Day 1: Vienna

Your tour commences this evening in the Imperial city of Vienna. If you have arrived today on your international flight, experience tells us it is best to keep active through this afternoon and Vienna is such a wonderful city at this time of year with so much to see and do. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel, but first enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow Christmas travellers.

Meals: D
Hotel: Hotel Stefanie, Vienna - 3 nights

Day 2: Heiligenkreuz Monastery, Vienna Sightseeing and Schonbrunn Palace

This morning we take a delightful drive winding up through the Vienna Woods to the ‘Hellental’ for a guided tour through the Heiligenkreuz Monastery. Returning to the old city for lunchtime, our panoramic city tour will bring to life all the sights, gardens and monuments of this Imperial City, from the State Opera House and the Hofburg Palace to the spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Later this afternoon we have included entrance and a guided tour through the State Apartments of the magnificent Royal summer residence – the Schönbrunn Palace. We have timed this day so that it is dusk when you complete the Palace tour – perfect for the Christmas Markets in the main courtyard. This evening is at leisure.

Meals: B

Day 3: 'My Time' in Vienna and Christmas Markets

Your day is completely free. Relax and enjoy this enchanting city of museums and style. Christmas shopping? Try the excellent Christmas Markets outside the Town Hall where you will find mulled wine, ginger biscuits, music, stunningly decorated trees and folklore displays. You simply must indulge in the world of the traditional Viennese coffee houses. How about a tall aromatic coffee and a calorie-busting apfel strudel? Maybe a rich chocolate torten cake? Mmmm! Dinner tonight is a special treat as we have reserved tables at the nearby Griechenbeisl Inn. A ‘mere’ 500 years old this beautifully preserved Inn has been a social gathering point of so many famous historical figures from Beethoven and Schubert to Wagner and Mark Twain (who have autographed the walls!)

Meals: B, D

Day 4: Baroque Melk Monastery, Mondsee and Leogang in Salzburgerland

Joining the Danube at Melk, we have included entrance and a privately guided tour through the enormous Melk Monastery – an astonishing baroque creation. Later we continue to the Salzkammergut – a land of clear alpine air and blue mountain lakes which formed the stunning back drop to the famous film ‘The Sound of Music’. We stop here in the village of Mondsee, on Lake Mondsee, for a relaxing lunchtime and to visit the film’s ‘wedding church’. In the afternoon we drive deep into the Salzburgerland Mountains to Leogang – a picturesque little village near to Zell-am-See, where we stay four nights and enjoy a truly festive Christmas. Tonight enjoy a welcome drink. All dinners, traditional Christmas Eve dinner plus Christmas Day turkey lunch are included.

Meals: B, D
Hotel: Hotel Kirchenwirt, Leogang - 4 nights

Day 5: The Silent Night Chapel, Salzburg sightseeing, 'My Time' and Christmas Markets

We have included a full day excursion today. Enroute to Salzburg our first stop is at the nearby village of Oberndorf where we visit the famous Silent Night Chapel on the site where the Christmas carol was first performed. We then continue on to Salzburg – the baroque city of Mozart sitting beneath its enormous Festung (Fortress). A walking city tour with an expert local guide will introduce you to this enchanting city, including several locations used in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. As a finale you will gather amongst the fir trees in the small stone courtyard of the St Peter’s Keller, dating back to the 1500’s and Salzburg’s oldest restaurant, for a hot drink and biscuits. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city. The huge castle makes a fascinating visit and don’t forget to soak up the atmosphere of the famous Salzburg Christmas Markets.

Meals: B, D

Day 6: Christmas Eve in the mountains - 'My Time' in Kitzbuhel and a cable car ride to the top of the Smittenhohe

There is nothing quite like a day in the mountains! First stop this morning is the fashionable ski resort of Kitzbuhel. Dating back hundreds of years the main streets still maintain all their old charm with beautifully painted houses, overhanging roofs and ornate gables. Perfect for that last minute Christmas shopping. Later we continue on through the steep hills and mountains to the year round lake side resort of Zell-am-See. Here you may wish to enjoy a stunning cable car ride (not included) up to the lofty heights of the Smittenhöhe which towers 6,450 feet over the township. The view from the top is considered one of the finest in the Alps. Later, back in the comfort of your hotel, the warm glow will continue through this evening as we enjoy a festive Christmas Eve dinner.

Meals: B, D

Day 7: Christmas Day - 'My Time' and a horse drawn carriage ride

Christmas as it should be…in a wonderful location - relaxing, eating, drinking and definitely no Indiana Jones repeats, washing up and unwelcome long lost relatives! A Christmas turkey lunch is included today. Highlight of the day will be your ride in a horse drawn carriage through the local countryside.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 8: Medieval Rattenberg, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, 'My Time' in Innsbruck

We depart our Christmas hotel and follow the spectacular Inn Valley. We will soon stop for a break in the village of Rattenberg - a medieval gem and a perfect place to take morning tea amongst the old cobbled streets. Before arriving in the winter resort of Innsbruck we visit Swarovski ‘Kristallwelten’ (Crystal Worlds)... a weird and wonderful crystal experience. After checking into our centrally located hotel the rest of the day is free to explore the Old Town and see the famous ‘Golden Roof’.

Meals: B
Hotel: Grauer Baer, Innsbruck - 1 night

Day 9: Vaduz to lakeside Luzern and a Swiss Folklore show

Driving across the mountains and valleys of Austria we reach the city of Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, a tiny country on the border of Switzerland. Soon afterwards we head into Switzerland and arrive mid-afternoon in the lovely lake side town of Luzern with its covered wooden bridges. Your farewell dinner tonight promises to be an unforgettable experience as we dine in a local Swiss Restaurant. Relax and soak up the unique atmosphere as you enjoy traditional Swiss fare and a Folklore show.

Meals: B, D
Hotel: Hotel Wilden Mann, Luzern - 1 night

Day 10: Luzern

Your Christmas tour is now complete, and it is time to say farewell. The tour ends today after breakfast.

Meals: B