Edelweiss

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Monday June 29: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Tuesday June 30: Vienna

Arrive in Vienna, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and spend the day exploring the Baroque façades and lively squares of this musical city in which Beethoven, Strauss and Mozart once composed. (D)

Day 3, Wednesday July 1: Vienna

This morning tour the grounds and interior of Schönbrunn Palace, the massive Habsburg summer retreat, including the Imperial state rooms and private quarters of the Austrian Emperors. Included audio guides enhance your visit. Then embark on a sightseeing tour of Vienna where an expert local guide shows you the glory of the former Imperial capital including the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace complex, Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Later a local master will mesmerize you with a demonstration of the world famous Viennese Waltz before you take to the floor to give it a try. All that dancing earns you a taste of the city's famed coffee house culture—visit one of Vienna's many glittering cafés to savor some mélange coffee or hot chocolate and Sachertorte. In the evening, we'll walk through Prater Park to check out the amusements. (B,D)

Day 4, Thursday July 2: Salzburg

Begin today with a drive through the Wachau region to visit the great Baroque abbey-palace of Melk, which Napoleon once used as his headquarters. Continue through the picturesque Salzkammergut lake region to Salzburg. You may want to gain a bird’s eye perspective of the Old Town by climbing Kapuzinerberg Hill for its panoramic views. (B,D)

Day 5, Friday July 3: Salzburg

Enjoy a guided morning sightseeing tour of this city of Baroque façades and music festivals. We'll see the lovely, manicured gardens in front of the Mirabell Palace, the Sound of Music Churchyard and the stunning Dom Cathedral. Then enjoy a trip up the Festungsbahn Funicular to explore inside the Hohensalzburg Fortress. In the afternoon, we take you out to the Hallein Salt Mine, where you journey deep beneath the ground to learn more about how this precious mineral deeply influenced Salzburg’s (or, literally, Salt Town) history. Besides, you get to slide down the long wooden slides the miners used and traverse a dark lake deep inside the mountain mine. (B,D)

Day 6, Saturday July 4: Munich

Depart Salzburg to visit the most extravagant of Ludwig's fantasies, Herrenchiemsee Palace, on which he lavished 20 million Deutsche marks. Ride a boat across the lake to the island-perched palace, visiting its apartments, Hall of Mirrors and gardens. Continue on to Munich and begin your exploration by learning the history of the 1972 Olympics and the space’s ongoing legacy during an evening visit to the Olympic Park. (B,D)

Day 7, Sunday July 5: Munich

Explore Bavaria's capital with an expertly guided sightseeing tour to sites like Marienplatz with its famed Glockenspiel, the Viktualienmarkt food and flower market and the surfers on the Isar River in the Englischer Garten. If you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll enjoy our specially-arranged pretzel tasting. In the afternoon drive to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. This former prison camp was technically not one of the “death camps” but is still a vivid reminder of Nazi atrocities during World War II. (B,D)

Day 8, Monday July 6: Engelberg

Today journey to crazy King Ludwig’s fairy tale castle of Neuschwanstein—literally the stuff of legends (and Disney dreams). The famous castle, with its many turrets and towers was opened to the public in 1886 and clings to the top of the surrounding cliffs. Continue on through the Swiss Alps to Engelberg for the evening. (B,D)

Day 9, Tuesday July 7: Engelberg

Conquer the Alps today. This morning ascend 7,000 feet by cable car and the world's steepest cog railway to the breathtaking heights of Mount Pilatus. In the afternoon, explore Lucerne and take in the Altstadt (Old Town), Lion Monument and famous Chapel Bridge. Later in the evening, travel up into the Alps again for a special Alpine Hut dinner including Alpenhorn lessons. (B,D)

Day 10, Wednesday July 8: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Further immerse yourself in the art, culture and wonders of the former Austrian Empire with an extra night in Vienna, including the services of your ACIS Tour Manager, at the beginning of your tour. (B)