5 Glorious nights on Lake Constance.

After our arrival at Zurich airport we will take our private transfer to our hotel (around 1 hour)

Settle into our hotel in the heart of the Old Town the Graf Zeppelin and enjoy our first taste of the Bodensee.

Our gorgeous 19th-century hotel is in the historic centre of Konstanz, it is within a 10-minute walk of Lake Constance and the main train station.
There are large, bright rooms with minibars. WiFi is provided free of charge in all rooms and all public areas. A rich buffet breakfast is included each morning
The LAGO shopping centre and the Swiss border can be reached on foot within 15 minutes.

This afternoon we will enjoy a guided walking tour including Konstanz Harbour, Imperial Statue, Konstanz Münster, Medieval Old Town streets.
Enjoy dinner by the lake and watch the evening light reflect across the water towards Switzerland.

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 5 nights the supplement will be £160. The supplement will be payable at the same time as the balance.

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away!

After breakfast at the hotel we will enjoy our first cruise across the lake to Überlingen which is highly regarded as one of the most elegant towns on Lake Constance. We have time to explore here before enjoying lunch overlooking the promenade and marina.

-What to see in Uberlingen
-Palm-lined lake promenade
-Historic Market Square
-St Nicholas Minster
-Beautiful lakeside gardens
-Waterfront cafés
-Colourful old-town buildings

After lunch we will take a short scenic cruise to the medieval gem of Meersburg. where we can visit the old Castle, one of the oldest inhabited castles in Germany.
Inside we will find Armouries, Knights’ halls and Medieval kitchens as well as enjoying Panoramic lake views from the towers

Wander through the upper town with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered houses and historic squares and explore the New Palace A beautiful Baroque palace overlooking the lake.

We will enjoy dinner on a terrace overlooking Lake Constance and the Swiss shoreline.

Return to Konstanz after dinner.

Entrance fees to both the Palace and the Castle are included

After breakfast we will travel by train around the southern coast of the lake, to Lindau, whose historic centre sits on an island in the lake.

Here we will have free time to explore the old town with its boutique shops and historic merchant houses

We will enjoy a harbour-side lunch while watching boats come and go.

This afternoon we will take a short train journey to Austria where we will ride the Pfänder Cable Car. From the summit we’ll see the entire length of Lake Constance, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Alps stretching into the distance

Return by train direct from Bregenz to Konstanz.

Train tickets and cable car ticket are included

This morning we will travel by train, following the Rhine, through the stunning Swiss countryside to Stein am Rhein, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful medieval towns brimming with fresco-painted façades, historic fountains and flower-filled windows

We will enjoy a riverside lunch beside the Rhine.

This afternoon we can take the 30 minute scenic walk up from the old town to visit Hohenklingen Castle which has been towering above the charming town of Stein am Rhein since the year 1200. If you prefer not to visit the castle you can spend some time exploring the old town.

It’s less a journey home and more a mini-cruise through some of the most beautiful scenery in the region as we head back to Konstanz by boat, passing vineyards, traditional Swiss villages and lakeside churches.

Today you are free to make the most of your Bodensee Card, to visit any of the included attractions, take part in any of the included activities, and travel on any of the VSU passenger boats (excludes car ferries & catamarans)

-You might want a have a lazy day by the lake
-Take a leisurely cruise on the Bodensee, hopping between stunning lakeside villages
-Visit the Zeppelin museum in Friedrichshafen
-Go wine tasting in the Meersburg vineyards
-Visit Reichenau Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Benedictine monastery and market gardens
-Take a boat or bus to Unteruhldingen to visit the Pfahlbauten (Pile Dwelling Museum)

Alternatively, we have yet another varied day planned, combining gardens, history and lakeside villages.

Take a Morning cruise from Konstanz to Mainau Island, known as the Flower Island. Where we can visit the Italian Rose Garden, Palm House and the butterfly house

This afternoon we will visit the magnificent Salem Monastery and Castle, one of the flagship attractions included with the card. Highlights include Magnificent medieval halls and stunning ornamental gardens.

This evening we will raise a glass of local wine while enjoying a farewell dinner in Meersburg before returning to Konstanz one last time.

This morning after checking out we have a relaxed final few hours in Konstanz before taking our private transfer to the airport for our flight to the UK.