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 16 – 23 July 2012, 7 Nights

SEEHotel, Friedrichshafen – Half Board

Escorted by James & Joanie Reilly

Cost from £795 per person sharing.

Single Supplement £99

Activity Level: 2-3           Booking Conditions

Print Factsheet Switzerland & Lake Constance

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Return coach from Belfast to Dublin Airport
• Return flights with Aer Lingus to Stuttgart
• Return coach transfer from airport to Friedrichshafen
• 7 nights at 4* SEEhotel Friedrichshafen
• Air-conditioned rooms throughout
• Bed, breakfast and evening buffet meal (hot & cold)
• 3 Full-day excursions (See below for details)
• Escorted throughout
• Optional excursion programme

 Our flights are with Aer Lingus from Dublin into Stuttgart, with coach transportation to Friedrichshafen 

• Mon 16 July    Depart Dublin   12.40pm      Arrive Stuttgart    3.50pm
• Mon 23 July   Depart Stuttgart   4.30pm     Arrive Dublin  5.45pm
• Checked Baggage Allowance 20kgs, Hand luggage 10kgs

There is probably no county on earth that stirs the imagination as much as Switzerland. High mountain peaks, sparkling lakes, lush green high pastures and picturesque villages, towns and cities. What a shame it is so expensive!

During our visit, we will be including three full-day excursions to Switzerland & the Black Forest. The first will take us across Lake Constance by ferry and on the scenic town of Rapperswil on the shores of Lake Zürich, where we will have a couple of hours at lunch-time. In the early afternoon, our coach brings us on a short journey to Weesen, where we board a boat on Lake Walen for an afternoon sailing under the towering peaks of the Alps. On arrival in Walenstadt, our driver awaits us for the journey back through Liechtenstein and Austria to our hotel, in good time for the evening meal.

 

Our second tour brings us to the spectacular “Rhine Falls”. They may not equal Niagara in size but outshine them in beauty and scenery. We travel back along the Rhine, visiting the quaint towns of Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein, before boarding the ferry to Meersburg and back to the hotel. The other full day excursion takes us into the gorgeous Black Forest and the lakes of Titisee and Schluchsee. Here you will enjoy a beautiful town, stretching along the lakeshore, where you have an opportunity to search for that cuckoo clock you always wanted.

EXCURSIONS & TRANSFERS

Transfers to and from the airport and any excursions involving coaches will be supplied by Schweighart Reisen, who we have used for the last two years. The drivers are all very helpful and friendly and the modern coaches are of the highest standard. Please note, though, there is no wheelchair access to the coaches and users of wheelchairs must be able to climb three or four steep steps to access the coaches. We can arrange airport transfers for anyone confined to a wheelchair (at an extra cost) but access to some of the excursions might be impossible.

 Bregenz & Pfänder Cable Car:- (Optional excursion £29)

One of the reasons people like holidays like this is to be able to get high into the mountains and enjoy the panoramic views. We realise that this is not always possible for everyone, so we have added this trip as an optional extra tour. Our journey starts with a train journey, right from our door, to Bregenz in Austria. A short walk of around 15 minutes, slightly uphill, brings us to the cable-car station for the speedy ride to the top in panorama cars, offering spectacular views. From the top, on a clear day, as well as a wonderful view of Lake Constance below, it is possible to see over 240 mountain peaks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There will be a small snack included in the trip, although there are also two lovely self-service restaurants for those who are still hungry. Be warned, though, you could lose your sandwich to one of the birds of prey, if you aren’t careful! In fact, part of our tour today includes a visit to the “Adlerwarte”, a sanctuary for birds of prey. A 40 minute guided tour includes a display of the birds in flight, right before your eyes. This is a great spectacle which will be a highlight of the tour. You now have the easy option to return to the valley below by cable-car or the more adventurous walk, downhill through the woods (90 minutes) and back to Bregenz. (The walk is quite strenuous, over rough ground and proper footwear and a good level of fitness are essential). Depending on your choice, there will be some free time to explore Bregenz (twinned with Bangor, Co. Down) before returning by train to Friedrichshafen.

We hope you will find this excursion great value for money. The cost for the train and entrances alone is normally €36!

Note: Minimum number required for this trip is 15 persons. Activity level – 3 (With walk through forest. Level – 5)

 Lindau:- (Optional excursion £20 approx)

The beautiful town of Lindau is at its best, when arrived at from the water. Today’s trip involves a walk to the ferry terminal (approx 900m / 15 mins) before boarding the ferry for the 90 minute cruise along Lake Constance. We arrive right in the middle of this stunning island-town, with its medieval buildings and quaint harbour area. We stop here for approximately two hours before taking the train back to Friedrichshafen. The station is just right beside the hotel, so you will be back in the hotel in two minutes, in plenty of time to relax before dinner. Activity level – 2

Black Forest (Included in holiday cost)

This full day excursion departs the hotel by coach after breakfast. After approximately one hour, we should be entering the Black Forest region, with wide roads, sweeping through the mountains of this beautiful region. There are many beautiful views en-route to our destination of the lakes of Schluchsee and Titisee, where we will stop for several hours to enjoy the vibrant town and lakeside walks. Depending on time, we may take a short side-trip to the town of Sankt Blasien, where the local church boasts one of the largest domes in all of Europe. Alternatively, we may return to Friedrichshafen via the lovely town of Blumberg, with its lovely architecture and narrow-gauge steam railway. There will, of course, be plenty of opportunity to stop for some famous Black Forest gateau and coffee. Activity level – 2

 Rhine Falls:- (Included in holiday cost)

Today we are collected by coach from the hotel and we drive along the northern shore of Lake Constance to Schaffhausen and Neuhausen and on to the spectacular waterfalls. We can enjoy some free time in Schaffhausen before the visit to the Falls. There is a steep walk down to the Falls, about 100m or 4 minutes. There will be time to enjoy the scenery or take a ride on one of the ferries, right up to the Falls. Our journey continues along the Swiss south shore of Lake Constance, stopping at the picturesque village of Stein am Rhein. We travel on to the ferry port at Constance, from where we travel over the lake back to Meersburg and home to Friedrichshafen. The only part of this itinerary which may present problems to those with walking difficulties, is the steep hill down to and back up from the Falls. Activity level – 2

 Rapperswil & Lake ZürichLIncluded in holiday cost)

Our coach is transported this morning by ferry across Lake Constance to Romanshorn, from

where we drive through the low plains and foothills of the Alps to Rapperswil, where we will stop for a break for lunch (not included). We travel on to Weesen, where we join a ferry to sail through the steep clefts to Walenstadt, 90 minutes away. After some time to explore Walenstadt, our coach collects us for a tour along the upper Rhine valley, through Liechtenstein & Austria back to Friedrichshafen in time for the evening meal. This is a full day excursion. In Rapperswil, it is 250m to the town and a further 500m to the waterfront. There is a steep climb, if you wish to visit the castle but this is entirely optional. Access to the ferry is simple, by means of a small jetty. Activity level – 2