Christmas in a Swiss Spa Resort
12 Wonderful Days
- Enjoy 4 nights over Christmas in the Swiss Alps
- Stay in authentic, character style hotels
- Genuinely inclusive, no additional on tour costs
- Guaranteed 'My Time'
- Designed for Australians & New Zealanders
- Small group size - just 10 to 28
Tour Overview
NEW FOR 2020!
Imagine… celebrating Christmas over 4 nights deep within Switzerland's massive mountain, in a wonderful Swiss Spa resort, nestled in the heart of the majestic Alps. Spend 3 days exploring Bavaria's Fairytale Castles and Christmas Markets, see the majestic Matterhorn views and explore Montreux's romantic Chateau Chillon. Relax in panoramic carriages on the Glacier Express, passing frozen waterfalls and lakes. Christmas Eve take the cable car up Mt Gemmi for 'lunch with the views' and relax on Christmas Day floating in a steaming, outside thermal pool under the twinkling stars, surrounded by huge, jagged peaks. What an unbelievable Christmas experience!
Highlights
- Stay 3 nights in the Bavarian town of Füssen
- Visit Steingaden and the picturesque Wieskirche – ‘Church in the Meadows’.
- Be guided through the ‘fairytale’ Neuschwanstein Castle.
- Visit extravagant Linderhof Palace and the Passion Play village of Oberammergau
- Explore Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s pedestrian heart, complete with wonderful Christmas Markets and visit the mesmerizing Olympic ski jump and stadium
- Stay 2 nights in historic Appenzell
- Visit the UNESCO listed, 1,000 year old library in St Gallen, and its old town Christmas Markets
- Enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride in Neu St Johann and visit Lindau on Lake Constance
- Stay 4 nights over Christmas in the stunning, mountain perched ‘spa town’ of Leukerbad
- Christmas Eve take the cable car up Mount Gemmi for a Swiss lunch in the Wildstrubel panoramic restaurant
- Relax on Christmas Day and pamper yourself in the spa & wellness centre of your hotel
- Ride in panoramic carriages on the Glacier Express, passing over chasms and through the mighty Alps
- Explore Zermatt’s historical old mountain village with Matterhorn views
- Ride on the Gornergrat funicular surrounded by dozens of 4,000 metre peaks
- Stay 1 night in lakeside Luzern with its covered bridges
- Explore Byron’s Chateau de Chillon & Montreux’ fabulous lakeside promenade
- Enjoy a farewell dinner and Swiss Folklore Show in a local restaurant
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Munich
Your tour commences this evening in cosmopolitan Munich. Shopping is always excellent in Munich – particularly around the town hall and the decorated wooden Christmas Market stalls. Before your Bavarian style buffet dinner enjoy a welcome drink in the hotel.
Meals:
D
Hotel:
Maritim Hotel Munich
Day 2: Steingaden, beautiful Wieskirche and Bavarian Alps
A very leisurely start as we drive south towards the Bavarian Alps. Lunchtime will be at leisure in the village of Steingaden, which sits astride the junction of the Romantic and Alpine roads. Highlight of your day will be a visit to the richly decorated Wieskirche (Church in the Meadows) – a fabulous Baroque creation with incredible painted ceilings. Later we reach the nearby, picturesque town of Füssen where we stay the next three nights. Your Tour Manager will take you on a brief orientation walking tour of the old town. Füssen is delightful! Stretches of the original Roman defensive walls are still in place, and the cobblestoned, pedestrianized centre of town is filled with shops, restaurants and historic houses, many elaborately painted. High above, the old castle of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg dominates the town.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Hirsch
Day 3: Neuschwanstein ‘fairytale’ Castle, ‘My Time’ in Füssen
This morning we visit the nearby village of Hohenschwangau. After a brisk walk uphill you will enjoy a visit to one of the most inspiring and famous castles in the world – ‘Mad’ King Ludwig’s romantic Neuschwanstein Castle. Our guided tour will take us through the King’s apartments, staterooms, halls and throne room all reminiscent of a Wagner operatic saga. Lunchtime is at leisure in Hohenschwangau. The remainder of your day and evening is free in Füssen –‘My Time’ to explore this medieval town.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Hotel Hirsch
Day 4: Linderhof Palace, Oberammergau and ‘My Time’ in Garmisch’ Christmas Markets
First stop of the day will be a visit to Linderhof, an extravagant French Rococo Palace – yet another of King Ludwig’s amazing creations. Lunchtime is in the pretty ‘Passion Play’ village of Oberammergau, also famous for its ornately painted houses and shops.
