On your grand tour of Switzerland you’ll explore the alps and picturesque towns while taking in the stunning scenery of the alps and lakes.
Visit the northern Italian Lake Maggiore. Enjoy the untouched rivers and mountains of Switzerland. See the huge peaks of the alps. Stroll the charming and sophisticated Swiss mountain towns.
This tour of Switzerland begins in Zurich. Form there your trip continues uphill. With a stops in the alps Principality of Liechtenstein and the glamorous St. Moritz resort. Then board the Bernina Express alpine train for breathtaking views as you travel Swiss-style to Tirano, Italy. From there on the southern side of the alps you’ll visit Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Then its back to Switzerland with nights in Täsch and Zermatt at the foot of Matterhorn.
Overnights include Lausanne area, then to Gruyère to visit a local cheese factory, to the charming Swiss capital of Berne, and to Lake Lucerne, surrounded by snowcapped Alps. Your adventure concludes with a final overnight in vibrant Zürich.
Highlights
13 Meals: Breakfast daily, 4 three-course dinners
Inside visits and special features:
Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
Sightseeing:
Visits to Appenzell, Vaduz, St. Moritz, Lugano, Zermatt, Gruyères Village, Berne, Interlaken, Lucerne
Scenic Highlights:
Julier Pass, Engadine Valley, Swiss-Italian Lake District, Simplon Pass, Matterhorn, Bernese Oberland
Scenic Drive:
Lake Maggiore, Lake Geneva
For the day-by-day tour itinerary click here.
Accommodations
Zurich ( 1 night ) Novotel Zurich City-West
St. Moritz ( 2 nights ) Hotel Baeren
Lugano ( 1 night ) Ibis Lugano
Taesch (1 Night) Hotel Walliserhof
Bussigny-Lausanne ( 2 nights ) Novotel Bussigny Lausanne
Lucerne ( 1 night ) Drei Koenige
Zurich ( 1 night ) Züri by Fassbind
11-Day Switzerland & Italian Lakes Tour Package
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Switzerland and Italian Lakes Tour Itinerary
Day 2: Arrive in Zürich, Switzerland
Check into your hotel in Zürich. The rest of the day is free for exploring this exciting city. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)
Day 3: Zürich–Appenzell–Liechtenstein–St. Moritz
A sensational drive today takes you through some of Switzerland’s most renowned cantons. By way of the market town of Herisau, stop in Appenzell to see the Old Town with its 16th-century Town Hall. Continue east to the minute Principality of Liechtenstein for a visit of its tiny capital, Vaduz. Pass through scenic “Heidiland” and into the Rhine Valley before starting the ascent up mighty Julier Pass. Soon, you’ll be in the heart of Switzerland’s largest canton, the Grisons, where you’ll marvel at some of the world’s best Alpine views. Spend the next two nights in glamorous St. Moritz, host of two Olympic Winter Games (1928 and 1948) and the premier winter retreat of European royalty, celebrities, and the international jet set for more than a century. (B)
Day 4: At Leisure in St. Moritz
Enjoy a whole day to explore this scenic Engadine valley resort. Renowned for its stunning forest, lake, and mountain setting and an average of 322 days of sunshine per year, St. Moritz is comprised of two villages separated by a mile of lake shore—St. Moritz Dorf and St. Moritz Bad. Extending up the slope from the lake, terraced Dorf is a tapestry of grand hotels, upscale boutiques, and traditional Engadine architecture, characterized by arched wooden doors, small deep-set windows, and artistically etched facades. Meanwhile, neighboring Bad is known for its ice rink, mineral and mud baths, and energetic nightlife. (B,D)
Day 5: St. Moritz–Bernina Express Train to Tirano, Italy–Lugano, Switzerland
One of Europe’s most spectacular TRAIN rides begins today in St. Moritz, whisking you across lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to Tirano in the Italian Valtellina. Here, rejoin your motorcoach and journey to the shores of sparkling Lake Lugano. (B)
Day 6: Lugano–Lake Maggiore–Täsch–Zermatt
This morning, discover the highlights of charming, subtropical Lugano before traveling to Lake Maggiore, Italy’s second-largest lake. Consider joining the optional boat trip for a visit to the garden island of Isola Bella with its splendid 17th-century palazzo (palace). Return to Switzerland via picturesque Simplon Pass and hop aboard the TRAIN in Täsch for the only connection to car-free Zermatt, a resort surrounded by Switzerland’s highest mountains—including the celebrated Matterhorn. (B,D)
Day 7: Zermatt–Lausanne Area
Time this morning to stroll through town and maybe take a break to sample the local fare, like raclette, fondue, or hand-made chocolate, or to shop for an authentic Swiss watch or Swiss Army Knife. Later, take the train back to Täsch, where you will rejoin the coach and continue your journey through the vineyards and apricot groves of the lower Rhône Valley to crescent-shaped Lake Geneva, one of Europe’s largest lakes. (B)
Day 8: Lausanne Area
Spend either a whole day at leisure exploring Lausanne and its environs; or join an optional excursion to charming Geneva, with its cobblestoned Old Town and the Palais des Nations, European headquarters of the United Nations. (B,D)
Day 9: Lausanne Area–Gruyère–Berne–Interlaken–Lucerne Area
Travel northeast today, stopping in picturesque Gruyères to visit a local CHEESE FACTORY. Then, on to Berne, Switzerland’s charming 12th-century capital. The Old Town is a showcase of medieval architecture, arcaded shops, artistic fountains, and the landmark Zytglogge (clock tower), an ornate animated astronomical clock built in 1530. Travel on, skirting the shores of Lake Thun, and arrive in the renowned resort of Interlaken for a visit before crossing Brünig Pass to Lucerne. Tonight, why not join an optional folklore evening, complete with yodeling and alphorn blowing? (B)
Day 10: Lucerne Area–Zürich
Today, discover the wonders of Lucerne, a city straight out of a storybook. Situated on Lake Lucerne in the shadows of the snowcapped Alps, your visit takes in the highlights, including cobblestone streets lined with frescoed homes, the world-famous CHAPEL BRIDGE, and the poignant LION MONUMENT. Perhaps choose from a wonderful selection of optional activities—the most popular is an excursion to Stanserhorn mountain. In the late afternoon, an easy drive returns you to Zürich for a final overnight. (B)
Day 11: Zürich
Your trip to Switzerland ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
