Day
1: Depart for Geneva, SWITZERLAND
Overnight flight
Day 2: Arrive Geneva / Lausanne, SWITZERLAND
On arrival at Geneva airport you will be met by your English-speaking
guide for a short sightseeing tour of Geneva in your private vehicle.
Nestled between the Jura and the Alps, on the southwestern tip of Lac
Léman (Lake Geneva), Geneva was the home of the League of Nations. The
Left Bank bristles with prestigious shops, monuments, parks and
fountains. In the Old Town, visit the Church of St Peters and relax a
little in one of the many sidewalk cafés before transferring to the
lakeside town of Lausanne. Here your guide will assist with check-in and
run through the rest of your itinerary.
►Some suggested Lausanne hotels (in alphabetical order): Hotel Beau Rivage Palace, Lausanne (V) Lausanne Palace & Spa (V)
►Together, we will find the best choice for you!
Day 3: Lausanne, SWITZERLAND
This morning your driver and guide will take you up to the Old Town of
Lausanne. The Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, an architectural treasure,
is Switzerland's largest and finest church. The Hôtel de Ville is the
seat of municipal and communal councils, and the painted medieval
Fontaine de la Justice draws people to lounge on its heavy rim. This
afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy the relaxing facilities of the
hotel, or pop along to the Olympic Museum, next door to the hotel. The
more adventurous may like to take the ferry across the lake to the
French town of Evian, famous for its water.
►For Lausanne hotel suggestions, see above.
Day 4: Chillon & Gruyeres, SWITZERLAND
Today you will enjoy a full day excursion to Montreux and Gruyères with
your private vehicle and English-speaking guide. Tour through some of
the picturesque cheese-making villages, and visit the Gruyères Cheese
Factory and Gruyères Castle. You will stop in Montreux, where you enjoy
a guided tour of Château de Chillon, a 12th century castle that rises
out of the water at Veytaux that was once used as a prison. This
inspired Lord Byron to write his famous poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’.
►For Lausanne hotel suggestions, see above.
Day 5: Lausanne – Zermatt, SWITZERLAND
Today you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred with your
guide to Lausanne railway station. Here you will be shown to your
pre-reserved 1st class seating and your luggage will be handled onboard
for you. In Visp your guide and driver will wait for you and transfer
you the rest of the way to Zermatt by private vehicle.
Travel by modern express rail in Europe is an excellent way of traveling
between destinations in comfort, style and at speed. The benefits of
rail travel in Europe are numerous, and in many instances, rail travel
can be quicker than air travel so no waiting in airport departure
lounges or lost luggage! 1st Class rail travel is also a very cost
effective and comfortable method of covering mid-distance travel when
compared to air travel or road transfers. You will be accompanied to
your reserved 1st class seating on departure and met on the platform at
the arrival terminal, whilst your luggage will be handled for you at
both ends of the journey. For your journey, you will be provided with a
journey bag containing an English language newspaper, bottled water and
some snacks.
►Suggested hotel: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (V)
Day 6: Zermatt & Gornergrat, SWITZERLAND
Enjoy a 4-hour sightseeing tour with your local English-speaking guide.
Travel up the Gornergrat by the highest open-air rail system in Europe.
From the summit station there are majestic views of the Matterhorn,
Monte Rosa and Corner Glacier. The remainder of today is at leisure.
►Suggested hotel: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (V)
Day 7: Zermatt, SWITZERLAND
Today is at leisure to enjoy the Alpine scenery and hospitality. You may
want to take the cable car up to the Little Matterhorn, stroll through
the Alpine meadows or relax and enjoy the facilities of your hotel which
has an amazing spa with a large pool, steam room, sauna, Alpine and Ice
grotto, fitness area and “Vita Borni” treatments (please pre-book).
►Suggested hotel: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (V)
Day 8: Zermatt – Glacier Express – Lucerne, SWITZERLAND
This morning you will be met by your Guardian Angel and privately
transferred to Zermatt station. Here you will board the Glacier Express
train bound for Andermatt. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the
comfort of your reserved first class seats. Upon arrival at Andermatt
train station, you will be met by your driver and taken by private
vehicle to your hotel in Lucerne. ►Suggested hotel: Palace Luzer (V)
Day 9: Lucerne, SWITZERLAND
After breakfast, you will take a walking tour of Lucerne with your local
English-speaking guide. You will visit the Altes Rathaus (Old Town
Hall), the Hofkirche that was first part of a monastery founded in 750,
and the celebrated Glacier Gardens. The afternoon is at leisure, but on
a nice day we suggest enjoying a relaxing public boat cruise on the
lake.
►Suggested hotel: Palace Luzern (V)
Day 10: Mount Pilatus, SWITZERLAND
Meet your guide and driver this morning for your trip up Mount Pilatus.
Your driver will take you to the station in Alpnachstad from where you
and the guide will take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to Pilatus
Kulm. During your journey, you will see lush meadows with Alpine
flowers, mountain streams and fascinating rock faces. Your guide will
point out anything of interest. Make your way back down the mountain by
the aerial gondola. Those interested may like to visit the exhibition at
Fräkmüntegg Station that tells the story of the gondola from concept
through to completion. The remainder of today is at leisure for you to
enjoy the lovely town of Lucerne, perhaps visit a museum or just sit
along the promenade and watch the world go by.
►Suggested hotel: Palace Luzern (V)
Day 11: Depart from Zurich, SWITZERLAND
You will have a private car transfer to Zurich airport.