Romantic Getaway to the Alps Tour

Salzburg is considered the northwest gateway to Austria. The city is set in a magnificent valley filled with the music of the River Salzach and the lingering memory of Mozart, who was born in the city in the 18th century. Domes and spires of numerous baroque churches create a charming skyline underneath the towering cliff of the fortress and the powerful peaks of the encircling mountains. When you arrive at Salzburg Airport, your private transfer is already waiting. In the city center, you find horse drawn carriages taking locals and visitors on romantic rides around Old Town. Narrow alleyways fill with classical music drifting out of open windows and accompanying the aroma of freshly baked cakes and slowly brewed coffee. The city has a particular magic of its own. When you settle into your luxurious accommodation, you can enjoy the splendors of Salzburg’s historic streets and Alpine charm at your leisure.

An undeniable sweet aroma emanates from your breakfast. Pastries and jams decorate the table, accompanied by freshly brewed coffee. The pastries are flakey and buttery. The jams have a fresh fruity quality to them. After the meal, your guide meets you in the hotel lobby ready to escort you on a private tour of the city, taking in the lavish history and opulent artistry that continues to decorate Old Town. Consider learning more about your experienced France tour operators who strive to make this trip the most memorable experience of your life. During the holiday season, pastry shops fill their windows with elaborate marzipan sculptures and detailed cakes. You can hear the horse trotting along the cobbled streets and the river rushing along the meandering banks. The fortress is one of Europe’s best-preserved historic edifices, dating back to the 11th century. The scent of evergreen trees drifts from the bluff.

Arched defensive gateways crisscross over the walkway leading to the summit. The baroque architecture creates an opulent atmosphere lingering above the city’s charm. The connected building encircles the inner courtyard with a length of 820 feet. The Golden Hall has a magnificent décor with four large marble pillars on the right-hand wall. Gold buttons adorn the coffered ceiling, acting like stars in the night sky. You can see the coat of arms of Leonhard von Keutschach etched into the 55-foot long beam supporting the ceiling. The luxuries of the past help inform the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere of the present.

In the morning, you sip on your rich coffee and let the hot mug warm your hands. You sit with your loved one and take the time to appreciate the cozy atmosphere of the city for a moment. After breakfast, your guide meets you at the hotel and leads you away from Salzburg, taking you deeper into the Austrian Alps to the lakeside city of Hallstatt. The quaint traditional village of Upper Austria is set alongside the Hallstätter See, a reflective alpine lake reaching depths of up to 410 feet.

Dense woods drape over the mountain slopes, which creates a fjord-like presence surrounding the village. The air is crisp and scented with minty evergreen trees. Our Lady Church decorates the historic streets with a Romanesque tower dating back to the 15th century. The remainder of the day is yours to explore and revel in the charms of town at your leisure. You could travel to the Hallstatt salt mines, located inside Salt Mountain standing at 3,379 feet above sea level. In the mountains, it feels like civilization fades away for a secluded look into the old mine.

The funicular offers a grand view of the pastel homes of the village as you make your way up the mountain. The area was inhabited during the Iron Age, dating back to 800 BC. You venture into the depths of the cave, traveling to almost nearly 200 feet beneath the surface. The mine is evidenced to have been in use for the last 3,500 years and highlights ancient and contemporary mining methods. Once inside, you and your partner can zip through the mines on a slide, travel on an underground train, and travel along an underground saltwater lake.

In the morning, you can see the mountains encompassing the lake reflected in the water’s surface. You and your partner could easily get used to this. The aroma of rich coffee heightens the pleasures of the view. Soon you depart from Hallstatt and the splendors of the lakeside retreat, making your way into the Italian Dolomites, the mountains separating Austria from Italy. The drive takes you through scenic woodlands with sporadic outlooks to undulating peaks. You reach Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow at 3,183 feet above sea level. The rugged mountaintops of the Catinaccio range border southeast.

A pink hue emanates from the rocky outcroppings at sunset. Chestnut colored horses gallop across the pastureland throughout the day, traveling between villages that dot the endless valley. When you reach the town of Castelrotto, you can settle into the village-like atmosphere filled with sophisticated character. You settle in with a refreshing drink and a view to the mountains, where you can watch the sunset turn the entire countryside an alluring shade of pink.

The snowcapped peaks have a relaxing luster in the sunrise. The scent of fresh coffee is luscious when accompanied by freshly baked brioches. The day is yours to enjoy the marvels of the mountains at your leisure. Throughout the day, locals sit in cafes and snack on apple strudel, speck, and sip glasses of crisp, golden wine. The village has a unique grandeur set in its small borders, filled with a picturesque beauty emanating from the cobblestone streets and a Romanesque church tower.

Fountains trickle in the peacefulness of the main square. With so many delightful ways to enjoy Alpe di Siusi, you could learn about the history of coffee in Italy with Italy’s first coffee sommelier, or venture to a historic farmhouse for lunch. For a secluded and cozy experience, you can embark on a traditional cooking course at a charming cabin set in the mountains.  Your guide will meet you at your hotel and escort you through the marketplace, having you taste the ingredients to provide understanding for each item, and the overall recipe. You and your partner follow your chef to the cabin, where a fascinating wood-fired stove awaits your touch. You chop, dice, and taste until you and your partner have finally created the traditional dish of dumplings, known locally as Knödels.

After breakfast, you wind through the mountain roads of the Italian Dolomites weaving through the Alps and settling in the Bavarian town of Füssen. En route you stop at Zugspitze, the highest point in all of Germany. The gondola starts at Eibsee. You can hold your partner close as the cable car ascends the mountain to a height of 9,717 feet above sea level. The view from the window is gorgeous, taking in the rugged mountains, blankets of snow, and distance verdant trees. In the winter, the entire landscape is painted white.

