European Dream France to Switzerland Odyssey - 9 Days

Welcome to your tour. We travel through Burgundy – renowned for its vineyards and fine wines – with a first stop in Beaune, a charming town known for its flower‑filled streets, the historic hospice and a wine museum. You’ll have free time for lunch and a stroll before we continue to Lyon, the former capital of Roman Gaul on the banks of the Rhône. Lyon’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and we take the cable car up to Notre–Dame de Fourvière for panoramic views across the city. You then have time at leisure to explore. Note: On some departures, part of the group stays in Chambéry, near Lyon – in this case we travel there in the evening for the overnight. The following morning you’ll have time to visit this medieval‑style city, the capital of Savoie, known for its beautiful historic centre and impressive castle. 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.

Today we travel into Switzerland, arriving in Geneva to pass the Palace of Nations and pause in the English Garden to see the flower clock before viewing the Jet d’Eau. You’ll then have free time to explore and choose a place for lunch. We continue along the shores of Lake Geneva, with hills covered in vineyards and views of snowy peaks, to Lausanne – home of the International Olympic Committee – where we stop at the lakeside Olympic Park. We then head to the walled town of Gruyères, renowned for its cheese, and visit the Cailler chocolate factory with a tasting included. We finish the day in Fribourg – a bilingual French–German city with a characterful old town. Please note – accommodation may occasionally be arranged in a nearby city.

We depart Fribourg along a small scenic road through the canton of Bern, passing hills, forests and green pastures. We make a photo stop – either at Schwarzenburg Castle or, depending on where we stayed the previous night, at a viewpoint over Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. We then continue to Interlaken, a popular town set between two lakes, before heading to the Aare Gorge to walk its impressive ravines (tickets included), followed by lunch (included). In the afternoon we travel towards the dramatic Susten Pass, with snow and glaciers visible all year, and stop en route to take in the mountain scenery. We continue into the Italian‑speaking region of Switzerland via the Gotthard Tunnel and reach Lugano, where we take a boat trip on the lake (tickets included). You then have free time to stroll this elegant city, known for its lakeside promenade and mild climate, before we continue to Chiasso for a late‑afternoon arrival.

Note: From late May to early October, the Susten Pass may be closed due to snow – in this case we travel via the equally scenic Brünig Pass. Sometimes, we take the boat between Gandria and Lugano. On some departures, accommodation may be in the Como metropolitan area.

After breakfast we depart Chiasso for Bellinzona – capital of Italian speaking Switzerland – renowned for its three medieval castles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can wander the picturesque streets of the historic centre. We then return to the German speaking region of Switzerland, crossing the Gotthard Pass with a photo stop at a scenic viewpoint. Our next stop is Altdorf – capital of the Uri canton – associated with William Tell and one of the founding cantons of independent Switzerland. You’ll have free time for lunch. We continue to Lucerne, where you can visit the Kapellbrücke, the Lion Monument, the cathedral, the Jesuit Church and the charming old town. By evening we arrive in Zurich.

We leave Zurich for Basel, a major city on the Rhine where Switzerland meets Germany and France. Here, you can explore the old town – Town Hall Square and the cathedral overlooking the river are highlights. We then continue into Alsace, a French region long contested between France and Germany that preserves the Alsatian dialect and Germanic traditions. We stop in Colmar, known for its colourful timbered houses and canals, as well as its white wines and excellent cuisine – you’ll have time for lunch and a leisurely stroll. In the afternoon, we visit Riquewihr, one of Alsace’s most beautiful villages – a medieval gem of cobbled lanes and colourful houses that inspired scenes in Beauty and the Beast. We arrive in Strasbourg in the evening – you might like to take a walk around the Cathedral and Petite France areas, full of character and inviting restaurants.

We begin in Strasbourg, capital of Alsace and seat of the European Parliament, whose historic centre blends medieval streets, a soaring Gothic cathedral and flower‑lined canals. We include a boat trip through the canals of Petite France to take in this picturesque quarter from the water. We then cross into Germany, driving through the Black Forest’s mountain scenery to Freiburg, where you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll around the medieval centre and cathedral area.

We continue through the forest to Triberg, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. We include entry to the Triberg Waterfalls – Germany’s highest – reached via a walking path. A short photo stop follows in Gengenbach to admire its handsome central square before we carry on to Baden–Baden for the night, a historic spa town known for its elegant architecture, parks and grand casino.

We begin with a stroll through the parks of Baden‑Baden before continuing into Rhineland–Palatinate. In Speyer, on the banks of the Rhine, we stop to see its magnificent Romanesque cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and walk the old town, where the Alte Münze tower stands out.

We then travel to Heidelberg and take the funicular – ticket included – up to the castle. Our visit includes access to the exterior grounds, the historic wine cellars and the pharmacy museum, with superb views over the city. Afterwards, you have time for lunch and to wander the old town and its Marktplatz.

By late afternoon we arrive in Frankfurt, a major financial hub with modern skyscrapers and a characterful old town. You have free time to explore and dine around Römerberg Square before heading to the hotel.

We travel west from Frankfurt into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where Luxembourgish and French are spoken. In Luxembourg City – a cosmopolitan capital that blends centuries of history with its role as a financial and European‑institution hub – we explore the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the city’s fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace and Notre‑Dame Cathedral. After lunch, we continue into France. In Reims, at the heart of the Champagne producing region, you can admire its magnificent Gothic cathedral – the historic setting for many French royal coronations. We reach Paris by the end of the day.

After breakfast in Paris, our journey concludes – we hope you leave with great memories.