TOURS FOR ANY AND EVERYONE
Call Us:   0808 169 8807
GB Flag UK 
Default Photo of camera

Best of Switzerland

Everyday Price From

£2,858

£3,175

9 days

No Countries

Overview

All the Best of Switzerland with a side visit to Italy. What could be better? Your travels will take you to Lake Geneva for local wine, cheese and delicious desserts in Lavaux, Lord Byron’s enchanting Chillon Castle and the pretty town of Brienz for a masterclass in Swiss wood carving.

Locations Visited

Zürich, Bern, Montreux, Zermatt, Baveno, Tirano, Pontresina, Saint Moritz, Lucerne, Brienz, Interlaken

Countries Visited

Switzerland, Italy

Travel Style

Country Explorer

Accommodations

8 nights included

Age Requirements

Minimum age 5

map-best-switzerland-guided-tour.jpg

Itinerary

COLLAPSE ALL EXPAND ALL

Day 1

Welcome to Zürich

Zürich is your springboard to a spectacular journey through Switzerland. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a social-impact guided walking tour. This evening, attend a dinner to launch your Swiss experience.

  • Accommodation

    Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle


  • Meals

    Dinner

Highlights

highlights.title

Zürich Orientation

During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you some of the highlights of this beautiful lakeside city.

highlights.title

Embark on a walking tour of Zürich's Old Town with a Local Change Maker

Join Diana and her team of socially engaged local guides, for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience. Uncover the old town of Zürich during a fun and educational walking tour with the wonderful organisation who are raising awareness on social issues such as food insecurity and supporting local change makers and the community.
This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 12: Reduced Inequalities & Responsible Consumption and Production.

We leave the bright lights of Zürich behind and stop in Bern with its Old Town, admiring its medieval streets, ornate fountains and arcaded walkways. Journeying to Lake Geneva, we arrive in the resort town of Montreux, set against the pristine backdrop of snow-covered peaks and vineyards. After lunch, consider joining an Optional Experience to cruise Lake Geneva, including a visit to the Charlie Chaplin museum in his former estate, Manoir de Ban.

  • Accommodation

    Mona Montreux


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Bern Orientation

Explore Switzerland's capital and see the Cathedral of St. Vincent, clock tower and Ogre Fountain.

This morning, we visit Chillon Castle, immortalised by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon'. For nearly four centuries, this water fortress was the residence of the Counts of Savoy and an important stop for traders. Our next stop is the Lavaux region, a charming wine village above Lake Geneva, where we’ll Connect With Locals over lunch at our Be My Guest experience. Continue your journey to the resort town of Zermatt, set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Matterhorn.

  • Accommodation

    Le Mirabeau Zermatt


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Lunch

Highlights

highlights.title

Enjoy the Flavours of Local Wine, Cheese and Breads at a local Vineyard Overlooking Lake Geneva

Enjoy Swiss hospitality with a vineyard owner and savour the flavours of local wines, cheeses, and breads, all set against the enchanting views of the Lake Geneva.

highlights.title

Chillon Castle Visit

The beautiful fortress of Chillon Castle, set on a rocky islet on Lake Geneva, is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Following his walk through the dungeons in 1816, Lord Byron wrote the poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon'. Look out for his name, which he carved into a pillar.

Spend a full free day soaking up Zermatt's crisp mountain air and panoramic vistas. Relax in beautiful surroundings or consider an Optional Experience to the Klein Matterhorn for the most spectacular mountain views.

  • Accommodation

    Le Mirabeau Zermatt


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Departing Switzerland, we travel to the lakeside town of Baveno on Italy's Lake Maggiore. Spend the rest of the day indulging in the laid-back lakeside atmosphere or consider joining an Optional Experience to Isola Bella, one of the lake's Borromean islands, with its palazzo and exquisite gardens.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Simplon Baveno


  • Meals

    Breakfast

We travel through the scenic Italian countryside to the fortified town of Tirano. Here, we board the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Rhaetian Railway to cross the Bernina Pass and wind our way through scenic landscapes en route to the stylish resort town of St. Moritz. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Reine Victoria by Laudinella St. Moritz


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

highlights.title

Travel on the Bernina Express

UNESCO World Heritage Listed Rhaetian Railway
Travel by train over the Bernina Pass through stunning landscapes en route to St. Moritz.

Journeying through lush green landscapes, past Lake Zürich, we arrive in lakeside Lucerne. Pay tribute to the brave Swiss Guards, who lost their lives defending King Louis XVI at the Lion Monument, and admire the iconic wooden Chapel Bridge before strolling past the city's colourful façades. Consider joining a cruise on the tranquil lake waters and then ride the world's first double deck 'CabriO' cable car to the top of Mount Stanserhorn.

