Grand Tour Of Switzerland With Interlaken Extension
Day by Day
| Day | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | ZURICH, SWITZERLAND Check into your hotel in Zurich. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this exciting city. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers. (D) |
| 2 | ZURICH - ST. MORITZ A sensational drive today through some of Switzerland's most famed cantons. First, by way of the market town of Herisau, then stop in Appenzell to see the old town centre with its Town Hall. Further east to the minute Principality of Liechtenstein. A scenic drive through "Heidiland" to the Rhine Valley before starting the ascent of the mighty Julier Pass. Soon you'll be in the heart of Switzerland's largest canton, the Grisons. Here see some of the world's best Alpine views before arriving in St. Moritz. (B) |
| 3 | ST. MORITZ - BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN TO TIRANO, ITALY - LUGANO, SWITZERLAND Enjoy the highlight of the whole tour and a wonderful way of crossing the Alps. One of Europe's most spectacular train rides begins in St. Moritz and takes you across the lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to Tirano in the Italian Valtellina. Here rejoin your coach for the journey to the shores of Lake Lugano. (B) |
| 4 | LUGANO - LAKE MAGGIORE - TASCH Morning break in sub-tropical Lugano. Afterwards, return to Italy to savour the luminous atmosphere of Lake Maggiore. Time for an optional visit to Isola Bella, a magnificently located palace and garden island. Then back into Switzerland via scenic Simplon Pass. Overnight in the village of Tasch. (B,D) |
| 5 | TASCH - ZERMATT - LAUSANNE This morning an excursion by train to Zermatt, the famous resort beneath the Matterhorn. In the afternoon motor through the vineyards and apricot groves of the lower Rhone Valley to Lake Geneva before arriving in Lausanne on its northern shore. (B) |
| 6 | LAUSANNE - INTERLAKEN Stop awhile in Gruyere to visit a local cheese factory. Then on to Switzerland's beautiful capital, Berne, a charming town with arcaded shops, carved fountains, and towers. Included sightseeing features the Bear Pit and the monumental Federal Palace. Then by way of the shores of Lake Thun to Interlaken, staying at the Chalet Swiss Hotel for the next seven nights. (B) |
| 7 | IN INTERLAKEN. INCLUDED JUNGFRAUJOCH EXCURSION It's all pure picture-postcard. Interlaken has just about everything anyone could want on a holiday. It lies beneath the towering Jungfrau and between two sparkling lakes. The undoubted highlight of your stay is the train journey to the Jungfraujoch-"Top of Europe." Start the train journey from Interlaken and travel through breathtaking Alpine scenery with views of some of Switzerland's best-known peaks. Closer to the summit go through the Eiger Mountain by tunnel to reach the world's highest rail station at an altitude of 11,332 feet. Now you are in a world of glaciers, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Vosges Mountains in France and the hills of the Black Forest in Germany. The view from the Sphinx Terrace-the highest one in Europe-spans nearly the whole of Alpine Switzerland. You also have the opportunity to view the longest glacier in Europe, the Grosser Aletschgletscher. It really is a unique and unforgettable experience. (B) |
| 8 | INTERLAKEN A full day to explore at leisure. (B) |
| 9 | INTERLAKEN A full day to explore at leisure. (B) |
| 10 | INTERLAKEN A full day to explore at leisure. (B) |
| 11 | INTERLAKEN A full day to explore at leisure. (B) |
| 12 | INTERLAKEN A full day to explore at leisure. (B) |
| 13 | INTERLAKEN - LAKE LUCERNE Spend the morning in Interlaken. Then travel to Lake Lucerne in the afternoon. (B,D) |
| 14 | LAKE LUCERNE - ZURICH One of Switzerland's finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the main highlights. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day. The most popular option is an excursion to the Stanserhorn. In the late afternoon an easy drive back to Zurich for an overnight. (B) |
| 15 | ZURICH The vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
