Fill your lungs with fresh mountain air and see incredible views as you ascend peaks by cable car, hike mountain-top paths and wander valley trails. Explore the Swiss mountain village of Mürren and the surrounding area for three days. See the nearby Lauterbrunnen Valley, with its subterranean, glacial Trümmelbach Falls. Then set up a basecamp in Grindelwald village in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, from which you can enjoy Eiger Mountain and a glacial gorge featuring trails with interpretive signs, waterfalls and striated limestone walls. Also, take a walking tour in Zurich and have a free day of shopping and sightseeing in the historic town of Lindau, Germany which is located on a small island connected with the mainland by bridge.
Germany & Switzerland: An Alpine Adventure, September 5-14, 2020, escorted by Len & Mary Friesen
This tour can be paired with once-in-ten years Oberammergau Passion Play tickets & a 2-night hotel stay, September 14-16, 2020. PLAY TICKET PACKAGE MUST BE BOOKED ASAP.
Tour fare per person:
CAD: Double occupancy $4,327; single supplement $659
USD: Double occupancy $3,329; single supplement $507
Important note: Costs could increase if you sign up less than 90 days before a tour begins
Fare includes:
- Hotel accommodations
- Group arrival transfer in Zurich
- Train transportation: Zurich to Berner Oberland Region, Berner Oberland Region to Lindau
- 3-day pass within Berner Oberland Region, including access to gondolas and trains
- Boat ride in Zurich
- All breakfasts and all dinners
- Expert tour leaders
- Gratuities for guides and group meals
Fare excludes:
- International airfare
- Arrival transfers if separate from group
- Departure airport transfer
- Additional transportation
- Lunches
- Drinks with meals
- Travel medical (out-of-country emergency) and cancellation/interruption insurance
Insurance
Travel medical (out-of-country emergency) insurance and cancellation/interruption insurance are not mandatory but are highly recommended.
Payments
All rates shown are in effect at time of printing (May 2019). Although every effort is made to maintain the prices as established, TourMagination does reserve the right to adjust prices on this tour should it become necessary. The published price is guaranteed when paid in full. We accept check/cheque payments, and credit card payments. Please note that payments made using credit cards will be charged a 3% fee.
Itinerary
Saturday, September 5: Zürich
Arrive in Zürich, which is much more than an international hub. We’ll take half a day to explore its medieval centre, and then relax on a boat tour down the Limmat River to the Zurich Sea.
Sunday, September 6: Mürren
Travel by train to the Berner Oberland, passing through beautiful countryside to reach the Swiss Alps, the heart of this trip. The Berner Oberland region is classic Switzerland with two deep valleys, majestic mountains, glaciers, alpine meadows, fresh streams, and beautifully situated villages. We’ll spend six nights in this incredible region, beginning in Mürren.
Monday & Tuesday, September 7 & 8: Mürren
Mürren is a car-free village perched on a 1,500-foot sheer cliff. The Lauterbrunnen (loud springs) is named for the 70 waterfalls that cascade down the cliffs. Spend 2 full days in and around Mürren, where your tour leaders Len and Mary will highlight a variety of activities. These might include mountain hikes, gondola rides, strolling through the charming village of Mürren, or sitting in cliffside cafés while the hang-gliders soar past you at eye level. On one day, we will travel by cable car to the Schilthorn—a 10,000-foot mountain peak that feels like the roof of the world and is surrounded with panoramic views that reach as far as France on a clear day. The site is so famous that even a James Bond movie was filmed there.
Wednesday, September 9: Grindelwald
Then we’ll move to the adjoining valley where Grindelwald will be our base. Enjoy the scenery on a train ride from Mürren to Grindelwald. This town has a front seat to Switzerland’s most famous three mountains—the Eiger, the Mönch, and the Jungfrau.
Thursday & Friday, September 10 & 11: Grindelwald
Once again we have 2 full days to explore this alpine wonderland by footpaths and cable car. You can even ride into the mountains to a hut café, with a spectacular view, before descending to the base. Len and Mary will present many options from leisurely to demanding hikes.
Saturday, September 12: Lindau
We leave the Alps by Swiss Rail to reach our final destination—Lindau. The heart of Lindau is on an island, connected by a causeway, set on the Bodensee (Lake Constance). This has been a favourite resort town for centuries. Enjoy an orientation tour of the town.
Sunday, September 13: Lindau
Today is a largely unstructured day to wander Lindau’s narrow streets, admire the 14th-century gabled houses on Maximilianstrasse, view the Alps, and shop if you wish. There is an optional boat cruise on the Bodensee. Enjoy a farewell dinner in a setting as lovely as any in Europe.
Monday, September 14: Oberammergau or home
Say goodbye to your fellow travellers and to the beautiful Swiss mountains as you depart for home, or continue to Oberammergau in Germany to see the Passion Play.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.