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Experience rich culture against a backdrop of soaring Alpine peaks.
Journey from Switzerland’s mountain-lined Lake Lucerne to France’s inspiring Lake Annecy. Take in the picturesque Chamonix Valley and stroll along Italy’s Lake Como. Then, cross Liechtenstein and hit the winter wonderland of Innsbruck before heading to Munich, the lively capital of Bavaria.
Your tour package includes
11 nights in handpicked hotels
11 breakfasts
5 dinners with beer or wine
8 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
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Included highlights
Kapellbrücke
Interlaken
Chamonix
Mont Blanc
Lake Como
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An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day 2: Arrival in Zurich & transfer to Lucerne Region
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Switzerland! Transfer to the Lucerne region and get settled in to your hotel. Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Lucerne
Included meal: Breakfast
Get an up-close look at the lakeside city of Lucerne, Switzerland’s idyllic Alpine town, on a guided sightseeing tour.
View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution
Pass hand-painted facades that line the cobbled streets of the Old Town
Cross the medieval Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, and view the Water Tower
See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built north of the Alps in Switzerland
Enjoy a free afternoon in Lucerne or add an excursion.
Mount Pilatus
From $129 per person
French Alps2 nights
Day 4: French Alps via Bern
Included meal: Breakfast
Travel through the Alps today, taking in stunning scenery as you pass Alpine lakes, mountains, and charming villages.
Stop in Interlaken, where you'll have the opportunity to snap photos of towering Jungfraujoch (weather-dependent)
Visit the Swiss capital of Bern and walk through its charming Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Pass through the vineyards of Lausanne and Lake Geneva as you make your way to your hotel
Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Annecy
Included meal: Breakfast
Travel north and get to know the lakeside town of Annecy today.
Walk through Annecy’s Old Town with your Tour Director and take in sweeping views of the Alps
Peruse the stalls of the town's open-air market, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables
Then, return to your hotel in the French Alps and enjoy a free evening.
Lake Como Region2 nights
Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Chamonix
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
On your way to Italy, stop to explore and learn about Chamonix, a picture-perfect village at the base of Mont Blanc. Then, continue through the scenic Aosta Valley en route to the Lake Como region.
This evening, sit down for an included dinner.
Day 7: Como & Villa Carlotta
Included meal: Breakfast
Head out on a morning trip to explore Como, a city known for its mix of cultural and natural attractions.
Enjoy free time in Como for lunch and shopping, while admiring the lakeside vistas
Transfer to the beautiful Villa Carlotta to soak in spectacular views from the elaborate villa gardens
Please note: From November through February, a funicular to Brunate will replace the visit to Villa Carlotta.
Enjoy a free evening in the Lake Como region or add an excursion.
Lake Como Cruise & Bellagio
From $99 per person
St. Moritz1 night
Day 8: Train ride to St. Moritz
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Tirano, where you’ll board the Bernina Express. Enjoy a scenic train ride through the stunning, UNESCO-recognized landscapes of the Alps to St. Moritz, a prestigious Swiss resort town and hub of wintertime sports.
Please note: The Bernina Express runs seasonally and will be replaced with a local train from mid-October through mid-May.
Later, sit down for an included dinner.
Austrian Alps2 nights
Day 9: Austrian Alps via Liechtenstein & Innsbruck
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality dating back to the Holy Roman Empire.
Visit the capital of Vaduz
Pass the royal family’s hilltop castle, still in use as a royal residence
Continue on to Innsbruck, site of two winter Olympic Games, where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour.
See the famed Golden Roof and the City Tower in Innsbruck’s historic Old Town
Pass the Hofburg, a former Hapsburg imperial palace, and walk into its cobblestoned courtyard
Enter the Baroque Cathedral of St. James
Then, travel to the Austrian Alps and sit down for an included dinner.
Day 10: Free day in the Austrian Alps Region
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in the Austrian Alps region or add an excursion.
Bavarian Alps Castle Visit & Lunch
From $119 per person
Munich2 nights
Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Munich
Included meal: Breakfast
Cross into Germany and get to know the Bavarian capital of Munich on a guided tour this afternoon.
Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district
Walk from Odeonsplatz through the nearby Hofgarten to step inside the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria
Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel
Day 12: Free day in Munich
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Spend a free day in Munich or add an excursion.
Later, celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner.
Dachau
From $55 per person
Flight Home
Day 13: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to Salzburg, Austria.
