ALPINE SPLENDOR: SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA
The towering peaks of the Alps serve as the stunning backdrop for our Swiss and Austrian exploration. As our small group discovers mountain villages and European cities, rides the famed Glacier Express, cruises on glassine lakes, and ascends snowcapped summits, borders disappear and the region’s history – and beauty – enchant one and all. Discover Vienna on your own with an optional 4-day/3-night post-tour extension.
$7,095 per person, double occupancy, land only
$7,895 per person, double occupancy with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $797 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available
Physical Activity Level: 3 - Moderate: Consistent amount of walking most days, about 2-4 miles per day. These trips feature long touring days and may include travel via various modes of transportation. Travelers are expected to board transportation without assistance as well as stand and walk over uneven terrain including cobblestones for extended periods of time. Some tours may include activities and travel at higher altitudes. Elevators are not always available at sights or all hotels.
Unfortunately, Vice Provost Mull Had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances:
Stephen Mull is the UVA Vice Provost for Global Affairs, and former U.S. Ambassador, Executive Secretary of the State Department and the Senior Advisor to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Mull is the primary lead on global relations at the University, responsible for developing a strategic vision, designing outreach, and overseeing international activities. He oversees institutional development of global partnerships and develops a wide array of services, programs, experiences, and strategic partnerships that promote global imagination within the University community.
Mull has served in a broad range of U.S. national security positions, most recently as Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. He served as Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation from August 2015 until August 2017. He was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland from 2012 until 2015 and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania from 2003 to 2006. Mull has been both Executive Secretary of the State Department and the Senior Advisor to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. He has also recently served as Resident Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.
We arrive in Zurich and transfer to our hotel on the shores of Lake Lucerne. After checking in, we meet for a briefing about the journey ahead, followed by dinner at our hotel.
Swiss-Chalet Merlischachen
Dinner (D)
DAY 3 – Monday, May 19, 2025
Lucerne/Mt. Pilatus
This morning, we gain an aerial view of our locale as we ride the world’s steepest cogwheel train to the summit of nearby Mt. Pilatus for stunning views across the surrounding countryside. After lunch on our own, we encounter historic and alluring Lucerne, surrounded by mountains and sitting on its namesake lake, by foot. We visit the medieval Old Town; and cross treasured Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), the oldest covered bridge in Europe. Later, we take a ferry ride on Lake Lucerne with 360-degree views of the towering mountainsides and rolling meadows plunging to the lake’s shores. We disembark at Lucerne and enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.
Swiss-Chalet Merlischachen
Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)
DAY 4 – Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Lake Lucerne/Zermatt
We transfer to Chur this morning where we board the celebrated Glacier Express train, renowned for its panoramic views as it sweeps through striking valleys, past mountain hamlets, and follows the course of the fabled Rhône. We enjoy lunch on board as we cross the Oberalp Pass, at almost 7,000 feet above sea level, the highest point on the train’s route. After the scenic overload, we reach Zermatt, gateway to the Swiss Alps in the shadow of the Matterhorn. Dinner tonight is on our own.
Resort Hotel Alex
Breakfast, Lunch (B,L)
DAY 5 – Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Zermatt/Gornergrat
Sitting in a low-slung notch, Zermatt is surrounded on all sides by towering slopes. We get a unique view of the spectacular scenery this morning as we ride the Gornergratbahn to the summit of the Gornergrat. Atop this rocky ridge, a dramatic tapestry unfolds all around us: 29 Alpine peaks, each over 13,000 feet, including the majestic Matterhorn standing alone at nearly 15,000 feet. After admiring the jaw-dropping scenery, we begin our descent by train to Zermatt, where the remainder of the day is free to explore this very walkable village as we wish before dining together tonight.
Resort Hotel Alex
Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)
DAY 6 – Thursday, May 22, 2025
Zermatt/Stresa, Italy/Lugano
We travel by coach today through more superb Swiss scenery, and cross into northern Italy via the legendary Simplon Pass through the Alps. Late morning, we arrive in Stresa, Italy, along the shores of lovely Lake Maggiore, where we have time to explore and enjoy lunch on our own. Then a scenic drive through the famed Italian lake district returns us to Switzerland and our hotel in lakeside Lugano.
Hotel International
Breakfast, Dinner (B,D)
DAY 7 – Friday, May 23, 2025
Lugano/Ascona/Bellizona
Today’s tour of Ticino, Switzerland’s southernmost canton, begins in Ascona on the shores of Lake Maggiore. We enjoy a walking tour of this charming town known for its pastel lakefront façades and an early 20th-century artists’ colony. Next, we visit a winery in the Ascona Delta, where we stroll through the vineyard, tour the wine cellars, and sample the wines on offer here. Then we enjoy regional fare as we lunch alfresco at a local grotto restaurant built around mountain caves. This afternoon we travel to medieval Bellinzona, with its three feudal castles, all UNESCO sites. Here we visit Castelgrande, the iconic central castle where we explore the ramparts and expansive grounds.
Hotel International
Breakfast, Lunch (B,L)
DAY 8 – Saturday, May 24, 2025
Lake Lugano
After a free morning to explore Lugano independently, we board a motorboat for a private half-day cruise around Lake Lugano. We put ashore at Morcote, a town barely a mile square whose cobbled streets, terraced gardens, and Mediterranean charm led Swiss citizens in 2016 to name it the nation’s loveliest village. After lunch together and time to explore, we continue on our cruise with a stop in Gandria, whose stucco façades seem to cling precariously to the side of Monte Brè.
