ITINERARY

DAY 1 | Thursday 22 July 2027

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MUNICH

ARRIVE MUNICH (D):

Arrive at our luxurious and centrally-located 5-star hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Munich. Hotel check-in is at 3:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time.

In the evening we meet for a delicious dinner and for an introduction by our Tour Leader Dr Genevieve Robyn Arkle, who will outline what is to come during the tour.

DAY 2 | Friday 23 July 2027

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MUNICH

EXPLORING MUNICH & MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL (B):

This morning, we have a guided walking tour of the architecturally fascinating city of Munich. Our tour takes us to famous city landmarks, such as the Viktualienmarkt, with its stalls of gourmet Bavarian food and the Frauenkirche, Munich’s well-known Cathedral. We are also taken to see Marienplatz, the city’s central square, and the decorative buildings that surround it such as the Neues Rathaus, the neo-gothic New Town Hall, and the Altes Rathaus, the elegant Old Town Hall.

The late afternoon is free, to rest before the evening’s performance, or possibly to explore further some of the places we discovered this morning.

We then attend our first performance at the prestigious Munich Opera Festival, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear soprano Anna Netrebko in an exclusive song recital with pianist Pavel Nebolsin.

SONG RECITAL - MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL, NATIONAL THEATRE MUNICH, 8:00pm

Anna Netrebko soprano
Pavel Nebolsin piano

DAY 3 | Saturday 24 July 2027

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MUNICH

MUNICH, ALTE PINAKOTHEK & LUNCH (B, L):

This morning, we set out for the Alte Pinakothek, one of the oldest art galleries in the world, which houses 700 works of European painting from the 14th to the 18th centuries including works by Albrecht Dürer, Peter Paul Rubens and Leonardo da Vinci. We enjoy an enlightening guided tour, followed by some free time to independently continue your exploration.

After our visit, we enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch together, before returning to our hotel.

The late afternoon and evening are then free. You may want to use this time to explore Munich further. You can visit the Deutsches Museum with the world’s largest science and technology collection, which is a 25-minute walk from our hotel, and picturesquely situated on an island in the Saar River, or take a wander to the English Garden, also about a 25-minute walk from the hotel.

DAY 4 | SUNDAY 25 July 2027

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MUNICH

MUNICH RESIDENZ & MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL (B):

We gather together in the morning for Tour Leader Dr Robyn Arkle talk on Verdi’s Rigoletto, which we will attend this evening.

Later in the morning, we visit the Munich Residenz for a private guided tour of this sprawling palace. The Munich Residence served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918. What began in 1385 as a castle in the north-eastern corner of the city (the Neuveste, or new citadel), was transformed by the rulers over the centuries into a magnificent palace, its buildings and gardens extending further and further into the town. Much of the Residence was destroyed during the Second World War, and from 1945 it was gradually reconstructed.

This evening we attend our second performance as part of the annual Munich Opera Festival, Verdi’s Rigoletto.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL, NATIONAL THEATRE MUNICH, 7:00pm
Giuseppe Verdi Rigoletto

Daniele Rustioni conductor
Barbara Wysocka director
Barbara Hanicka stage designer
Julia Kornacka costume designer
Marc Heinz lighting
Bobin Kim chorus
Malte Krasting dramaturge
Xabier Anduaga Il Duca di Mantova
Ludovic Tézier Rigoletto
Rosa Feola Gilda
Alexander Köpeczi Sparafucile
Rachael Wilson Maddalena
Freya Apffelstaedt Giovanna
Roman Chabaranok Il Conte di Monterone
Vitor Bispo Marullo
Granit Musliu Matteo Borsa
Bálint Szabó Il Conte di Ceprano
Nontobeko Bhengu La Contessa di Ceprano
Armand Rabot Gerichtsdiener
Lucy Altus Page der Herzogin
Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Chorus of the Bayerische Staatsoper

DAY 5 | MONDAY 26 July 2027

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

MUNICH TO BREGENZ & BREGENZ FESTIVAL BACKSTAGE TOUR (B):

This morning, we check out of our hotel in Munich, and then set off through the impressive countryside to the Alpine city of Bregenz. You might like to pick up lunch before we depart.

