Spain, France and Switzerland

Welcome to Madrid. Upon arrival at the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel where you will have some free time until the tour begins. Please check the hotel reception for details about the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening, we will provide a transfer to Plaza Mayor and La Latina, Madrid’s renowned neighbourhood for nightlife and tapas bars. You can choose to dine at a restaurant of your preference, with options including Indian, Chinese, Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour.

We begin the day with a thorough tour of central Madrid, taking in key sights such as Paseo del Prado, the grand Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and the historic Plaza Mayor. Next, we visit Retiro Park, a peaceful green space in the heart of the city, where we’ll see the lake and the striking Palacio de Cristal. Included in your trip is admission to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid, one of the world’s most renowned football clubs. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore at your own pace. In the evening, we’ll provide transfer back to the hotel for your convenience.

We depart Madrid in the morning, travelling through the Castile region towards Aragon. Our first stop is Zaragoza, where we’ll admire the impressive Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, an important Baroque monument and pilgrimage site. Next, we visit Poblet Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in Europe—entrance is included. We then continue to Barcelona, arriving in the evening to conclude the day’s journey.

In the morning, we’ll take a panoramic tour of Barcelona, a city famed for its striking modernist architecture by Antoni Gaudí, its vibrant Las Ramblas boulevard, and its significant legacy from the World Expositions and Olympic Games. Open to the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and lively urban life. The tour concludes at Maremagnum, a modern leisure and dining complex by the sea near Columbus Square, where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll through this bustling area. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace before we return to the hotel at the end of the day.

We’ll transfer you to the station for your included high-speed train journey from Barcelona to Paris. The trip takes just over six hours, travelling in comfort across the French border. Upon arrival in Paris, we’ll transfer you to your hotel. Your guide will contact you in the evening, or you can refer to the information provided at the hotel reception. Please note the train journey will be without a guide.

Today we explore the grandeur of France beginning with a visit to the Palace of Versailles, famed for its opulent architecture and vast gardens (admission not included). Returning to Paris, we stroll through Montmartre, a historic neighbourhood known for its artistic heritage and vibrant cabaret scene. To capture the essence of the city, we undertake a panoramic tour with a local guide, highlighting Paris’s impressive avenues and iconic landmarks. The day concludes back at the hotel, with an optional evening variety show available for those interested.

We begin the day in central Paris with a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower. We include tickets to ascend to the second floor of this famous iron landmark, offering excellent views of the city. Following this, we take a relaxing boat cruise along the Seine, lasting around one hour and fifteen minutes, providing a different perspective of Paris’s historic bridges and monuments. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. Please note, the transfer back to the hotel is not included. If queues at the Eiffel Tower are unusually long, we may reschedule the visit to a later time or the following day for your convenience.

Today we travel through the heart of France’s Burgundy region, famous for its vineyards and exceptional wines. Our first stop is Beaune, a picturesque town known for its colourful streets, historic hospice, and wine museum. You will have some free time here to enjoy lunch and explore at your own pace. We then continue to Lyon, the former capital of Roman Gaul, situated on the banks of the Rhône River. Lyon’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will take a cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Afterwards, you will have free time to discover more of Lyon independently. On some departures, part of the group will stay overnight in Chambéry, a nearby city with a medieval-style centre and an impressive castle, offering a chance to explore its historic charm the following morning.

We travel to Switzerland today, arriving in Geneva where we pass by the Palace of Nations, home to the European headquarters of the United Nations. We explore the English Garden, known for its flower clock, and admire the Jet d?Eau, Europe's tallest fountain. Following lunch, we continue along scenic routes beside Lake Geneva and Lake Neuch?tel, driving through the picturesque Three Lakes region. Here, vineyards stretch against a mountainous backdrop. We stop in Neuch?tel, where you can take a lakeside walk, explore the historic town centre, or visit its striking 10th-century castle. Our day concludes as we arrive in Zurich late in the afternoon. Depending on group size, the journey between Geneva and Zurich may be by train, in which case the stop in Neuch?tel will be omitted.

We begin the day with a guided tour of Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and its centre of finance and culture. Renowned for its high quality of life, Zurich offers a blend of modernity and tradition. Following the city tour, we board a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich, lasting nearly two hours, with short stops to take in the charm of lakeside villages. We disembark in Rapperswil, a picturesque town known for its medieval castle. Our return to Zurich is by train, giving you a firsthand experience of the Swiss railway’s renowned efficiency. Depending on group size, transfers to and from the city centre may be by public transport.

Today’s journey treats us to spectacular mountain and lake scenery in the Interlaken region. We’ll stop in Grindelwald for a coffee break before taking a cable car up the mountain. Once at the top, we’ll follow a winding path leading to a suspended bridge—crossing it rewards the adventurous with stunning views over the surrounding glaciers. Lunch is included on the mountain before we descend. Later, we visit Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most picturesque cities, where you’ll have free time to explore its charming streets. We’ll then return to Zurich. For those interested, there’s an optional full-day excursion beginning in the morning that includes time in Lucerne and a rotating cable car ride up Mount Titlis, a glacier peak over 3,000 metres high, with breathtaking alpine vistas.

After breakfast, the tour concludes in Zurich. You’ll have time to reflect on your journey and savour the memories made along the way before continuing with your onward plans.