In the summer, lush greenery overtakes the scenic climb. From the top, you have a view of over 400 mountain peaks in four different countries, including Italy and Germany. You have never seen a more breathtaking and peaceful panorama. You continue to the town of Füssen, which sits at the southern tip of Germany and the edge of Forggensee Lake. The waters from River Lech flow through the town center. The red-tiled rooftops stand in dramatic contrast to the Alps rolling against the horizon.

Fairytales have always been akin to romance. Every sought-after fairytale has a perfectly majestic castle filled with treasures. After breakfast, you visit the castles that inspired Walt Disney to create Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Cobblestones line the village of Hohenschwangau leading up to the base of the castle. Evergreen trees grow around the cliffside. Neuschwanstein Castle was erected in the 19th century under the patronage of King Ludwig II. The beauty of the stylistic castle showcases the influence of Romanesque design along with a collection of other various styles, including the Sicilian Norman styles of Palermo.

The interior corridor has a lavish décor with red flooring and vaulted roofs similar to Arabesque fashion. The Hall of Singers has elaborate, ornate chandeliers dangling over the center of the room. The room served as a monument to courtly love and gallant knights, where you can see the esteem the king poured onto the legends of the past. The stunning décor of the entire castle, from the architecture to the gilded walls, sweeps you up into the illustrious romance of a storybook.

In the morning, the aroma of freshly baked strudels drifts along the historic streets. The Alps have enchanted you and your partner, making each and every moment more vivid. After breakfast, your guide meets you at your hotel and takes you over the Bavarian foothills into the Swiss Alps. The scenic drive takes you past towering treetops and underneath the ever-present mountain peaks. When you reach the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the mist-like water of Staubbach Falls immediately captivates you. The water gracefully trundles down from a height of 974 feet above the valley floor.

Over 72 waterfalls decorate the picture perfect image surrounding Lauterbrunnen village. The storybook atmosphere continues inside the village. Picture perfect wooden homes line the main streets. A tall church spire is the village’s tallest point. You can hear the soothing sounds of Staubbach Falls in the distance. A gondola traverses the valley. Hidden amongst the rocks is the glacial ravine of Trümmelbach Falls. The water twists and turns against the rugged mountains surface, helping to shape the mountainside.

The morning is brushed with the aroma of hot chocolate along with your view of the misting water from Staubbach Falls. The splendors of the mountains continue to enchant you and your partner at every turn. After breakfast, you have the valley and mountains at your leisure to discover and explore the luxuries of your surroundings. When you venture to Kleine Scheidegg, you can see the peaks of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau protruding into the sky. The cog railway takes you up an impossibly steep track, carved into tunnels and arriving at the top of Jungfrau peak at 11,332 feet above sea level, making it Europe’s highest railway station.

You and your partner can wind through the Ice Palace tunnels at the top, strewn into the continent’s highest glacier. The palace was carved in the 1930s and offers a stupendous viewing platform, along with sensational sculptures of penguins, furniture, and people. Whether inside the palace or looking out over the view of Switzerland, you can rest assured that the romance will keep you warm, and the sites will continue to charm you.

In the morning, undulating snowcapped peaks of the Swiss Alps fill the skyline. The aroma of dark, creamy chocolate accompanies breakfast. After your meal, you traverse the mountain roads with your private transfer, arriving in the resort town of Chamonix. Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest peak at 15,781 feet above sea level, acts as the backdrop to the cozy atmosphere of the alpine town. In the winter, the town is a popular ski and snowboard destination. In summer, the thrills of hiking and mountain climbing beckon to visitors and locals.

The prevalent greenery provides a spiced aroma around town. The snowcapped peaks have a dramatic effect overlooking the charms of the plane. The village has a history reflecting the traditions of the Alps, from charming gardens to comfortable inns decorated with fireplaces. The village quaintness exudes a boutique quality, offering modern luxuries in the form of decadent restaurants and casual cafes. You and your partner can travel on a gondola for a view from Le Brévent, a summit standing at 8,284 feet above sea level. The summit faces Mont Blanc, and a terraced restaurant provides delicious and comforting cuisine with a panorama of mountain peaks rolling to the horizon.

When you wake up in the morning, you and your partner can relax in the alpine sunlight. The mixture of green pastures and white-capped mountains has a calming effect. The day is yours to embark on an unforgettable day around Chamonix. You could have a romantic picnic on the mountainside or the take a ride along the many gondolas traversing the mountains, which even lead into Italy. France’s largest glacier, Mer de Glace, which stands for Sea of Ice, is located on the northern front of Mont Blanc.

The glacier is more than 656 feet deep. The picturesque cog railway connects Chamonix with Montenvers, where you can take the cable car to the maze of frozen tunnels. The refracting light in the cave makes the sculptures decorating the cave change moment to moment. The cool air and quiet atmosphere offer you a private moment in the glacier. It feels like you and your partner are the only two people on the mountain.

In the morning, the peak of Mont Blanc breaks through the wisp of clouds. The familiar aroma of French press coffee accompanies the freshly baked pastries at breakfast. The fire crackles in the fireplace, adding another layer of coziness to the morning, set against the crisp air outside. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the lobby and escort you to Geneva Airport for your flight home. You and your partner have found fairytale castles and storybook moments in the mountainside. You have taken advantage of the luxurious comforts of the alpine villages and enjoyed the private wonders provided by the landscape and the exceptional summits.