Switzerland Encompassed - 10 Days

On arrival at Zurich Airport or the main train station, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is available from 3 PM.

The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at leisure. You may wish to stroll through the cobbled Old Town, browse the elegant shops along Bahnhofstrasse, or unwind beside Lake Zurich. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the city’s many welcoming restaurants.

Please note: All excursions depart at the exact times listed in the programme.

Zurich – Schaffhausen – Lucerne – Interlaken region. Today, we check out and at 08:50 meet the Tour Leader in the lobby. At 09:00, we set off on a guided walking tour of Zurich, taking in Bahnhofstrasse, the quiet Lindenhof quarter, Fraumünster with its stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall, the imposing Grossmünster, and the winding medieval lanes of Niederdorf.

At 10:30, we leave Zurich and by 11:15 arrive at the Rhine Falls, where Europe’s largest waterfall cascades into the river in a spectacular display of power. We continue our journey at 12:15, reaching Lucerne in time for lunch at 13:30. In the afternoon, our 14:30 walking tour introduces the city’s landmarks: the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, the ornate Jesuit Church, and the Lion Monument, carved into rock in memory of Swiss Guards killed during the French Revolution.

At 16:45 we depart through the scenic Alpine landscape, arriving in the Interlaken region by 18:00. We check in at the 4* Hotel Sailer au Lac in Bönigen, or a similar property. The evening is free to enjoy the mountain setting at leisure.

Interlaken region – Lauterbrunnen – Interlaken region. This morning, we journey into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, often described as the “valley of 72 waterfalls,” where cliffs rise sheer above green meadows.

From November to early April, our visits include Staubbach and Mürrenbach Falls, the climb to Giessbach Falls, and the walk across the panoramic Sigriswil Bridge.

From mid-April to early November, the experience changes — we step inside the Trümmelbach Falls roaring within the mountain, continue to the dramatic Reichenbach Falls, and finish at the glacial Aare Gorge.

Optional Full-Day excursion to Jungfraujoch

For those seeking a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, there’s also the option of a full-day excursion to the Jungfraujoch. Travelling by cogwheel railway, the train climbs to Europe’s highest station at 3,454 metres, pausing at the Eismeer station where windows in the rock face open to dazzling glacier views. This excursion is available at an additional fee and requires a minimum of four participants.

Interlaken region – Bern – Gruyeres – Broc – Lake Geneva region. After breakfast, at 9:00 AM we depart Interlaken for the Swiss capital. By 9:45 AM we are in Bern for a two-hour guided tour, exploring the UNESCO-listed Old Town with its arcaded streets, ornate fountains, and the famous clock tower.

Around midday, we continue into the Gruyères region, arriving by 1:00 PM in the medieval hilltop town to visit La Maison du Gruyère, followed by a sweet stop at Maison Cailler in Broc to sample Swiss chocolate. < By late afternoon we reach Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva, checking in around 6:00 PM. The evening is free to relax by the lakeside or enjoy dinner in town.

Today is free to enjoy the Montreux region at your own pace. You might stroll along the lakeside promenade, step into Chaplin’s World in Vevey – where the great Charlie Chaplin lived for the last 25 years of his life – or visit Queen: The Studio Experience. Another option is to take a cruise aboard a classic steamboat, gliding past vineyards, castles, and Alpine peaks as you discover Lake Geneva from the water.

Option 1: Full-day excursion to France (Evian-les-Bains – Yvoire – Annecy)

This optional tour departs in the morning around 8:30 and returns by late afternoon. We begin in Evian-les-Bains, world-renowned as a spa resort and birthplace of Evian mineral water. From here it is a short drive to Yvoire, a perfectly preserved medieval village on the lakeshore, often listed among the most beautiful in France. The day concludes in Annecy, the so-called Venice of the Alps, where canals and flower-lined bridges weave through the old town and the lake shimmers against a backdrop of mountains.

Option 2: Evening at the Thermal Baths, Les Bains de Lavey

In the early evening, around 5:30, you may choose to unwind at Les Bains de Lavey. Surrounded by Alpine scenery, the naturally heated thermal waters feed outdoor pools, hammams, and hot baths – the perfect setting to relax. After a few restorative hours, we return to Montreux by about 9:00 PM.

