Munich & the Bavarian Alps

Your alpine holiday begins at London St Pancras this morning, where you meet the Tour Manager and group before boarding the Eurostar to Brussels, enjoying a light meal at our comfortable Plus class seats. From the Belgian capital, we travel to Frankfurt and onwards through Germany to Munich in First Class.

Passing through rolling wooded hills on our way to Frankfurt, we travel through the old Swabian towns of Ulm and Augsburg, arriving in the Bavarian capital of Munich in the evening. Located within sight of the Alps, Munich is one of Germany's best-loved cities, blending historic architecture with modern culture. After checking in to our hotel near the station, we enjoy our first dinner together.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

Today, we're introduced to Munich's fascinating heritage on a guided sightseeing tour. Strolling through the city's main square, Marienplatz, we admire the Neo-Gothic Town Hall, the famous glockenspiel and the nearly 300-foot-tall spire of St Peter's Church.

Later, we stop for refreshments in typical Munich style, sampling local food and beer. After learning about the history of brewing in Bavaria and the influence of the 'Reinheitsgebot' beer purity law at the Oktoberfest Museum, we visit Munich's oldest beer house, the Höfbrauhaus.

Before we gather for dinner at the hotel this evening, you're free to explore the city at leisure. You could wander the expansive English Garden - larger than New York's Central Park, this incredible space attracts visitors to its lakes, rivers and peaceful Japanese tea house. Alternatively, visit one of Munich's many museums such as the Deutsches Museum, the world's largest museum of science and technology. With your included Bavaria Castle Pass you can enjoy free entrance to several of the city's attractions such as the elegant Munich Residence, the Hall of Fame and the enchanting Baroque Nymphenburg Palace.

• Breakfast

Departing Munich this morning, we board a coach for a journey into the spectacular Bavarian Alps to the picturesque village of Ettal, our base for five nights. Our hotel is located directly opposite a spectacular Benedictine monastery, the 14th-century Ettal Abbey, and originally acted as a lodging for visiting pilgrims.

Arriving this afternoon, there is time to settle in before we head out on a guided tour of the abbey. The basilica is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, with its breathtaking dome and intricate frescoes. The marble statue of the Virgin Mary at its heart is said to have been brought by Roman Emperor Ludwig IV in 1330. The monastery is home to a brewery boasting a history of more than 400 years, as well as a distillery dating back to the Middle Ages. We enjoy a guided tour with one of the monks before a tasting of the acclaimed Ettaler beer and Klosterliqueur.

After the tour, the afternoon is free to explore our new surroundings, before dinner at the hotel. Ettal is surrounded by impressive mountains, dense forest and lush meadows, providing picture-perfect sweeping views.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings a highlight of the holiday - an excursion to one of the most beautiful and famous castles in the world: Neuschwanstein Castle. Travelling by coach, we stop along the way in the small town of Wies to visit its UNESCO-listed church. The stunning Wieskirche has been a popular pilgrimage site for centuries and is renowned for its Rococo architecture and ornate artworks. We continue by coach to Hohenschwangau, a picturesque village in the shadow of Neuschwanstein. We enjoy lunch here at a local restaurant before embarking on a guided tour of the castle.

Built by the 'Fairytale King' Ludwig II in the 19th century, Neuschwanstein was an elaborate countryside retreat for the reclusive monarch. With piercing turrets, towering walls and romantic balconies, this symbol of Romanticism has appeared in countless films and inspired the iconic castle in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. As we tour its grand interiors, the windows reveal magical vistas across the Bavarian countryside.

Returning to Ettal, the afternoon is at leisure. Wander the village's quaint streets to soak up mountain views or relax at the hotel's indoor pool before dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking in the stunning surroundings of the Alps, enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the hotel ahead of a free day to spend as you wish. You could choose to unwind at the hotel, making use of its spa and wellness facilities, which include a Finnish sauna, steam bath and tepidarium, as well as an indoor pool.

Alternatively, take a 20-minute journey via local bus to the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This pretty Bavarian town was the location of the 1936 Winter Olympics and is often considered the best destination for skiing in Germany. Aside from its winter sports, the older Partenkirchen area offers a classic Bavarian experience, with its cobblestone streets and history stretching back to the Romans. Wander Ludwigstraße, the central high-street that offers fantastic examples of Bavarian Lüftlmalerei - a tradition of painting house facades with colourful frescoes, usually depicting religious imagery, folklore or local history.

This evening, you are free to dine independently. Head to a traditional restaurant to try regional delicacies such as Schweinesbraten (roasted pork) or Kässpatzen (pasta with mountain cheese) for a taste of the Alps.

• Breakfast

Today, we set out to explore two of Bavaria's cultural highlights. Our first stop is Linderhof Palace, the smallest of King Ludwig II's royal residences.

Inspired by the Palace of Versailles, it's surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, complete with ornate fountains and decorative pavilions. Inside, opulent rooms and intricate detailing offer a fascinating insight into the king's vision. We are taken on a guided tour of the palace, including the Venus Grotto, a fantastical man-made dripstone cave with coloured lighting and painted backdrops that exemplifies King Ludwig's eccentricity.

After our tour, we transfer to Oberammergau, a beautiful village that is world-famous for its Passion Play. Every ten years since the early 1600s, Oberammergau's residents have mounted the play - lasting five hours and performed by more than 2,000 residents, it attracts around 500,000 visitors from across the world. Between performances, the village is renowned for its Lüftlmalerei and long tradition of woodcarving. There is some free time here to admire its traditional architecture and murals, visit a woodcarving shop or find lunch at a local restaurant. Returning to the hotel this afternoon, there is some time to unwind before dinner together at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Another highlight awaits after breakfast this morning - admiring the Alps from above with a trip aboard a historic cogwheel mountain railway up Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze.

We board a coach to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to board the scenic Zugspitze Mountain Railway. This heritage train journeys through lush green meadows, rocky terrain, and snow-covered mountains to the stunning glacial lake Eibsee. We continue by cable car up the magnificent Zugspitze, enjoying incredible vistas as we climb. Arriving at Zugspitzplatt, a plateau 8,491ft above sea level, we can take in panoramic views across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. You have time at leisure here to find some lunch at one of the many mountaintop restaurants and perhaps take a short cable car journey to the summit for the more adventurous.

Descending by cable car back to Eibsee, enjoy some free time to explore and marvel at the crystal-clear, turquoise lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. We return to Ettal in the afternoon for dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On this exploration of magical Bavaria, we have experienced the region's unique blend of breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. We have delved into the extensive history of the Bavarian capital on a guided tour of Munich, visiting its iconic landmarks before savouring its world-famous beer. The majesty of the Alps greeted us in Ettal, with its unforgettable monastery, and the picturesque town of Oberammergau further showcased Bavaria's charms. Tours of the romantic Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace transported us to a world of fairytales, before a journey on the Zugspitze Mountain Railway revealed the beauty of the Bavarian Alps from above.

We enjoy our final breakfast together before transferring to Ulm, from where we travel by regional rail to Paris. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar to London, enjoying a light meal served to our Plus class seats. On arrival at London St Pancras, your holiday comes to a close and you are free to continue your journey home.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal