Day 1 Early morning departure for Dover and the crossing to Calais. You will then travel through France to Forbach (or similar) for an overnight stop.
Day 2 Continuing the journey on into Austria to the medieval city of Feldkirch for a five night stay. The hotel will welcome you and warm your spirits with a hot winter punch and you will receive information about the snow country and its surrounding areas.
Day 3 Today your first journey will lead you to Dornbirn and further to the snowy Bregenzerwald. Here you will enjoy a breath-taking view of the beautiful and hilly landscape of the forest. In Schoppernau the sleigh will already be awaiting you, for a romantic trip through the snowy hillside. Afterwards, you will be rejuvenated with the help of a home-distilled schnapps. Continuing your journey, you will visit Schwarzenberg, the most beautiful area far and wide. Angelika Kauffmann, the famous painter who later lived in London and Rome, spent her childhood here. Her early artwork can be seen in the parish church. During the journey to the Rhine Valley over the Bödele, you will be able to enjoy a magnificent view of the Lake of Constance. The coach will make a short stop in Dornbirn for you to visit the nativity crib museum with different cribs in varying sizes from all over the world.
Day 4 Today, travel to the origins of Switzerland. Drive past Lake Walen to Lake Lucerne, where the original first cantons of the Swiss Confederation are located. In Altdorf, make a quick stop to learn about the home of William Tell. Afterwards, continue to Andermatt. Here you will board the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and travel in the panoramic carriages (2nd class) of the Original Glacier-Express from Andermatt to Chur. This incredible journey in the most famous railway in the world will remain in your memories forever. The views from Oberalp Pass and the Rhine Gorge will keep you transfixed. In the meantime, the empty coach will be driven to Chur and will be there to pick you up from the train station.
* Please be advised that we cannot guarantee a specific route or train for our journey. While we endeavor to secure passage on the Glacier Express, high demand often presents challenges in doing so. Consequently, it's possible that we may be rerouted to a regional train.
Day 5 Today your day will begin with a guided visit to the mediaeval city of Feldkirch. In addition to the pedestrian zone and the dreamy alleyways, the gothic cathedral and the extraordinary Schattenburg are worth seeing. There you can find a museum whose tower (the keep) you can climb. Enjoy the view of the Rhine Valley, the city of Feldkirch, and views of the Swiss mountains from there. Afterwards you will travel past Bludenz, the town of Milka chocolate with a short stop at the outlet shop! to St. Anton, the famous ski-resort on the Arlberg. Enjoy the time by going up the mountains with a cable-car or having a “Glühwein” at one of the ice-bars. Before returning to Feldkirch.
Day 6 On your last day in Feldkirch, your journey will take you to St. Gallen. This small city used to be the heart of the Swiss textile trade. The centre of the city is worth seeing, the big, old houses show the past riches the textile trade brought to this city. Here you will also get a chance to visit the library of the monastery, including its famous baroque hall. In felt slippers you can walk through the library and its magnificent wooden floors. NB: coach unable to get close so there is at least a 15 minute walk through town. Afterwards, your journey will continue in the historical canton Appenzell. A visit to the so-called “Biedermaier village” Heiden offers a beautiful view onto the hilly countryside. You will take the rack-railway down to Rorschach, where you can enjoy the outlook of Lake Constance and its surrounding countries.
Day 7 Sadly it is time to leave Feldkirch for France and to Forbach (or similar) for an overnight stop.
Day 8 After breakfast, depart the hotel to commence the homeward journey.