Alpine Splendours of Switzerland & Bavaria - May 2026 - Hostess Round Up - Shani Vander Young

Picture the Switzerland of your dreams: breathtaking alpine landscapes, snow-dusted peaks rising above hillsides blanketed with purple, white and yellow wildflowers, the lyrical sound of cowbells echoing through the mountains and across shimmering glacial lakes. This became our reality on this tour! We experienced all this as we travelled through and discovered this wonderful country.

Highlight days were spent based in the alpine regions of Wengen, from where we took the cogwheel train up the Jungfraujoch and in Zermatt, from where we ascended the mighty Matterhorn by gondola. These natural wonders were beautifully contrasted by Switzerland’s vibrant and culturally and historically rich cities of Zurich, Lucerne and Bern as well as Montreux - each offering its own distinctive mix of history, culture, tradition and fun. We spent two wonderful weeks of our 20-day tour discovering the magic of Switzerland and realising the array of different experiences available here. No two days were the same. Apart from excellent walking tours in each of the major destinations, we enjoyed castle visits, gentle alpine hikes, a luge ride for those brave enough, lake cruises, hiking down through alpine meadows from our mid-station descents off the mountains we visited, partaking in a fondue feast, visiting Heidiland where the Johanna Spyri was inspired to write her novels, a winery visit where we were treated to the wines of the region and a spa experience in the elite Spa Town of Bad Ragaz.

Scenic rail journeys on the Golden Pass line and the Glacier Express were another unforgettable highlight of our Swiss adventure, where the journey itself became the attraction.

Although we were reluctant to say goodbye to Switzerland, the delights of Austria did not disappoint. Innsbruck became our base for two nights, from where we travelled to Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Germany, the fairy-tale castle created by King Ludwig II and inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. The ladies were captivated by its romantic, fantasy-like architecture, which provided a striking contrast to the medieval grandeur of Chillon Castle and Gruyeres Castle, which we visited earlier in the tour while in Montreux, Switzerland.

From Innsbruck, we travelled by coach to Swarovski, our primary shopping destination. We then continued to Salzburg for a relaxing three-day stay. Here we had a fun time in our cooking class where we learned to make traditional Austrian pretzels (Brezeln) and apple strudel, sharing laughter and delicious food. Along with visits to traditional coffee houses, Salzburg proved a perfect finale to an unforgettable tour. Travelling with a supportive and enthusiastic group of women made this tour experience incredibly special.