The Majesty of Switzerland and the High Peaks of the Alps.
September 14th - 30, 2025.

Pre-Tour - September 13th - Arrive into Geneva International Airport and spend the day getting rested up and adjusted to the time change before we meet up the following morning to start the tour.

Day 1 - September 14th - This morning we will meet up at our Geneva International Airport accommodation and then make our way along the north shore of Lake Geneva to Lausanne. Lausanne is extremely picturesque with the town being built on three hills, surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet. The attractive old town is largely pedestrianized with small alleyways with cafés and boutiques shaping the streetscape in the medieval city centre. After some time to explore, we will meet up for Afternoon Tea at Hotel Beau Rivage. After tea we will have a Walking Tour of Lausanne where we learn about the secrets and fascinating stories behind some of the most impressive buildings in the city including Château Saint-Marie or even the Palais Rumine. After a delightful day in Lausanne we continue along the shores of Lake Geneva to Montreax to get checked into our accommodation before dinner. Welcoming Dinner and Overnight Montreax. (B,L,D)

Day 2 - September 15th - This morning we visit Chillon Castle on its rocky platform overlooking Lake Geneva. The history of the site dates back to the Bronze Age, but the present castle's history is marked by three great periods: those of the Savoy family, the Bernese Bailiffs and the Canton of Vaud ranging from the 12th century to present day. We will have a guided tour of the castle including the 13th-Century Gothic Cathedral which is one of Chillon’s most unique features. We will also explore the Dungeon where Bonivard, who was immortalised by Lord Byron as the hero of his 19th- century poem, The Prisoner of Chillon was imprisoned. Following our tour we will have a Gourmet unch and Wine Tasting in the castle. We then return to Montreax where we will have lunch and then you will have the rest of the afternoon and evening free to take in one of the many eateries to be found around the city. The city is a grand, Aristocratic 19th-Century Resort Town with a balmy microclimate and extraordinary lake and mountain scenery, but it also has its raffish side. You may want to take the Cog Railway to the 4,200 feet Rochers-de-Naye Peak as it winds ever higher above the lake, with increasingly glorious views over the surrounding Alps. Overnight Montreax. (B,L)

Day 3 - September 16th - This morning as we make our way to Zermatt with a few stops along the way. We will stop at the small medieval village of St. Maurice located at the entrance of the Upper Rhône Valley, between a rock face and the river. It is home to the renowned abbey, Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune as well as a castle. After some time to explre this delightful town we continue along the upper Rhône Valley to Martigny to view the Roman Amphitheatre, but more importantly to see the St Bernard Museum 'Musée et Chiens du Saint Bernard' and visit the world-famous St. Bernard Hospice Dogs! We will have lunch before visiting the dogs and the museum. The living museum is a meeting place that brings together people and the St. Bernards dogs from the Great St. Bernard pass. The legendary St. Bernards dogs are a main focus. The museum contains art objects and items that have shaped the history of the hospice, the Great St. Bernard Pass and its dogs, which showcases this cultural patrimony by means of a modern and interactive presentation aimed at fostering the world-famous symbolism of the Swiss national dog. We will make a last stop in Sion, dominated by two rocky peaks, each crowned with episcopal fortresses. We then continue on to Täsch just a few miles outside of Zermatt where we take the shuttle train to this resort town at the foot of the Matterhorn. Dinner and Overnight Zermatt. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - September 17th - Zermatt lies at the foot of the highest mountains in the entire Alpine mountain range with the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Monte Rosa. We will start the day by taking Europe’s Highest Open-Air Cog Railway that will take us direct from Zermatt Station to the Summit of the Gornergrat. The ride takes 33 minutes and requires a vertical climb of almost a mile over dramatic bridges, through galleries and tunnels, across forests of larch and Swiss stone pine, and past rocky ravines and mountain lakes! The panorama is among the finest in the world and takes in the Monte Rosa massif with Switzerland’s Highest Peak at a little over 15,000 feet! It also takes in the Second-Largest Glacier in the Alps, the Gorner Glacier, and a total of 29 mountains above 12,000 feet, including, of course, the Matterhorn in all its glory! We will spend some time taking in all of the glory of the area before boarding the train for our return journey to Zermatt where we will have lunch before you will have the afternoon and evening free. In the old village, beside the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, about 30 ancient buildings show the traditional building style of the Original Walser Residents. The barns and grain stores, up to 500 years old, are a piece of living history and reveal how the mountain farmers of Zermatt once lived. You will be spoilt for choice at all the eateries to be found in the resort. Overnight Zermatt. (B,L)

