AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND

Day 1 | Monday 21 September
Arrival
After congregating at Munich Airport, we depart by private coach to our hotel in Salzburg. The drive across the border into Austria offers a gentle introduction to the alpine landscapes that will shape much of our journey. Upon arrival, there is time to check-in and relax before we gather in the early evening for introductions over drinks and canapés. Overnight Salzburg (C)

Day 2 | Tuesday 22 September
Salzburg
Nestled on the banks of the Salzach River and framed by the Eastern Alps, Salzburg is a city steeped in splendour. The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music, Salzburg flourished under the rule of powerful prince-archbishops in the 17th and 18th centuries, transforming the city into one of Europe’s finest Baroque cities. Following a talk in our hotel this morning, we embark on a guided walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Old Town as we pass the ornate façades of the Getreidegasse. Highlights include the splendid Salzburg Cathedral, with its twin towers and majestic dome, and the Residenzplatz, once the political and ceremonial heart of the prince-archbishops’ domain. We pause for a welcome lunch in a traditional restaurant, followed by an afternoon spent exploring the magnificent DomQuartier – a complex that once symbolised the secular and ecclesiastical power of the prince-archbishops. Here we visit the Benedictine Monastery of St Peter, whose origins date back to the 7th century, and the Residenzgalerie, housing an exceptional collection of European painting from the 16th to the 19th centuries. We conclude our day with an evening performance at the Salzburg State Theatre (schedules permitting). Overnight Salzburg (B, L)

Day 3 | Wednesday 23 September
Baroque Bartholoma
Set on a narrow peninsula along the crystal-clear waters of Lake Königssee and backed by the dramatic cliffs of the Watzmann massif, St Bartholomew’s Church is one of the most iconic landmarks in the Bavarian Alps. Today we venture out of Salzburg to this pilgrimage church, accessible only by boat. Originally founded in the 12th century, it was rebuilt in its triple-concha design form in 1697. After enjoying the peaceful lakeside atmosphere, we return to Salzburg via the charming spa town of Bad Reichenhall – once prized by Bavarian royalty for its natural springs and salt production. The town still preserves reminders of this heritage, including the impressive Alte Saline (Old Saltworks), with its ornate pump house and subterranean brine channels. We arrive back to Salzburg in the late afternoon, with time to freshen up before dinner this evening in a local restaurant. Overnight Salzburg (B, D)

Day 4 | Thursday 24 September
Dedicated to Mozart
Salzburg is inseparable from the legacy of Mozart. Born here in 1756, he spent the first 25 years of his life in the city, composing prolifically and performing at the court of the prince-archbishops. Our day is dedicated to tracing the life and legacy of Salzburg’s most famous son and we begin with a drive to the lakeside village of St Gilgen. Here we visit the Mozart Museum, housed in his sister’s former home. A scenic ferry ride across Lake Wolfgang then brings us to
the picturesque town of St Wolfgang, where we enjoy lunch at the historic White Horse Inn, immortalised in Austrian operetta. Returning to Salzburg via the salt-mining town of Hallein, we continue our exploration with visits to Mozart’s early homes – the Mozart Geburtshaus (birthplace) in the Getreidegasse and the Tanzmeisterhaus where the family later lived – both now museums that offer intimate insights into his upbringing, musical genius and family life. Our day of Mozart concludes with a performance (schedules permitting) at the Mozarteum, an esteemed institution founded in 1841 to honour and preserve the great composer’s musical legacy. Overnight Salzburg (B, L)

Day 5 | Friday 25 September
Herrenchiemsee Palace
Built by Bavaria’s enigmatic ‘fairy-tale king’ Ludwig II, Herrenchiemsee Palace is a grand monument to royal ambition and opulence. Situated on an island in Lake Chiemsee and accessible only by ferry, the palace was intended as a tribute to King Louis XIV of France, with Ludwig modelling it directly on the Palace of Versailles. Construction began in 1878, and though never completed, Herrenchiemsee is the most lavish of Ludwig’s residences, featuring a Hall of Mirrors that rivals its French counterpart. Departing Salzburg for the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck today, our travel westward takes us into Germany to this island palace, where a guided tour reveals Ludwig’s fascination with absolute monarchy, theatrical design and elaborate courtly ritual, all set against the tranquil backdrop of Bavaria’s largest lake. Returning to Austria, we arrive at Innsbruck in the late afternoon and check-in to our hotel before gathering again for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Innsbruck (B, D)

