Swiss Landscapes Castles, Lakes, and Peaks

Welcome to Zurich. We’ll transfer you to your hotel – then you’ll have free time to relax or explore at your own pace. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details about the start of your tour.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We leave Zurich for Bern, the Swiss capital, celebrated for its historic centre. From the Rose Garden viewpoint we admire the city panorama, then you have free time in the centre. We continue along a scenic mountain road through traditional wooden villages and the Gstaad region, renowned for its ski resorts. At Glacier 3000 we include the cable car ride and lunch – from the terraces there are far‑reaching alpine views, and you can, if you wish, walk across the suspension bridge linking two peaks. After descending, we head towards Lake Geneva, known for its mild climate and extensive vineyards, and visit lakeside Chillon Castle – tickets included – a medieval fortress set on the water. We then pass through elegant Montreux, famous for its jazz festival, following the lakeshore to reach Geneva towards day’s end. Note – our hotel is usually on the French outskirts of the city.

After breakfast, we take a panoramic tour of Geneva, set on the shores of Lake Geneva and home to many international organisations. We see the Palace of Nations, the English Garden with its famous flower clock, and admire the Jet d’Eau – the tallest fountain in Europe. You then have free time to explore the centre and choose a spot for lunch.We continue along the lakeshore through vineyard landscapes with mountain views to Lausanne, home of the International Olympic Committee. We stop at the lakeside Olympic Park – a space dedicated to sport and Olympic culture – before heading to the walled town of Gruyères, renowned for its cheese. We visit the Cailler chocolate factory with a tasting included, then continue to Fribourg, a bilingual French–German city with a charming old town. Occasionally, accommodation may be in a nearby city.

We depart Fribourg along a scenic road through the canton of Bern, passing hills, forests and green meadows. Depending on our overnight location, we pause for photos at Schwarzenburg Castle or at a viewpoint over Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. We continue to Interlaken, set between two lakes, then head to the Aare Gorge to explore its impressive ravine – tickets included – followed by an included lunch. In the afternoon we drive towards one of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountain passes – the Susten Pass – with snow and glaciers all year, stopping to take in the views. We then cross into the Italian‑speaking region via the Gotthard Tunnel and reach Lugano for a boat trip on the lake – tickets included. You’ll have free time to stroll the lakeside promenade and the elegant city centre before we continue to Chiasso for a late‑afternoon arrival. From late May to early October the Susten Pass may be closed by snow – if so, we travel via the scenic Brünig Pass. At times the lake cruise operates between Gandria and Lugano. On some departures we overnight in the Como metropolitan area.

After breakfast we leave Chiasso for Bellinzona, the capital of Italian‑speaking Switzerland, renowned for its three medieval castles – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time to stroll the historic centre before we cross back into the German‑speaking region via the Gotthard Pass, pausing at a viewpoint for photos. We then continue to Altdorf, capital of the canton of Uri, associated with William Tell and one of the founding cantons of independent Switzerland. You’ll have free time for lunch here.In the afternoon we head to Lucerne – widely considered the country’s tourism capital – where you can explore at your own pace. The Kapellbrücke, the Lion Monument, the cathedral, the Jesuit Church and the charming old town are all easy to reach. By evening we arrive in Zurich.

After breakfast, we conclude the journey in Zurich – our services end here. We hope you depart with wonderful memories of your time in Switzerland.