Swiss Alps & Christmas in Bavaria

Your tour commences this evening in Zurich. Tonight a welcome drink and dinner are included. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers. (D) Stay: Hotel Glockenhof Zürich, Switzerland

We will spend the morning in the pretty lake-side city of Luzern, with its quaint covered bridges and ancient houses with decorative painted facades. Your afternoon is free to explore Zurich. The shopping is excellent, and there is so much to see. Make sure you visit Zurich's Christkindlmarkt market at the main train station. One of the largest indoor Christmas Markets in Europe, they are famous for their massive, illuminated Christmas Tree. (B) Stay: Hotel Glockenhof Zürich, Switzerland

First stop today will be in Montreux. Lunchtime is at leisure to explore Montreux' excellent Christmas markets that stretch all along the grand lakeside promenade and foreshore. Look out for the statue of Freddie Mercury, who spent his last years here. Afterwards, we have included a guided tour through the beautifully preserved Château Chillon. Made famous in Byron's poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon', this 13th century fortress juts out imposingly into Lake Geneva.

Later we drive along the scenic Swiss ‘Valais' before dramatically winding our way high up into the mountains to the Alpine Spa town of Leukerbad, where we stay three nights. (B/D) Stay: Le Bristol Wellness Hotel, Leukerbad

Enjoy a totally free day. 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! (B) Stay: Le Bristol Wellness Hotel, Leukerbad

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 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 streets. Stunning!

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! (B/D) Stay: Le Bristol Wellness Hotel, Leukerbad

At Brig we board the famous Glacier Express panoramic train which takes us along the ‘Valais’ through Switzerland’s finest mountain scenery to Chur. We have reserved seats in the panoramic carriages. Ranked as one of the world’s top train trips you will cross some of the 291 bridges, the 2,033 metre Oberalp Pass and 91 tunnels.

After a little free time to explore Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, we continue to the exclusive ski resort of Klosters, where we stay the next two nights. (B/D) Stay: Hotel Seven Alpina Boutique

A magnificent day to enjoy ‘My Time' in the stunning scenery which surrounds you, 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.

You can easily access all the main peaks by funicular trains, cable cars and chair lifts. At all ‘drop off' points there are restaurants, cafés and restroom facilities – usually with extraordinary panoramic views. Maybe try your hand at Nordic skiing, snow shoe walking or simply stroll along winter footpaths? Alternatively enjoy your hotel's indoor pool and spa facilities. (B/D) Stay: Hotel Seven Alpina Boutique

Driving into Austria’s Tyrol region we stop to enjoy lunch time in the Winter Olympic resort of Innsbruck. You will have time to explore the old town with its famous ‘Golden Roof’ and picturesque Christmas Markets.

In the afternoon we visit the massive ski jump at Bergisel. Taking a funicular train to the top you will find a café, ski jump memorabilia and a viewing platform where you can look right down the steep take off run. Amazing! Later we will drive over the incredibly scenic Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain pass into Bavaria to the historic village of Oberammergau and our Christmas hotel, where we stay the next five nights. Famed for its ‘Passion Play’ performances which have been staged every 10 years since the 1600’s, Oberammergau is set in the picturesque Ammer Valley beneath snow-capped mountains. The town itself is also famous for its beautifully painted houses and chalets.

On arrival we will be greeted with a welcome drink. All dinners, including traditional Christmas Eve dinner and a Christmas Day Turkey lunch are included over the next five days. (B/D) Stay: Parkhotel Sonnenhof, Oberammergau

This morning we take you on a picturesque drive to the village of Hohenschwangau. Here you will enjoy a visit to enjoy a guided tour of Ludwig's family home, Hohenschwangau Castle. Lunchtime is at leisure in nearby Füssen. Füssen is delightful! Stretches of the original Roman defensive walls are still in place, and the cobblestoned, pedestrianised 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.

On our return journey we make a special stop at the richly decorated Wieskirche (Church in the Meadows) with its incredible painted ceilings. Highlight of the day will be your horse-drawn carriage ride through the local countryside. (B/D) Stay: Parkhotel Sonnenhof, Oberammergau

In nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen we board a funicular train which takes us across snow laden fields to the base of the mighty Zugspitze. At this point the train enters the mountain and tunnels its way up to Zugspitzeplatt station at an altitude of 2,600 metres. Here you can be entertained by the alpine hustle and bustle and marvel at the acrobatic stunts of the freeskiers and snowboarders in Terrain Park Zugspitze. There is also the marvellous SonnAlpin Glacier Restaurant to enjoy a relaxing brunch.

Later we will catch the cable car to the summit of the Zugspitze Mountain, Germany's highest peak. At an altitude of nearly 3,000 metres the views are quite stupendous. Take in the unmatched 360° panorama with a view of more than 400 peaks in Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, or enjoy lunch in the Gipfelalm rustic summit lodge. We then catch the Eibsee cable car all the way down to the lakeside where our coach meets us and takes us back to our Christmas hotel. The warm glow will continue as we enjoy a traditional Christmas Eve Dinner. (B/D) Stay: Parkhotel Sonnenhof, Oberammergau

Christmas Day as it should be – relaxing, eating, drinking and definitely no Indiana Jones repeats, washing up and unwelcome long-lost relatives! Enjoy a Christmas Day Turkey lunch at your hotel. The rest of the day will be free in this delightful Alpine location. Perhaps go for a winter walk or take a cable car to the top of the ski fields (B/L/D) Stay: Parkhotel Sonnenhof, Oberammergau

Boxing Day! This morning we visit Kloster Ettal. This monastery in a lovely shaded valley dates back over 700 years and is one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in existence. Later we visit Linderhof, an extravagant French Rococo Palace – yet another of King Ludwig’s amazing creations.

This afternoon we return to Oberammergau where we have included a guided tour through the amazing Passion Play Theatre. (B/D) Stay: Parkhotel Sonnenhof, Oberammergau

After a leisurely start we travel to Munich. On arrival we have included a panoramic drive around the city, which will orientate you with the main sights, such as the neo-gothic town hall, and the wonderful church known as the Frauenkirche. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore this cosmopolitan city. This evening we have included a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B/D) Stay: Maritim Hotel Munich, Germany

This morning, it is time to say farewell as your tour ends. (B)