Day 5 - September 18th - This morning we make our way to Andermatt from Täsch for a scenic drive through Brig, where we will commence our ascent of the Simplon Pass, taking in magnificent views over the Alps from the 6,000 foot summit. We will pass from the Swiss Alps into the Italian Alps making our day mostly about spectacular scenery with many stops along the way. Our journey will then take us into the Obergoms region. The serene, sunny high valley in the Goms region, in Upper Valais, is famous for its authentic villages with wooden houses and whitewashed churches and it is popular in both summer and winter. Mighty 9,000 feet peaks surround Obergoms, the uppermost valley along the Rhone River. The valley extends from Niederwald to Gletsch, the village at the foot of the Rhone Glacier. At Obergoms we board the train that will take us vehicles and all to Andermatt. Along the way we will se more of the quiet villages that harbor cultural treasures. Churches and chapels with slender white spires, and also old, sun-blackened wooden houses and barns in the Valaisian style, appeal to the hearts of culture-minded visitors. We will arrive to our accommodation with time for you to explore Andermatt, set in the heart of the Swiss mountains, in the high-alpine Ursern Valley! Dinner and Overnight Andermatt. (B,D)

Day 6 - September 19th - This morning we make our way to st. Moritz with a first stop at the Three Castles at Bellinzona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Italian Speaking Region of Switzerland. Castelgrande, also known as Castello di San Michele or Burg Uri, is the oldest of these 13th century castles with two towers, Torre Nera and Torre Bianca which dominate Bellinzona's Old Town. Castello Montebello, also known as Schwyz or San Martino, and the castle with the highest elevation, Corbaro Sasso – once known as Unterwalden or Santa Barbara, are among the best preserved medieval castles in Switzerland. After a tour of the site, we have lunch in Bellinzona and then make our way through the Grisons Region with stops in a few of the lovely wee villages that make up this area. Bogs, pine trees and a special flora lend the area a unique atmosphere with the wet meadows producing a wetland flora that boasts the largest number of species in the southern part of the Alps. We then head further east towards the Julier Pass and the glamorous resort of St. Moritz, set in the Engadine Valley with the majestic Grisons Alps towering above! We will get checked into our accommodation before gathering for dinner. Dinner and Overnight near St Moritz. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - September 20th - This morning we will have a private tour as we glide through spectacular scenery on Europe's highest-altitude scheduled boat service. At 5900 feet above sea level, Europe's highest scheduled boat service links Sils Maria, Chastè, Plaun da Lej, Isola and Maloja. Along the way we glide past historic sites such as the Chastè peninsula - here, under the larch trees, stands the bench where the philosopher and poet Friedrich Nietzsche used to sit and find inspiration. This boat service has been operating by the same family for over one hundred years! After our cruise and lunch you will have the rest of the afternoon to soak in the atmosphere of lovely St. Moritz. Some places are simply unlike any other the mere mention of their name summons up vivid images and emotions. St. Moritz is one such place. Its unique appeal began long before the days when Roger Moore raced down the slopes as James Bond, Alfred Hitchcock was inspired by Engadin’s Black Crows and Gunter Sachs and Brigitte Bardot whispered sweet nothings to each other in the snow. It first became famous thanks to its mineral springs, which were discovered 3,000 years ago and established the town as a summer spa resort early on. You will then have the rest of the day and evening for more exploration. The we return to our accommodation where you can hang out in the lounge, use the pool, sauna or steam bath, have some Swiss Hot Chocolate, take one of several nature walks and hikes or just catch up on your travel diary, read a book or just get rested up before continuing the tour! Overnight near St Moritz. (B,L)

