Guided Small Group Tours
in the Alps

On a small group adventure with Nordic Visitor, you’ll join like-minded travellers and tour the Alps with a professional guide. Your group will be capped at just 15 guests, so you’ll enjoy a more personal experience than you’d get on a large coach trip.

Escorted tours of the Alps also include a dedicated driver. With someone else taking care of the driving, your guide can focus on sharing their insights with you and answering your questions.

Travelling with a great guide is key to unlocking the best of your destination. That’s why we’ve handpicked professional guides who are passionate about the Alps, know the local languages, and want to share their knowledge with you.

As well as knowing all the top places to go, they’ll be able to give you insight into the local culture. Plus, they know where to find hidden gems along the way.

On these Alpine getaways, you’ll visit Switzerland, Austria and Germany. You’ll also travel through the tiny but beautiful country of Liechtenstein.

Get inspired by these fun facts about the Alps and the top things to do in Switzerland.

On guided Austria, Germany and Switzerland tours, you’ll explore mainly by minibus and train. Some day trips involve cable cars, and there’s also a boat trip on Chiemsee lake to visit Herrenchiemsee, an opulent German palace.

No matter how you’re getting around, your guide will travel with you. And when you’re in the minibus, you’ll have a dedicated driver too. What’s more, all of the local transport included in your package is organised ahead of time by your personal travel consultant.

While winter in the Alps is ideal for snowsports and Christmas markets, summer is the best time of year for sightseeing and going on road trips.

The warm weather and long daylight hours between May and September make summer perfect for admiring the scenery and spending time outdoors. Imagine strolling through wildflower meadows, paddling in turquoise lakes, and dining alfresco on historic cobblestone streets.

When planning your trip, it’s good to know that June, July and August are popular months to travel here. So, if you’d like to visit the Alps at this time of year, make sure to book early to avoid missing out. If you’d prefer to explore at a slightly quieter time of year, consider May or September.

Dive into this blog to find out more about summer in Switzerland. Plus, get in-depth information about weather and daylight hours in these handy travel guides.

As well as a professional guide, dedicated driver, and some meals, your tour includes a selection of handpicked activities. Exactly what your itinerary covers will change depending on your chosen package.

Check the “What’s included” tab on your trip to see what you’ll get as standard. Here’s what you’ll get on our 12-day guided tour of the Alps:

• • Glacier Express train journey from Täsch to Zermatt
• • Glacier Express train journey from Zermatt to Chur
• • Return cable car and train journey to Jungfraujoch railway station
• • Gornergrat Bahn train journey
• • Entrance to Neuschwanstein Castle
• • Entrance to the Eagle’s Nest and the Documentation Museum
• • Entrance to Herrenchiemsee Palace and a boat trip across Chiemsee lake

Along with these activities, you’ll have time to marvel at mountains and visit must-see sights like Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, Salzburg’s Cathedral, and Innsbruck’s Imperial Palace. Not to mention stops in picture-perfect Alpine villages such as Visp, Appenzell and Kitzbuhel.

You’ll also be able to tailor your itinerary with optional activities in Zürich and Munich at the start or end of your guided tour.

A delicious breakfast is provided each morning, along with 4 evening meals. Your itinerary will detail which days you’ll be dining with the group.

On other days, you’re free to decide where you’d like to go. In a region known for top-notch wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and hearty local dishes, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know when you book so that we can make arrangements before you arrive.

The guided part of your itinerary is set, but you can customise your trip with extra nights at the beginning or end of the tour. For instance, you might like to add a night in Zürich before you meet the rest of the group.

Or why not extend your stay in Munich at the end of the trip? This will give you extra time to explore the city. Brimming with Bavarian charm and top spots like Nymphenburg Palace and Hofbräuhaus beer hall, this big city is perfect for delving into even more culture.

If you want to add extra nights in Zürich or Munich, you can ask your travel consultant to recommend excursions or guided tours. They’ll also be able to arrange private airport transfers for you as an optional extra.

Yes, each tour has a list of start dates to choose from. Alps tours run during the summer months as this is the best time for sightseeing here. Simply opt for a departure during your preferred month.

If you have a specific arrival date in mind, make sure to book early in case that departure fills up. When you check a tour’s online availability calendar, you’ll also be able to see how many spaces are left on each trip. And remember, each tour runs with up to just 15 guests.

Before booking your trip, we recommend checking what flights are available. This way, you can pick a start date to suit your preferred travel times. That said, it’s best to hold off on purchasing your flights until you receive a tour confirmation email from your travel consultant.

Learn more about flights to the Alps in this travel guide.

Our trips are varied and include time spent in the warmer lowlands, alongside days where you’ll be whisked up to high altitudes. For instance, the Jungfraujoch station sits at over 3,000 metres (9,840 feet) above sea level. This means what you wear each day will depend on where your itinerary takes you each day.

While there isn’t lots of physical activity involved on small group tours, you’ll probably be spending plenty of time outdoors. This means what you wear will vary based on where you go each day, and you’ll want to be prepared for both rain and sunshine.

Here are some recommendations on what to pack for the Alps:

• Comfortable walking shoes or boots
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Insulated jacket
• Warm jumper or fleece
• Cosy hat, scarf and gloves
• Short and long-sleeve shirts
• Light trousers or shorts
• Sunglasses, sun hat and suncream
• Day bag or rucksack
• Swimwear
• European plug adapter
• Reusable water bottle
   

When packing, it’s worth bearing in mind that you can bring one suitcase or large bag per person for your overnight items. This will be kept in the back of the minibus, so we also suggest taking a small rucksack or day bag. This way, you’ll have easy access to items like your wallet, camera and spare layers.