Grand Alpine Explorer

3.3/5 Based on 3 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Fully Guided Coach Group Rail Scenic Bernina Express Glacier Express Jungfrau Railway
Our Price From 8,905 Per Person
Exclusive Savings 590 Per Person
 Trip Length
14 Days
 Trip Starts
Munich
 Trip Finishes
Zurich
14 Day Grand Alpine Explorer Itinerary (Travelmarvel)
Countries Explored: Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland
Trip Style
Rail Journey
Departures
Accommodation
4 Star
Max. Group Size
40
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
RJTAPG14

Overview

Read 3 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Travelmarvel's 14 Day Grand Alpine Explorer. Discover three of Switzerland’s superb mountain train lines, including the wonderful Jungfrau Railway, as well as the German city of Munich and the idyllic Austrian Lake District.

Itinerary

You'll be met on arrival in Munich and transferred to your hotel. Located within view of the Alps, lively Munich is the capital of Bavaria, as well as one of Germany's best-loved cities. Stay Two Nights: Munich, Maritim Hotel or similar

Become immersed in the illustrious sights of Munich. With a rich culture and heritage, the city has a wonderful collection of museums, galleries and architecture. Enjoy a guided walking tour to introduce you to the highlights of Munich, including the city's charming main square, Marienplatz, home to the Neo-Gothic Town Hall and the famous Glockenspiel which performs on the hour.

Afterwards, discover Munich's unique beer scene with a tour of its popular and historic beer halls, including Munich's oldest beer house, Hofbräuhaus. Sample different local blends and delicious Bavarian snacks. (B/D)

Leaving Munich behind this morning, take the train into Austria. Arrive in Salzburg, a city known the world over as the birthplace of Mozart, and the setting for the classic film, ‘The Sound of Music'.

On arrival, you will embark on a guided walking tour with a local guide. Discover the Old Town, the World Heritage-listed centre with its pretty collection of medieval and baroque buildings, plus gorgeous views of the mountains.

Later, enjoy dinner with a difference in the Baroque setting of St Peter's, where you will sit down to a candlelit meal accompanied by the stirring music of Salzburg's most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This lovely city will be your home for the next three nights. Stay Three Nights: Salzburg, Goldenes Theater Hotel or similar (B/D)

Today is free for you to relax in Salzburg. Perhaps visit the Salzburg Fortress, also known as Hohensalzburg Castle, which is perched high above the city with great views from its peak. (B)

Discover the beauty of the Austrian Lake District today, heading first to Bad Ischl to visit the remarkable Kaiserilla, the stately former home of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Enjoy free time in St Gilgen, filled to the brim with baroque and rococo character. From here continue to Lake Wolfgang and take a lake cruise to St Wolfgang, an Austrian market town of whitewashed, slate-topped houses set amoung rich green mountains beside the turquoise waters of Wolfgangsee.

Enjoy time at leisure before continuing to Mondsee. Perhaps visit the town's cloister church, used as the site of the wedding in ‘The Sound of Music'. Dinner this evening is at the PitterKeller, an institution for Salzburg's locals since 1926. (B/D)

This morning, leave Salzburg and travel First Class into the heart of the Austrian Alps. The scenery becomes more dramatic approaching Innsbruck, with steep imposing mountains rising either side of the Inn Valley.

On arrival in Innsbruck join a guided tour of this charming city set against a backdrop of the Austrian Alps. Innsbruck's magnificently preserved Old Town still reflects the Tyrolean capital's historic and cultural past, boasting wonderful Renaissance and Baroque buildings as well as traditional Tyrolean architecture. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Innsbruck (B/D)

Your travels today will take you to the glorious Neuschwanstein Castle. Nestled in the Alps, it is a stunning sight, with a storied history. Enjoy a guided tour before an Insider Experience. (B)

Insider Experience: Join an enthralling journey on the Zugspitze Railway which ascends the summit of Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany.

Start your day with a walking tour of Innsbruck. Located in the Inn Valley and set against the dramatic backdrop of the Alps, Innsbruck is known for its imperial buildings and quaint Old Town. Magnificently preserved, this area still reflects the Tyrolean capital's historic and cultural past. It's then time for a rail journey through the Swiss Alps. Pass Liechtenstein and head into the Swiss town of Sargans. Here you change trains and travel alongside the Rhine to Chur, before continuing to the resort town of St Moritz. Stay Three Nights: St Moritz, Hotel Schweizerhof (B/D)

Travel through stunning scenic surrounds on a famous train line, arriving in the Italian town of Tirano. Here you'll have free time to explore before making your return journey. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Ride the Bernina Express, which passes glaciers, rushing mountain streams and flower-sprinkled alpine meadows.