Day 8 - September 21st - This morning we start our journey to Lucerne with a stop in Old Town Chur, one of the best preserved towns in Switzerland. Chur is the Oldest Town in Switzerland with a settlement going back over 5,000 years. We will Take a Walking Tour of the Town as we stroll through the lively centre into the twisting streets of the old town and up to its 800-Year-Old Cathedral. After thoroughly exploring Chur we will stop for lunch and then make our way a few miles further up the road to Seilbahn Palfries to take the Palfries Cable Car with an ascent over the waterfalls of the Ragnatscherbach with its steep cliffs, treetops and meadows. Once at the top of the Palfries Plateau, a wonderful panorama and a large network of walking and hiking trails await. After some spectacular views and some exploration, the cable car brings us back to the valley station with unforgettable impressions! Our drive then takes along Lake Walenstadt, one of the larger lakes in Switzerland. Then Lake Obersee and Lake Zürich before reaching Lucerne where we find our accommodation and dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Lucerne. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - September 22nd - As we are about half way through the tour you will have today at leisure in Lucerne. This morning you can discover the delights of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne with a must see visit to Kapellbrücke or Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the River Reuss diagonally in the city of Lucerne. The bridge was built in 1333 and is one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe. Part of the bridge is the 'Water Tower', not because it holds water but because it stands on water. The tower is older that the bridge by some 30 years and was used as a prison and also as archive. On the right bank of the Reuss is Lucerne’s historic core with its sequence of squares hemmed by tall painted houses and linked by cobblestone shopping streets. Before exploring more of the Old Town you will want to stop for Afternoon Tea at The Queen Camellia Tea Room. Lucerne's Old Town boulevard lies between city hall and Chapel Bridge along the river Reuss and is full of architectural brilliance. It has several structures from the 14th century, painted in bright colours and made with timber frames. The Old Town is also home to St. Peter's Chapel, the oldest church in Lucerne. The Altes Rathaus, the old town hall, is located in the Kronmarkt. It's construction was started in 1602 and it was completed in 1606, in the Italian Renaissance style. Get rested up this evening for the second half of the tour. Overnight Lucerne. (B)

Day 10 - September 23rd - Today we will head north and spend the morning in Zürich with a Walking Tour that will take in the centre of Zürich on the north shore of Lake Zürich, It has a unique mix of well-preserved Old Town and hectic modern life having a magnificent view of the Snowy Swiss Alps. Our walking tour will take in the shopping center of Bahnhofstrasse, traffic core of Paradeplatz Square, the Fraumunster Church and stroll through Niederdorf, the Old Town. We will admire the panoramic scene over Zurich Lake before you have some free time to find some lunch and do some sightseeing on your own. We then board the MS Rosa to see Zurich from the water side and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Zurich. We will get a completely different perspective as we explore many points of view not seen from land. We then start our journey back to Lucerne stopping at the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg. The brand new Lindt Visitors’ Centre is home to the world’s Tallest Freestanding Chocolate Fountain at just over 30 feet tall with roughly 1.4 tonnes of chocolate pumping through it! We will have a tour of the centre before making our way to the Tasting Room and the Shop! After we are fully sated on chocolate, we make our way back to Lucerne before a dinner outing. Dinner and Overnight Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 11 - September 24th - This morning we make our way to Grindelwald with a detour to take in Mount Stanserhorn when we step aboard a Funicular Railway and Open Top Cable Car for a spectacular journey to the stunning summit! Here you can admire unrivalled views of the surrounding mountains and, on a clear day see as far as Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Then we male our way to Sachseln Village alongside Lake Samerand then to Älggi Alpto to visit the Geographical Center of Switzerland. We then find a cozy place to stop for lunch before continuing our drive along Lake Lungerer and then stop in Interlaken, one of the oldest, best known, and most popular resorts in Switzerland. The town which is presided over by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is the starting point for numerous adventure. With Lakes Thun and Brienz at either side of the town, it is a sparkling jewel in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland. Although the town center of Interlaken feels like a busy city, it is actually quite small. Basically, the town center is situated around two rail stations. From here we make our way home to Grindelwald where we get checked into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Grindelwald. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - September 25th - Today we make our way to Lauterbrunnen where we find the famous waterfall Staubbach Falls plunging almost 1000 feet from an overhanging rock face, making them one of the Highest Free-Falling Waterfalls in Europe! After checking out the falls we will explore Lauterbrunnen for a while before taking in Trümmelbach Falls, Europe's Largest Subterranean Waterfalls and the world's only glacier waterfalls that are accessible underground by lift, galleries, tunnels, paths and platforms. We we will lunch in Lauterbrunnen before returning to Grindelwald for some sightseeing. This Glacier Village lies in a valley situated in the Bernese Oberland on the northern side of the Alps and is surrounded by the spectacular mountain trio 'Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau'. There is probably not another town in Switzerland that is as post card perfect as it is, blessed with stunning surroundings making it the perfect place to enjoy Switzerland’s natural beauty and charm. You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to take in all of this delightful towns special charm. Overnight Grindelwald. (B,L)

