Get to know the best Switzerland has to offer in this fully escorted tour by bus. Stops will include cosmopolitan Zurich and Lausanne, charming villages such as Appenzell, Werdenberg and Zermatt where you can immerse yourself in the eye-catching medieval architecture before visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate factory in Kilchberg and the famous cheese factory in Pringy-Gruyères.
Overview
Get to know the best Switzerland has to offer in this fully escorted tour by bus. Stops will include cosmopolitan Zurich and Lausanne, charming villages such as Appenzell, Werdenberg and Zermatt where you can immerse yourself in the eye-catching medieval architecture before visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate factory in Kilchberg and the famous cheese factory in Pringy-Gruyères.
Itinerary
Ready to discover the spectacular cities and landscapes of Switzerland? Arrive at your departure airport, ready to catch a flight to Zurich.* Night on board.
* If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
Touch down in Zurich, famous for being the global center of finance on the north shore of the beautiful lake with the same name. Self-transfer* to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure. Why not walk around the historic old town and enjoy a warm beverage in one of the many cafes or enjoy an international array of gastronomic offerings from restaurants across the city. Overnight stay in Zurich.
* Airport transfers are not included. You will have the option to add a transfer from the airport to your hotel for an additional cost in the next step of the booking process.
After enjoying Breakfast at the hotel, meet your english-speaking guide at the lobby of your hotel to begin your tour. Your first stop of the day will be to Appenzell where you will marvel at the rolling hills with green meadows and herds of cows that produce the world famous Appenzeller Cheese. Continue to Vaduz in time for you to enjoy lunch at your leisure before taking a quick tour of the city centre where you can catch a glimpse of Vaduz Castle from a distance—this is where the Prince of Liechtenstein resides today! Your next stop will be in Werdenberg, known as Switzerland’s smallest city which also happens to have the country's oldest wooden houses. Settle in at your hotel located in the Italian-speaking Canton of Ticino and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Overnight stay in Canton of Ticino.
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your day by visiting Lugano, the picturesque lakeside city known for its beautiful quasi-Mediterranean scenery. Next, make your way to Bellinzona where you will briefly tour the city’s main attractions before visiting the courtyard of the emblematic Castelgrande. You will have some leisurely time to enjoy lunch in the city centre before heading to Tasch to board a shuttle train* to car-free resort, Zermatt. You will arrive at your hotel by foot and then enjoy the rest of your evening at your leisure. Overnight stay in Zermatt.
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your day on a walking tour of Zermatt in which you will get to relish the alpine views of the Swiss Alps in all their beauty. You will then board a shuttle train back to Tasch to head over to Veytaux. Upon arrival, we will quickly pause at Chillon Castle, an island castle located on Lake Geneva, for a picture stop. The next point in your journey will be scenic Montreux, known as a cultural hub of the country thanks to its world famous annual jazz festival. Lastly, we will make our way to Lausanne where you will enjoy the rest of the evening getting to know your surroundings. Overnight stay in Lausanne.
Breakfast at the hotel. Your day begins with a brief drive around Lausanne to admire the city’s most iconic sights. We will make our way to Pringy and explore the village before stopping at the famous Cheese Factoryfor an audio guided tour and a sampling of Switzerland’s famous gruyères cheese. Your next stop will be Gruyères where you will go on a brief city tour by foot to get to know your surroundings. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in the city centre before departing for Bern. Once here, you will take part in a quick city tour of the capital of Switzerland and then make your way to Interlaken for check-in. Overnight stay in Interlaken.
Breakfast at the hotel. Your entire day will be spent as you see fit. Why not take this time for some shopping or exploring the picturesque scenery of Interlaken? We recommend an optional full day excursion to Jungfraujoch*. Overnight stay in Interlaken.
* Optional Full day excursion to Jungfraujoch: One of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, Jungfraujoch offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. You will be taking the Eigerexpress, a mountain cable car, to marvel at the stunning view of the Top of Europe, the highest railway station in all of the continent. You will then head back down to enjoy lunch before taking a train to make your way to Lauterbrunnen to witness the impressive Staubach waterfalls.
Breakfast at the hotel. Your first stop of the day will be in Lucerne where you will get to discover the colourful city’s old town and medieval architecture. Enjoy lunch at your leisure in the city centre. You will then make your way to Kilchberg where you will visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate with an audio guide and sample their delicious chocolate. Your last stop of the trip will be to Zurich. Get to know the country’s economic hub in a brief city tour and then enjoy the rest of your remaining hours at your leisure. Overnight in Zurich.
Breakfast at the hotel*. Bid farewell to the charming culture and unforgettable landscapes of Switzerland. At the indicated time, self-transfer** to the airport for your return flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end of your trip.***
* Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.
** Airport transfers are not included. You will have the option to add a transfer from the airport to your hotel for an additional cost in the next step of the booking process.
** Depending on the return flight schedule, you may arrive in the US the next day.Day
Includes/Excludes
Price Includes
- -Departures from main US airports.
- -International flights: US - Zurich - US.
- -Round-trip 2nd class train ticket Tasch - Zermatt.
- -7 nights accommodation in Charm & Superior category hotels.
- See hotels included
- -7 breakfasts.
- -Optional airport-hotel-airport transfers.
- -Visits and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary.
- See itinerary
- -Air taxes and fuel surcharge.
- -Visit to a Cheese Factory in Pringy-Gruyeres and to Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg.
- English-speaking guide during the whole trip.
Price Does Not Include
- Airport transfers*, Tax**, meals, drinks, tips*** and any other services not mentioned in what's included.
- * Airport transfers are not included. You will have the possibility to add a private transfer to your reservation in the next step of the booking process.
- ** City taxes are not included and must be paid directly in the hotel.
- *** Tips are not included. Although tipping is not mandatory, we highly recommend an average of CHF 2 per day per person for the guide as well as for the driver. Keep in mind that tipping is an important part of Swiss culture and customary in this line of work.