  • Accommodation

    Grand Hotel Europe Lucerne


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

highlights.title

Lucerne Orientation

During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Lion Monument, Old Town Hall and Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.

We travel to Interlaken at the heart of Switzerland, which lies in the shadow of the Jungfrau Mountain. Stopping in the village of Brienz en route, we’ll Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the centuries-old tradition of wood carving for which this village is so famous. Spend some time on your own and enjoy superb views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. This evening, we enjoy dinner with our fellow travellers and Travel Director toasting the highlights of Switzerland we've enjoyed along the way.

  • Accommodation

    Grand Hotel Europe Lucerne


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

highlights.title

Visit the Jobin wood sculpture museum and discover Switzerland's wood-carving heritage

Learn about Switzerland's wood-carving heritage at the Jobin wood sculpture museum in Brienz.

As our journey through the Best of Switzerland comes to an end, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell.

  • Meals

    Breakfast

Zürich Orientation
Embark on a walking tour of Zürich's Old Town with a Local Change Maker
Bern Orientation
Enjoy the Flavours of Local Wine, Cheese and Breads at a local Vineyard Overlooking Lake Geneva
Chillon Castle Visit
Travel on the Bernina Express
Lucerne Orientation
Visit the Jobin wood sculpture museum and discover Switzerland's wood-carving heritage
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/12633/view-zurich-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Zürich Orientation" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/h3pj0am3/grossmunster-fraumunster-zurich-switzerland-tt.jpg" ], "alt": "Embark on a walking tour of Zürich's Old Town with a Local Change Maker" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/13699/street-houses-bern-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Bern Orientation" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/17330/enjoy-wines-cheeses-breads-vineyard-bourg-en-lavaux-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Enjoy the Flavours of Local Wine, Cheese and Breads at a local Vineyard Overlooking Lake Geneva" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/12631/chateau-de-chillon-lake-geneva-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Chillon Castle Visit" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/17687/enjoy-express-train-ride-drinks-snacks-swizerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Travel on the Bernina Express" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/12995/chapel-bridge-lucerne-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": " Lucerne Orientation" }
  • { "url": [ "http://content1.travcorpservices.com/media/16177/learn-wood-carving-jobin-wood-sculpture-museum-brienz-switzerland.jpg" ], "alt": "Visit the Jobin wood sculpture museum and discover Switzerland's wood-carving heritage" }

Highlights

Must-see Highlights

  • Discover Zürich, Bern, Zermatt, Interlaken and Lucerne

  • Visit Chillon Castle and Brienz Woodcarving Museum

  • View the Jungfrau and Matterhorn mountains (weather permitting), Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument in Lucerne

  • Scenic Train Ride from Tirano to Pontresina by UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway

What's Included

Travel Director

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Hotels

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.

Meals

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Sightseeing

  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio

  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Transport

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Train

  • Train from Tirano to Pontresina

Optionals

  • Optional Experiences and free time

Results: loading...

Definite Departures Only

Special Offers

Airfare is not included, but can be added to quote upon request

Tour Version Selected

You have successfully selected a different version of this tour

Terms & Conditions

Trip Notes

  • A deposit must be paid at the time of booking.
  • Flights are not included but can be quoted by our Reservations team, who can also explain inclusions within the trip.
  • Full holiday amount to be paid no later than 60 days prior to departure for land only guided holidays or 90 days for guided holidays including train or cruise.
  • Subject to availability at time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time.

Terms & Conditions

  • Prices listed are land only & do not include airfare to and from the start/end of the tour.
  • Prices listed are per person, based on twin or multi-share. If you’re travelling solo, we can pair you with a same-sex roommate at no extra cost or you can upgrade to a single for an additional cost, based on availability. For departure points and stay longer accommodation options contact our travel experts for more details.
  • ​​'Exclusive Costco Member Price' is available upon member login.
  • For 'Costco Vacations of a Lifetime' itineraries the price shown is the final base price, exclusive to Costco members and already reflective of any special member savings. Additional, limited-time discounts are not applicable, other conditions apply. Please refer to Terms & Conditions
  • 'Price with Current Deals' reflects current applicable 'Last Minute Deals.' Last Minute Deals are available on select departures only and only available to travellers departing from the UK; not combinable with any other promotional offers; full payment due at time of booking.
  • All discounts are for new bookings only, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Call or request a quote for complete details.
  • ​​​Trip prices and information are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation - please confirm all details at time of quote and booking.
  • For full details, please refer to our Terms & Conditions or FAQs page.
  • Other conditions may apply. 

Every effort is made to ensure accuracy of the enclosed content. Trafalgar cannot be held responsible for typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances. Conditions apply. Policies are subject to change at any time.