Experiencing the Alpine Adventure

Experiencing the Alpine Adventure

Incredible Zermatt sights, delicious authentic cuisine and friends to last a lifetime; my experience on the Alpine Adventure Tour was one I’ll never forget.

It’s not often you can say you’ve travelled up the Aiguille du Midi or taken photos in front of the Jet d'Eau fountain. This tour is perfect for those wanting to experience a new culture while taking in incredible natural scenery and amazing hospitality. With longer stays at each destination, you’ll feel refreshed as you explore the French, Swiss and Italian Alps.

Stunning Sights

Before my husband and I left for the tour, I was looking forward to the Alps’ scenery the most. My expectations were exceeded, especially as we explored around Zermatt. During our many walks throughout the village, we saw incredible peaks all across Matterhorn. I especially loved the sights of Annecy, the French lakeside town; along its cobbled streets we found quaint, wooden homes and beautiful canals. Another fantastic stop was at Lauterbrunnen’s ‘Valley of the Waterfalls’. Here we took a walk through its breathtaking mountainous caverns, where we could hear the waterfall rushing right next to us.

While photos won’t do the tour’s scenery justice, it’s still the perfect opportunity for anyone with a DSLR or camera phone to take some great shots. On the train ride up the Gornergrat, I took some photos I will cherish forever. Once we reached its station, we stood out on the restaurant’s terrace, basked in the views of the Matterhorn and got out our cameras. We even saw a wild Marmot in its natural environment! One of the highlights of the Alpine Adventure Tour is the famous Swiss rail, the Glacier Express, which travels along Valais and offered panoramic views of Switzerland’s countryside and mountains; this is the perfect time to get a photo of Swiss cows with the pretty bells around their necks. Yes, they really do wear bells!

Unforgettable Food and Drinks

If you’d like to try authentic cuisine and drinks, the restaurants, boutique cafés and bars along the Alpine Adventure Tour won't disappoint. During our stay in Italy, we visited Calvagese della Riviera’s famous winery, the Redaelli de Zinis. We had a delicious meal and sampled an amazing variety of locally-sourced wine. Other standout places to eat were found during our free time in Grindelwald, Zermatt, Klosters and the village of Gardona in Italy. At the latter, our hotel was located right on the lake and the little Italian restaurants tucked away in the village next to our hotel were to die for. Four nights relaxing at Lake Garda - what a way to finish our Alpine tour!

Experience New Cultures

During our tour, we stopped by some impressive places rich with history and culture. One such stop worth mentioning was Lake Garda’s museum, The Villa and Gardens of Il Vittoriale degli Italiani. This isn’t your typical museum, and its many eccentric rooms showcase the collections of one of Italy’s most popular romantics, Gabriele D’ Annunzio. Here we saw statues, various antiques and even a full-sized battleship located in the extensive gardens. Of course, with Albatross Tours offering a relaxed pace of touring, we had plenty of time to explore this unique museum!

During our lunch stop in the old town of Bolzano, we learned that its Archaeology Museum was home to the mummified remains of the Ice Man. Conflans, Bern and the 13th century fortress of Chateau de Chillon also proved to be stunning historical spots. Our guided tour of Chateau de Chillon, which was included with our tour, was exceptional; we learnt so much.

To anyone who wants to join the Alpine Adventure Tour, I say go for it! You’ll love it if you’re ready to explore historical landmarks and appreciate incomparable sights. It’s an experience of a lifetime.