Day 6 | Saturday 26 September
Palaces of Innsbruck
Situated in the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck has long been a strategic and cultural hub. Its name, meaning ‘Bridge over the Inn’, reflects its medieval roots as a vital crossing point for trade routes between Italy and Germany. The city reached its zenith under the Habsburgs in the 15th and 16th centuries when Emperor Maximilian I made Innsbruck an imperial residence, and his lasting mark can still be seen in the city’s grand architectural projects, such the famous Golden Roof built to celebrate his wedding. After a talk in our hotel this morning, we first make our way up to Ambras Castle perched above the city. The castle was transformed by Archduke Ferdinand II from a medieval fortress to a magnificent residence, with the Unterschloss (Lower Castle) housing one of Europe’s earliest and most important Wunderkammer – a Cabinet of Curiosities. After exploring the collections here, we return into Innsbruck for lunch in one of the city’s fine restaurants. Our afternoon is then spent at the Hofburg Palace, the former imperial residence of the Habsburgs. Constructed in 1500 by Emperor Maximilian I, it was transformed into a grand Baroque residence by Empress Maria Theresa in the 18th century and features richly decorated state apartments, elegant stucco ceilings and period furnishings. A highlight is the opulent Giant’s Hall, adorned with portraits of Maria Theresa’s extensive family. Before returning to our hotel, we end the day with a walking tour through the Old Town. Overnight Innsbruck (B, L)

Day 7 | Sunday 27 September
Werdenberg Castle
The serene town of Werdenberg in eastern Switzerland is best known for its castle of the same name – one of the oldest intact timber-built castles in Europe still standing in its original form. Dating back to the 13th century, this hilltop fortress once served as the seat of the Counts of Montfort and later passed through various noble hands. Crossing from Austria into Switzerland today, our journey to the picturesque city of Lucerne is paused by a visit to this historic town. A tour of the castle reveals its preserved interiors and provides a vivid glimpse into medieval life on the frontier where the borders of Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein converge. Continuing through the scenic alpine passes, we arrive in Lucerne by late afternoon. Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant. Overnight Lucerne (B, D)

Day 8 | Monday 28 September
Lake Lucerne
Set beside the sparkling waters of Lake Lucerne and framed by snow-capped peaks, Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most picturesque cities. Once a humble fishing village, Lucerne rose to prominence in the Middle Ages as a key trading hub along the Gotthard route, linking northern and southern Europe. Our morning begins with a talk in the hotel, before we set out on a guided walking tour of its well-preserved Old Town. Highlights include the iconic Chapel Bridge, Europe’s oldest surviving covered wooden bridge, and the poignant Lion Monument, carved into rock in memory of Swiss Guards lost during the French Revolution. We then step aboard a boat for a leisurely lunch cruise on Lake Lucerne, taking in the stunning alpine vistas from the water. In the afternoon, we visit the Kunstmuseum housed within the striking Jean Nouvel-designed Culture and Congress Centre (KKL) that sits right on the lake’s edge. Its light-filled galleries house an impressive permanent collection, with a focus on Swiss artists from the Renaissance to the present, including important works by Füssli, Hodler and Klee. This evening (schedules permitting) we enjoy a performance at the KKL Luzern Concert Hall, world-renowned for its acoustics and breathtaking architecture. Overnight Lucerne (B, L)

