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Limited
departures for 2007 season. Inquire about availability and pricing.
What
do you think of when you hear Switzerland? The Alps, lakes, green
meadows, international sophistication and diplomacy, 4 languages
and cultures bonded into one country usually come to mind. There
is so much more to see and appreciate! Discover the culture, food
and wine of Switzerland’s four regions. Swiss gastronomy excels
in its tastes and variety as do its wines some of which are unique
to Switzerland. Visit castles, cruise lakes, enjoy jazz and classical
music festivals, sophisticated shopping and the people with us.
Package
includes:
- 9
nights / 10 days
- 3
star hotels throughout
- Overnight
in Zurich
- 3
nights in Lugano, the Italian speaking area of Switzerland
- 2
nights in Sion
- 2
nights in Lausanne
- 1
night in Lucerne
- Breakfast
daily, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
- Visits
to 4 wineries and wine regions
- Sightseeing
and visits as follows of historic cities
-Guided tours of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Zurich, Lugano,
Sion, Berne, and Lucern
- Visit to Gruyere, a fortified town, famous for its cheese
- Visits to castles (Chillion, Taranto, and Aigle)
- Boat
trip from Lausanne to Montreux
- Boat
trip to Borromean Islands to visit 17th century palace and gardens
- Visit
Ascona, a former, colorful fishing village favorite with artists
- Train
Andermatt to Brig along the route of the famous Glacier Express
- Farewell
dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne with folklore music
- Transportation
by private deluxe motor coach throughout
- Bilingual
guide and tour escort
- Leisure
time to explore and the flexibility to adjust daily excursions
and activities
- Elegant
shopping
- Stroll
quaint narrow streets of arcaded Old Towns, visit medieval gothic
churches, market places, gardens, museums, and monuments
- Scenic
beauty, mountain top and lakeside vistas, arts, and antiquities
- All
fees for the above included
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrival Zürich
After a morning arrival in Zürich and welcome at the airport,
you will transfer to the 3 star hotel where you will spend the night.
After lunch, enjoy the sights of old and modern Zurich: the historical
guildhouses and medieval churches on the banks of the Limmat river,
the lake with its parks and harbors, the elegant shopping area of
the Bahnhofstrasse and the banking and university district. View
the famous Chagall windows at Fraumunster church and stop at "Rigiblick",
a balcony overlooking the city and the Alps.
Before dinner you will taste local wine at the wine cellar Mjuhle
in Stafa.
Day
2 - Zürich – Lugano
After breakfast, you will stop on the way to eastern Switzerland
at Stein for a visit to a dairy to see how Swiss cheese is made.
You will continue your journey to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein,
stopping along the way at the picturesque hamlet of Werdenberg.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive by Chur and San
Bernadino Pass to Lugano in the Ticino, the Italian speaking area
of Switzerland and our 3 star hotel for the next 3 nights.
Day
3 - Lugano and the Ticino region
You will depart to Ligornetto to the Vinattieri Ticinesti Winery
for a tasting of red wines. Afterwards, there will be a guided city
tour of Lugano and its pleasant surroundings. View the panoramic
area of Ruvigliana and Castagnola, the center with its monument
of Independence, the Town Hall, Old Town and Saint Mary's Church.
There will be time to stroll along the lakeside promenade and walk
the quaint narrow streets through the arcaded Old Town. Dinner in
a rustic restaurant GROTTO with wines of the region.
Day
4 - Lugano and excursion on Lago Maggiore to the Borromean Islands
and Gardens
Leave Lugano across Mt. Ceneri Pass into the Magadino plain and
lake Maggiore. You will have time to visit Locarno, a beautiful
town and resort which lies in the hollow of a sunny bay. We will
stop at Ascona, a former, colorful fishing village which has long
been a favorite with artists. After a drive along the scenic lakeside
road into Italy and Pallanza, we will take a boat to the Borromean
Islands for a visit of its 17th Century palace and the beautiful
terraced gardens. There will be time to shop, relax, and to explore.
We will take the ferry to Laveno and continue via Ponte-Tresa back
to Lugano.
