Guaranteed departures on Sunday for 7 days
May 8, 22 – June 5, 19 – July 03, 17, 31 – August 14, 28 – Sept. 11, 25, 2016
Starting and Ending in Zurich
Price per person in double occupancy CHF 2255.–
Supplement for single room CHF 450.–
Senior Citizen Discount CHF 50.-
Itinerary
Sunday
Zurich – Jungfraujoch – Interlaken
We leave Zurich at 8.00 a.m. for a guided tour to the magnificent alpine world of the Bernese Oberland. In Lauterbrunnen we board the cogwheel train for a most interesting mountain train trip via Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the famous Eiger North Face to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe at 3’454 m / 11’333 ft – Europe’s highest railway station. Today’s highlights include the beautiful Ice Palace, the Sphinx Observation Hall overlooking the Aletsch Glacier (Switzerland’s largest glacier) and the snow-capped peaks of the neighbouring countries, in the late afternoon check-in at your hotel in Interlaken. Dinner on your own. Overnight at first class hotel.
Monday
Independent stay in Interlaken
Today’s day is at your leisure. Interlaken is located between the lakes of Thun and Brienz, at the foot of the towering trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. A perfect place to relax, or to do some sightseeing and shopping along the Höheweg, the boulevard street in Interlaken with nice restaurants, elegant fashion, watch and jeweler’s shops. Interlaken is ideally located for many excursions. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on a modern motorship or one of the renovated stately steamers on Lake of Thun. At about 6 p.m. meet with your guide in the lobby for the coach tour starting the following morning. Dinner on your own. Overnight at first class hotel.
Tuesday
Interlaken – Gruyères – Geneva
We leave Interlaken in the morning and drive along beautiful Lake of Thun to the Swiss capital, Berne. The city is attractively set on a steepsided curve of the River Aare and backed by the majestic Alps. A city tour to the Old Town includes the Clock Tower, Kramgasse, and the 15th century Cathedral of St. Vincent. A drive south takes us to the scenic dairy farmlands, to Gruyères. A beautiful hilltop town, preserved against time, which could be the magical setting for fairytales with its impressive, medieval castle. An informative visit to a factory of delicious milk product is a further highlight of our day. We continue our drive to the Vaud Riviera and reach Geneva, the most cosmopolitan city of Switzerland. Dinner on your own. Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Wednesday
Geneva – Montreux – Zermatt
We start with a city tour of Geneva this morning. We will show you the beautiful parks along the lake, the unique town-hall and the European seat of the United Nations. In the late morning we leave Geneva and drive to Lausanne and Montreux. We pass by Chillon Castle, the 13th century fortress made famous by Lord Byron’s poem. In the afternoon we proceed through the Valais, the valley of the river Rhone with its orchards and vineyards. At Täsch we will board a cogwheel train that takes us to the mountain resort of Zermatt at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn. Dinner and overnight at first class hotel.
Thursday
Zermatt – Nufenen Pass – Lugano
Morning at leisure in Zermatt – admire the quaint old farm houses and barns in their unique style, do some shopping, relax or take an optional cogwheel train up to Gornergrat for a spectacular view of the surrounding snow-covered peaks. After noon board the train to Täsch where our bus is waiting to take us over the breathtaking Nufenen Pass into the Italian speaking part of Switzerland, to the garden city of Lugano. Dinner on your own. Overnight at first class hotel.
Friday
Lugano – Lake Como – Maloja Pass – St. Moritz
We leave Lugano and drive along the scenic road to Gandria where we cross the border into Italy. Along the romantic shores of Lake Como we pass by Menaggio and reach Chiavenna in the lovely Bregaglia Valley. In Castasegna we re-enter to Switzerland and drive thirteen hairpin bends over the Maloja Pass. Passing by crystal blue Lake Sils and Silvaplana we reach the worldrenowned mountain resort of St. Moritz in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at first class hotel.
Saturday
St. Moritz – Principality of Liechtenstein – Zurich
We leave St. Moritz in the morning and cross the Fluela Pass to reach Davos. In the capital of Principality of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, there will be time for lunch and for sightseeing. This tiny country with the mighty castle, which is the home of the present Prince and his family, attracts visitors from all over the world. In the afternoon we will return to Zurich through the Toggenburg region with its picturesque farmhouses. Arrival in Zurich at approx. 5 pm.