Switzerland Cool Switzerland (2) - Itinerary
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Day 1: Geneva - Arrivals and Old Town Walk Welcome to Switzerland! On your arrival at Geneva International Airport, you will be met by our chauffeur for a private transfer to your stylish urban hotel, located in the center of the city. In the afternoon, we'll meet our local guide and set out for a leisurely walk through Geneva's Old Town, to get an insight into the history of the city at the center of the Reformation. We'll begin at the Reformation Wall, before continuing to Place du Bourg-de-Four, the historic Geneva Arsenal, and the Maison Tavel, and concluding at the iconic St. Pierre Cathedral, where the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland started. In the evening, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Swiss cuisine, as we get to know each other and join in a light-hearted discussion about Switzerland's history and present. Day 2: Geneva and Palais Des Nations After a hearty Swiss breakfast, we’ll transfer to Geneva’s International District, the city’s vibrant hub of diplomacy and global cooperation. Today’s highlight will be a guided tour of the European headquarters of the United Nations at the Palais des Nations where we'll gain an insight into the global collaboration that shapes our world. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll embark on a tranquil boat ride across the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva, taking in the views of Geneva’s elegant skyline and the iconic Jet d'Eau, the surrounding hills, and the distant snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Afterwards, we’ll travel just beyond the city to Mont Salève, the “Balcony of Geneva,” located across the border with France, where a cable car ride will whisk us up the mountainside to a viewpoint offering a sweeping panorama of Geneva, the lake, and the Alps. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 3: Geneva to Wengen, Chateau de Chillon Today, we'll leave Geneva and head into the majestic Swiss Alps, bound for the cinematic Jungfrau region in the Bernese Oberland. Our journey will lead first along the shores of Lake Léman, then will pass through the legendary land of Wilhelm Tell and the birthplace of the Swiss army knife. Our first stop will be at Lavaux Vinorama, to tour the Roman-founded terraced vineyards by a private panoramic train, followed by a wine tasting that highlights the region’s celebrated vintages. We will then continue to the Château de Chillon, one of Switzerland’s most iconic medieval castles. After lunch at Café Byron, on the castle grounds, we’ll tour theis inspiring site that has stirred the imagination of artists and writers for centuries. Our journey will then continue into the dramatic Lauterbrunnen Valley, carved by ancient glaciers and home to 72 cascading waterfalls. From the valley floor, we’ll take a mountain train up to Wengen, a postcard-perfect alpine village perched on a sunny, car-free terrace, and surrounded by some of Switzerland’s highest peaks. Day 4: Alpine Hike, Jungfrau: the Top of Europe This morning, we'll set out to experience the true Alpine Wonderland, as we board a mountain gondola to take us up a mountain range, where we'll set out for our Alpine hike. We'll follow the easy Panorama Trail, leading along a ridge with some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. The hike features breathtaking views of the Eiger, the Mönch, and the Jungfrau peaks above, and down below, the flower-laden Alpine meadows rolling down to the bucolic Grindelwald Valley. We'll end in the village of Kleine Scheidegg, where we'll board a mountain train to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. The track leads past the famous mountains of Eiger and Mönch, up to magnificent panoramas of the surrounding peaks and the Aletsch Glacier. Once we reach the top, there will be plenty of time to tour the space-age-like Sphinx weather station and the Ice Palace, chiseled painstakingly with an ice ax and saw by hand, take a walk or play in the snow, and admire the stunning panorama of the Bernese Oberland Alps. In the afternoon, we'll return to Wengen and enjoy a cozy mountain chalet dinner overlooking the Alps and the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Day 5: Schilthorn Summit, Alpine Hike Today, we'll get to explore the other side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with the iconic Schilthorn Mountain Summit of the James Bond fame. We'll travel by a mountain train, a post bus, an aerial gondola, a cable car, and a cogwheel train, and we'll also take another scenic, yet easy, Alpine hike