The Majesty of Switzerland and the High Peaks of the Alps.
September 23rd - October 9th, 2023.

Pre-Tour - September 22nd - 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 23rd - 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. 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. We then have some time to explore before stopping for Afternoon Tea in the Lounge Bar of the Royal Savoy. 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 24th - 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 Lunch and Wine Tasting in the castle. We then return to Montreax where 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 25th - 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 26th - 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 having lunch at the Highest Hotel in the Swiss Alps. We then board the train for our return journey to Zermatt where 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 27th - 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 see 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 28th - This morning we make our way to St. Moritz with a stop at Bellinzona with its Three Castles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Italian Speaking Region of Switzerland. We explore the town before stopping for lunch and then have a tour of Bellinzona to find out more about the city and three castles. 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 our tour we 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 29th - 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. Then 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 30th - 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 an Alpine Nibbles Walking Tour and discover not only the beautiful old town, but also the culinary specialities of Chur! We will taste products from the Alpine Town Line, such as chocolate, nut tarte, Salsiz (uncooked sausage), cheese, Churer Röteli liqueur and special Alpine fragrances. The Schlagerparade is being held today and we will take some time to watch the parade before we make our way a few miles further up the road to along Lake Walenstadt, one of  is the larger lakes in Switzerland. Then Lake Obersee and Lake Zürich where we find the Freinbach regions with its lovely villages of  Bäch, Freienbach, Hurden, Pfäffikon, and Wilen make up the municipality of Freienbach. Freienbach is situated at the foot of the Etzel mountain on the shore of Lake Zürich. Freienbach is the largest municipality in the canton of Schwyz. We will explore Lake Zürich and these lakeside villages before traveling further on to  Lucerne where we find our accommodation and dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Lucerne. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - October 1st - 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 - October 2nd - 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 we board a ship to see Zurich from the water side and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Zurich. You will be able to have lunch onboard as we cruise along the lake. 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 dinner. Dinner and Overnight Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 11 - October 3rd - 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 make 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 - October 4th - 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 stop for a picnic 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 - October 5th - 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 - October 6th - 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 experiencing this lovely city we get checked into our accommodation before we gather for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Bern. (B,L,D)

Day 15 - October 7th - 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 followed by a 3 course lunch at their Restaurant de las Maison Du Gruyère. After lunch we will stop at La Chocolaterie de Gruyères before making 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 - October 8th - 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 - October 9th - This morning we return you to the Geneva International Airport for your journey home.