distance to the winter resort of Innsbruck. After checking into our centrally located hotel you will have plenty of time to explore the Old Town and see the famous ‘Golden Roof’.
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Your Innsbruck Hotel - Grauer Baer
Superb location just 200 metres from the historic centre of the city. This is a hotel with style and tradition, a restaurant, a bar, sauna, steam-bath, solarium and a gym. 91 rooms, with private facilities, TV, radio, hairdryer.
Day 9: 27 December - Luzern
Driving across the mountains and valleys of Austria we reach the city of Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein a tiny country on the border of Switzerland. Soon afterwards we head into Switzerland and arrive mid-afternoon in the lovely lake side town of Luzern with its’ covered wooden bridges. Your farewell dinner tonight promises to be an unforgettable experience as we dine in a local Swiss Restaurant. Relax and soak up the unique atmosphere as you enjoy traditional Swiss fare and a Folklore show.
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Your Luzern Hotel - Wilden Mann Romantik Hotel
Your charming hotel is a member of the ‘Romantik’ hotel chain and is centrally located only 200 metres walk from the historic Chapel Bridge. Dating back 500 years and expanded through the 19th century, the Wilden Mann (‘Wild Man’) has a delightful, traditional décor and ambience.
Day 10: 28 December - Luzern
Sadly your Christmas tour is now complete, and its time to bid farewell. Maybe you will be joining one of our exciting New Year programmes.
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