Alpine Europe Panoramas

Day 1

ARRIVE IN ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND (D)

You arrive today in Zürich, banking capital of Switzerland. Our on-site representative will meet you at the airport and, after free time from the hotel, will escort you to dinner nearby. Enjoy a rare unscheduled afternoon to recuperate from jet lag before the Adventure begins in earnest tomorrow!

Day 2

ZÜRICH -GRINDELWALD, SWITZERLAND(B,D)

You’ll have the first part of the morning free and will rendezvous with travelers arriving from the Best of Germany Pre-tour just before noon. Our first stop together will be an extended lunch break in lovely lakeside Lucerne. Today’s final destination is the picturesque town of Grindelwald, surrounded by majestic peaks of the Swiss Alps.

Day 3

ACTIVITIES FROM GRINDELWALD (B,D)
Aare Schlucht Gorge Walk - 14/6 km, rated 3+/2

This morning’s unusual event takes us into a neighboring valley to walk through one of the most dramatic river gorges in Europe; parts of the route follow a boardwalk attached to the gorge walls! The evening is free to explore and enjoy the alpine ambiance of lovely Grindelwald from our hotel.

Day 4

ACTIVITIES FROM GRINDELWALD (B)
Jungfrau Alpine Walk - 10 km, rated 3+ (non-sanctioned)

An all-day excursion takes us by train through eye-popping Swiss scenery to the 11,330-foot level of Jungfrau Mountain. At the top, visit the Ice Palace, view the mountain peaks from the Sphinx Observation Deck, or simply marvel at the river of ice spreading out below the restaurant picture windows. On the return journey, we’ll exit the train for one of our favorite walks, to be serenaded by cowbell melodies as we hike through wildflower-bedecked alpine meadows in the shadow of the Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger Mountains!

Day 5

GRINDELWALD - BUCHS, SWITZERLAND (B,D)

Continuing east today, we’ll admire the dramatic alpine panoramas of Sussten Pass before arriving in Einsiedeln Abbey to celebrate one of the triumphs of baroque architecture. Later, we stop in Appenzell to explore this most Swiss of Swiss villages before continuing to the lovely town of Buchs in preparation for tomorrow’s walk just across the border.

Day 6

BUCHS - REUTTE (B,D)
Vaduz, Liechtenstein Castle & Capital Walk - 10 km, rated 2+

Today’s special walk in the tiny principality of Liechtenstein passes the dramatically positioned castle of Liechtenstein’s royal family and explores other points of interest in the capital city of Vaduz. From Liechtenstein, we continue through Austrian mountain splendors of the Tirol to Linderhof Palace, opulent former residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

Day 7

REUTTE - SELVA GARDENA, ITALY (B,D)

Nestled picturesquely across the border in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps stands the fairytale castle Neuschwannstein. A stimulating climb up a paved forest trail leads to King Ludwig II’s second architectural escape from reality. From Neuschwannstein, we make a short visit to Oberammergau, site of the famous Passion Play, then thread our way south through the Alps, across the scenic Brenner Pass, and into the enchanting Gardena Valley of Italy.

Day 8

ACTIVITIES FROM SELVA GARDENA (B,D)
Wood Carvers & Dolomite Mountains Walk - 10km, rated2+/3

Our Italian walking friends have graciously agreed to share their lovely corner of the world on a walk that features the high alpine pastures and spectacular vistas of the majestic Dolomite Mountains. This afternoon, we tour through the Dolomites by motorcoach to view some of the most stunning mountain scenery of our Adventure.

Day 9

SELVA GARDENA - ZELL AM SEE, AUSTRIA (B,D)

We return to Austria this morning and enter the beautiful Austrian Alps via the celebrated Grossglockner High Alpine Road.One of our stops will be at Pasterze, Austria’s largest glacier, at the foot of the Grossglockner Mountain, Austria’s tallest peak at nearly 12,500 feet.

