Snow covered mountains, fairy-tale castles and Christmas markets are some of the seasonal treats in store for operators booking winter tours for 2019/20 in the UK and Europe with Albatross Travel. Its latest Winter Tour itineraries for coach operators and group organisers include Switzerland, The Tyrol and Germany’s Bavarian Forest, as well as German Christmas markets and winter-themed breaks in the UK.
Highlights include: A Romantik Journey to the Top of Europe – five days exploring the snow kissed Swiss landscape including a guided walking tour of Berne, a cruise of Lake Lucerne, plus a journey on the spectacular Schilthorn cable car to ‘James Bond Mountain’, where a mountain restaurant and Bond World 007 exhibition awaits visitors. The tour is based at the five-star Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof, Grindelwald, in the Swiss Alps.
Visits to three magical castles feature on the ‘Riding High in the Tyrol’ itinerary. As well as the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Innsbruck there are tours to the 200-year-old Starkenburg Castle Brewery and its beer spa pools in Imst. The medieval Schattenburg Castle in Feldkirk, Austria is another stop on the five-day tour, which also includes a visit to Swarovski Crystal World. The Hotel Zum Lamm in Tarrenz, Tyrol, provides the accommodation during the stay.
“What epitomises winter more than snow and Christmas markets,” says Denise Bridges, managing director, Albatross Travel. “Hopefully there will be plenty of ideas in this new Winter Tours programme to inspire coach operators to organise some exciting new tours for 2019 and 2020.”
In the UK, steam enthusiasts can celebrate the festive season with mince pies and mulled wine on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway in the Lake District, and also included in the five-day itinerary is a private guided tour of Muncaster Gardens and the Hawk & Owl Centre located in the castle grounds. The tour is based at the Best Western Plus Castle Inn Hotel in Keswick.