Lake Geneva region – Montreux – Vevey – Lausanne – Geneva - Vevey. This morning at 9:00 AM, we set out along the Swiss Riviera towards Montreux. By 9:30 AM, we arrive at Château de Chillon, a lakeside fortress whose towers and dungeons have guarded Alpine trade routes for centuries and inspired poets and writers, including Lord Byron.

At 11:00 AM, we continue into Montreux for a guided walk. Here we explore the lakeside promenade, celebrated as one of the most beautiful in Europe, and step inside Queen: The Studio Experience, located in the band’s former recording studio.

Around 12:45 PM, our journey takes us to Lausanne for a visit to the Olympic Park and Museum, where exhibits trace the history of the Games from ancient Greece to the modern era.

In the afternoon, we travel on to Geneva for a city tour beginning at 2:30 PM. Over two hours we take in the Jet d’Eau, the lakeside quays, the United Nations district, and the winding streets of the Old Town.

By 4:30 PM, we return to Vevey and check in at the hotel. From 6:30 PM, the evening is free to relax by the lake or enjoy dinner in town.

Vevey – Ticino region - Lugano. We depart Vevey at 9:00 AM, travelling south through the Alpine landscapes of western Switzerland towards Ticino.

Option 1: Excursion to Glacier 3000

On the way, you may choose to visit Glacier 3000, reached by cable car to an altitude of 3,000 metres. From the summit, sweeping views open across 24 Alpine peaks, including the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, and the Jungfrau massif. The highlight is the Peak Walk by Tissot, the only suspension bridge in the world connecting two mountain summits. Crossing its 107-metre span is an unforgettable way to experience the high Alps.

By 3:00 PM, we arrive in Lugano, where Swiss precision meets Italian flair. After checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to enjoy at leisure – perhaps strolling the palm-lined lakeside promenade, relaxing in one of the lively piazzas, or browsing the boutiques along Via Nassa.

This morning, we set out from Lugano at ( AM into the Verzasca Valley, a landscape of rugged mountains and emerald waters. We stop in the stone-built village of Lavertezzo, known for its 17th-century bridge spanning the turquoise river, before continuing to the Contra Dam. This is the highest dam in Switzerland, made famous by James Bond’s leap in GoldenEye.

Around 1:00 PM, we pause in Ascona, a lakeside resort on Lake Maggiore. With its palm trees, pastel façades, and Mediterranean ambiance, it is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch and a stroll along the promenade.

At 2:00 PM, we continue to Bellinzona, capital of Ticino, where three impressive castles – Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro – rise above the town. Together with their medieval walls and towers, they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We explore these fortifications and learn how they once guarded the Alpine passes. By 4:30 PM, we return to Lugano, with the rest of the evening free to relax at leisure.

This day is yours to enjoy at leisure in and around Lugano. You might take a scenic cruise across Lake Lugano, using the ferry to hop between lakeside villages or riding out to Gandria before walking back along the peaceful lakeside path. Another option is to ride the funicular from Lugano Paradiso up to Monte San Salvatore, where the view widens as you ascend. From the summit, a 360-degree panorama stretches across the Ticino Alps, from Monte Rosa and the Bernina range to the Apennines in the south. Back in town, you could relax in Parco Ciani, Lugano’s lakeside gardens.

Option 1: Excursion to Lake Como, Italy

For those wishing to explore further, an optional full-day excursion takes you into Italy to discover the charm of Lake Como. This idyllic lake, lined with elegant villas and colourful villages, has long been a retreat for the rich and famous. You’ll visit Bellagio, often called the “Pearl of the Lake,” wander the narrow streets of Varenna, and stroll the lakeside promenade in Menaggio. There’s time to enjoy the views from cafés or gardens, and a cruise across the lake offers wonderful perspectives of the surrounding mountains and palatial villas.

Lugano – Zurich. After our final breakfast, at 7 AM, we transfer to Lugano station for the 7:30 AM train north. The scenic journey brings us to Zurich Airport at 9:44 AM, perfectly timed for onward flights. Train tickets are provided in 2nd class, and your guide will hand them to you and explain the route in advance.

Please note: For early departures, we kindly request that you arrange a lunch box directly with the hotel reception instead of breakfast. The first train from Lugano departs at 05:26, arriving at Zurich Airport at 09:38 – we therefore recommend not booking flights with very early morning departures.