Day 13 - September 16th - Today we make a full day of enjoying the Jungfrau Experience. The experience includes traveling to Europe’s Highest Railway Station at an altitude 6,762 feet called Kleine Scheidegg. From here we take the Cogwheel Train to the Summit of the Jungfrau at 11,332 feet where we will have spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and on a clear day can see into Germany and France. Looking west you will see the Largest Glacier of Europe, the Aletsch Glacier. As one of the Bernese Oberland’s ultimate excursions, the Jungfraujoch is truly an unforgettable experience. After taking in the spectacular views we will find some lunch before visiting the Ice Palace with its many ice sculptures to admire. There is also a Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven and the Alpine Sensation, a moving walkway with images, light and music and a lift that takes you 350 feet further up to the Sphinx Observatory where you can enjoy a 360° view from both the terrace and from the comfort of a building with panoramic windows! After a full days outing we return to Grindelwald before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Grindelwald. (B,L,D)

Day 14 - September 27th - We will have a leisurely start this morning as we make our way to Bern. We will travel along Thunnersee or Lake Thun for part of the way before reaching Oberhoven Castle. The impressive keep of the former fortress of Oberhofen was likely built in the early 13th Century, but in the 14th Century, it belonged to the Habsburgs and then later on the Scharnachthal Dynasty. In 1844 the castle was bought and converted to a summer residence by the aristocratic Pourtalès Family from Neuchatel and Prussia and that is what we will see today. The Castle Park is one of the most magnificent Gardens in the Alpine region with its striking tree formations, exotic wood plants, covered walkway and colourful flower parterres. We will Lunch in the Castle Restaurant before continuing on to Bern, the Capitol of Switzerland. The medieval air of this city with its many fountains, sandstone facades, narrow streets and historic towers is unique with its old town round which the River Aare flows. The boutiques, bars and cabaret stages of the old town, some of which are located in vaulted cellars, and the small street cafés attract locals as well as a lot of tourists. After experience this lovely city we get checked into our accommodation before we are out for mountain romance in the middle of the city! In the garden of the Marzilibrücke Restaurant where four Pretty Cable Cars are waiting to serve us a fondue. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the tastebuds as the gondolas are charmingly decorated with red and white chequered curtains and authentic accessories. Dinner and Overnight Bern. (B,L,D)

Day 15 - September 28th - Our travels continue into the wide, green valleys of the Vaud Alps with snowy summits filling the horizon as we make our way through vineyards and alpine meadows to the fortified town of Gruyères, that gives its name to the well- known cheese. This medieval town offers a cultural and gastronomical journey as the pedestrian town welcomes you to a gentle stroll, with its cobblestones and its fountains. The Cheese Dairy La Maison du Gruyère in Pringy presents the famous Gruyère Cheese Making Process Experience with an interactive tour that reveals the secrets of this tasty creation, which can be enjoyed at the end of the visit. La Chocolaterie de Gruyères is also a must stop before Lunch at Auberge de la Halle for their signature dish 'Soupe de Chalet'. After lunch we make our way to the Terraced Vineyards of Lavaux. Within the heart of the terraces we find the winery of Cave de Moratel, a family business for 3 generations and entirely located within the Appellation Area of Epesses. They cultivate White Chasselas and Viognier, and Red Pinot Noir and Diolinoir, all varieties which are especially well suited to the sunny terraces of Lavaux. After a tour and a taste we make our way into Geneva where after settling into our hotel you can find some dinner on your own. Overnight Geneva. (B,L)

Day 16 - September 29th - Like the swans that frolic on its eponymous Alpine Lake which is Europe's largest, Genève is a rare bird. The World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross, the second-largest branches of the United Nations and World Bank are here as well as an overload of luxury hotels, boutiques, jewellers, restaurants and chocolatiers. Geneva's counterculture dwells in Les Grottes, the Quartier des Pâquis and along the post-industrial Rhône where neighbourhood bars hum with attitude and energy. To take full advantage of this we will have a Guided Tour of Geneva this morning to familiarize ourselves with the city. We will discover the Old Town of Geneva, the largest historical site in Switzerland, dominated by St. Peter's Cathedral. We will explore the cities narrow streets leading to charming terraces where very street corner holds secret stories and historical treasures that will be revealed to you by our guide. After Lunch on the Water we visit Carouge, Geneva's 'Greenwich Village'. We will meet the artisans, artists and others who make Carouge such a charming place. Its shaded squares are amazingly reminiscent of Italy, despite being just a few minutes from the city centre. After a day of exploring together we will take a few hours to explore on our own before gathering for our Farewell Dinner on our last night together. Farewell Dinner and Overnight Geneva. (B,L,D)

Day 17 - September 30th - This morning we return you to the Geneva International Airport for your journey home.