Great Rail Journeys
Walk & Tour: Austrian Alps, Tyrol & Alpbach
9 daysfrom $3,605
Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour
Italian Christmas & Austrian New Year
A memorable 13-day Christmas vacation in Europe. Enjoy an escorted rail trip to Austria and Italy, beneath the peaks of the Austrian Alps and along the emerald shores of Lake Garda.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Turin
London to Turin: Crossing the Alps to Italy
Meet the Tour Manager at London St. Pancras and join the Eurostar in Plus class to Paris, changing to First Class rail through the Alps to Turin; dinner at the hotel.
- Day 2railovernight: Bardolino
Through northern Italy to Lake Garda
Free morning to explore Turin, whose NH Lingotto Congress hotel is housed in the old Fiat factory with a rooftop test track; afternoon train through northern Italy via Milan to Peschiera del Garda, then by coach to Bardolino on Lake Garda for a five-night stay, welcomed with prosecco and a three-course dinner.
- Day 3overnight: Bardolino
Christmas Eve in Sirmione, the 'Pearl of Lake Garda'
Coach to the lakeside town of Sirmione to explore the Rocca Scaligera castle and the Grotte di Catullo Roman villa remains; return to Bardolino for a Christmas Eve gala dinner.
- Day 4overnight: Bardolino
Celebrate Christmas Day on Lake Garda
Free morning by Lake Garda, then a festive Christmas lunch at a historic venue in Bardolino, followed by a three-course dinner and live music in the evening.
- Day 5overnight: Bardolino
Raise a glass on a post-Christmas wine tasting
Coach excursion into the Franciacorta wine region for a guided winery tour and expert-led sparkling wine tasting with local specialties; tea, coffee and pastries on return, then a gala dinner.
- Day 6railovernight: Bardolino
Experience the timeless charm of Venice on a guided tour
Train to Venice, then a private boat transfer to St. Mark's Square for a guided walking tour taking in the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge, with free time for a gondola ride or a visit to Murano; return to Bardolino for dinner.
- Day 7railovernight: Innsbruck
Touring Verona then crossing the Alps to Austria
Coach to Verona for a guided tour taking in Juliet's balcony and the Roman arena, then a train journey over the Brenner Pass to Innsbruck for a five-night stay with mountain views; dinner at the hotel.
- Day 8railovernight: Innsbruck
The historic Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen
Journey on the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn through the Zillertal Valley to Mayrhofen, with free time including an optional Penken Mountain gondola ride, before returning by rail for dinner.
- Day 9overnight: Innsbruck
A guided tour of idyllic Innsbruck
Guided walking tour of Innsbruck's Old Town, including the Hölbling house, the 14th-century watchtower and the Golden Roof; free afternoon, with an optional Nordkette Cable Car ride; dinner at the hotel.
- Day 10overnight: Innsbruck
Riding the Stubaitalbahn on New Year's Eve
Journey on the narrow-gauge Stubaitalbahn through the Stubai Valley to Fulpmes and back; New Year's Eve gala dinner with wine in the evening.
- Day 11overnight: Innsbruck
New Year's Day in picturesque Innsbruck
Free day to explore Innsbruck, including the Inn River, the Hofgarten, the Golden Roof and the city's churches; three-course dinner at the hotel.
- Day 12railovernight: Cologne
To historic Cologne on the River Rhine
Coach to Innsbruck's railway station, then train via Munich, Augsburg and Ulm to Cologne, with dinner at the hotel.
- Day 13rail
Traveling home
Train from Cologne to Brussels, then the Eurostar in Plus class back to London St. Pancras.
Included
- Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
- Eurostar Plus First & Standard Class rail travel
- All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
- Eurostar light meals
- Breakfast and dinner each day, 1 lunch
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
- Flights and Airport transfers not included
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- Great Rail Journeysfrom $5,741
