Itinerary Details
Insight Vacations: Glorious Switzerland - Small Group
Day 1 - Geneva, City of Gardens
Prepare yourself for the majesty of Switzerland's snow-capped mountains, glaciers, sparkling lakes, flower-filled meadows and rich, green valleys. Meet your Travel Director and travel companions for a short stroll to your dinner. The evening is full of Swiss delight, as you enjoy the cozy decor while being served typical Swiss specialties including cheese fondue.
Accommodations: Royal, Geneva
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Montreux, Chillon and the Matterhorn Village of Zermatt
Start your day with highlights of Geneva, the City of Gardens. See the Jet d’Eau and Floral Clock. Then relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery as you continue to the charming town of Montreux. Situated at the foot of the Alps and boasting beautiful lakeside walks, enjoy free time to explore this pretty town. On the western bay of Lake Geneva, join your host at Chillon Castle for a special tour of the former home to the Dukes of Savoy, immortalized by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon'. Keep a lookout for where the writer is rumored to have left his mark. Continue through the Rhone Valley, where high summer temperatures support vines and other fruits. The final stage of your journey is by cogwheel train to the traffic-free Alpine resort of Zermatt. During your orientation with your Travel Director, feast your eyes on the distinctive triangular silhouette of the Matterhorn. At night, enjoy a stroll in the fresh mountain air to your chosen restaurant for your Dine-Around evening.
Accommodations: Hemizeus & Iremia Spa, Zermatt
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Free Time in Zermatt Relaxed Start
Zermatt in the summertime offers many leisure possibilities: try swimming, hiking, or spend a whole day relaxing in the fresh Alpine surroundings. Perhaps take an optional ride on Europe’s highest cable car to the snow-capped Klein Matterhorn for a magnificent panorama of the highest peaks in Switzerland, Italy and France?
Accommodations: Hemizeus & Iremia Spa, Zermatt
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Elegant Lugano Relaxed Start
Descend to Täsch and rejoin the coach. Follow in Napoleon's footsteps as you ascend the Simplon Pass, taking in magnificent views over the Alps from the 2,000 m (6,562 ft) summit. Continue along the gentle shores of Lake Maggiore. Perhaps take a delightful boat trip to see the stunning Isola Bella?
Accommodations: De La Paix, Lugano
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Grison Alps to Chic St. Moritz
Head north into the high mountain country of the Grison Alps today. Ascend the San Bernardino and Julier Passes to arrive in the sparkling Engadine Valley, known for its invigorating climate characterized by clear skies and its high-altitude location in the Alps. Upon arrival in the cosmopolitan resort of St. Moritz, your Travel Director will provide a brief orientation, showcasing the spa quarter and the brilliantly sparkling glacial lake. Afterwards, you'll have time to explore further on your own or perhaps embark on a train journey over the Bernina Pass.
Accommodations: Steffani, St. Moritz
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Scenic Train Ride, Liechtenstein and Lucerne
Start the day with a scenic train ride along part of the route of the Glacier Express, through unforgettable scenes of ice-capped mountains, stone-built villages and lush meadows. At Chur, reboard your coach and travel along the valley of the Upper Rhine to spend some time in Vaduz, the tiny capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, where you explore the area around the castle. Continue to Lucerne alongside the dramatic Walensee and Lake Zürich. On arrival, see the sorrowful sculpture of the wounded lion, commemorating the brave Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Your Travel Director will also show you the Jesuit Church and the Chapel Bridge.
Accommodations: Astoria Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - The Summit of Mount Stanserhorn Relaxed Start
Commence the day with a morning stroll along lakeside promenades or shopping for fine watches while enjoying the scenery. Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels takes you up the summit. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Celebrate new friends and enjoy dinner in a restaurant at the foot of Mount Stanserhorn.
Accommodations: Astoria Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Leave Lucerne for Zürich
In the morning, your adventures through Switzerland come to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
