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8-Nights Best of Switzerland from $3,850
Trafalgar
OFFER ID 1519281
Best Of Switzerland
All the Best of Switzerland with a side visit to Italy. What could be better Your travels will take you to Lake Geneva for local wine, cheese and delicious desserts in Lavaux, Lord Byron’s enchanting Chillon Castle and the pretty town of Brienz for a masterclass in Swiss wood carving.
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Bourg-en-Lavaux: Enjoy Swiss hospitality with a vineyard owner and savor the flavors of local wines, cheeses, and breads, all set against the enchanting views of the Lake Geneva.
- Brienz: Learn about Switzerland's wood-carving heritage at the Jobin wood sculpture museum in Brienz.
- Zürich: During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you some of the highlights of this beautiful lakeside city.
- Bern: Explore Switzerland's capital and see the Cathedral of St. Vincent, clock tower and Ogre Fountain.
- Chillon Castle: The beautiful fortress of Chillon Castle, set on a rocky islet on Lake Geneva, is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Following his walk through the dungeons in 1816, Lord Byron wrote the poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon'. Look out for his name, which he carved into a pillar.
- Bernina Express: UNESCO World Heritage Listed Rhaetian RailwayTravel by train over the Bernina Pass through stunning landscapes en route to St. Moritz.
- Lucerne: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Lion Monument, Old Town Hall and Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.
- Zürich: Join Diana and her team of socially engaged local guides, for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience. Uncover the old town of Zürich during a fun and educational walking tour with the wonderful organization who are raising awareness on social issues such as food insecurity and supporting local change makers and the community.This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 12: Reduced Inequalities & Responsible Consumption and Production.
- Discover Zürich, Bern, Zermatt, Interlaken and Lucerne
- Visit Chillon Castle and Brienz Woodcarving Museum
- View the Jungfrau and Matterhorn mountains (weather permitting), Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument in Lucerne
- Scenic Train Ride from Tirano to Pontresina by UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Train from Tirano to Pontresina
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
8 nights from $3,850 per person
Trafalgar Tours: Best of Switzerland
Day 1 - Welcome to Zürich
Zürich is your springboard to a spectacular journey through Switzerland. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a social-impact guided walking tour. This evening, attend a dinner to launch your Swiss experience.
Accommodations: Hyatt Place Airport
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Journey to Lake Geneva
We leave the bright lights of Zürich behind and stop in Bern with its Old Town, admiring its medieval streets, ornate fountains and arcaded walkways. Journeying to Lake Geneva, we arrive in the resort town of Montreux, set against the pristine backdrop of snow-covered peaks and vineyards. After lunch, consider joining an Optional Experience to cruise Lake Geneva, including a visit to the Charlie Chaplin museum in his former estate, Manoir de Ban.
Accommodations: Mona Montreux
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Onwards to Chillon Castle and Zermatt Connect with Locals
This morning, we visit Chillon Castle, immortalized by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon'. For nearly four centuries, this water fortress was the residence of the Counts of Savoy and an important stop for traders. Our next stop is the Lavaux region, a charming wine village above Lake Geneva, where we’ll Connect With Locals over lunch at our Be My Guest experience. Continue your journey to the resort town of Zermatt, set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Matterhorn.
Accommodations: Mirabeau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 - Zermatt Your Way
Spend a full free day soaking up Zermatt's crisp mountain air and panoramic vistas. Relax in beautiful surroundings or consider an Optional Experience to the Klein Matterhorn for the most spectacular mountain views.
Accommodations: Mirabeau
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Venture to the Italian Lake Maggiore
Departing Switzerland, we travel to the lakeside town of Baveno on Italy's Lake Maggiore. Spend the rest of the day indulging in the laid-back lakeside atmosphere or consider joining an Optional Experience to Isola Bella, one of the lake's Borromean islands, with its palazzo and exquisite gardens.
Accommodations: Simplon
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Off to Alpine St. Moritz
We travel through the scenic Italian countryside to the fortified town of Tirano. Here, we board the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Rhaetian Railway to cross the Bernina Pass and wind our way through scenic landscapes en route to the stylish resort town of St. Moritz. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Accommodations: Reine Victoria
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Journey to Lakeside Lucerne
Journeying through lush green landscapes, past Lake Zürich, we arrive in lakeside Lucerne. Pay tribute to the brave Swiss Guards, who lost their lives defending King Louis XVI at the Lion Monument, and admire the iconic wooden Chapel Bridge before strolling past the city's colorful façades. Consider joining a cruise on the tranquil lake waters and then ride the world's first double deck 'CabriO' cable car to the top of Mount Stanserhorn.
Accommodations: Grand Europe
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Admire Scenic Brienz and Interlaken Dive Into Culture
We travel to Interlaken at the heart of Switzerland, which lies in the shadow of the Jungfrau Mountain. Stopping in the village of Brienz en route, we’ll Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the centuries-old tradition of wood carving for which this village is so famous. Spend some time on your own and enjoy superb views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. This evening, we enjoy dinner with our fellow travelers and Travel Director toasting the highlights of Switzerland we've enjoyed along the way.
Accommodations: Grand Europe
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Homeward Bound
As our journey through the Best of Switzerland comes to an end, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.
Rio Grande Travel Centers, Inc.
6500 Holly Ave. NE Suite A-2
Albuquerque, NM 87113
USA
(505) 292-7044
(877) 768-7913