10-Nights Switzerland: Europe's Crown Jewel - Land Journey from $12,490

Day 1 Lausanne, Switzerland
Arrive Geneva with included transfer to Lausanne

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Lausanne Palace. A transfer is included from Geneva International Airport to Lausanne Palace in Lausanne; the drive takes you through the vineyard country high above Lake Geneva to your hotel in Lausanne, overlooking the north-central shore of the famous lake. Meet your fellow Alpine travelers at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight at the hotel.

Get set for a day filled with spectacular scenery, regal lakeside châteaux, quintessential Swiss villages, and snowcapped mountains. Lord Byron made Château de Chillon, a celebrated château on the shores of Lake Geneva, famous in his poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon." Visit it today en route to medieval Gruyères, known for its cheese, where you'll spend free time and enjoy lunch. Or, choose to tour the idyllic 13th-century Château de Gruyères, housing age-old treasures spanning eight centuries of art. A cogwheel train from Täsch takes you into the mountains to the car-free resort town of Zermatt for a two-night stay, where dinner is at your leisure.

Beloved as a ski resort worldwide, Zermatt lies at the base of the majestic Matterhorn - one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps. This morning, ascend by cogwheel train to Gornergrat (elevation: 10,135 ft.) for spectacular views of the legendary pyramid-shaped mountain. Enjoy coffee or an apéritif before heading back to Zermatt either by train the entire way or, season permitting, by hiking with a guide. Visit the Matterhorn Museum, where you'll get a glimpse of life in 19th-century Zermatt. Return to your hotel to spend the rest of the day as you please

Descend by rail from Zermatt, then head through the majestic Simplon Pass en route to one of Italy's largest lakes, Lake Maggiore. The Simplon Pass is believed to date back to the Stone Age, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that the tunnel was opened. After lunch in Stresa, a private water taxi brings you to Isola Bella, one of the Borromean islands owned by the noble Borromeo family for over four centuries, for a visit to their 17th-century palace and Baroque gardens, fashioned in the silhouette of a ship. Board a boat to the mainland en route to your return to Switzerland and the beautiful region in and around Lake Lugano, where Italian flair meets Swiss serenity for a two-night stay.

Experience Lugano today, a lakeside city framed by the Western Alps and Mediterranean foliage. Join a local guide for a walk, where Lugano's Italian charm comes to life in graceful arcades, lively piazzas, and historic churches - from the elegant Santa Maria degli Angeli to the shaded paths of Ciani Park. Cruise the tranquil waters of this glacial lake and take in a new perspective - visually through the landscape, and culturally through an onboard wine tasting. Following lunch at a local grotto restaurant, spend the remainder of the day exploring the sights as you wish.

Spend the morning traveling through picturesque, ever-changing Alpine scenery as you cross between Italy and Switzerland along the old Roman Via Regina, taking in views of Lake Como before climbing into the mountains and crossing the Maloja Pass. Get a taste of Lake Como during lunch at a local restaurant before driving to the famous ski resort village of St. Moritz.

Board a train for a rail ride into the Swiss Alps today, traveling past silver streams, massive peaks, lush valleys, and glacial lakes. Disembark the train in Chur and drive to Einsiedeln for lunch and a tour featuring Switzerland's famed cheeses at the cheese factory. After settling into your hotel in Interlaken, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive private ride on the Jungfrau funicular up to the Harder Kulm (or Harderkulm) viewpoint, overlooking Interlaken and Unterseen. Enjoy a memorable dinner at a restaurant with panoramic Alpine views that will stop you in your tracks.

In a section of the Bernese Oberland that is known as Switzerland's "jewel in the crown," climb through the Alps by cogwheel train, via the renowned mountain station at Kleine Scheidegg, to the Jungfraujoch; a local guide provides commentary during your ascent. At the "Top of Europe," some 11,000 feet high, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive tour and private cocktail reception at the sculpted Ice Palace, carved into the Aletsch glacier and home to a series of corridors and ice sculptures. Return to Interlaken and spend the remainder of the day as you please in what is known as "the adventure capital of Switzerland." Dinner is available this evening at your leisure in your hotel.

Drive through the Bernese Oberland en route to Bern. Switzerland's capital city is noted for its charming architectural styles. Explore the Old City of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which traces its origins to the 12th century, on a guided walking tour stopping at the medieval clock tower. Lunch is at Bern's Bellevue Palace hotel, a favorite setting for dignitaries and John Le Carré's spy novels. Continue to Lucerne, one of Europe's premier cities, on the shores of Lake Lucerne.

While a thoroughly modern, culturally rich city, lakeside Lucerne retains much of its Old World charm and a strong sense of its history, as you'll see for yourself on a guided walking tour and time to explore on your own today. Surrounded by an Alpine panorama, stroll over its medieval covered wooden bridges and discover the many Renaissance and Baroque fountains that dot the city - along with many wonderful galleries, shops and cafés. Late afternoon, join us for a boat ride across the lake that brings us to a special farewell dinner at the popular restaurant Seehotel Baumgarten - a fabulous way to end your Tauck Switzerland journey!

Tour ends: Zurich. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern to Zurich Airport, an approximate travel time of 60 minutes. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.