Enchanting Alsace 

Day Three: Obernai - Alsatian wine route

We start the day with a guided walking tour of Obernai. We explore the old town, birthplace of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace and get the opportunity to experience the fine architectural heritage dating back to the Middle Ages. These include the central marketplace, the 13th-century watchtower and the town hall, as well as numerous charming half-timbered houses in the local style. Walking tour duration approx. 1hr 30mins. After the walking tour, we hop on a coach tour that will follow the Alsatian wine route, where we immerse ourselves in an idyllic landscape of picturesque villages, distant medieval castles and traditional vineyards that the Alsace region is famed for.

Day Four: Kaysersberg - Ribeauvillé - Haut Koenigsbourg Castle

After breakfast, we continue our Alsace tour heading to the historically important and charming town of Kaysersberg, with its rich selection of traditional half-timbered buildings and imposing ruins of the castle with its cylindrical dungeon and crenelated wall that still watches over the town and speaks of its strategic importance in the past! The town boasts a number of historically important figures such as Geiler de Kaysersberg (humanist preacher at the Strasbourg Cathedral), Matthieu Zell (the first reformer of Strasbourg) and Albert Schweitzer (a Nobel Peace Prize winner). Kayserberg was the final place visited by the noted writer and chef Anthony Bourdain. From the town we continue on to Ribeauvillé - a city lined with the traditional houses of winemakers and craftsmen, dominated by hills and three majestic castles. Its heritage is witness of a rich past which is celebrated throughout the year, with a highlight being the Minstrels festival. We have free time in Ribeauvillé for lunch.

Day Five: Colmar - Eguisheim

After breakfast we check-out of our hotel and head to our next destination of Colmar. Once there, we take a guided walking tour of the city to discover the history of its various quarters and take in the highlights such as the Maison des Têtes, the House Pfister, the Old Toll house, and the famous Petite Venise - the former fishmonger’s district. Walking tour duration approx. 1hr 30mins. Afterwards, we have free time to further explore the amazing city or we can visit the Unterlinden Museum which is housed in a former Dominican convent founded in 1232 on the place 'Unterlinden' or 'Under the Linden'. The museum houses important collections of Renish sculptures and paintings of the end of the Middle Ages and of the Renaissance. It also has the prestigious altarpiece painted between 1512 and 1516 by Grünewald for the Antonine convent at Issenheim. Entrance and guided visit (1hr, fee EUR 23.00).

Day Six: Baden Baden Caracalla Thermal Bath

Today we depart for the spa town of Baden-Baden after breakfast, where we spend the morning relaxing in the luxurious Caracalla Thermal Bath (3hr). Then we enjoy free time for lunch, and explore Baden-Baden at our own pace. Possible sites to visit include the historic old town with its monuments like the Stiftskirche Liebfrauen, Kurhaus and Casino, the Roman Bath Ruins, and various art museums. We return to Obernai in the late afternoon and enjoy a peaceful evening at our hotel.

• Breakfast included

Day Seven: Day at leisure

We spend our final full day in Alsace at our own pace, exploring additional sights or simply relaxing. In the evening, we gather for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant, featuring a delectable three-course menu. The perfect chance to reflect on the wonderful experiences of the past week as we spend our final night at Le Gouverneur Hotel.

• Breakfast & dinner included

Day Eight: Departure day

This concludes our tour with a transfer back to Basel airport at the end of the day to take our return flight home.