Day
5 - Lugano – Sion
Travel by bus through Valle Leventina and Valle Bedretto over Gotthard
pass to Andermatt. By train from Andermatt to Brig along the route
of the famous Glacier Express. From Brig we drive to Sion. In the
bilingual capital town of the Canton of Valais, the past and the
future seamlessly meet. The Old Town, the castles and museums are
relics of the past that hug the Valère and Tourbillon Hills.
The town is surrounded by vineyards and is located in one of the
main vine-growing regions of Switzerland specializing in white wines
such as Fendant. Before dinner, visit vinery Gilliard with presentation
by Robert Gilliard who symbolizes the multi-generation family tradition.
Dinner with regional specialties at the winery Château Villa
Sierre.
Day
6 – The Valais Vineyards region
After breakfast, depart by bus to Visperterminen (Europe's highest
vineyards). There will be a wine tasting at J. Chardon. Afterwards
travel by bus to Tasch and by train to Zermatt to explore this car
free mountain mecca. Optional excursion by cogwheel train to the
Gornergrat. Return to Sion. Dinner at the Spa-Hotel- des Vignes.
Day
7 - Sion to Lausanne
After breakfast, we will travel to the Geneva Region. On the way,
visit Vétroz Bon Père Germanier for a tour and tasting.
It was in 1896 that Urbain Germanier founded his vineyard at Balavaud,
Vetroz . Later, his three sons, Francis, Paul and Charles ensured
the continuation of what has becoming a real dynasty of wine growers.
In 1945, Francis first distilled Pear Eau-de-Vie and The Bon Père
William was born. Today, two young winemakers of the 3rd and 4th
generation, Jean-René Germanier and Gilles Besse are producing
wines considered among the best of Switzerland. The tour will continue
as we drive through the Saane valley to Gruyeres, world famous for
its cheese. This fortified little town lies on top of a hill in
a landscape full of grace and harmony. Visit the model cheese dairy
and stroll along the cobblestone streets. Continue to your 3 star
hotel in Lausanne.
Day
8 - The Vineyards of the Lake Geneva region
After breakfast, there will be a morning boat trip on Lake Geneva
from Lausanne to Montreux. Just outside Montreux, built on a rocky
islet stands one of Switzerland's most impressive buildings: "Chillon
Castle". On our visit slip back into the mysterious world of
medieval nobility and learn about the castle's famous prisoner,
Bonivard, immortalized in Lord Byron's poem. Continue to Aigle to
visit the Château d'Aigle, an imposing fortress built in the
XIIIth century by the Savoyards, transformed by the Bernese restored
in 1973 and surrounded by vineyards. Under its roof, the Musée
Vaudois de la Vigne et du Vin found a worthy setting for its collections
on the wine-growers heritage and the cultural traditions of wine.
Lunch with wines from the region followed by a drive through vineyards
of the Lake Geneva region including the villages of St. Saphorin,
Yvorne, Chexbres, Rivaz and Epesses including a tour. In the afternoon,
experience a cooking class with a local chef of the region. For
dinner enjoy what has been arranged by you along with the chef.
Day
9 - Lausanne - Lucerne (Breakfast and dinner)
Depart after breakfast via Fribourg to Berne, the romantic capital
of Switzerland. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour of this historic city
with its splendid preserved arcaded Old Town. See the gothic cathedral,
the fountains decorated with flowers and statues, the Clock Tower
with the famous figure play, the Swiss House of Parliament and Berne's
heraldic animals at the Bear Pit. Stop at the Rosegarden with a
nice overall view of the Old Town, nestling in one of the loops
of the Aare river. After lunch, drive to Lucerne through the Emmental
valley. Enjoy the mid-afternoon walking sightseeing tour of Lucerne,
including the Old Town with its quaint streets and squares, busy
market places and decorated houses. Walk across the wooden Chapel
Bridge with its unique historical paintings. See the Old Town Hall,
the Jesuit church and the Lion Monument. Overnight in Lucerne on
the lake. Farewell dinner.
Day
10 - LUCERNE – Departure by bus to the Zurich airport
Tour
operated by Food & Wine Culture Tours.
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