Day 10

ZELL AM SEE - BERCHTESGADEN, AUSTRIA (B,L,D)
Lessach Austrian Farming Valley Walk - 10 km, rated 2/2+

Today’s walk departs from the tiny mountain hamlet of Lessach and offers a captivating glimpse into a remote section of rural Austria. Following lunch at the local gasthaus, we continue north through Sound of Music country towards the Salzburg/Berchtesgaden area.

Day 11

ACTIVITIES FROM BERCHTESGADEN (B, D)

On clear days, the panorama over the Bavarian Alps from “Kehlstein,” better known to Americans as “Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest,” is spellbinding! Near the Eagle’s Nest, a fun and informative visit awaits us at the famed Berchtesgaden salt mines, so critical to the economic development of this region. The late afternoon will be free to explore charming Salzburg. We’ll enjoy a Farewell Dinner tonight to celebrate the many memories we made together during Alpine Europe Panoramas.

Day 12

BERCHTESGADEN -MUNICH - USA (B)

This morning our coach will take us to the Munich International Airport, where we’ll say farewell to Alpine Europe and new walking friends, and fly home with the sun toward the western horizon.

Day 1

ARRIVE MUNICH, GERMANY (D)

You arrive today at the Munich International Airport where a representative of WAI will greet you and help arrange transportation to our hotel in the center of the city. After enjoying the sites of medieval Munich on your own from our hotel, you’ll rendezvous with the rest of the group for a memorable Bavarian dinner and folklore show at the Hofbrauhaus, the oldest beer garden in Munich.

Day 2

MUNICH - ROTHENBURG, GERMANY (B,D)
Fürstenfeldbruck Bavarian Town & Forest Walk - 10 km, no rating available

Our first walk is in the small Bavarian town of Fürstenfeldbruck. This event is sure to be well attended, with walkers returning to the finish hall to savor grilled bratwurst while beer and music keep everyone in a festive spirit! After the walk, we’ll motor across Bavaria via the fabled Romantic Road, en route to the jewel in Germany’s medieval crown—the walled city of Rothenburg.

Day 3

ACTIVITIES IN ROTHENBURG (B)
Rothenburg Medieval Stroll - 5km, rated 1+ (non-sanctioned)

Join us this morning for a stroll through the 15th century along Rothenburg’s medieval city walls and down cobblestone lanes to points of interest in the old town center. You’ll have the balance of the day free to explore the many fascinating sights and shops in this romantic Old World setting.

Day 4

ROTHENBURG-BACHARACH,GERMANY(B,D)

Today’s main event is an enchanting cruise through the Rhine Gorge. The ruins of strategically placed castles high above the river mark past lairs of the infamous robber barons who once looted shipping along this fabled waterway. An after-dinner stroll through the charming vineyard village of Bacharach is a memorable way to partake of the Rhineland spirit of Germany.

Day 5

BACHARACH- BLACKFOREST,GERMANY(B,D)

The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz reveals secrets of the invention that catapulted Europe into the Reformation and foreshadowed the Information Age! Later this morning in Worms, the Martin Luther Monument represents to us the history-shifting impact of the Reformation in Europe and North America. Further south, we’ll take a lunch break in old Heidelberg, setting for one of Europe’s most dramatic castle ruins, then continue to our hotel deep in the heart of the Black Forest.

Day 6

ACTIVITIES IN THE BLACK FOREST (B,D)
Black Forest Nature Walk - 10 km, no rating available

Our walk route is a lovely nature trail through the Black Forest offering the forested panoramas, chalets, and huge house/barns so characteristic of this region. Following the walk, we’ll tour the fascinating Black Forest Clock Museum in Furtwangen and visit the shops in picturesque Triberg that display these fabled cuckoo and grandfather clocks.

Day 7

BLACK FOREST - GRINDELWALD, SWITZERLAND (B,D)

Just over the border is Switzerland’s Rhine Falls, described by Germany’s literary giant Goethe as “the source of the Ocean.” After stopping in Zürich to pick up travelers joining us for Alpine Europe Panoramas, we’ll enjoy an extended lunch break in lovely lakeside Lucerne. Today’s final destination is the picturesque town of Grindelwald, surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Swiss Alps.