Presents… Discover Switzerland, Austria & Bavaria
Community Education Department • West Valley College • 408-741-2096 Highlights:
Bern
• Chateau de Chillon • Montreux • GoldenPass Panoramic Train •
Gstaad • Lucerne • Bernese Oberland • Woodcarving Museum Interlaken •
Grindelwald • Innsbruck •Austrian Alps • Bavaria •
Oberammergau •Salzburg • Mirabell Gardens • St. Peter’s Restaurant
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight Discover
spectacular Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria on a tour featuring
multiple night stays in two cities. The medieval city of Bern,
one of Europe’s loveliest capitals, is your host city while you
leisurely explore the many cultural aspects and spectacular scenery
that only Switzerland offers. Then, an extended stay in Innsbruck
offers the perfect vantage point for exploring the delights of Austria
and Bavaria.
Day 2: Bern, Switzerland - Tour Begins Today
your tour begins in Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in the
Swiss countryside. Though the capital of Switzerland, this charming
city has a population of less than 150,000. The cobbled Old Town
section is so well preserved that residents who lived here 500 years
ago would still find it familiar. This evening, join your fellow
travelers for a welcome dinner featuring local delicacies. (D)
Day 3: Bern *Explore
delightful Bern on a panoramic sightseeing tour featuring the
Bundeshaus (the Swiss Parliament), the famous Bear Pit, the Rose
Gardens, and the gothic cathedral, which dominates the Old Town
skyline.* Your visit to the Bear Pit will answer the question as
to why bears are so revered in this beguiling city. *LANGUAGE
DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin
and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour
along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with
the locals.* Tonight, enjoy a traditional Swiss cheese fondue
dinner in one of Bern’s local restaurants. (B, D)
Day 4: Bern - Chateau de Chillon - Montreux - Train Ride Travel
the shores of Lake Geneva to the legendary, medieval Chateau de
Chillon, a princely residence facing the lake but an imposing fortress
from the mountains. Later, enjoy breathtaking Alpine views with a ride
on the GoldenPass Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad.
Discover the delightful ambiance of this world-famous Alpine ski resort
with its numerous weathered wood chalets. (B)
Day 5: Bern - Lucerne - Bern Today
you travel to Lucerne, the “Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” Enjoy a
leisurely-paced Alstadt (Old Town) walking tour, exploring the hidden
treasures of the city. In addition to its natural charm and
tranquility, Lucerne has more than 800 years of history. *Explore such
medieval treasures as the covered Chapel Bridge (1833), the famous
Water Tower which has served as a prison, watchtower and treasury, the
Renaissance-style Town Hall, the baroque Jesuit Church, and the Lion
Monument, carved from natural rock to commemorate the heroic Swiss
Guard.* (B, D)
Day 6: Bern - Brienz - Interlaken - Grindelwald - Bern Today,
explore charming lakeside towns and Alpine villages. From the
mountain peaks of Bernese Oberland to charming Interlaken, a day of
scenic wonders awaits you. Stop in the lakeside town of Brienz to
visit its famous woodcarving museum and learn the history of this local
trade. *Later this afternoon, visit the world-famous ski resort
of Grindelwald. This charming and quintessential Alpine village
is beautifully situated at the base of the Swiss Alps and is yours to
discover.* (B)
Day 7: Bern - Innsbruck, Austria Travel
the picturesque highways of Switzerland to the Austrian border and the
striking Olympic city of Innsbruck, the “Capital of the Tyrol.”
*A local guide leads a panoramic Innsbruck city tour highlighting the
popular thoroughfare, Maria Theresienstrasse, the Hofburg, now a
museum, but once the seat of Habsburg princes, and the “Golden Roof,”
all set against the imposing backdrop of the lovely Austrian
Alps.* This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner
featuring local specialties. (B, D)
Day 8: Innsbruck - Salzburg - Innsbruck Travel
through the picturesque Austrian countryside to Salzburg, a city filled
with beautiful gardens and wondrous architecture. Upon arrival,
enjoy a leisurely-paced walking tour featuring Mirabell Gardens (seen
in the "Sound of Music"), the quaint Getreidegasse (site of Mozart’s
birthplace), and many other highlights of this beautiful city.
The afternoon is at leisure to explore and enjoy Salzburg’s fabulous
sights. *The day concludes with a delightful dinner in the historic
city center at the centuries-old St. Peter’s Restaurant, Austria’s
oldest, which may have hosted both Charlemagne and Columbus. *
(B, D)
Day 9: Innsbruck - Bavaria, Germany - Innsbruck Today
fairy tales come to life with a picture stop at Bavaria’s most famous
castle, Neuschwanstein. Next, visit Wies Church, proclaimed a World
Heritage Site, before proceeding to Oberammergau. Upon arrival,
enjoy a brief orientation tour of this quaint, picturesque village
which owes its fame to the internationally-known Passion Play,
performed only once every ten years to fulfill a pledge made by the
villagers to God for sparing their city from the ravages of bubonic
plague in 1633. Later, join your fellow travelers for a
delightful farewell dinner. (B, D)
Day 10: Innsbruck - Tour Ends Your tour ends in Innsbruck, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful Alpine vacation. (B)
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
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Tour Details
10 Days • 14 Meals
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Tour Departs: July 23, 2008
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Rates: Double $3,249 pp Single $3,549 Triple $3,229 pp*
Price Includes: Round
Trip Air from San Francisco Intl Airport, Hotel Transfers, Air Taxes
and Fees/Surcharges of $350 (subject to increase until paid in full)
Not Included: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $200 per person
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For details contact:
Community Education Department •West Valley College• 408-741-2096
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Your Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 1
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Overnight Flight
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Day 2 - 6
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Hotel Bristol, Bern,
Switzerland
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Day 7 - 9
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Hotel Innsbruck, Innsbruck,
Austria
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| *On some dates alternate hotels may be used |

COLLETTE EXPERIENCES
* Enjoy breathtaking Alpine views with
a ride on the GoldenPass Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad.
* Walk the halls of the legendary,
medieval Chateau de Chillon, located on the shores of Lake
Geneva and made famous by Lord Byron in his poem "The Prisoner of Chillon."
* Visit a famous woodcarving museum in
Brienz and learn the history of this local trade.
* Travel to Bavaria
and see famous Neuschwanstein Castle and the quaint village of Oberammergau.
* Spend a day exploring Salzburg’s historic past
and charming old town.
Experience It! GoldenPass Panoramic Train
This legendary train ride, one
of Switzerland's many scenic
rides, connects Lake Geneva and Central Switzerland.
Departing from Montreux, the train then makes an exhilarating ascent through
vineyards and country estates, leaving behind the shimmering lake. Instead of
palm trees, fir trees seem to cover the area. You'll experience Switzerland
in all its breathtaking magnificence from the comfort of your seat onboard the
train. The journey takes you over the Brünig
Pass, past weathered
timber chalets with their flower-bedecked windows, to the world-famous holiday
resort of Gstaad.
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