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Overview Itinerary Reviews Hotels, flights & FAQ

Oktoberfest: Jewels of Alpine Europe

with Salzburg extension

Duration: 14 or 16 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 9

Experience rich culture and traditions against a backdrop of Alpine peaks.

Journey from Switzerland’s mountain-lined Lake Lucerne to France’s inspiring Lake Annecy. Take in the picturesque Chamonix Valley, stroll along Italy’s Lake Como, cross Liechtenstein, and hit the winter wonderland of Innsbruck. End your adventure in Munich, the lively capital of Bavaria, where you’ll join thousands of beer lovers from around the world in celebrating Oktoberfest.

Your tour package includes

12 nights in handpicked hotels
12 breakfasts
5 dinners with beer or wine
9 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

Chapel Bridge
Interlaken
Chamonix
Mont Blanc
Lake Como

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Zurich today.

Lucerne Region2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Switzerland

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to Switzerland! After arriving in Zurich, transfer to the Lucerne region to meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Lucerne

Included meal: Breakfast

A local guide introduces you to the charming lakeside city.

• Explore Lucerne’s Old Town

• View the sandstone lion statue commemorating the Swiss Guards

• Stroll over Chapel Bridge, a 17th-century covered footbridge, for views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps

Enjoy a free afternoon in Lucerne or add an excursion.

Mount Pilatus

Excursion (additional cost)

Annecy2 nights

Day 4: Annecy via Bern

Included meal: Breakfast

Travel through the Alps today, taking in stunning scenery as you pass Alpine lakes, mountains, and charming villages.

• Stop in Interlaken, where you'll have the opportunity to snap photos of towering Jungfraujoch (weather permitting)

• Visit the Swiss capital of Bern and walk through its charming Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site

• Pass through the vineyards of Lausanne and Lake Geneva as you drive to Annecy

Day 5: Guided tour of Annecy

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Annecy today.

• Walk through Annecy’s Old Town with your Tour Director and take in sweeping views of the Alps

• Peruse the stalls of the town's open-air market, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables

Enjoy a free afternoon in Annecy or add an excursion.

Lake Annecy Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Lake Como Region2 nights

Day 6: Lake Como Region via Chamonix

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

On your way to Italy, stop to explore Chamonix, a picture-perfect village at the base of Mont Blanc. Then, continue through the scenic Aosta Valley en route to the Lake Como region.

This evening, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 7: Como & Villa Carlotta

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know the city of Como’s charming medieval quarter with a local guide leading the way.

• Pass by the 15th-century Como Cathedral

• View the 12th-century Porta Vittoria, a defense tower overlooking the old city

• Stroll through the elegant gardens at Villa Carlotta, a palace completed in 1690

(Please note: From November to February you may alternatively take a funicular ride to Brunate.)

Enjoy a free evening in the Lake Como region or add an excursion.

Lake Como Cruise & Bellagio

Excursion (additional cost)

St. Moritz1 night

Day 8: Train ride to St. Moritz

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Tirano, where you’ll board the Bernina Express. Enjoy a scenic train ride through the stunning, UNESCO-recognized landscapes of the Alps to St. Moritz, a prestigious Swiss resort town and hub of wintertime sports.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Austrian Alps Region2 nights

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Innsbruck

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality dating back to the Holy Roman Empire, and continue on toward the wintertime wonderland of Innsbruck, where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour.

• Visit Liechtenstein’s capital, Vaduz, and pass the royal family’s hilltop castle, still in use as a royal residence

• Arrive in Innsbruck, site of two winter Olympic Games

• See the famed Golden Roof and the City Tower in Innsbruck’s historic Old Town

• Pass the Hofburg, a former Hapsburg Imperial Palace, and walk into its cobblestoned courtyard

• Enter the Baroque Cathedral of St. James

Sit down to an included dinner with your group this evening.

Day 10: Free day in the Austrian Alps region

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in the Austrian Alps region or add an excursion.

Neuschwanstein Castle & Lunch

Excursion (additional cost)

Munich3 nights

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Munich

Included meal: Breakfast

Travel to Munich and get to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour this afternoon.

• Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district

• Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty

• Walk from Odeonsplatz through the Hofgarten to view the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria

• Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel

Day 12: Oktoberfest in Munich

Included meal: Breakfast

Join thousands of others in celebrating Oktoberfest this afternoon. Enjoy special admission to an Oktoberfest tent, where you can sample Bavarian delicacies along with steins of Munich’s famous beer.

