Discover the heart of Central Europe on tour, encompassing Germany, Switzerland, Holland (The Netherlands) and Austria. Discover Alpine panoramas, scenic lakes and picturesque towns where you can meet the locals and sample regional delicacies. From the fairy tale Rhine Valley to the artistic hub of Vienna, you’ll have a holiday to remember on a train journey, small group tour or coach tour through Central Europe.
At Cosmos, we like to think of ourselves as experts in ‘thrillology’ – the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of more ‘wow’ under our belts and no sign of slowing down, we know how to curate value touring holidays that you’ll never forget; creating the experiences you’ve always dreamed of and showing you the ones, you never thought of. Our job is to take care of the planning and logistics, so that all you have to focus on is living your dreams!
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together more to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures.
Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.
We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
APT is an Australian family-owned company whose essence began in Melbourne in the 1920s. More than 90 years on, APT offers life-enriching trips to every more continent, and through the company’s vast industry experience, meticulous planning and unquestionable passion it's earned a place among the world’s most well-regarded travel companies.
From boutique river cruising to small-group 4WD adventures; traditional coach touring with a decadent twist; epic rail journeys to small-ship expeditions; classic ocean cruising to safaris of discovery by both land and air – there’s little APT are unwilling to consider in pursuit of creating the finest holiday experience for its valued guests.
Timeless luxury, exclusive experiences, life enriching moments and true personalisation. APT offers all-inclusive holidays so everything is taken care of. We invite you to join us; you won’t be disappointed.
Discover Must do experiences and highlights throughout Central Europe
Historic Berlin
See vestiges of a turbulent time, from the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie to Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial. Sobering experiences in Germany’s vibrant capital.
The Hills Are Alive
Explore Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and the Sound of Music. Stroll the Mirabell Gardens and explore the Old Town as you hum the classics.
Canal Cruise Amsterdam
Glide along the labyrinth of waterways that comprise the 400 year old Canal Ring, flanked by incredible architecture and history, and decorated with quaint bridges.
Cologne Cathedral
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture and over 600 years of construction, this monument in the heart of Cologne is full of artistic masterpieces, treasures to behold, intricate designs and detailed stained glass windows.
Lakeside Lucerne
Take a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne, check out Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument, enjoy a fondue lunch, and perhaps enjoy the view from Mount Titlis after a cable car ride to its summit.
Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys through Central Europe
From the begining to the end, booking, touring Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland, our tour guide, coach driver, hotels, food, Qatar airlines - it was a wonderful experience with no blips.
A good tour. Damiano was a good tour director, was very helpful when we got stuck in Milan after our train to Zurich was cancelled due to flooding. Got to Zurich but again missed the first day of the tour. Some hotels were disappointing. The meals together were OK nothing special. Thought we should of had professional guides in some cities instead of read more Damiano being guide. His English is ok but maybe a guide would of been better.
The highlight of this tour was the trip on the Bernina Express. The scenery was 'wow' factor around every corner. The tour was very well organised and ran smoothly. The bus driver, Enzo, was an incredibly careful driver, especially as some of the roads were very high, with difficult bends. The main guide, Dario and local guides were all excellent. read more The hotels were of superior quality. As a suggestion, it would have been preferable to have one less day (3 night stay) in Lake Maggiore and instead stay one night at Lake Como, as we drove straight past and only caught glimpses of the Lake.
The visit to the cheese farm before reaching Lake Maggiore should be reviewed. It was a little disorganised and too long, although in fairness, it was their first time in hosting tours. The conclusion of the tour in Lucerne meant that all passengers had the additional cost of taxis to Zurich, for the flight home, as Lucerne does not have an international airport. Perhaps the tour could have terminated in Zurich, were it commenced.
We had a great time doing our own thing in Germany Rhine Falls, and part of Austria. We then joined Globus for their tour from Vienna to Lucerne, which was very well planned and most enjoyable. Zermat and The Matterhorn were exceptional as part of the Globus tour; and the performance at the Musikverein in Vienna was to die for.
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