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ITINERARY:
DAY 1.
Arrival Day Lucerne. Short welcome meeting and dinner in one of the lovely riverside restaurants.
DAY 2.
Traverse Lake Lucerne by boat, then ride the cog railway up to Mount Pilatus. Be rewarded with spectacular views, a couple of short hikes and a picnic lunch stop on the mountain. We take a cable car down the other side and there’s even time to stop for a beer at in a mountain pub on the way.
DAY 3 to 5
Depart on a beautiful train trip over the Brunnig Pass to Interlaken and Grindelwald. Our base for the next few days in the Jungfrau region. Enjoy an afternoon walk to the stunning glacier gorge of Grindelwald. From here we include a visit to the uniquely U shaped valley of Lauterbrunnen and the Trummelbach Falls, also stunning train ride up to Jungfrau Joch, the highest cog railway in Europe. At the top, the glacier stretches for miles and there are ice caves complete with sculptures. Walks in this region can include the spectacular Eiger Trail underneath the north face, or through pastures full of wildflowers.
DAY 6 & 7
After a four hour traverse of Switzerland to the mountain village of Zermatt, we arrive at the 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 and through a forest with spectacular views of the Matterhorn.
DAY 8 to 10
Our train journey today takes us into Italy and on to Vernazza, one of the five Cinque Terre villages where we stay for the next three 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. Then we hike to Monterosso or Portovenere enjoying a free afternoon to swim or explore. We will walk among the steep terraces that allow for cultivation of olives, grapes, and chestnut trees, with superb views of the ocean and villages.
DAYS 11 & 12
It’s only a short train ride to the ancient city of Lucca, hemmed in by 16th century ramparts and laced with cobblestone streets. There is time to visit Pisa, only 40 minutes away by bus. For fabulous views and a great morning walk, bike or run, the 5km loop on the top of the ramparts is paved and tree lined. We head into the Tuscan hills for a delicious wine and olive oil tasting.
DAYS 13 & 14
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. Spend time walking in the Three Peaks area for dramatic views and our most challenging hike of the tour.
DAYS 15 to 18
Only a couple of hours north is our next destination, the stunning dolomites in the Val Gardena of South Tyrol. We spend three days hiking around the Langkofel Dolomiti, Col Raiser, Dantercepies and the alpine village of Wolkenstein. This is some of the most amazing scenery you will encounter on this trip and is sure to be a highlight. The walks are varied and you can choose to do half day walks and explore the villages if you'd like to spend more time relaxing
DAY 19 to 21
We take the road less traveled in Austria for the start of our stay at Neustift in the magnificent Stubai Valley. Here we stay in a lovely family owned B&B 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. These huts are a cozy mountain retreat, accommodating up to 130 guests so it’s always a lively atmosphere and a great way to meet the locals.
DAY 22
This morning we board our train to Vienna for a scenic journey through central Austria. Our final day is spent wandering the historic center of Austria's capital. You'll also be treated to local Viennese cuisine, on the final night of this wonderful trip.
DAY 23
There is so much to see and do in Vienna, that it's worth spending some extra days here, if you have the time to do so.
IS THIS JOURNEY FOR YOU?
This walking tour 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 and personal experience in some otherwise well touristed areas. You will get to eat local food, spend time with local families and walk through areas known mostly to locals.
For maximum enjoyment of this holiday, you should be relatively fit and healthy, and able to comfortably walk 4 to 6hrs on hilly terrain. The trails can be rocky in places, so tramping boots are recommended, though sturdy hiking shoes with good tread will also do. Many trails are along the sides of mountains with a steep slope or drop to one side and sometimes we use cable cars to ascend or descend. All are very safe but if you have problems with heights or vertigo, you may not feel comfortable on some of the walks, or access to the walks.
We travel on the European trains which are fast, clean and efficient. However this means you must be able to handle moving your own luggage around train stations, many with steps, and onto trains. There are no porters to take care of your gear and it's very important that you can walk from platform to platform without requiring help with your bags.We also use a variety of private airconditioned minibuses in Italy.
Typically the hotels have private facilities, though in one smaller B&B you may have an apartment style room with one bathroom for two bedrooms. Or a bathroom across the hall, this is only for Stubaital. Be prepared to deal with what the weather has in store, sun, rain, snow or wind. It’s all part of the experience.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE ... pretty much everything!
Excurision to Trummelbach falls
Cog railway ride to Jungfraujoch
Swiss Fondue dinner
Biligual tour leader
Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage site and walks
Walks throughout Switzerland, Austria and Italy as specified
All land transport during the itinerary.
The cost of entry for all scheduled tours.
All breakfasts, 4 highlight dinners
Photo book of trip
All hotel, B&B and apartment accommodation* (on a twin share basis including meals as specified).
* Additional accommodations can be arranged at the clients’ request
PAYING LOCALLY
Most of our adventure tours involve a local payment. Paying locally allows us to keep the overall cost of our tours competitive and pass the savings on to you. These funds are put towards local expenses.
All prices are approximates and subject to currency fluctuations until final payment has been made. |