Day 13: Free day in Munich

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day in Munich or add an excursion.

Then, say goodbye to your group at a farewell dinner this evening.

Dachau

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 14: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to Salzburg.

Extension to Salzburg

Dubbed "the Rome of the North" because of its many churches, Salzburg is a beautiful city filled with museums, mansions, parks, and churches. Spend two days soaking up the city’s celebrated musical history.

Salzburg2 nights

Day 14: Sightseeing tour of Salzburg

Included meal: Breakfast

Head to Salzburg, where a local guide leads you on a walking tour of the Old Town.

• View the University of Salzburg and the churchyard of St. Peter

• See the Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz, and Alter Markt, in the city’s Old Town

• Enter the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, built in the Baroque style

• Pass through scenery from the beloved film “The Sound of Music”

• Take the funicular to the hilltop Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest medieval castles

Enjoy a free evening in Salzburg or add an excursion.

Mozart Concert & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 15: Free day in Salzburg

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full free day in Salzburg or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Eagle's Nest & Salt Mines

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 16: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.7 average

Jewels of the Alpine + Oktoberfest - mostly Green Bay, WI group

10/30/2018 by 5th time traveler Roger T.

I noted all these items on the evaluation sheet turned in to the Tour Director also. Hotels were generally good with the exception of either hard / flat pillows and kind of hard beds - not the most comfortable. In some hotels, the front desk didn't even have extra pillows to give out - they h...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 10/30/2018

Dear Roger, Thank you for leaving us a review of y...

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10/23/2018 by 3rd time traveler Jill A.

I highly recommend this tour. Our tour guide was outstanding and added little side bits that enriched our experiences. Each day was better than the one before. The time management for excursions was exceptional. Octoberfest met more than our expectations. The extension to Salzburg was well worth t...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 10/23/2018

Dear Jill, We are so glad this tour exceeded your ...

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10/18/2018 by 2nd time traveler Anonymous

My issues with this tour were in the descriptions given in the initial brochure from GoAhead. The tour in my brochure was described as requiring perhaps an hour of walking per day. The actual tour required much more walking than this. Because I have a hip issue, I found the walking excessive for ...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 10/18/2018

Dear Traveler, We want to thank you for traveling ...

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Best trip ever

10/11/2018 by 5th time traveler Linda L.

This was not my first trip with GoAhead but I think it rates as the best one ever. The places that we visited were breathtaking. I’m convinced that one of the things that made it so special was our guide Jens. He was wonderful and went above and beyond to make our journey spectacular. He would talk ...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 10/11/2018

Wow! What a wonderful review! Thank you for sharin...

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Great time

05/07/2017 by 1st time traveler Ron M.

Every bit of the trip exceeded my expectations. If you're thinking about it, do it. You won't regret it.

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Grand Hotel Europe

This Belle Époque hotel is located near the lake promenade. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Lake Lucerne, Chapel B...

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Hotel Novotel Annecy Centre Atria

This modern hotel is located in Annecy’s city center. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and lounge. Nearby, you’ll find Lake Annecy, the old town, and C...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

This tour visits Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Germany. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 1 hour daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times as well as getting in and out of boats and trains.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Zurich and depart from Munich. A representative from Go Ahead Tourswill meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A lake cruise in Annecy and a train ride from Tirano to St. Moritz is included on your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Swiss food is varied and sophisticated, and some popular dishes include sausages, breaded veal fillets, freshwater fish, and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette. Be sure to try Swiss chocolate, which is among the world’s finest.
For a picnic with French flair, stop at a small grocery store for cheeses, pâtés, cured meats, fresh-baked bread, and fruit. In the cities, sidewalk vendors are known for their steaming crepes, while mouthwatering pastries and hot _café au lait_beckon from cafes. In restaurants, the prix fixe option is a popular way to enjoy a set three- or four-course menu for a good price.
Northern Italian cuisine is light and savory, emphasizing fresh pasta, simply prepared seafood and vegetables roasted with herbs. For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa_or _limoncello.
Austria is known for its savory Wiener schnitzel_and excellent wild trout, carp, and crayfish. Save room for dessert—especially the strudels of fruit and nuts and elegant chocolate cakes, such as the world-famous _Sachertorte.

Electricity & air conditioning

All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins. You may also use a Type J plug with three small pins in Switzerland and a Type L plug with three small pins in Italy.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply. In more remote locations, internet access may be limited and is not guaranteed.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

All destinations visited on this tour are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro in France, Italy, Austria, and Germany, and the Swiss franc in Switzerland.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.