The Majesty of Switzerland and the High Peaks of the Alps
April 23rd - May 9th, 2025
17 Days discovering Geneva, Lausanne, Chillon Castle, Zermatt, Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, St Bernard Museum 'Musée et Chiens du Saint Bernard', Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Monte Rosa Alpine Peaks, Europe’s Highest Open-Air Cog Railway, Lunch at Europe's Highest Hotel, Ascona, Three Castles at Bellinzona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Moritz, the Engadine Valley and the Grisons Alps, Stazerwald Forest in a Horse Drawn Carriage, Char the oldest town in Switzerland, Lucerne, Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Palfries Cable Car. Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, Rhine Falls, the most Powerful Waterfall in Europe, Zürich, Rigi Kulm Cogwheel Railway, Mount Stanserhorn and Funicular Railway and Open Top Cable Car, Geographical Center of Switzerland, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Staubbach Falls, the Highest Free-Falling Waterfalls in Europe, Trümmelbach Falls, Europe's Largest Subterranean Waterfalls, Cogwheel Train to the Summit of the Jungfrau, Bern, Capitol of Switzerland, Oberhoven Castle, Vaud Alps, The Cheese Dairy La Maison du Gruyère in Pringy, Terraced Vineyards of Lavaux with Cave de Moratel and so much more!
Tour price includes all accommodation, full Swiss breakfast each morning, all lunches and dinners as listed in itinerary. Porterage of one suitcase per person. Minibus travel including tour guide. Knowledgeable guide for all tourist venues. All sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees. All taxes and service charges. As with all of our tours we try to offer as many different kinds of accommodations as we can along with as many different dining experiences as are available. Tour limited to 10 - 12 people.
We think that we have created an amazing itinerary! Switzerland is rated as the most expensive country in the world to visit and the price reflects this!
$9995.00 per person.
$1495.00 single supplement.
$1000.00 deposit to book your spot.
Day 1 - April 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 discover all of the city's delights on 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. Following our walking tour we stop for Afternoon Tea in the city. 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 above Montreax. (B,L,D)
Day 2 - April 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 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. Dinner and Overnight above Montreax. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - April 25th - This morning we will visit Chaplin's World where each room in this beautiful home speaks volumes about the family life of the legendary artist, Charlie Chaplin. Discover Chaplin's furnishings and personal belongings, testimony to his unusual childhood. Retrace the last 25 years in the extraordinary life of this cinematographic genius. Next we will enter the Hollywood-style Studio and immerse ourselves in the spectacular world of silent film and rediscover Chaplin's legendary films on a moving and fascinating journey through various eras and settings. The 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. We will have a taste of each wine accompanied by food pairings. We then return home where you can find some dinner on your own. Overnight above Montreaux. (B,L)
Day 4 - April 26th - 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! 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. After lunch we 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 5 - April 27th - 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 6 - April 28th - This morning we make our way back to Täsch for our journey to Grindelwald by way of Lauterbrunnen. Once in Lauterbrunnen we will visit the local shop to gather items for a picnic which we will enjoy 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 will then take some time to explore Lauterbrunnen including the famous Staubbach Falls plunging almost 1000 feet from an overhanging rock face, making them one of the Highest Free-Falling Waterfalls in Europe! After thorough exploration we make our way to our accommodation in Grindelwald. 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. Dinner and Overnight Grindelwald. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - April 29th - 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. Dinner and Overnight Grindelwald. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - April 30th - As we are half way through the tour the entire day will be spent at your leisure to do anything you want or to do nothing at all. You may want to visit the Glacier Gorge of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier, an impressive masterpiece of nature. You can wander through rock galleries and tunnels and discover the once ice-covered gorge. You can also easily take a train into 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. Then get plenty of rest for the second half of the tour. Overnight Grindelwald. (B)
Day 9 - May 1st - This morning we make our way Bellinzona very near to the Italian border. Along the way we will stop at Giessbach Falls, where we can enjoy the majestic natural spectacle as water from the Giessbach stream plunges down a total of 14 steps into the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz. Wherever you are on the 20 minute circular hiking trail you’ll always be in earshot of the striking thunder of the Giessbach Falls. We will also stop at Reichenbach Falls,a mighty 250 foot high waterfall that is reached by a heritage railway that climbs ever upwards. Near the summit station, three viewing terraces offer a breathtaking view of the waterfall and the Haslital. Our next stop is in Andermatt, set in the heart of the Swiss mountains, in the high-alpine Ursern Valley! This delightful village is surrounded by eight Alpine passes making it the ideal starting point for nature lovers seeking relaxation and unforgettable moments in an overwhelming mountain world. We then continue on to Bellinzona to get checked into out accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Bellinzona. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - May 2nd - This morning we have a tour of 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, you will be able to find lunch in Bellinzona and then make our way to Lugano the largest town in the holiday region of Ticino. Not only is it Switzerland's third most important financial centre, but also a town of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town. After some exploration we return to Bellinzona before we have dinner. Dinner and Overnight Bellinzona. (B,D)
Day 11 - May 3rd - 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 you to find 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,D)
Day 12 - May 4th - This morning we will discover the delights of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne on a Walking Tour 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 we will stop for Afternoon Tea at The Queen Camellia Tea Room. After tea you will want to explore Lucerne's Old Town boulevard which 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. You can then find some dinner on your own. Overnight Lucerne. (B,L)
Day 13 - May 5th - 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 stop for lunch and then some time to do some sightseeing on your own. We then stop 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 to Basel to get checked into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Basel. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - May 6th - We will have some time to explore Basel this morning before we make our way to Bern. Basel is a place of exciting contrasts. A city with historical buildings next to modern architecture and where a young and dynamic art scene exists alongside world-renowned museums. There is cosmopolitan ambience here, lively traditions there and it is a place that must be experienced! Before leaving Basel behind we will join a two-and-a-half hour Rhine Lock Journey taking us along the Rhine shores from Basle to Rheinfelden. Two locks at Augst and Birsfelden have to be negotiated on the Swiss as well as the German side. Also, the vessel docks at several boat landings: at Kaiseraugst and at the former Roman city Augusta Raurica among others. You will be able to find some lunch onboard at one of the restaurants as we make our way along the Rhine. After our journey we continue to the Capital of Switzerland, Bern to get checked into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Bern. (B,D)
Day 15 - May 7th - We will travel along Thunnersee or Lake Thun this morning on our way to 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 returning to Bern where you will have some time to explore. 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. Overnight Bern. (B,L)
Day 16 - May 8th - 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 or after lunch. After lunch we make our way to Chateau de Nyon, originally a fortified house, built in the middle of the 12th century by the Cossonay-Prangins family. In 1293 the counts of Savoy took it over and from 1360 on transformed it considerably by adding two towers on the lake side and also an inside courtyard. In 1536, as the Reformation took hold, the Bernese chased the House of Savoy out of Nyon. Between 1574 and 1583, the chief magistrates of Berne (“Leurs Excellences”) undertook major construction work, giving the castle the appearance it has today. Following the Vaud revolution of 1798, the town of Nyon purchased the castle from the newly created Canton of Vaud in 1804. Farewell Dinner and Overnight near Geneva. (B,L,D)
Day 17 - May 9th - This morning we return you to the Geneva International Airport for your journey home. (B)