Extension to Salzburg
It’s the birthplace of Mozart and setting for The Sound of Music, but that’s not all that makes Salzburg sing. Join your Tour Director and spend a couple days exploring this Austrian city, where Baroque churches and a UNESCO-listed old town will leave you in awe.
Salzburg2 nights
Day 13: Transfer to Salzburg & sightseeing tour
Included meal: Breakfast
Head to Salzburg, where a local guide leads you on a walking tour of the Old Town.
View the University of Salzburg and the churchyard of St. Peter
See the Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz, and Alter Markt in the city’s Old Town
Pass through scenery from the beloved film “The Sound of Music”
Enter the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, built in the Baroque style
Enjoy a free evening in Salzburg or add an excursion.
Mozart Concert & Dinner
From $149 per person
Day 14: Free day in Salzburg
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in Salzburg or add an excursion.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Eagle's Nest & Salt Mines
From $129 per person
Berchtesgaden: Salt Mines & Village Visit
From $79 per person
Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the Munich airport for your flight home.
I very much enjoyed the trip. My group members were all wonderful people and easy to get along with. No serious problems encountered with group members and smooth sailing.
Accommodations (Hotels, restaurants, etc) selected by EF Go Ahead Tours were, for the most part, well chosen. I had a special f...
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EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 9/19/23
Hi Trevor. Thank you so much for taking the time t...
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5.0 star rating
European Vacation
8/19/23 by 1st-time traveler Joe
This was my first trip to Europe. Although the bus rides between destinations were a bit long at times, I would have never been able to see as much as we did on my own.
We had a great group of people to travel with, all got along great.
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Grand Hotel Europe
This Belle Époque hotel is located near the lake promenade. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Lake Lucerne, Chapel B...
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Mercure Chamonix Centre Hotel
This contemporary mountain hotel is located in the center of Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc. Guests enjoy views of Mont Blanc and the Alps, roofto...
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NH Pontevecchio
This scenic hotel is located in Lecco, on the shores of Lake Como. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a gym, and restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find walking paths, ...
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Hotel Laudinella
This rustic hotel is located in the Upper Engadin Valley of St. Moritz. Guests enjoy a restaurant, pool, and spa. Nearby, you’ll find Lake St. Moritz,...
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Hotel Edelmanns
This stylish hotel is located in the Austrian Alps town of Tirol, just outside of Innsbruck. Guests enjoy the sauna, fitness center, and impressive ba...
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Holiday Inn Munich City Centre
This centrally-located hotel is located in the heart of Munich. Guests enjoy the fitness center, Finnish style sauna, and an on-site restaurant. Nearb...
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Arcotel Castellani
This contemporary hotel is located in Salzburg city center. Guests enjoy the large garden, fitness center, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll find the Sal...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
This tour visits Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Germany. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
Beginning in 2024, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2024, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code DAE.
You will walk for at least 1 hour daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times as well as getting in and out of trains.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Zurich and depart from Munich. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost. (Please note that on the extension, the travel time between Salzburg and Munich is approximately two hours, and should be considered for travelers purchasing their own airfare.)
A train ride from Tirano to St. Moritz is included in the price of your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code DAE.
Swiss food is varied and sophisticated, and some popular dishes include sausages, breaded veal fillets, freshwater fish, and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette. Be sure to try Swiss chocolate, which is among the world’s finest.
For a picnic with French flair, stop at a small grocery store for cheeses, pâtés, cured meats, fresh-baked bread, and fruit. In the cities, sidewalk vendors are known for their steaming crepes, while mouthwatering pastries and hot café au lait beckon from cafes. In restaurants, the prix fixe option is a popular way to enjoy a set three- or four-course menu for a good price.
Although lunch is generally served from noon until 2pm in France, dinner is served from 7:30pm onward. Those wishing to eat earlier can stop at a cafe, where light entrées and sandwiches are available throughout the afternoon and evening.
Northern Italy is known for flavorful meats and pastries.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
Austria is known for its savory Wiener schnitzel and excellent wild trout, carp, and crayfish. Save room for dessert—especially the strudels of fruit and nuts and elegant chocolate cakes, such as the world-famous Sachertorte.
German food is hearty and substantial. Among the specialties are dumpling stews, sauerkraut, sausages, smoked cheeses, and dark breads. Bavaria produces some of the world’s purest beers, and white German wines are exceptionally good.
All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins. You may also use a Type J plug with three small pins in Switzerland and a Type L plug with three small pins in Italy.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
You will use the Swiss franc in Switzerland and the euro in France, Italy, Austria, and Germany.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
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