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Indulge your passion for scenic splendors, Alpine highs, historic sites and all-embracing cultural traditions that play out in Swiss cities and Bavarian towns. Bear witness to local life in Bern, past and present. Try schwingen in Affoltern, cheese in Emmental, and chocolate in Maestrani. Dine with royalty in a Habsburg Castle, explore Munich’s must-see sites and pay a poignant visit to Dachau with a knowledgeable guide.
Highlights
- EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK Inclusions
- TAUCK exclusive – Meet the Habsburgs during a private lunch at Switzerland's Habsburg Castle
- Two nights in Bern with guided sightseeing to the Rose Gardens, Bear Park, and the Einstein Museum in the Bern History Museum; the craftsman village; Schwingen wrestling and an Emmental cheese tasting
- Swiss chocolate making at a chocolate factory
- A textile demonstration and visit inside the famous Abbey Library in St. Gallen
- A cable car ride to the summit of Sandis Peak for breathtaking views of Appenzell
- A poignant excursion to Dachau Memorial Site
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 14 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Zurich / Bern
Tour Begins: 6:00 PM, Bellevue Palace Bern. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to the Bellevue Palace Bern, a jewel of Art Nouveau architecture ideally located in the historic heart of this UNESCO World Heritage City amidst stunning Alpine views. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight, inspiring with Swiss flair.
Includes:
Dinner
Stay in Bellevue Palace Bern
Day 2
Beauty, Bears and Brains in Bern
A garden of delights awaits your discovery on a drive to the flower-filled Rosengarten and the famous Bear Park, Bärenpark. Long a symbol of the city and its namesake, bears have been a draw in Bern since the 1500s when they were first put on display as entertainment for its residents. You’ll see bears featured on the town emblem and flag and in the park you’ll explore this morning, where a family of brown bears live in an enclosed riverside setting. Join a local guide on a walk through the rose gardens and bear park, followed by a stroll past the Einstein House, where Albert Einstein developed his Theory of Relativity, to the Bern History Museum; take a guided visit of the Einstein Museum located inside. Experience a taste of local life on an afternoon visit to the Craftman’s Village in Wasen, during a Swiss sumo-like wrestling demonstration at the “Schwingen” club in Affoltern and an interactive cheese-making tour in Emmental highlighted by a light tasting dinner.
Includes:
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay in Bellevue Palace Bern
Day 3
Habsburg Castle and the Abbey Library
The imperial legacy of the Habsburgs comes alive today when you meet the Habsburgs during a Tauck Exclusive lunch at medieval Habsburg Castle, one of the most influential royal houses in Europe during the Middle Ages. Next it’s on to a chocolate making adventure that indulges your sweet tooth with a taste of this coveted Swiss specialty, made in mechanized Swiss chocolate factories since 1819. Your destination tonight is the cobblestoned town of St. Gallen, renowned for its textiles and its lavish Abbey District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour this afternoon includes a walk through town, a visit and demonstration at the textile museum and a visit to the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Includes:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay in Einstein St Gallen
Day 4
Alpine Highs
Drive to Appenzell for a day of scenic delights. Ride a cable car up towering Santis Peak for views of mountains and cliff-top chalets that will take your breath away, then spend the afternoon exploring the sights in the town’s car-free center. Boasting a quintessential fairy-tale setting, the old town invites with colorful wooden buildings, frescoed and flowered, with old-fashioned signage that takes you back in time. Return to St. Gallen for dinner at your leisure.
Includes:
Breakfast
Stay in Einstein St Gallen
Day 5
Oberammergau’s Passion Play
You’re off to the village of Oberammergau this morning; along with the Passion Play, the village is also renowned for its tradition of skilled woodcarving and the charming lüftimalerei (frescoes) that decorate many homes, depicting scenes from Bavarian folktales. Early afternoon marks the beginning of one of Europe’s most beloved and venerable traditions, the performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele) depicting the story of the Passion of Christ. In the 1630’s, as the plague raged throughout Europe, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform a play about the life of Jesus Christ every ten years if they were spared from the epidemic… and they have kept their promise. The play begins early afternoon; following a dinner break, it continues into the evening. An English libretto is provided to enhance your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Includes:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay in Hotel TBA
Day 6
A Castle and Royal Carriages in Munich
Journey along the scenic Yellow Roads to Germany to Munich this morning for a two-night stay. Enjoy guided city sightseeing this afternoon, including visits to the Baroque-styled Nymphenburg Palace, lavishly inspiring, inside and out, and the Carriage Museum, located in the palace’s former riding stables. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, dining in a choice of hotel restaurants.
Includes:
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay in Hotel Bayerischer Hof
Day 7
Dachau and Munich as You Wish
Depart for Dachau this morning, where the first of Germany’s infamous Nazi concentration camps opened in 1933 and was used as a model for others that followed. Your visit to the memorial site will be a poignant one that provides historical context to an unimaginable time. Enjoy time at leisure to experience Munich as you wish. Your day ends with a farewell dinner at an iconic city restaurant that serves up a feast of regional fare.
