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18 Dec. VIENNA * The Imperial Capital
Arrive in Vienna either on our group flight or you own-arranged flight, and our waiting motorcoach will transfer you to the center of the city and our hotel, the Johann Strauss. Your body clock will tell you whether you can start exploring the city on your own or to relax at the hotel and perhaps catch up on lost sleep. Our Tour Manager will be on hand to help you throughout the day. Tonight the tour group will gather in the hotel bar for a Welcome Drink and a chance to meet your fellow travellers. This will be followed by an included dinner at the hotel.
Hotel de France .
19 Dec. VIENNA
Once an outpost of the Roman Empire then a stronghold of Christianity, Vienna was the residence of the Imperial Court for six centuries and was lavished with grand palaces, buildings, gardens and thoroughfares by the Habsburg monarchs. Today our guided tour will include some that architectural legacy as we view the University (which has produced 5 Nobel Prize winners), the Opera House, the Neue Hofburg (with the Vienna Boys Choir Chapel and the Spanish Riding School) and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Highlight of the morning will be entry to Schonbrunn Palace and a guided tour of the State Apartments. We then visit a schnapps museum (entry and tastings included) before travelling to the Vienna Woods for lunch, followed by a visit to the Monastery at Heiligenkreuz and the historic chapel at Mayerling. Late afternoon return to Vienna. Dinner is on your own and can be taken in the hotel or at one of the many restaurants found in this area.
20 Dec. VIENNA
Today is at leisure to explore the Imperial City. The Neu Hofburg houses the Spanish Riding School, the Vienna Boys Choir Chapel, the State Apartments, Treasury and the Armoury Museum. Art lovers might want to visit the new Museum Quartier which house four impressive museums including the renowned Leopold collection. Shoppers can browse along Kaerntnerstrasse and Graben, and you can also enjoy the atmosphere at the Christmas Markets at the Rathaus(Town Hall) and Karlsplatz. Tonight dinner will be taken in an historic Viennese restaurant, complete with music and entertainment.
21 Dec. VIENNA * WALCHSEE in TIROL
After breakfast we depart Vienna and travel upstream along the Danube. Our first stop is at the impressive Melk Monastery where we have a guided tour through the State Apartments. Library and Church. Continuing on we stop at Mondsee to visit the cathedral used as the wedding church in Sound of Music. Then it’s on to our destination, the charming village of Walchsee, located near a frozen lake in the Austrian Alps. There will be a welcome drink in the hotel, followed by a sumptuous 4-course dinner. All dinners over the next 4 days are included
22 Dec. WALCHSEE – SALZBURG
Today we enjoy spectacular alpine scenery as we make our way to Salzburg -The Sound of Music – city. We have a guided walking tour (about 1 hour) of the Old Town, which will include landmarks such as Mozart’s birthplace, the Dom (cathedral), St. Peter’s Church and Cemetery as well as the impress Festung (Salzburg Castle). The tour will end at a famous cafe where a hot drink is included. You then have free time for shopping, browsing and enjoying the atmosphere at the Christmas Market in front of the Dom. On our return to Walchsee, we visit the village of Oberndorf, and the chapel where the Christmas carol Silent Night was first performed. Dinner at the hotel tonight.
23 Dec. WALCHSEE * INNSBRUCK
Our excursion today is the capital of Tirol – Innsbruck. En-route we stop at the Swarovski Crystal World, where we have included entry for you. In Innsbruck, the Christmas Markets are located in the Old Town square, surrounded by Middle-Age buildings and the landmark Little Golden Roof. Plenty of time here to browse the handicraft stores and have lunch before we return to our hotel by way of the Olympic Ski Jump at Bergisl. Dinner at the hotel this evening.
24 Dec. WALCHSEE * KOENIGSEE * ZELL-am-SEE
The beauty of the Alps still accompanies us as we make a delightful tour to some of the beauty spots in this area. The Koenigsee in Bavaria is our first stop and we take a cruise on the deep alpine lake. Then it’s on to Zell-am-See for lunch and a chance to take a cable-car to the lofty heights of the Schmittenhoehe. We return to our hotel early in order to prepare for the evening’s festivities. With all other house guests, we will enjoy the lighting of the Christmas tree, carol-singing, story-telling and typical Tirolean music. This will be followed by a sumptuous festive dinner complete with entertainment.
25 Dec. WALCHSEE in TIROL
Merry Christmas! Today is for relaxing and enjoying the facilities of our hotel and the surrounding beauty. Highlight of the day will be a morning sleigh-ride across snow covered fields (weather permitting), with a hot drink at a local – alm hut. Return to the hotel for an included lunch, and the afternoon free to relax, take a walk on the frozen Walchsee or perhaps a walk around the village. Tonight we have a Farewell to Walchsee dinner at the hotel.
26 Dec.. WALCHSEE * ACHENSEE – MUNICH
Unfortunately we must leave our alpine paradise today. We depart late morning and travel through the last of the Austrian Alps before entering Germany and arriving in the Bavarian capital of Munich. We have a city tour that will include the Olympic Park and BMW auto factory and museum. Our hotel, the Platzl, is located in the center of the city, close to the Rathaus (Town Hall) and Marienplatz. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel and follow with festivities of the world’s most famous beer-hall The Hofbrauhaus, complete with Oompah band.
27 Dec. MUNICH * End of Tour
The tour ends after breakfast this morning. Those continuing on the NEW YEAR TOUR will stay another night in the hotel and have the day at leisure to explore the Munich downtown area or visit museums. Those with flight or train connections will depart the hotel as necessary.
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