SWISS TOURS 2009

‘SWISS GRAND ALPINE TOUR’ - ZA06Z

ZURICH - ZURICH, 6 DAYS

 Mon - Sat, April 27 - Oct 19, 2009

 1937 CHF per person
265 CHF single room suppliment

            DEPARTURE:            Swissôtel Zurich - Hotel International, Am Marktplatz, 8050 Zurich

                        Check-in at the HANS MEIER Hospitality Desk starts at  8.00 AM

            ITINERARY:

We leave Zurich at 8.30 a.m. A short drive takes us to the city of Lucerne where we visit the Lion Monument and walk over the 14th century wooden bridge, time at leisure for shopping and sightseeing. At noon we proceed to the mountain resort of Engelberg. A cable car ride to the summit of Mount Titlis brings you up into the high alpine region with its glaciers and eternal ice enjoy a magnificent ride in the world's innovative revolving 'ROTAIR' gondola. (Take a warm sweater along). In the afternoon we cross Brunig Pass to the Bernese Oberland and reach the village Brienz, where we will see woodcarvers at work. We continue to the holiday resort of Interlaken at the foot of Jungfrau mountain. Overnight at first class hotel - dinner is on your own. 

We leave Interlaken in the morning and drive along beautiful Lake of Thun to the Swiss capital, Berne. The city  is attractively set on a steepsided curve of the River Aare and backed by the majestic Alps. A city tour to the Old Town includes the Clock Tower, Kramgasse, and the 15th century Cathedral of St. Vincent. A drive south takes us to the scenic dairy farmlands, to Gruyeres. A beautiful hilltop town, preserved against time, which could be the magical setting for fairytales with its impressive, medieval  Castle. An informative visit to a factory of delicious milk product is a further highlight of our day. We continue our drive to the Vaud Riviera and reach Geneva, the most cosmopolitan city of  Switzerland. Overnight at first class hotel - dinner on your own.

We start with a city-tour of Geneva this morning. We will show you the beautiful  parks along the lake, the old town with its  cathedral, the unique town-hall and the European seat of the United Nations. In the late morning we leave Geneva and drive to Lausanne and Montreux. We pass by Chillon Castle, the 13th century fortress made famous by Lord Byron's poem. In the afternoon we proceed through the Valais, the valley of the river Rhone with its orchards and vineyards. At Täsch we will board a cogwheel train that takes us to the mountain resort of Zermatt at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn. Dinner and overnight at first class hotel

Morning at leisure in Zermatt - admire the quaint old farm houses and barns in their unique style, do some shopping, relax or take an optional cogwheel train up to Gornergrat for a spectacular view of the surrounding snow-covered peaks. After noon board the train to Täsch where our bus is waiting to take us over the breathtaking Nufenen Pass into the Italian speaking part of Switzerland, to the garden city of Lugano. Overnight at first class hotel - dinner on your own.

We leave Lugano and drive along the scenic road to Gandria where we cross the border into Italy. Along the romantic shores of Lake Como we pass by Menaggio and reach Chiavenna in the lovely Breggaglia Valley. In Castasegna we re-enter to Switzerland and drive thirteen hairpin bends over the Maloja Pass. Passing by crystal blue Lake Sils and Silvaplana we reach the world-renowned mountain resort of St. Moritz in the late afternoon. (Italian Visa necessary for some nationalities). Dinner and overnight at first class hotel.

We leave St. Moritz in the morning and cross the Fluela Pass to reach Davos. In the capital of Principality of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, there will be time for lunch and for sightseeing. This tiny country with the mighty castle, which is the home of the present Prince and his family, attracts visitors from all over the world. In the afternoon we will return to Zurich through the Toggenburg region with its picturesque farmhouses.

Arrival in Zurich at approx. 5 p.m.

ACCOMMODATION AT FIRST CLASS HOTELS

            INTERLAKEN      1 night         buffet breakfast        Hotel Royal St. Georges

            GENEVA            1 night         buffet breakfast        Hotel Ramada Encore, Carouge

            ZERMATT           1 night         halfboard                 Hotel Alex

            LUGANO            1 night         halfboard                 Holiday Inn Lugano Center

            ST. MORITZ        1 night         halfboard                 Hotel Schweizerhof

Although no changes are anticipated, we reserve the right to make changes in hotels where deemed necessary or advisable. Substitutes will be equal in quality.