through a magnificent mountain forest that opens up to meadows bisected by Alpine streams, with the imposing mountain views as the background. En route to the Schilthorn summit, we'll explore the peaceful village of Murren, perched on a cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and the adrenaline-pumping aerial balconies suspended over the cliffs of the Brig Summit. Once we reach Schilthorn, we'll have ample time to admire the 360 degree view of the Bernese Oberland Alps, visit the James Bond World or have lunch at the iconic, rotating Piz Gloria Restaurant. We'll be back in Wengen in the late afternoon and enjoy another intimate dinner with incomparable views of the Alps. Day 6: Interlaken This morning, we'll set out to explore the town of Interlaken, photogenically set against the Alps and between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and considered the adventure capital of Europe. We'll start with a guided walk of the town, originally a 12th century monastic settlement, before visiting a boutique chocolatier to learn some of the closely guarded secrets of chocolate making, as we try our hand at mixing, pouring and shaping the exquisite Swiss chocolate. As we indulge in all-senses-satisfying chocolate making and tasting class, we may get quite messy or overeat on chocolate, but as this is Switzerland, it's expected. Afterwards, we'll take a cable car to Harder Kulm with its suspended observation platforms above the two lakes and below the Alps to admire the stunning mountains from yet another viewpoint and enjoy lunch with breathtaking panoramic views. After some free time for individual exploration of Interlaken, we'll take a train back to Wengen. Day 7: Wengen to Zurich via Lucerne Today, we'll leave the Bernese Oberland and travel to Zurich, stopping half way in Lucerne, one of Switzerland's best-preserved medieval cities, dating back to the 8th century. We'll have a guided walk through Lucerne's Old Town, exploring its notable medieval landmarks like the Chapel Bridge, one of Europe's oldest covered bridges, decorated with a series of 17th century frescoes, and the painted merchant houses lining the cobbled streets. We'll enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne, a spectacular expanse of water with fjord-like inlets surrounded by dramatic mountains and picturesque lakeside villages and we'll have some free time to explore the city with its charming shops, lakeside cafés and restaurants. In the afternoon, we'll continue our journey to Zurich, where we'll enjoy a locally sourced, gourmet dinner. Day 8: Zurich City Tour and Lindt Chocolate Factory This morning, we'll set out for a leisurely walk through Zurich's Old Town, to get an insight into the history of the city of chocolate, money and watches. We'll start with the quaint Niederdorf district filled with eclectic boutiques and coffee houses, continue to the famously austere Grossmunster Church, where the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland started and to the Fraumünster Church, famous for the beautiful Marc Chagall stained-glass windows that adorn its interior, and end with a stroll along Bahnhofstrasse, a glitzy shopping street, lined with historical buildings and high-end boutiques. After lunch at a local cafe, we'll induldge in an immersive experience into the world of Swiss chocolate, complete with interactive exhibits, a behind-the-scenes look at the production process, as we enjoy some of the finest chocolates crafted by Lindt at Zurich' Lindt Chocolate Factory. Day 9: St. Gallen and Appenzell Today, we'll set out on yet another Swiss adventure, as we travel to the charming town of St. Gallen, nestled between Lake Constance and the Appenzell Alps, to tour its beautifully preserved Old Town, adorned with colorful oriel windows, and the baroque Abbey of St. Gall, a masterpiece of architecture that houses one of the world’s oldest and most exquisite libraries. Later, we'll continue to the bucolic Appenzell region, famous for its cows and its cheese, the strongest smelling cheese in Switzerland. Here, we'll tour the cheese-producing facility to learn about the Appenzell dairy traditions and of course taste some cheese. After returning to Zurich, we'll conclude our cheesy adventure with a classic Swiss farewell dinner. Day 10: Departures Today, we'll have to say good-bye to Switzerland, as we take our flights back home, richer in Swiss experiences and discoveries and the new friendships that this adventure allowed us. We will have arranged for your private transfer to Zurich International Airport according to your flight's departure time.
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