Group Tour Operator for holidays to Austria & Switzerland
Three Countries Alpine Discovery and the Bernina Express
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Swarovski Crystal World, Austria
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City of Innsbruck on the River Inn ©Innsbruck Tourismus, Photographer Mario Webhofer
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Swiss National Park and the Bernina Express ©Switzerland Tourism, Photographer Keine Angaben
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Austria - Tyrol - Innsbruck - Bergisel Ski Jump © PT Wilding
Based in the delightful Tyrolean village of Pfunds, this tour explores a charming corner of the Alps where three countries converge – Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Visit Innsbruck, the capital of the Tirol, and stroll past the pretty pastel buildings lining the river. The streets are full of beautiful buildings from the ornate Hofburg Palace and the iconic 16th-century Goldenes Dachl, the gold-clad roof and balcony, from where the nobility would address the townspeople. Should you wish to view Innsbruck from above, take the funicular to Hungerburg. At the top, take in the splendid panorama of this beautiful city surrounded by the Alps.
Visit the beautiful spa town of Merano, nestled on the southern side of the Alps in Italy. Explore the quaint town before heading to a stunning vineyard to sip delicious Italian wines. In Switzerland you can experience a truly scenic train journey on the world-famous Bernina Express or go duty free shopping in Samnaun.
Dates
Dates on request 2025 and 2026
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Drive to Dover and take the short sea ferry crossing to Dover. Continue through France, stopping overnight in the Reims/Metz area. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 2
Travel to Austria
After breakfast, continue the journey through France and Germany and into Austria to Pfunds, your base for the next 6 nights. After check-in relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Day 3
Day at Leisure
Relax and enjoy the facilities of your hotel or wander around the village of Pfunds (optional walking tours available). Find a nice cafe where the famous delicious apple strudel is sure to be served! Pfunds is a pretty village in the westernmost section of the Inntal Valley at the point where Austria, Italy and Switzerland meet. The medieval houses on both banks of the river are famous for their beautifully painted facades.
Dinner is at the hotel this evening.
Day 4
Austria – Innsbruck and Swarovski Crystal World
Travel to the beautiful alpine city of Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol. With a spectacular backdrop of snow-capped mountains, Innsbruck offers a picture-book old town full of historical buildings. Meet up with a local guide for a walking tour that includes the Imperial Palace and the famous Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), the symbol of the city. After some free time, drive to the small village of Wattens, home to the world famous Swarovski Crystal World, for a captivating and glittering experience with the option to make some purchases in the on-site shop.
If time allows take a look at the impressive Bergisel Ski Jump (entrance cost payable locally), built on the site of the ski jump used in the 1964 and 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics.
Day 5
Switzerland – Bernina Express and St Moritz
Cross the border into Switzerland and follow the Lower Engadine Valley to the chic and world-famous resort of St Moritz. Sights such as the leaning tower, a remnant of the Mauritius Church from around the year 1500, or the Segantini Museum are worth a visit. After some free time to explore, we board the famous Bernina Express train in either St. Moritz (or nearby Pontresina) for a panoramic and exhilarating one way journey through the Bernina Pass on the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world.
Disembark at Poschiavo to rejoin the coach for the journey back to Pfunds and dinner at the hotel.
(Bernina Express – subject to availability and schedules at time of booking – deposit or full payment may be required in advance to secure seats. Journey may be made in reverse.)
Day 6
Italy – Merano and Wine Tasting
A spectacular drive into Italy through the spectacular Reschen Pass and along the Etsch Valley with its vineyards, orchards and ruined castles. Arrive at the vibrant spa town of Merano characterised by spacious parks, exotic botanical gardens and waterways. Explore the old town’s many shops and restaurants in the medieval arcades overlooked by snow-covered mountains.
Continue to the nearby spectacularly located Castle Rametz wine estate for a guided tour of the vineyards, a visit to the museum and, finally, a wine tasting with the opportunity to make purchases before heading back to Pfunds for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 7
Switzerland – Shopping and Scenery
Make the short drive over the border to Switzerland to indulge in a little duty free retail therapy in the Swiss alpine village of Samnaun. This former smugglers’ paradise located in the Swiss, Austrian and Italian triangle has developed into a holiday resort and visitors can reap the benefits of the only tax-free resort in Switzerland.
There is also an opportunity to take a ride in the Samnaun Twinliner, the world’s first double-deck cable car. Built in just five months and since 1995 the cable car has been carrying up to 180 people per trip. Admire stunning views from the peak as you relax with a refreshing drink or perhaps enjoy lunch in the mountain-top restaurant (optional extra).
Day 8
Depart Austria
It’s time to leave Austria and retrace our steps through Germany and into France for an overnight stop in the Reims/Metz area. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
Return to the UK
Depart after breakfast for the onward journey to Calais and take the short sea ferry crossing to Dover, an home.
Optional extra day/excursion
Kaunertal Glacier Panoramic Road
A scenic drive along the 26km Kaunertal Glacier Panoramic Road, one of the most beautiful routes in the Alps. Winding roads lead through this stunning landscape alongside perpetual ice. Viewing platforms, for photo opportunities, and historic sites dot the route. Be sure to make a photo-stop at the Gepatsch Reservoir or relax on the sun terrace of the glacier restaurant where you can capture a 360degree view of Austria, Italy and Switzerland. There is also the opportunity to take a ride on the Karlesjochbahn Cable Car to a viewing platform higher up in the mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for little marmots or ibex which are some of the inhabitants of the region. The road is open all year round and there is a toll (payable locally).
Suggested hotels
4* Posthotel, Pfunds
Located in the centre of Pfunds, the traditional, family-run Posthotel Pfunds offers a spa area with an indoor pool, a sauna, and a steam bath. Free WiFi is available. Rooms come with Tyrolean-style furniture, a flat-screen satellite TV, and a bathroom with a bathtub or shower. They are either located in the main building or in the Junge Post annex, connected to the main building by an underground corridor. In the restaurant, guests can enjoy traditional Austrian cuisine and international dishes. Herbs come from the hotel’s own herbal garden. The Posthotel also features a bar, an open fireplace in the lobby, a children’s playground, and an indoor playroom. Guests can play table tennis and billiards, or relax in the garden. A selection of motorcycle tools is available, and free private parking is provided on site.
4* VAYA Hotel, Pfunds (formerly Hotel Tyrol)
The Hotel VAYA Pfunds is located in the centre of Pfunds in the Oberinntal valley and features a half board restaurant, a spa area and an indoor pool. Each room has a balcony and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Typical Austrian cuisine and Tyrolean specialities are served in the restaurant and on the terrace. There is also a hotel bar offering a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is an indoor pool and a spa area with a sauna and a steam bath. A sun bed is available for an extra charge. During summer, you can relax on deck chairs in the green garden.
4* Posthotel, Pfunds
Departure Date |
9 days / 8 nights | Single Supplement |
| 2025 and 2026 on request | Price on request | Price on request |