Spend today as you please, soaking up the glitz and glamour of St Moritz. (B)

Journey from St Moritz to Brig aboard the iconic Glacier Express on a thrilling Insider Experience. Enjoy a tasty two-course lunch at your seat. The train climbs steadily and steeply up and over the Oberalp Pass, then spirals downward past little villages on the way to Brig. Here you change trains and continue on to Interlaken. Stay Three Nights: Hotel Interlaken (B/L/D)

Insider Experience: Step aboard the famous Glacier Express for a journey from St Moritz to Brig, enjoying the incredible views through the panoramic windows of your first-class carriage.

Today's adventure begins as you leave Interlaken and travel through the foothills of the Alps to Lauterbrunnen. You will then join the Wengeralp Railway to Kleine Scheidegg, before journeying on the Jungfrau Railway. Your final destination is the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station. Enjoy free time at the summit station and perhaps explore its Ice Palace. (B)

Insider Experience: Journey on the iconic Jungfrau Railway. See spectacular views at two observation stops, hewn out of solid rock between the rail tunnel and the infamous north face of the Eiger.

Wake to the breathtaking mountain vistas of Interlaken – this beautiful town is all yours to explore today. Spend time as you like, perhaps exploring the glacier-fed lakes. (B/D)

Your incredible journey reaches an end this morning after breakfast. Transfer to Zurich airport by train. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Join an enthralling journey on the Zugspitze Railway and ascend the summit of Zugspitze
  • Ride the Bernina Express, passing glaciers and rushing mountain streams
  • Step aboard the famous Glacier Express for a journey from St Moritz to Brig
  • Journey on the iconic Jungfrau Railway

  • Operated by Travelmarvel's partner Great Rail Journeys
  • 13 nights in premium accommodation
  • Services of a Great Rail Journeys Tour Escort and expert local guides
  • Price includes airport transfers and tipping

  • 22 meals - 13 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch and 8 Dinners

  • Itinerary and hotels subject to change
  • Prices are for land/rail only. Flights not included

Trip Reviews (3) Most Recent 'Grand Alpine Explorer' Reviews

3.3
AVG. RATING 3.3 / 5
3 Reviews
5 Star
4 Star
33%
3 Star
67%
2 Star
1 Star
Well organised tour   1 , NSW, Australia, Sep 2019
The tour went without a hitch with free time and trains to catch. Glad we went for portage, carrying bags would have been difficult. Rooms in general were on the small side. All transfers even to Zurich were confirmed well before time (thanks to tour leader Brian). Group size could have been smaller, I think 28 would have been a good size group. Over ...read more all a good trip. Special thanks to tour leader Brian.
Enjoyable Grand Alpine Explorer 6 , VIC, Australia, May 2019
Quite an enjoyable tour, glad we took this. Well organised in Munich with meeting and transfer to the hotel. We met our tour guide and were surprised to meet additional people with him who had started from London. We were incorporated to form the tour group. The tour of Munich was good, however we had to buy a return train ticket to get back to the ...read more hotel. A change to the accommodation booking in Innsbruck to an alternate location (Kramsgach Weislng) meant we lost our sightseeing time in Innsbruck. Not good.

Arrived in St Moritz, it was really enjoyable. Loved the Bernina Line train to Tirano. Excellent, great day out. Loved the Glacier Express train, including lunch onboard. Unbelievable trip to Jungfrau, very nice and enjoyable. It was very good to have free time, especially without the expectation of added on excursions or group tours. Don't change this feature.

There was confusion at the end of the tour in Interlaken and with the trip to Zurich. Did not visit Zurich other than the airport. The tour guide was not aware that this Zurich trip was included in our arrangements and he was expected to help set it up. He did help us set things up, but left early with the England contingent leaving us to sort out the issues that arose with taxi bookings. Not good.

Note: Regarding the optional excursions star rating, gets 5 stars because there wasn't any, hence good.
Grand Alpine Explorer 8 , TAS, Australia, Jun 2018
The train trips were wonderful. As were the mountain destinations. St Moritz was a desert. Nothing open, all over-the-top expensive and absolutely nothing to do. Like a cardboard movie set before the shoot. Take it off the agenda!

The group size of 31 was too large by about 6. Tour guide was very pleasant and personable - and helpful. He did his ...read more best but did not need to give us his thought processes about what “might work” and what might not, as it added to confusion especially when he changed meeting times a few times or was a bit vague.
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