On arrival in Bregenz, we drop our luggage at our hotel before strolling over to the world-famous Lake Stage, where we explore behind-the-scenes of the Bregenz Festival with an exclusive backstage tour. The tour includes the chance to see close-up the world’s largest floating stage, and to see what it takes to stage an opera in one of the world’s most ambitious settings.

We then check-in to our comfortable 4-star hotel, MGallery Grand Hotel Bregenz, situated on the shore of Lake Constance, and overlooking the site of the Bregenz Festival. The evening is free to rest after our trip from Munich, or stroll along the picturesque shoreline of Lake Constance.

DAY 6 | TUESDAY 27 July 2027

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

EXPLORING BREGENZ & BREGENZ FESTIVAL (B):

This morning, we enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the historic Old Town of Bregenz, where many streets and buildings have preserved their charm and old-world character, and there are remnants of the 13th-century town walls.

Following the tour, you might like to enjoy lunch independently in the historic Old Town, or stroll back to the hotel for a restful afternoon ahead of this evening’s opera.

In the early evening, Tour Leader Robyn Arkle gives a talk on the opera we will hear in the evening’s performance, Verdi’s ever-popular La traviata. We then attend a performance at the Bregenz Festival on the stunning Lake Stage.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - BREGENZ FESTIVAL, LAKE STAGE, 9:15pm
Giuseppe Verdi La traviata

Pietro Rizzo conductor
Damiano Michieletto director
Paolo Fantin stage designer
Carla Teti costume designer
Alessandro Carletti lighting designer
Roland Horvath video
Thomas Wilhelm choreography
Alwin Bösch, Clemens Wannemacher sound
Bregenz Festival Extras
Bregenz Festival Choir
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Wiener Symphoniker

DAY 7 | WEDNESDAY 28 JULY 2027

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

BREGENZ & LINDAU (B, L):

Today we take a ferry trip on spectacular Lake Constance, which, fed by the Rhine River, borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We alight at the picturesque German island-town of Lindau. Here we enjoy a private guided tour which leads us along narrow cobblestone streets to Medieval merchant houses, and which explains a little of the fascinating history of the town, pointing out such features as the 12th-century Mangenturm, the former watchtower near the harbour front, and the Gothic Altes Rathaus, the Old Town Hall, with its beautiful painted façade.

Following the tour, we gather for a delicious group lunch in Lindau to mark the end of our time in Bregenz before the final stage of our tour. After lunch, time is allowed to further explore Lindau, or to return by ferry to Bregenz.

Following our arrival back in Bregenz, you might like to take an independent trip up the Bregenz Pfänderbahn for spectacular views of the lakeside town and Bodensee, or return to the hotel.

The evening is free.

DAY 8 | THURSDAY 29 July 2027

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

BREGENZ TO VERBIER VIA BERN (B, D):

Following breakfast at the hotel, we check out of our hotel and depart for the Swiss capital city of Bern. On arrival, time is allowed for an independent visit and for guests to get lunch. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, Bern’s medieval centre has 6km of covered arcades and cellar shops and bars descending from the streets. After a devastating fire in 1405, the wooden city was rebuilt in today’s familiar sandstone. Bern’s clock tower, Zytglogge, is a focal point; with crowds congregating to watch its revolving figures twirl at four minutes before the hour, after which the actual chimes begin. We then continue our journey through the Swiss countryside and up into the Alps to Verbier.

Following our arrival into the centre of Verbier, we check in to our centrally-located and comfortable Hôtel Le Vanessa.

After some time to relax and unwind, we gather for a delicious group dinner at one of Verbier’s top dining destinations.