Hotel International
Breakfast, Lunch (B,L)
DAY 9 – Sunday, May 25, 2025
Lugano/Vaduz, Liechtenstein/Seefeld, Austria
Leaving the Lake District today, we’re bound for Austria by way of the tiny sovereign nation of Liechtenstein. We travel north to Liechtenstein, reaching the country’s capital of Vaduz, where we have free time to explore and have lunch on our own. We continue on to Austria, reaching our hotel in the mountain village of Seefeld early this evening. We dine together tonight at a local restaurant.
Hotel Seelos
Breakfast, Dinner (B,D)
DAY 10 – Monday, May 26, 2025
Seefeld/Innsbruck
This morning we coach to nearby Innsbruck, host of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. A walking tour highlights the postcard-worthy sights, including the many pedestrian squares surrounded by pastel-colored façades. Then we take a cable car to a lookout in the Nordkette, the “mountain at the heart of Innsbruck,” where we enjoy panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Alps. We have time on our own in Innsbruck before returning to Seefeld and our hotel, where we dine tonight.
Hotel Seelos
Breakfast, Dinner (B,D)
DAY 11 – Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Seefeld/Tyrol/Salzburg
Today we travel through Tyrol, a crossroads of Western Europe, en route to Salzburg. We stop to visit the Museum of Tyrolean Farms, an interactive outdoor exhibit featuring dozens of preserved farmhouses dating from the 15th century onwards. Then we continue on to Salzburg, Austria’s riverside jewel and city of Mozart and The Sound of Music. Following dinner together, we attend a classical music concert in the Marble Room of famed Mirabell Palace.
Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg
Breakfast, Lunch (B,L)
DAY 12 – Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Salzburg
Our walking tour this morning features the geometrically-styled Mirabell Gardens, dating to the 17th century; the Baroque Old Town, now a UNESCO site; and visits to Salzburg Cathedral and medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved castles. Then the remainder of the day is at leisure for independent exploration with lunch and dinner on our own.
Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg
Breakfast (B)
DAY 13 – Thursday, May 29, 2025
Salzburg/Eagle’s Nest/Berchesgaden
We travel today to the Bavarian resort town of Berchtesgaden, site of the clifftop Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), the Nazi Party’s alpine retreat. Arriving by the original 1930s brass elevator, we tour the chalet where Hitler paid multiple visits before it was captured by the Allies in the closing days of WWII. In the event Eagle’s Nest is closed because of unseasonal weather, we’ll visit the nearby Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, which has operated continuously for more than 500 years. Then we return to Salzburg, where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure before we celebrate our splendid journey at a farewell dinner.
Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B,L,D)
DAY 14 – Friday, May 30, 2025
Depart for U.S.
We transfer today to the Munich airport for our return flight to the U.S.
Breakfast (B)
Post Tour Extension
Vienna: On Your Own
May 30-June 2, 2025
4 days/3 nights $795 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: $355
Included in Extension Price: Rail transportation Salzburg/Vienna; 3 nights’ accommodations at Hotel Kaiserhof (First Class); 3 meals: 3 breakfasts; Vienna city orientation tour with local guide; Transfer from rail station and to airport.
- Swiss-Chalet Merlischachen – 2 nights
- Resort Hotel Alex – 2 nights
- Hotel International – 3 nights
- Hotel Seelos – 2 nights
- Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg – 3 nights
23 meals: 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 8 dinners
$7,095 per person, double occupancy, land only
$7,895 per person, double occupancy with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $797 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available
A limited number of single rooms will be available for a supplement of $1,095 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Airline upgrades (subject to availability; pricing subject to change) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class - $4,995 per person; Premium Economy - $1,795 per person.
Price includes: Round-trip air transportation from specific cities; 12 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class Hotels; extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees; services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director; private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including shore excursions; luggage handling for one bag per person; gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
Does not include: Airfare and airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; airfare from your hometown to your departure city; costs of passports and visas; immunizations and inoculations; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; communication charges; optional sightseeing or shore excursions; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10–$15 per traveler, per day); and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure.
Physical Activity Level: 3 - Moderate: Consistent amount of walking most days, about 2-4 miles per day. These trips feature long touring days and may include travel via various modes of transportation. Travelers are expected to board transportation without assistance as well as stand and walk over uneven terrain including cobblestones for extended periods of time. Some tours may include activities and travel at higher altitudes. Elevators are not always available at sights or all hotels.
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646 or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A deposit of $500 per person (a $200 service fee is non-refundable) is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately 110 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure (February 11, 2025).
Your reservation is not confirmed until your deposit is paid and processed. Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA, or by personal check. If paying by check, please make check payable to our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.
Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., reserves the right to cancel any reservations that are not paid in full at any time after final payment is due. If you make your reservation after the final payment date, payment in full will be required upon reservation.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
The following is intended to provide you with a description of what to expect when you reserve this tour. Upon booking, you will be asked to acknowledge your acceptance of the full Terms and Conditions on the secure on-line portal, My Odyssey
Cavalier Travels reserves the right to use photos that might include you in marketing materials and for other purposes unless you specify otherwise.
Payment Schedule: A deposit of $500 per person (a $200 service fee is non-refundable) confirms your reservation. The balance of your invoice is due 95 days (February 11, 2025) before departure.
Cancellation, Refunds, and Changes: If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon the University of Virginia’s receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 64-45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 44-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure.
Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.
Responsibility: The liability of the University of Virginia, as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under our control. We serve only as agents for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. The University of Virginia and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within our control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. We will make every effort to operate our tours as planned, but we reserve the right to make itinerary changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require us to change a hotel, we will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality.
Health and Medical Issues: We request that you be in good health to participate in this University of Virginia tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches on your own. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail us to inquire and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and the University of Virginia assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour.
Air Transportation – Important Information: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule approximately 2½ months prior to departure. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at airport check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and airline taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only is available on most tours. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour