Best of Switzerland
Experience Overview
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.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- 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.
Dive into Culture
- Brienz: Learn about Switzerland's wood-carving heritage at the Jobin wood sculpture museum in Brienz.
Iconic Experience
- 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.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- 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.
Must-see Highlights
- Discover Zürich, Bern, Zermatt, Stresa, Interlaken and Lucerne
- Visit Chillon Castle and Brienz Woodcarving Museum
- View the Matterhorn and Jungfrau 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
Trip Details
Product Code: 28249
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 41.148B
Starts: Zurich, Switzerland
Finishes: Zurich, Switzerland
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
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
- 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
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,305 ($589 /day)
Itinerary
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.
Accommodation: Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle
Meals: Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Mona Montreux
Meals: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Mirabeau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Accommodation: Mirabeau
Meals: Breakfast
Leave the alpine charm of Zermatt behind as you travel towards the shores of Lake Maggiore. Arrive in Stresa, where you’ll enjoy an orientation before free time to explore the town’s lakeside promenade, browse local shops or simply take in the view. For something special, join an Optional Experience by private launch to Isola Bella. Meet a Local Specialist for a guided tour of the palace on this Borromean Island, known for its Baroque interiors and terraced gardens. Continue to Locarno, a lakeside town in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region known for its relaxed atmosphere, piazzas and palm-lined promenade.
Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Locarno
Meals: Breakfast
Travel through the scenic Italian countryside to the fortified town of Tirano. Here, you'll board the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway to cross the Bernina Pass and wind your way through scenic landscapes en route to the stylish resort town of St. Moritz. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Accommodation: Reine Victoria
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 facades. 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.
Accommodation: Grand Europe Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Grand Europe Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
As our journey through the Best of Switzerland comes to an end, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Sudarshan Upadhya - Traveled, September 2024
Travel Director can make good or bad trip. The itinerary was very well planned. More than that, the Travel Director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, made this trip memorable. Our previous trip with Trafalgar lacked a Travel Director who thought about their group members and their needs or difficulties while explaining the details of the site-specific attractions. We thank Mr. *Personal information removed by Feefo* for helping us find suitable food options, guiding us throughout the trip, and for lively communication with all group members.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/28/2024
Judith Carroll - Traveled, September 2024
Switzerland…heaven on earth! The Trafalgar road crew on this trip were definitely 5 star! Travel Director *Personal information removed by Feefo* was so knowledgeable about the area & he easily managed a large, diverse passenger group. He was so kind, with an ever-present sense of fun & the patience of a saint. Thank you *Personal information removed by Feefo*…you made this trip magical! I would also like to acknowledge our 2 coach drivers, *Personal information removed by Feefo* & *Personal information removed by Feefo* who have such incredible driving skills. What a glorious trip! The mountains, the lakes & the valleys make it one of the most beautiful places on earth. From boat cruises on the lakes to the breathtaking Matterhorn Glacier cable car trip to glimpse the famous mountain up close, every day was more exciting than the one before.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/25/2024
Maira - Traveled, July 2024
The Best of Switzerland! The best of Switzerland ???? trip was wonderful. The tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* did a fantastic job. *Personal information removed by Feefo* went above and beyond. Explain every detail. We all impressed how he did outstanding work.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/22/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, July 2024
Magic of Switzerland! Easy to make arrangements, good communication. Switzerland is an incredibly beautiful country. During our nine days we had what felt like weeks of experiences. One day you are walking inside a glacier, a few days later you are dining on a tropical island in northern Italy. Our tour guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* was exceptional.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/27/2024
Robin Regazzini - Traveled, August 2024
Best of Switzerland was excellent! Our tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic. Our coach drivers, *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* did an excellent job maneuvering through narrow village streets and hairpin alpine passes. The trip was above and beyond our expectations. Everything went smoothly, thanks in large part to the expertise of our tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*. His knowledge, experience and enthusiasm made a huge difference. The hotels were all quite comfortable, the included and optional experiences were excellent, but the scenery was the star of the show. An open air train over the Alps from Italy to Switzerland! The Matterhorn! We would highly recommend this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, August 2024
Best of Switzerland, started in Zurich ended in Lucerne . Hotels were great, tout was organized and well managed, thanks to *Personal details removed by Feefo*. He’s the best!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/20/2024
Melody - Traveled, March 2024
The best in Switzerland with the best Tour company! Quite expensive but first class service. And it's all worth it. It can be recommended to anyone.in Switzerland. The experience is awesome. The itinerary is excellent. The tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* is the best.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, February 2024
Best of Switzerland! Our Tour Director, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was wonderful! So fun! Our bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* was amazing! Great itinerary! Lots of experiences!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/22/2024
Kavitha Thevi Muniandy - Traveled, September 2024
Well planned and worth spending money and time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/27/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Great itinerary great paced tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2024
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