This two week tour of the Alps and mountain regions of France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland takes you on an amazing journey through historical, cultural and scenic delights.

Highlights include the Champagne region, visiting Alsace and the Schlumpf Collection Motor Museum, touring Bavaria with its fairytale castles, travelling through the magnificent Austrian and Swiss Alps, driving some of the world’s most thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio, past breath-taking scenery, and sampling the wonderful cuisine and wines.

Classic Travelling has driven the route to ensure it is scenic and interesting as well as visited each hotel to make certain we have the most pleasant accommodation in the area and they have appropriate standards of comfort and charm, along with suitable parking.

Accommodation

Stay in some of the most glorious hotels, including stunning chateaux, cosy wooden chalets and medieval townhouses. All the hotels are individual and unique and, overall, are of an extremely high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels the rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked the accommodation for their unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast, and dinner is included where stated. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely undercover.

Itinerary

May be subject to change without notice

Day 1

For UK participants take the ferry from Dover to Calais, followed by an easy drive to Laon. Visit the largest war memorial area of France, Vimy Parc. This whole region was the scene of fierce fighting in both World Wars. Stay in an exclusive chateau set around a courtyard a few kilometres from Laon. Dinner is included.

Day 2

Drive across northern France to the beautiful Alsace region. On the way visit the attractive town of Verdun, France’s ‘Capital of Peace’. Travel across the engaging Vosges Mountains to the hotel. Set in a tranquil and pretty village, the hotel is a treat with its spa and great food. Dinner is included.

Day 3

Drive south to visit the captivating town of Colmar. A little further south still is the town of Mulhouse, home of the Musee National de L’Automobile, also known as the Schlumpf Collection, the most stupendous motor museum in the world, and well worth a visit. Leave France behind and cross into Germany. Virtually every road in this area of the Black Forest is designated as a scenic route and the driving is superb. Lake Constance is a beautiful area with lovely half-timbered houses in the towns along the shore. Drive the corniche road along the northern shore to the medieval, tiny island town of Lindau. Stay in a beautiful family-run hotel overlooking the lake towards Switzerland. Dine overlooking Lake Constance.

Day 4

Heading east from Lindau enter Bavaria, home of many of Germany’s best-known cliches: beer, lederhosen, sausage dogs, sauerkraut and fairy-tale castles. Drive along the thrilling Alpine Road and visit the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, the latter is the ultimate story-book castle. Drive through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, host of the 1936 Winter Olympics and onto Tegernsee. Stay in a charming country house hotel for the next two nights, on the outskirts of a spa town, one of the country’s most elegant resorts, and where the thermal springs are at a constant 27ºC. Dinner is included on both nights

Day 5

A day off to either relax, or there are a number of scenic drives. Tegernsee is among Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes and the area has long been a favourite with the rich. The little town of Tegernsee has a 1300 year old monastery, now a castle. From the southern end of the lake there is a cable car up into the mountains giving access to wonderful views and walks.

Day 6

Drive along scenic roads all the way into Austria and to Kitzbuhel, where the tour will spend the next two nights. Stay in an 18th century chalet-style villa that was once the summer residence of an important American banking family. Set in a very quiet part of town yet only a few minutes walk from the centre the villa is perfectly located.

Day 7

Kitzbuhel has a picturesque centre and is a fashionable and prosperous resort. There are many lovely walking trails surrounding the town or there is a circular, scenic half-day drive we recommend.

Day 8

An easy drive along the Inn River valley to the beautifully situated town of Imst. On the way visit Innsbruck with its 15th century baroque facades and mountain backdrop. Dinner is included at the comfortable hotel.

Day 9

Leave Austria and cross the border into Italy to drive some of the world’s most famous and thrilling mountain passes, including the Stelvio Pass, the highest road pass in Europe. Then head into Switzerland and over the Bernina Pass in time to explore St Moritz and the nearby, famous Cresta run. Travel over the startlingly dramatic Julier Pass and stay in the little village of Lenzerheide, in the mountains, in a stunning old converted farm. There are some wonderful hikes amidst unique alpine flora from the traditional hotel. Dinner is included.

Day 10

Another excellent day of sensational mountain driving. Drive north to Chur and then east to Andermatt. Climb over the beautiful Susten Pass and descend to Brienzer See. Pass through Meiringen, location of Sherlock Holmes’ ‘death’, and head for Brienz, a quiet town renowned for its beautiful wood carvings. Visit the wonderful ethnographic museum at Ballenberg, which shows Switzerland as it used to be with buildings, animals, historical gardens and fields, and typical crafts and customs. Stay in a gorgeous and charming hotel above Brienz and its lake, where dinner is included.

Day 11

It is a gentle drive along from Brienz to the spa town of Interlaken, nestled between the lakes of Thun See and Brienzer See. There is a wonderful side trip to the stunning Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfraujoch. Take a trip up to the Schilthorn, by funicular railway, where the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was filmed. Then wind your way through classic Swiss scenery to Gstaad, playground of the rich and famous, and a perfect place for afternoon tea and a stroll. If you are feeling energetic try some summer skiing on the glacier at Les Diablerets. Stay for two nights in the beautiful town of Chateau d’Oex in an 18th century wooden chalet, blessed with delightful views across the valley. Dinner will be a traditional Swiss meal in the chalet.

Day 12

Spend the day exploring the surrounding area. Visit the Nestle chocolate factory or discover how Gruyeres cheese is made. The medieval hill-top town of Gruyeres is very pretty and well worth a visit. This is the home of fondue so dinner here is recommended to sample the world famous cheese cuisine. There are also some beautiful walks in the surrounding mountains including botanical floral paths.

Day 13

Drive south over the col to Aigle and then on to the lovely towns of Montreux and Vevey and drive alongside Lake Geneva to Lausanne. Then head north towards the Jura mountains, on the Swiss/French border and cross into the Franche-Comte region of France. Stay in a wonderful, mellow chateau situated in tranquil gardens. Dinner is included.

Day 14

Visit the nearby Royal Saltworks at Arc-en-Senans and then tour Burgundy, one of France’s wine producing areas. The pretty town of Beaune makes a pleasant stop to sample the wines. Visit the medieval town of Troyes – particularly the most beautifully restored 15th century buildings around the Cathedral. Continue on to Laon, driving through the Champagne region and Epernay, and stay in the same hotel as the first night of the tour.

Day 15

For UK participants, drive to Calais and take the ferry across to Dover and depart.

Dates

Duration: 15 days – this trip can be taken at any time.

€2,395 (Euros) per person – based on 2 people sharing a car and a double or twin room

What’s included

• Tour participation
• All accommodation for fourteen nights for two people sharing a twin or double room
• Breakfast every morning & dinner on 11 evenings. You will be able to dine at restaurants of your choice on other nights.
• Return crossing from Dover to Calais for a car & two people
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the countries to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of recommended sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books

What’s not included

• Fuel
• Three evening meals
• All lunches
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France, Germany, Austria, Italy & Switzerland and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.