In the afternoon we visit Germany’s premiere ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Before ‘My Time’ in town, we will visit the mesmerising, enormous ski-jump and stadium, made famous in the film ‘Eddie the Eagle’. At this time of year, Garmisch town is beautifully decorated, and you will be able to enjoy shopping in the pedestrian centre and delightful Christmas markets.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Hirsch
Day 5: Lindau on Lake Constance and ‘old’ Appenzell
Crossing southern Germany, we make a stop in Lindau on Lake Constance. This beautifully preserved island town is complete with medieval lighthouses and cobblestoned streets. Entering Switzerland, we reach Appenzell. Surrounded by undulating fields, hills and mountains, Appenzell is old fashioned, even by Swiss standards, being full of wellpreserved 16th-century buildings and painted wooden houses. We stay here two nights.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Romantik Hotel Säntis
Day 6: A horse drawn carriage ride in Neu St Johann & St Gallen Markets
This morning we drive over the mountains to Neu St Johann to enjoy a delightful horse drawn carriage ride through the countryside. Lunchtime is at leisure in the beautifully preserved town of St Gallen. A highlight will be an included visit to the 1,000 year old, UNESCO World heritage listed Stiftsbibliothek. This historic, wooden panelled library houses over 160,000 books and manuscripts, some of which date back as far as the 8th century. The remainder of your afternoon and evening is at leisure in Appenzell.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Romantik Hotel Säntis
Day 7: The Glacier Express train to the mountain spa town of Leukerbad
At Chur we board the famous Glacier Express train and, settled in our panoramic carriages, we ride along the ‘Valais’ through Switzerland’s finest mountain scenery. Ranked as one of the world’s top train trips you will cross bridges, go through tunnels and over the 2,033 metre Oberalp Pass. From Brig we drive up the winding Alpine road as it climbs through ravines and frozen waterfalls to reach our Christmas destination – the spa town of Leukerbad. Set in a hidden valley at an altitude of 1,400 metres your Christmas village is surrounded by towering, jagged peaks. We will stay here for the next four nights over Christmas.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Le Bristol Hotel
Day 8: Christmas Eve – A cable car ride up Mount Gemmi for a Swiss mountain lunch
Late morning, we will enjoy a cable car ride up to the restaurant and panoramic terrace on Mount Gemmi. Here we have included a typical Swiss mountain lunch. Your afternoon and evening is free to explore Leukerbad town, enjoy the hotel’s spa, surrounded by massive mountains.
Meals:
B
L
D
Hotel:
Le Bristol Hotel
Day 9: Christmas Day–‘My Time’ in Leukerbad
Enjoy a totally free day. What a magnificent location to relax and do as much, or as little, as you want!
Whether you are a ‘super active snow sports’ person or a ‘take it easy and relax’ person there are numerous activities you can enjoy, and your Tour Manager will be at hand to assist and advise you. The mountains surrounding you are staggering and the whole town is famous for its giant spas fed by natural steaming hot spring water drawn from deep in the mountains. Maybe relax and enjoy the hotel’s excellent spa and pampering treatment programme, explore the wonderful Alpine village, go on winter walks or catch cable cars up to the restaurants and bars perched high above on the pristine white, snow-covered ski fields.
Wonderful!
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Le Bristol Hotel
Day 10: Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Driving deep into the mountains we reach Taesch, where we catch a cog railway train up to world-famous Zermatt. At an altitude of 1,620 metres (5,315 ft), the village is surrounded by huge peaks and dominating them all is the mighty Matterhorn. Petrol-driven vehicles are banned from the village and as such the peace and quiet enhances the wooden chalets and small winding village streets.
As a highlight we have included the Gornergrat funicular train to the highest open air railway station in Europe. On the restaurant terrace we will enjoy a warming hot drink while taking in the astounding views across 28 magnificent peaks all over 4,000 metres high. Sensational!
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Le Bristol Hotel
Day 11: Château Chillon, Montreux and Luzern
Driving to Montreux on Lake Geneva, we have included entrance and a guided tour through the beautifully preserved Château Chillon. Later we journey on to the lovely lakeside town of Luzern with its covered wooden bridges. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. Your farewell dinner tonight promises to be an unforgettable experience as we dine in a local Swiss Restaurant and enjoy traditional Swiss fare and a Folklore show.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 12: Luzern
Your Christmas tour comes to a close 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, train journeys and entrances as described
- Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager
- Travel in a first class air conditioned touring coach
- 11 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation as described
- Hotel porterage (1 suitcase pp)
- Free use of fitness, spa and wellness centre in your Leukerbad hotel
- Welcome drink in Munich
- 20 Meals – Buffet breakfast daily (B) 2 lunches (L) and 8 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 in the itinerary
- 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 App
Your Hotels
Maritim Hotel Munich - 1 Night
This 4 star hotel is in a superb location in the city centre just a few minutes' walk from the main pedestrian shopping mall.
Hotel Hirsch - 2 Nights
This superbly located hotel, in the heart of Füssen on the edge of the picturesque old town, was built in the ‘Art Nouveau’ style and has been owned by the same family for four generations.
Romantik Hotel Säntis - 2 Nights
This 4 star, wooden chalet style hotel is brilliantly located on Appenzell’s historical "Landsgemeindeplatz" town square.
Le Bristol Wellness Hotel Leukerbad - 4 Nights
This 4 star spa hotel is ideally located near the cable cars & mountain restaurants and boasts the largest private Wellness & Spa centre in the region, with indoor and outdoor thermal baths. Perfect for your ‘My Time’ over Christmas.
Hotel Wilden Mann, Luzern - 1 Night
This charming 4 star hotel is conveniently located only 200 metres walk from the historic Chapel Bridge.