Day 9 | Tuesday 29 September
Villa Tribschen & the Rosengart Collection
Lucerne holds a special place in the life and legacy of composer Richard Wagner. In 1866, seeking peace and inspiration, Wagner settled in a villa overlooking Lake Lucerne in the suburb of Tribschen. It was here that he composed some of his most significant later works, including parts of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, and our morning’s visit to this villa turned museum brings Wagner’s world to life through original scores, personal artifacts and an intimate collection of manuscripts. After a break for lunch, we then visit the renowned Rosengart Collection back in the heart of Lucerne. Housed in a former Swiss National Bank building, the museum showcases the impressive collection assembled by art dealer Siegfried Rosengart and his daughter Angela, who developed close personal ties with many of the artists on display. The ground floor is dedicated to Pablo Picasso, with an intimate display of his later paintings, drawings and sculptures, while the upper floor features masterpieces by Monet, Cézanne, Matisse, Chagall, Miró and more. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Lucerne (B)

Day 10 | Wednesday 30 September
Art in Basel
Straddling the banks of the Rhine near the borders of France and Germany, Basel is one of Switzerland’s most vibrant cities, renowned for its extraordinary concentration of art museums. As we embark on our final journey through the scenic Swiss countryside to Zürich today, our first stop enroute is the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, just outside Basel. Founded by art dealers Ernst and Hildy Beyeler in 1997, the museum was designed by architect Renzo Piano, blending light-filled galleries with water lily ponds and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Inside, the collection features over 400 works of modern and contemporary art, including masterpieces by Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, Rothko and Bacon. We then continue to a fine restaurant in Basel for a leisurely lunch, before making our way to the acclaimed Kunstmuseum for an afternoon visit. Established in 1661 with the acquisition of the Amerbach Cabinet, the Kunstmuseum is renowned for housing the world’s oldest public art collection and now spans over 300,000 works. We conclude our time in Basel with a visit to the Basler Münster, where panoramic views over the Rhine offer a final perspective on this riverside city. By early evening, we arrive in Zürich with time to freshen up before enjoying dinner together at a local restaurant. Overnight Zürich (B, L, D)

Day 11 | Thursday 1 October
Zürich
Beautifully set on the northern shore of Lake Zürich and framed by the distant Alps, Zürich evolved into a centre of commerce, banking and intellectual life during the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. Today the city is home to a well-preserved medieval Old Town and a thriving contemporary arts scene, seamlessly blending tradition with modernity. We begin our day with a morning walking tour
that takes us along the elegant Bahnhofstrasse to the Lindenhof – a hilltop park offering beautiful views over the Old Town and the Limmat River. We then explore the city’s charming cobblestone streets, stopping at landmarks like the baroque St Peter’s Church and the stunning Fraumünster Church which features colourful stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. After a break for lunch, our afternoon is spent at the Swiss National Museum. Housed in a striking château-style building, the museum offers a fascinating journey through Swiss history – all the way from prehistoric times to the present day – and its extensive collections showcases everything from medieval artifacts to folk art and 20th-century design. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Zürich’s galleries, cafés and lakeside promenades at your own pace. Overnight Zürich (B)

Day 12 | Friday 2 October
The Art of Chocolate
Switzerland’s rich history with chocolate dates to the 19th century, when Swiss pioneers revolutionised the confectionery world with innovations like milk chocolate and conching, turning the country into a global symbol of chocolate excellence. Before we experience this legacy firsthand, we begin our day with a visit to the Kunsthaus Zürich which houses an impressive array of sculptures by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. The collection also features masterpieces by European greats including Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Munch. We then depart by coach to the Lindt Home of Chocolate, located near the original Lindt factory in Kilchberg. On arrival we are welcomed by the world’s tallest free-standing chocolate fountain – a dramatic centrepiece that sets the tone for our truly indulgent experience. The museum’s exhibits trace the evolution of chocolate from ancient Mesoamerican origins to the beloved Swiss treat we know today, and our visit includes a state-of-the-art chocolate-making workshop where we craft our own creations. On return to our hotel, there is time to freshen up before we gather this evening for our farewell dinner in one of Zürich’s fine restaurants. Overnight Zürich (B, D)

Day 13 | Saturday 3 October
Departure
Our tour concludes after breakfast. There will be a group coach transfer to Zürich Airport this morning, arriving in time to meet onward flights. (B)