Edelweiss Castles & Summits

Itinerary

Thursday
Depart Leyland at 14:00pm for our journey to Hull where we will board our overnight ferry to take us on a mini cruise to Rotterdam, once onboard disembark the coach (we suggest taking an overnight bag so that your main case can be left on the coach, make sure you pack essentials, medication, valuables etc in your overnight bag as access to the coach once onboard will be prohibited). We will have dinner on the ferry, enjoy the onboard entertainment before retiring to your cabin for the night.

Friday
Following breakfast on-board the ferry, re-join the coach to disembark in Rotterdam continue our journey with a suitable lunch stop en-route to our overnight hotel in Germany, the 4-star Mercure Hotel Mannheim am Fridensplatz, arriving in time for you to freshen up before our evening meal.

Saturday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast to continue our journey to Austria with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Arrive at the Edelweiss Hotel to a warm Edelweiss welcome while our luggage is taken care of. This evening we enjoy a welcome glass of sparkling wine or juice in the restaurant with a 3-course buffet menu + salad buffet with multiple choices of starter, 4 choices of main and a desserts buffet (this styler of dining will be offered each evening).

Sunday
Today following our buffet breakfast, we have a day of leisure and driver day off, take advantage of the hotels leisure facilities or explore locally with some wonderful walking trails all around the hotel. There are bus links close by and a train station if you wish to travel further afield.

Monday
Following breakfast our excursion takes us to the most romantic castle in the World, King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein, used as Walt Disney's inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle, the mock-medieval architecture and stunning views need to be seen to be believed. Please be aware that there are 165 steps up and 181 steps down during Nauedchwanstein Castle tour, please wear sensible footwear. After time for lunch, we visit King Ludwig's childhood home, Hohenschwangau Castle, with guided tour of its richly furnished interiors. Take a 40-minute walk from the ticket booths uphill to the castle taking in the magnificent views along the way, please be aware there are also steps inside the castle. N.B Entrance to both castles involve uphill walks (buses or horse and carriage are available for those who don't wish to walk up to the castles, this will incur and additional fee not included in the cost of the holiday to be paid by the customer locally, these cannot be booked beforehand). Spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful monastic town of Fussen at leisure.

Tuesday
Following breakfast today's excursion takes us to King Ludwig's Linderhof Palace, enjoy a guided tour where we admire intricately ornate interiors and beautiful gardens, designed by Carl von Effner, combining formal Baroque-style with Italian Renaissance and landscaping. After time for lunch, we visit Ettal Abbey, a stunning Benedictine Monastery famous for its production of beer and cheese, both of which can be bought here. N.B in and around The Venus Grotto at Linderhof Palace is undergoing extensive restoration work that will last until the end of 2024, unfortunately The Grotto cannot be visited during this time.

Wednesday
Following breakfast today's excursion takes us on an amazing journey to the top of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, which sits at 2,962 meters above sea level with the Austrian/German border running through its western summit. We start our ascent from the German side via a stunning cable car journey from the Eibsee, the lake at the foot of Zugspitze, soaking up some of the most dramatic views that we will see on our tour. Spend time at the summit, crossing in to Germany, with time to admire the views of 400 mountain peaks spanning four countries, visible on clear days from the café and terraces. Take a return journey on the Summit Cable Car from the suumit to the glacier and back before making our descent on the German side of the mountain by cable car back down to the Eibsee.

Thursday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast and bid farewell to the Edelweiss as we begin our journey back to our overnight hotel with a suitable lunch stop en-route, arrive at our overnight hotel in Germany, the 4-star Mercure Hotel Mannheim am Fridensplatz, arriving in time for you to freshen up before our evening meal.

Friday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast to begin our journey to Amsterdam with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Continue our journey to Amsterdam to check in at the port for our DFDS overnight crossing to Newcastle, once onboard the ferry (don't forget your overnight bag) enjoy an evening meal and onboard entertainment before retiring to our cabins.

Saturday
Following breakfast onboard the ferry re-join the coach as we disembark in Newcastle to continue our journey home.