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Tour of Switzerland and Surrounding Countries
offered by supplier M19216 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 12
day(s)
Group Size: 15
- 25
people
Destination(s):
Switzerland
Specialty Categories:
Sightseeing
Season: September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3485 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3485 US Dollar (USD)
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Our Tour of Switzerland and Surrounding Countries is relaxing, fun, and quite possibly the most interesting travel adventure you'll ever have. While most tours are large with a generic itinerary, our Switzerland tour is kept to a size that ensures personal attention and consideration to all of our guests at a leisurely pace. It is hand-crafted to show some of the often missed and unique aspects of this spectacular country. It's the reason why many of our guests return year after year.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday, September 11: USA - Munich
Depart from your home town and connect for the international for your transatlantic crossing to Munich.
Day 2, Saturday, September 12: Munich - Rothenburg
Upon arrival at the Munich Airport, you will be met by Wayne Barton and your Swiss Tour Guide for the next 12 Days. On board our private deluxe motor couch, we will travel along the romantic road to Rothenburg with its cobblestone streets and houses dating back to the 16th century. After check-in at the Hotel, the afternoon is free to sleep off your jetlag or explore this charming medieval town. In the evening we will all meet for our first dinner at the Hotel Reichs-Kuchenmeister.
Day 3, Sunday, September 13: Rothenburg
This morning we will meet our local guide and explore this walled city with its fortifications, gateways, towers and storied history. Included is a visit to St. James Cathedral, which contains a world famous altar carved by the renowned Master Tilman Riemenschneider. In the afternoon we will have a short drive through the countryside and quaint villages to Criglingen for a visit to the Herrgottskirche which contains another of the famous remaining high altars carved by Tilman Riemenschneider. If you have already conquered your jetlag, you should have enough time to stroll through the shops before our joint dinner. Not to be missed is the famous night watchman's tour in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Reichs-Kuchenmeister.
Day 4, Monday, September 14: Rothenburg – St. Gallen
We will begin our day by traveling the romantic road to Switzerland, passing through little medieval towns such as Dinkelsbuehl and Noerdlingen, surrounded by ancient walls and towers. We will make a short stop at the Neresheim Monastery to enjoy the magnificent baroque cathedral with an opportunity to sample a typical monks meal for lunch. The rest of the days journey will take us through the festival city of Bregenz in Austria and on to our destination for the overnight in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Radisson.
Day 5, Tuesday, September 15: St. Gallen
No need to pack your bags. Today we will visit the culturally rich city of St. Gallen with a local guide for a leisurely walking tour which will include a visit to the world famous Benedictine Library with its literary treasures and hand-written documents dating from the 4th century. In the afternoon we will drive to the quaint town of Appenzell to visit Firma Alpenbitter where one of Switzerland’s famous schnapps is manufactured. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Radisson.
Day 6, Wednesday, September 16: St. Gallen – Locarno
Today we will enjoy a leisurely drive from the German section of Switzerland to the Swiss-Italian city of Locarno on the shore of beautiful Lake Maggiore where many visitors are surprised to find a sub-tropical climate including palm trees. Leisure time is available for strollers and shoppers who will love the continental and local fashions. Dinner at a local grotto and overnight in Locarno.
Day 7, Thrusday, September 17: Locarno
Again, no need to pack your bags. This is another leisurely day where we will visit the amazing representation of Switzerland in miniature form, one of the country’s most visited attractions. After lunch we will enjoy a boat ride on Lago Maggiore to the island of Brissago. This evening we will enjoy dinner along the lake. Overnight in Locarno.
Day 8, Friday, September 18: Locarno - Montreux
Time to brush up on your French. This morning we will leave Locarno and have a delightful excursion by train to Domodossola, Italy. At Domodossola we will meet our coach and travel over the breathtaking Simplon Pass back to Switzerland through Brig, Sion and Martigny in Switzerland’s rich wine country to the ancient Aigle Castle, which today is a wine museum. Here we will enjoy a wine tasting from the local vineyards. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Eurotel Riviera.
Day 9, Saturday, September 19: Montreux – Brienz
We’ll start this morning with a visit the Château Chillon, nested on the shoreline of Lake Geneva and made famous by Lord Byron. Here we will have a guided tour to explore these ancient walls and dungeons before we continue on through the town of Bulle. A special traditional Swiss meal is arranged this afternoon at the Le Chalet restaurant within the fortified walls of the ancient town of Gruyeres. After lunch we will enjoy the landscape of the Bernese Oberland to our destination, the famous Swiss woodcarving center of Brienz. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Lindenhof.
Day 10, Sunday, September 20: Brienz
This is another day you will not have to pack. Today will find us enjoying our visit to the famous summer and winter resort area of Grindelwald where the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains featured in Clint Eastwood’s film the Eiger Sanction can be seen. There will be plenty of free time today to enjoy the shops and countryside. This evening we will share a most exquisite dinner at the famous Grand Hotel Giessbach, restored to its original splendor overlooking Lake Brienz on one side and beautiful, cascading waterfalls on the other. Overnight at Hotel Lindenhof.
Day 11, Monday, September 21: Brienz – Stein am Rhein
Brienz is well known as Switzerland’s woodcarving center with its woodcarving school and museum dating back to 1864. Today we will not only visit the school and museum, but also the workshop of Huggler-Wyss. Its owner, Rudolf Thomann, will give us a personal tour of his shop and show us how today’s woodcarvings are produced in Switzerland both by hand and by machine. We will then continue on to the capital city of Bern for a guided city tour. Among the attractions we will see are the parliament buildings, the gothic cathedral begun in 1421, the clock tower gate and other points of interest. We will also have a visit at the Frey chocolate factory with an opportunity to sample delicious authentic Swiss chocolates. Our dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel Closterhof in the storybook town of Stein am Rhein situated on the Swiss/German border.
Day 12, Tuesday, September 22: Stein am Rhein
This morning we will have a short drive to the quiet little village of Ittengen for a visit of the Carthusian Monastary founded in 1152 as a Benedictine Abbey. As we return to Stein am Rhein, we will have a visit to the spectacular Rheinfall, featured in the ever- popular Sherlock Holmes stories. There will be free time for shopping and strolling through town and along the Rheine River upon our return to Stein am Rhein before we have a wonderful overnight and farewell dinner at the exclusive Hotel Closterhof.
Day 13, Wednesday, September 23: Stein am Rhein – Zurich Airport
It is time for the last trip on our motor coach to Zurich Airport in time for your flight home to the United States. There you will have time for duty-free shopping and one more opportunity to enjoy your Swiss experience.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Switzerland
Local Culture
Sightseeing
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