New for 2008, Tauck’s 12-day Alpine Interlude showcases authentic, engaging experiences in the Austrian, Italian and Swiss Alps. Journey along the Yellow Roads, such as the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse, through some of the most inspiring scenery on earth; climb to the highest railway station in Europe aboard a cogwheel train; and take in a sweeping panorama of alpine splendor from a cable car. Explore the exciting cities of Zurich, Berne, Vaduz, Salzburg and Vienna. Savor a real taste of the Alps in a traditional Tyrolean Hütte, a Swiss Gasthof, a famous Viennese café, a 900-year-old monastery winery and a schnapps distillery. Let the traditional music, The Sound of Music and the music of Mozart inspire you. Let your spirit soar as high as the mountains as you discover the Austrian, Italian and Swiss Alps with Tauck!

2008 Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to the Swiss Alps
Tauck’s Swiss Alps tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. With its splendid views of the Swiss Alps, Zurich is the perfect place to begin your 12-day Alpine Interlude. Please join us this evening for our welcome reception and dinner, where you’ll meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich, Switzerland

Day 2 – Toward the Swiss Alps
Journey to Berne, Switzerland’s charming capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this morning. Discover the highlights of Berne with your Tauck Director before enjoying lunch at a 17-century Gasthof filled with historic gems that provide an authentic view of life in Switzerland at the time. Continue on to Interlaken for a two-night stay at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, one of Europe’s most famous hotels offering stunning vistas of the Swiss Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 3 – A day of high adventure in the Swiss Alps
After a scenic drive to Grindelwald this morning, board a cogwheel train and climb to Klein Scheidegg, take a minute admire the incredible views as you change trains, and continue your upward journey to the highest railway station in Europe, Jungfraujoch, reaching an altitude of 10,500 feet. Here at “the top of Europe,” the spectacular views of the surrounding Swiss Alps will take your breath away. If you care to, visit the Ice Palace, 30 meters below the surface of a glacier, and the Sphinx observation hall and terrace. Your time at the Jungfraujoch will be a most memorable experience during your interlude in the Swiss Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 4 – Lovely little Liechtenstein
Spectacular scenery abounds as you travel through the heart of Switzerland from Interlaken to Liechtenstein. Set amidst the Alps, the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein has much to offer. You’ll have some free time in the capital city, Vaduz, to make your own discoveries. Continue on to Austria and the splendid Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Telfs. Savor typical Tyrolean cuisine this evening as you dine at an authentic Austrian mountain Hütte surrounded by beautiful views of the Inn Valley
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol, Telfs, Austria

Day 5 – Bavarian beauty
Bavaria’s Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces constructed by King Ludwig II and the only one that he actually lived in. It’s said that Ludwig was quite a fan of French king Louis XIV and modeled Linderhof after Versailles; you may see references to the Sun King during your tour. As you view the Hall of Mirrors, try to imagine King Ludwig, who was reputed to be a night owl, reading there by the reflected light of many candles. The gardens surrounding the palace are thought to be among the most beautiful examples of historicist garden design. Continue on to Oberammergau, site of the famous Passion Play produced only once every ten years. Explore the town and the 5,000-seat theater constructed for the production at your own pace before returning to your hotel for some time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol, Telfs, Austria

Day 6 – Inspiring Innsbruck
Travel to Innsbruck today, twice the host city for the Winter Olympics. Discover the Gothic Old Town, of one the most beautiful medieval city centers in Austria and visit the Hofkirche (Court Church). It houses one of the city’s most impressive imperial monuments, the richly adorned Cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian I. Later, visit the Schnapsbrennerei Kuenz to see the vineyards and observe the distilling process before tasting the distinctive schnapps the distillery produces. This evening, join us for a dinner featuring the traditional music of the area.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 7 – Trans-border adventures
The Dolomites span Austria and Italy and your travels today take you back and forth across the border many times. Inspiring mountain vistas and peaceful pastoral scenes await around every bend. Explore the charming alpine market town of Ortisei with its lively, pedestrians-only historic center. Board a cable car to take in absolutely awe-inspiring alpine vistas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 8 – One of the world’s most scenic roads
This is what you’ve come to the Alps to experience – a seemingly endless panorama of towering alpine peaks and mighty glaciers. Opened in 1935, the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road) paved the way to one of the most impressive and incomparable natural experiences on earth. The road takes you up and up and up into the most spectacular alpine scenery you could possibly imagine. From the highest point, you’ll be able to see 37 mountains higher than 9,000 feet and 19 amazing glaciers. After descending from the heights, continue on to Salzburg for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 9 – Splendid Salzburg
The Old Town of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world. A walking tour this morning reveals its Baroque charms; perhaps you’ll recognize some of the locations used in filming The Sound of Music. A visit to the birthplace of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an inspiring experience for Mozart fans. This evening, attend a classical music concert at Mirabelle Palace and let your spirit soar as extraordinary music fills the air.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 10 – See the sights of Vienna
Feel free to hum a few of your favorite waltzes during a scenic first-class train trip from Salzburg to Vienna. Upon arrival, pause to enjoy coffee and cake at one of Sigmund Freud’s favorite cafés before exploring a bit of this glittering city on foot during a guided walking tour en route to the Hotel Imperial, your home for the next two nights. The rest of the day is free to discover Vienna as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 11 – Vibrant Vienna
A city tour this morning showcases the treasures of this capital city of the Habsburg Empire, to include its marvelous Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture and the famous Ringstrasse. Later, visit the extraordinary Stift Klosterneuburg, a monastery founded in 1114 by Leopold III, who later became the patron saint of Austria. Your tour will take you through the monastery church, with its numerous frescoes, and the medieval cloisters which house the Verdun Altar, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Finally, taste some of the wines for which the monastery has been famous for 900 years. Return to Vienna and enjoy some time at leisure before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 12 – Homeward bound
Tour ends: Vienna, Austria. Your Alpine Interlude in the Austrian, the Italian and the Swiss Alps ends with an included transfer from the Hotel Imperial to Vienna Airport. Please allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for airport check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast
We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Book this Scandinavia tour to cruise five fjords and walk on a glacier – call today!

Departure Dates

May 25
Jun 8, 22, 29
Jul 6, 20
Aug 3, 31
Sep 14, 21, 28

Prices

12 Days from $4,890

22 meals included.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.