DAY 9 | Friday 30 July 2027

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

VERBIER FESTIVAL (B):

This morning begins with a talk on the music for the performances we will attend this evening and tomorrow morning at the Verbier Festival.

Time is then allowed for an independent exploration of the beautiful village of Verbier. For those adventurous sorts in the group, you might like to take the gondola from the nearby Verbier / Médran station up to Les Ruinettes Verbier hiking area, for spectacular mountain views of the surrounding peaks and lush green valleys.

This evening, we attend our first performance at the Verbier Festival. Launched in 1994, and now globally renowned, the Verbier Festival welcomes audiences from around the globe who come to experience music-making at the highest level in a setting that brings them closer to star performers and rising talent.

CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS

Program TBA

DAY 10 | SATURDAY 31 July 2027

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

VERBIER FESTIVAL (B):1

This morning, we make the short walk to the Église de Verbier for the first of our Festival performances today. These morning concerts form the Festival’s Chamber Concert series, and feature world-class musicians performing in the intimate and beautiful setting of the Église de Verbier.

CHAMBER CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, ÉGLISE DE VERBIER

Program TBA

Time is then allowed to continue your exploration of beautiful Verbier.

In the early evening, we gather for another pre-concert talk from our Tour Leader Robyn Arkle, before returning to the Salles des Combins for the second of our evening concerts.

CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS

Program TBA

DAY 11 | SUNDAY 1 August 2027

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

VERBIER FESTIVAL (SWISS NATIONAL DAY) (B, L):

This morning, we enjoy our final presentation on the music from our Tour Leader Robyn Arkle. We then depart for one of Verbier’s finest restaurants to enjoy our farewell tour lunch together.

In the evening, we head back to the Salles des Combins for the final gala Festival performance, guaranteed to play us out with a bang.

CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS

Program TBA

Following this final festival performance, we return to our hotel.

DAY 12 | MONDAY 2 August 2027

TOUR ENDS (B):

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes. There will be an optional coach transfer to Geneva International Airport (arriving at approximately 12:15pm) and Geneva Central Train Station (arriving at approximately 1:00pm).

Please note: There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on the final confirmation of performances.

INCLUSIONS

22 JULY–2 AUgust 2027 (12 DAYS)

AUD$??? PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$???
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$2,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$2,500 per person (due on 22 February 2026)
Final payment due: 19 May 2027

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets for two performances at the Munich Opera Festival; premium tickets to an opera performance at the Bregenz Festival; premium tickets to four performances at the Verbier Festival.
  Please note: The venues and festivals will announce their 2027 seasons later in 2026. There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of evening performances.

• Tour Leaders and Talks: Tour leadership and exclusive private talks by Tour Leader Dr Genevieve Robyn Arkle.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: 11 nights' accommodation in 4-star and 5-star hotels including:

  • Four nights at the 5-star Mandarin Oriental, Munich in a Deluxe King Room;

  • Three nights at the 4-star MGallery Grand Hotel Bregenz in an Executive Room with Terrace;

  • Four nights at the 4-star Hôtel Le Vanessa in a Junior Suite;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour. There will be an optional coach transfer to Geneva Airport and Geneva Central Train Station following breakfast on the final day of the tour.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc. as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour. One private coach transfer from Verbier to Geneva International Airport and Geneva Central Train Station at the end of the tour is included in the tour price.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Entry into Europe: ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. No action is required from travellers at this point. The European Union will confirm the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 3

For the benefit of the tour group, all members of the tour must have the ability to:

• negotiate airports and railway stations without wheelchair assistance;

• use a combined shower/bath (please note that we cannot guarantee walk-in shower facilities at all hotels);

• undertake walking tours of two to three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for one to two hours in galleries and museums at a time without a break;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains, boats and other methods of transportation without assistance;

• handle your own luggage (where porterage services are unavailable).

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

Munich, Bregenz & Verbier Festivals