Includes:
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay in Hotel Bayerischer Hof
Day 8
Journey Home
Tour Ends: Munich. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Bayerischer Hof hotel to Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Includes:
Breakfast
Departures & Rates
The following 2023 departure(s) are in AUD, per person, based on double occupancy:
11 June from $7,730
Please speak to one of our travel consultants for availabilities.
Important Terms
- You have the right to cancel your reservation with Tauck at any time prior to departure of the Trip. However, regardless of reason cancellations result in costly expenses, therefore a cancellation may result in a penalty fee that increase the closer the cancellation is to departure. Fees may vary between Trips.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
NIGHTS 1 – 2
Bellevue Palace Bern
BERN, SWITZERLAND
Bellevue Palace Bern is the official guesthouse of the Swiss government, with a living history extending back 150 years – and the only grand hotel in the heart of the capital. The magnificent salons, the grandiose vista of the Bernese Alps and the hotel’s warm hospitality make this luxury hotel so unique. In the restaurant VUE, connoisseurs enjoy fine dining with great classic dishes reinvented by chef Gregor Zimmermann. The Bellevue Bar has always been a meeting place for politicians and diplomats – it was featured in John le Carré’s spy novels, and is popular as a casual meeting place for a late night dinner. At the spa, enjoy the cozy warmth of the sauna or soak up the sun on the spacious rooftop terrace. And you’ll feel right at home in the hotel’s guest rooms from the moment you arrive. Distinctive elegance, exquisite design and fine furnishings combine with the architectural ambiance to make each room a unique haven of peace and tranquility… right in the heart of the city and yet somehow far, far away. Enjoy La Belle Vie au Bellevue Palace.
NIGHTS 3 – 4
Einstein St Gallen
ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND
The Einstein St. Gallen is more than a hotel – it is an institution. The elegant first-class city hotel is located quietly but centrally next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Abbey District St. Gallen. Dating back to the 1830s, the site of the Einstein St. Gallen was originally a five-story building used as the the workspace for a finishing atelier company before being acquired by Isaak David Einstein who began manufacturing embroidery. The modern-day Einstein St. Gallen was purchased in 1978 by textile producer, Max Kriemler, who renovated the property into the four-star Einstein St. Gallen which opened in 1983. 20 years later, the hotel expanded into an adjacent building adding 48 new and modern rooms. Today, the Einstein St. Gallen offers 113 rooms and suites furnished with the finest materials such as marble and cherry wood, fabrics of the highest St Gallen quality, pure silk curtains, bed linen of the finest cotton, down duvets, high quality mattresses and lamb’s wool rugs or parquet floor– all to guarantee your complete comfort. All rooms, for both business and private guests are optimally equipped with air conditioning, writing desk with broadband, free LAN and WLAN Internet access, WiFi, minibar, safe, radio/TV, direct dial telephone and hair dryer. The Einstein St. Galen has multiple in-house dining options include the Michelin Star holding Einstein Gourmet. International and lighter food is offered at the Bistro St. Gallen. The Einstein St. Gallen has been awarded the European Energy Award® Gold for its advanced commitment to sustainable energy policy. This is the highest certification that Energy Cities can obtain and means they have implemented at least 75% of their commitment plan.
NIGHT 5
Hotel TBA
Please note that the hotel in the Oberammergau region will be advised at a later date.
NIGHTS 6 – 7
Hotel Bayerischer Hof
MUNICH, GERMANY
One of The Leading Hotels of the World, the sumptuous Hotel Bayerischer Hof first opened its doors in the heart of Munich in 1841 at the request of King Ludwig I, who wanted a comfortable place for his guests to stay; the finest hospitality has been a tradition at the Bayerischer Hof for over 160 years. You’ll instantly feel at home in a large, comfortable guest room equipped with all the amenities that today’s sophisticated travelers expect. Set high above the roofs of Munich, the Blue Spa is the ideal place to work on your fitness level or just relax on the Pool & Sun Terrace while you enjoy beautiful views out over the city. Former Mr. Universe, Ralf Moeller, carefully chose the state-of-the-art fitness equipment in the Fitness Studio, where you’ll find everything you need to put together your own exercise program. The Bayerischer Hof’s first-class dining options include creative, seasonal gourmet cuisine at Atelier; Polynesian specialties from a beech oven at Trader Vic’s; and the Mediterranean atmosphere and South-Sea-inspired dishes of the Garden Restaurant. Have an apéritif or a nightcap in Falk’s Bar in the famed Spiegelsaal (Mirror Hall), the only room in the Bayerischer Hof that survived World War II unscathed; imbibe while savoring the view of the city from the Blue Spa Bar & Lounge; sip legendary cocktails from the South Pacific at Menehune and Trader Vic’s Bar; enjoy live music at the Night Club Bar and the Piano Bar, or hot drinks and snacks during cooler weather at the Polar Bar.
