This trip takes in some of the European Alps most spectacular scenery while also getting off the beaten track and giving you opportunities to get to know the locals. This is not your average tour and is designed to be a unique experience in an otherwise very touristic area. You will get to eat local food, spend time with local families and walk through areas known mostly to locals.
You will enjoy it more if you are relatively fit and healthy. There may be a multi-share night, with shared bathrooms in the mountain huts. Though typically the hotels have private facilities. Be prepared to deal with what the weather has in store, sun, rain, snow or wind. It’s all part of the experience though we choose autumn as it is often more stable than summer.
Tour Highlights:
- Lake Luzern and Pilatus mountain railway excursion
- Wander the coastal walkway of the Cinque Terre and its colorful villages
- Spend time in the ancient walled city of Lucca and visit Pisa
- Sample a real Swiss fondue
- Enjoy spectacular walks around Zermatt and the famous Matterhorn
- Hike with the locals off the beaten track in Austria and Italy
- Ride Europe’s highest cog railway
- Stay in a little known Austrian village with spectacular scenery
- Walk through the stunning Italian Dolomites
- Enjoy a unique visit to the tour leader’s family winery in Austria
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Day Luzern. Short welcome meeting and dinner in one of the lovely riverside outdoor restaurants. Includes: (D)
Day 2: Traverse the lake on one of the original paddle steamers and then ride the cog railway up to Mount Pilatus for spectacular views and a short hike for a picnic lunch stop. From the top we take a cable car down the other side and/or walk part of the way through picturesque mountain scenery, forests and there’s even time to stop for a beer at in a mountain pub on the way.
Day 3: Traverse the lake on one of the original paddle steamers and then ride the cog railway up to Mount Pilatus for spectacular views and a short hike for a picnic lunch stop. From the top we take a cable car down the other side and/or walk part of the way through picturesque mountain scenery, forests and there’s even time to stop for a beer at in a mountain pub on the way.
Days 4-5: From here we include a visit to the uniquely U shaped valley of Lauterbrunnen and the Trummelbach Falls which drain the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains. Ride up an elevator inside the mountain to see them! A stunning train ride up to Jungfrau Joch, the highest cog railway in Europe takes us though the north wall of the Eiger mountain as we gain height. At the top, the glacier stretches for miles out behind the Monch, and there are ice caves complete with sculptures. Walks in this region can include the spectacular Eiger Trail underneath the north face, or a walk towards Lauterbrunnen through alpine pastures. We may take the cable car up to First and walk along a high trail to Grosse Scheiddeg.
Days 6-7: After a four hour traverse of Switzerland to the mountain village of Zermatt, home of the famous Matterhorn. We will hopefully be rewarded with a sunset glimpse of this majestic peak. Our day walk with plenty of rests and photo opportunities takes us up the lower sunny slopes in the morning and then crossing over to the other side of the valley for a longer but gentle up hill through a forest then spectacular views of the Matterhorn from a different perspective.
Days 8-9: Our train journey today takes us through the alps, into Italy and on to Vernazza, one of the five Cinque Terre villages where we stay for the next two nights. The area is so unique that it has been named a UNESCO world heritage site and is a group of five fishing villages clinging to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Our main hike takes us along the ancient pathway joining the villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. We will walk among the steep terraces that allow for cultivation of olives, grapes, and chestnut trees.
Day 10: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a swim in the bay, or spend a further morning exploring the region around Vernazza then it’s only a couple of short train rides to the ancient city of Lucca, hemmed in by 16th century ramparts and laced with cobblestone streets.
Days 11-12: The best way to get around Lucca is by bike, as cars are not allowed on many of the streets within the wall. For fabulous views and a great morning walk, bike or run, the 5km loop on the top of the ramparts was once a racetrack and is now paved and tree lined. There is time to visit Pisa which is only 40 minutes by bus from Lucca, perhaps enjoy a wine and olive tasting, and for the September trip we will be in Lucca for one of its most important religious festivals, the feast of Saint Croce.
Day 13: Morning train to Trento and bus to our hotel on the slopes of Monte Bondone. This is an area famous for its scenery, wine making and medieval town with underground Roman ruins.
Day 14: Today we spend time walking in the Three Peaks area for dramatic views. If we have bad weather, our day will be spent exploring Trento, which has ancient Roman ruins under the museum and remnants of a town wall, a castle and one of the best pizzeria/breweries in northern Italy.
Day 15: Our 3hour train journey takes us to Austria for the start of our stay at Neustift in the magnificent Stubai Valley. Here we stay in a lovely family owned B&B. On our first night a leisurely 1hour walk takes us to a typical restaurant in the forest, for a feature dinner of their autumn treats.
Days 16-18: We take the road less traveled and hike to the alpine club mountain huts throughout the valley. Most of the hikes to the huts are no more than 2 hours each way and we can actually go from hut to hut over rocky mountain passes and some spectacular scenery. This option will depend on weather and group ability. They are well maintained, have fabulous food and are a cozy mountain retreat. These huts can accommodate up to 130 quests so it’s always a lively atmosphere and a great way to meet the locals.
Day 19: This morning we board our train to Graz. It’s a scenic journey through central Austria an afternoon arrival where we’ll be picked up and taken to our accommodation which, depending on group size, will be a couple of home stays near the tour leader’s family winery, or a small Pension in the town of Weiz.
Days 20-21: Our final days in Austria are a truly local experience, thanks to the tour leader's friends and family. One day is spent walking on the nearby “Alm” or highlands. Here we enjoy lovely views over hills rather than mountains and can look for all the wonderful European mushrooms that are in season. On the Sunday our 3hr walk through a river gorge and forests outside of Weiz end at the tour leader’s family farm for a lunch made entirely of home produced goods. From the meat, to the very tasty apple cider! After lunch we get taken home and later in the afternoon it’s to let your hair down at the winery. This special evening in a typical winery or “Buschenschank” as it’s called, is a Styrian tradition. It is only allowed to sell what it produces.
Day 22: You can choose flights which either fly out of Graz or take the 2 ½ hour train journey to Vienna to connect with a flight there. If flying from Vienna, please do not schedule a flight before 1pm.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Includes:
Lake Luzern boat, rail trip to Mount Pilatus
Trummelbach falls
Cog railway ride to Jungfraujoch
Swiss Fondue dinner
Biligual guides
Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage site and walks
Local farm and winery visit
Walks throughout Switzerland, Austria and Italy as specified
All land transport during the itinerary.
The cost of entry for all scheduled tours.
3 highlight dinners and all meals as listed B,L,D
Free photo CD of trip
All hotel accommodations* (on a twin share basis including meals as specified).
* Additional accommodations can be arranged at the clients’ request
Excludes local payment of 350Euro on day one of the tour.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Austria
Switzerland
Italy
Walking Tours
Cultural Journey
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