Day 1 Early morning departure for the journey to Dover for the sea crossing to Calais. Continuing the journey to the Forbach area for an overnight stop.
Day 2 Travelling on into the Austrian Voralberg region and to the medieval city of Feldkirch for a stay of five nights. You will be welcomed by the hotel staff and receive some information regarding your stay in the area and warm your spirits with a hot winter punch.
Day 3 After enjoying your first buffet breakfast, you will travel to Bregenzerwald to visit the Bentel Brothers, where they produce honey and schnapps, the traditional Austrian drink. Sample, and find your favourite! Then travel to Schwarzenberg, the most beautiful area far and wide. The famous painter Angelika Kauffman spent her childhood here and her early artwork can be viewed in the parish church. On the return journey, you will be able to enjoy the view of Lake Constance, whilst driving over the Bödele. You will then head back to Feldkirch to the Christmas market. The medieval city provides a lovely setting for the beautifully decorated stalls. Enjoy a mulled wine to warm up and visit the quiet and secret alleyways in the old Montfort city.
Day 4 Today you will travel to the Swiss mountains and to Chur, the capital of the largest Swiss canton, The Grisons, with over 150 valleys. Chur is the oldest city and here you will board the reserved compartments on the Rhaetic Railway. Winding around curves and travelling over high bridges as it climbs to 1000m, the trail will take you deep into the magnificent mountains and to the famous ski resort of Arosa. You will disembark and have free time to stroll around the charming lake or the free bus to explore the area. Re-join the train and return to Chur where you could walk to the cathedral in the old town before returning to the hotel.
Day 5 CHRISTMAS DAY or Frohe Weihnachten as the Austrians say. Today is to celebrate and rest, or take a walk through the forest to the neighbouring town of Rankwell. Here you will find the well-fortified basilica sitting above the town and it offers a beautiful view of the Rhine Valley in Vorarlberg and Switzerland. You will enjoy a traditional turkey Christmas lunch and later you will have a Christmas dinner with excellent music in the evening. You will also celebrate with Father Christmas!
Day 6 Travel through the Walgau up to the Flexen Pass to the famous ski resorts of Zürs and Lech, where many famous families have spent their winter holidays, including the Royal families of the Netherlands, Jordan and Morocco, as well as Princess Diana and her family. You will then have a sleigh ride from Lech to Zug. Afterwards you will travel to St Anton, the other famous ski-resort in the Arlberg. Perhaps enjoy the free time by going up the mountains in a cable car or having a mulled wine at one of the ice-bars.
Day 7 Sadly it is time to leave Feldkirch and start the return journey to the Forbach area for the overnight stop.
Day 8 After breakfast, depart the hotel and commence the homeward journey.