Christmas in Austria, New Year in the Rhine Valley
Christmas in Austria, New Year in the Rhine Valley
Christmas in Austria, New Year in the Rhine Valley
14 Days
Visiting: Konstanz, Arosa Bahn, Feldkirch & Vaduz, Schoppernau, Boppard & St Goar, Free Time or Wiesbaden & Asbach Distillery, Rhine River Cruise & Gala Dinner, Free Time, Valkenburg, Free Time or Maastricht
Tour operator:
Tour code:
14xarx
Tour Overview
Experience the very best of Austria and the Rhine Valley on this wonderful tour combining incredible natural beauty with serene waterways.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Dec 22
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service then to Belgium for an overnight stay.
Day 2 : Dec 23
Continue from Belgium to Austria and the town of Bregenz, our base for the next five nights.
Day 3 : Christmas Eve Konstanz
Location: Konstanz
Today we head north to the town of Konstanz on the shores of Lake Constance. See the Romanesque Cathedral with its Gothic spire and the town hall with its decorative frescoes. On a clear day, you can see the Alps from Konstanz harbour!
Day 4 : Christmas Day Arosa Bahn
Location: Arosa Bahn
Merry Christmas! Today we take a trip aboard the fantastic Arosa Bahn. We depart our hotel and travel to Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, and board the fabulous Arosa train. Enjoy the scenery as we trundle by the town wall, the Maltese tower and the Obertor gate, before the train then leaves the town behind and begins to climb up into the mountains, crossing the elegant Langwieser Viaduct. We arrive in the charming resort of Arosa where you can take in the fabulous views and fresh mountain air.
Day 5 : Boxing Day Feldkirch & Vaduz
Location: Feldkirch & Vaduz
Nestled in the mountainous Vorarlberg region of Austria, we visit the town of Feldkirch this morning. Stroll through the streets of the medieval Old Town, along narrow cobble-stoned alleys, and admire the historic buildings and towers, the most famous being the Katzcenturm, or Cats Tower.
This afternoon we continue into Lichtenstein and the capital city of Vaduz where you can enjoy its historic sites and stunning views. Despite its small size its castle, museums and scenic beauty offers a truly delightful experience!
Day 6 : Dec 27 Schoppernau
Location: Schoppernau
Today our included excursion takes us to the beautiful village of Schoppernau, a picturesque village full of typical Bregenzerwald houses. It is 860m above sea level and surrounded by impressive mountain peaks, and we have some free time to explore the village.
Day 7 : Dec 28
We depart Austria today and drive into Germany and to the resort town of Rüdesheim for the next five nights.
Day 8 : Dec 29 Boppard & St Goar
Location: Boppard & St Goar
Enjoy a scenic drive along the Rhine Valley today with visits to Boppard and St Goar. Boppard is a charming riverside town known for its excellent wines and attractive shops. Once a Roman Fort the town is a true gem of the Rhine Valley. We continue to St Goar, famous for the Rheinfels Castle perched above the town. Wander the narrow alleys full of half-timbered buildings and no visit would be complete without viewing the largest free-standing cuckoo clock in the world!
Day 9 : Dec 30 Free Time Or Wiesbaden & Asbach Distillery
Location: Free Time or Wiesbaden & Asbach Distillery
Our optional excursion today takes us to the nearby town of Wiesbaden, one of Europe’s oldest spa towns, where you will have some free time to explore. This afternoon, we venture back to Rudesheim and enjoy a tour of the Asbach Brandy Distillery, where you have time to learn about the process of making this famous brandy.
Day 10 : New Year's Eve Rhine River Cruise & Gala Dinner
Location: Rhine River Cruise & Gala Dinner
The highlight of today will be our cruise along the Rhine River celebrating the New Year. We start and finish in Rüdesheim and will enjoy live music, aperitifs and a sumptuous gala dinner as we cruise towards Mainz. At Mainz, we will enjoy the New Year firework display before cruising back to Rüdesheim.
Day 11 : New Year's Day Free Time
Location: Free Time
We will enjoy a leisurely day today in Rüdesheim, the ever popular ‘wine town’ on the banks of the Rhine River. Known for its vineyards and chocolate-box architecture, be sure to wander the Drosselgasse, a narrow alley full with shops and restaurants.
Day 12 : Jan 2 Valkenburg
Location: Valkenburg
We depart the Rhine Valley this morning and continue to the popular town of Valkenburg in the Netherlands. On arrival you will have some free time to enjoy everything it has to offer. It is sometimes called ‘Marlstone Town’ because of the lime found in the soil and the soft yellow marlstone which has, since Roman times, been quarried as a building material. As a result, there is now a network of over 150 miles of underground corridors beneath the town. A visit to these caves is highly recommended.
Day 13 : Jan 3 Free Time Or Maastricht
Location: Free Time or Maastricht
You can enjoy more time in Valkenburg today or join our optional visit to Maastricht. Explore the charming old city centre or maybe take some time out to discover the network of underground passageways and vaults beneath the city, where a large part of the Netherlands’ art treasures was safeguarded during World War 2.
Day 14 : Jan 4
We depart Valkenburg this morning and return home to the UK.
Accommodation
You will stay for five nights in the 4-star Hotel Schwarzler in Bregenz, five nights in the 3-star superior Altdeutsche Weinstube in Rudesheim, and two nights at the Hotel Walram in Valkenburg.
Overnight stays will be in city-style hotels.
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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