Austrian White Christmas Tour
10 Stunning Days
- Relaxed 3 & 4 night stays
- Stay in authentic, character style hotels
- Genuinely inclusive, no additional on tour costs
- Guaranteed 'My Time'
- Designed for Australians & New Zealanders
- Personal group sizes up to 40
Tour Overview
Imagine waking up this Christmas in a 13th century coaching inn, deep in the valley of the enchanting snow covered Austrian Alps. Shop at festive Christmas Markets, visit the chic ski resort town of Kitzbuhel, explore stunning Melk Monastery by the Danube and enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride on Christmas Day.
Highlights
- Celebrate Christmas over 4 nights in Leogang village in an 800 year old coaching Inn with festive drinks in the Samerstall stables and a horse drawn carriage ride on Christmas Day
- Savour the fabulous Christmas Markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and in the grounds of the delightful Schönbrunn Palace at dusk
- Enjoy a traditional Christmas Eve dinner, Turkey lunch on Christmas Day, a feature dinner in the centuries old Griechenbeisl Inn, Vienna and a farewell dinner and Swiss Folklore Show in Luzern’s Stadtkeller
- Stay 3 nights in glorious Vienna and explore the Vienna Woods visiting the Heiligenkreuz Monastery
- Be guided through the staterooms of the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and astonishing Melk Abbey on the Danube
- Visit baroque Salzburg, enjoy a hot drink and biscuits in Austria’s oldest restaurant, visit the Silent Night Chapel, Kitzbuhel and Zell-am-See
- Stay in the winter resort of Innsbruck and visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- Enjoy a farewell night in the lovely lakeside town of Luzern
The Austrian White Christmas Tour is just one of many you can enjoy in Austria or Switzerland. Visit each destination page for more information for our other amazing tours!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: 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 a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow Christmas travellers.
Meals:
D
Hotel:
Hotel Stefanie
Day 2: Heiligenkreuz Monastery, Vienna sightseeing and Schönbrunn Palace
This morning we take a delightful drive winding up through the Vienna Woods to the ‘Hellental’ for a guided tour through the Heiligenkreuz Monastery. Returning to the old city for lunchtime, our panoramic city tour 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 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.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Hotel Stefanie
Day 3: ‘My Time’ in Vienna and Christmas Markets
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, stunningly 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 is a special 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!)
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Stefanie
Day 4: Baroque Melk Monastery, Mondsee and Leogang 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 in the village of Mondsee, on Lake Mondsee, to visit the film’s ‘wedding church’. In the afternoon we drive deep into the Salzburgerland Mountains to Leogang – a picturesque little village near to Zell-am-See, where we stay four nights and enjoy a truly festive Christmas. Tonight enjoy a welcome drink. All dinners, traditional Christmas Eve dinner plus Christmas Day turkey lunch are included.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Kirchenwirt
Day 5: The Silent Night Chapel, Salzburg sightseeing, ‘My Time’ and Christmas Markets
We have included a full day excursion today. Enroute to Salzburg our first stop is at the nearby village of Oberndorf where we visit the famous Silent Night Chapel on the site where the Christmas carol was first performed. We then continue on to Salzburg – the baroque city of Mozart sitting beneath its enormous Festung (Fortress). A walking city tour with an expert local guide will introduce you to this enchanting city, including several locations used in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. As a finale you will gather 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 a hot drink 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.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Kirchenwirt
Day 6: Christmas Eve in the mountains - ‘My Time’ in Kitzbuhel and a cable car ride to the top of the Smittenhöhe
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. Later 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.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Kirchenwirt
Day 7: Christmas Day - ‘My Time’ and a horse drawn carriage ride
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 carriage through the local countryside.
Meals:
B
L
D
Hotel:
Hotel Kirchenwirt
Day 8: Medieval Rattenberg, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, ‘My Time’ in 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. Before arriving in the winter resort of Innsbruck we visit Swarovski ‘Kristallwelten’ (Crystal Worlds)... a weird and wonderful crystal experience. After checking into our centrally located hotel the rest of the day is free to explore the Old Town and see the famous ‘Golden Roof’.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Grauer Bäer
Day 9: Vaduz to lake side Luzern and a Swiss Folklore show
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.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 10: Luzern
Your Christmas tour is now complete, and it is time to say farewell. For those of you joining one of our wonderful New Year Tours that begin in Munich or Milan, the good news is, we have arranged complimentary Group transfers.
Meals:
B
Incredible Value Inclusions
- All excursions, scenic drives, sightseeing and entrances as described
- Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager Travel in a first class air conditioned touring coach
- 9 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation
- Hotel porterage (1 suitcase pp)
- Welcome drink in Vienna
- 17 Meals – Buffet breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L) and 7 evening dinners (D)
- A complimentary wine, beer or soft drink with all included dinners
- Tea and coffee with all included dinners
- Local guides as described
- Personal audio system whilst on tour
- Free WiFi on most coaches and at hotels
- End of tour tips to Tour Manager and Driver, tips for local guides
- Albatross Tours Travel App
Your Hotels
Hotel Stefanie, Vienna - 3 Nights
Originally dating back over 450 years, the current building is a charming, traditional 4 star 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 and an excellent restaurant and bar.
Hotel Kirchenwirt – 4 Nights
This historic, family run hotel offers quality, personal service and excellent cuisine. Your hosts - the Unterrainer family - ensure the perfect ambience for your festive stay.
Grauer Baer Hotel, Innsbruck - 1 Night
Superbly located just 200 metres from the historic city centre, this hotel has 196 rooms with private facilities. The hotel boasts style and tradition and features a restaurant, bar, sauna, steam-bath, solarium and a gym.Tour Reviews
We had an amazing tour manager; not only was she knowledgeable, but so helpful and nothing was ever too much trouble, especially with my gluten free needs. She always made sure I was catered for, even buying me gluten free cookies to have when everyone else was having the Christmas cookies. She is truly exceptional and made our tour wonderful.
Melissa
Dates and Prices
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No Additional 'On Tour' Costs
Over $100 value of extras per day are already included. There are no additional 'on tour' costs - even your end of tour tips are included!