Compare Panoramic Switzerland & Italy by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 6,890 |
| Price Per Day | $ 626 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
| Description |
With its pristine Alpine mountainscapes, bucolic dairy villages and glittering international cities, Switzerland combines broad cultural influences with a deeply independent attitude. Surrounded by other European countries yet protected by its forbidding mountain range, Switzerland is a nation of many regions, languages and landscapes. Our specialists have visited the whole country, from French-speaking Geneva in the west, where the UN has its headquarters, to the glitzy mountain retreat St. Moritz in the east, where Swiss-German is the main language. |
Day 1 Zürich
Zürich
Arrive into Zürich and be met by your private driver and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once you’ve settled in, meet your guide at the hotel for an orientation tour of Zürich’s old town. Enjoy a walk along the Limmat River toward the glistening lake, winding your way through the cobbled alleyways dwarfed by the towers of Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches.
Day 2 Zermatt
Zürich , Zermatt
Board a train to Zermatt, a journey of about three hours through the countryside. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to get to know Zermatt. You may wish to visit the Matterhorn museum or walk through the dramatic Gorner Gorge.
Day 3 Zermatt
Zermatt
You will meet your private guide in the hotel to spend half a day being shown around the mountain above Zermatt. You will head up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise via funicular. The glacier is open for skiing every day of the year and from the summit you will have views across some of Switzerland’s highest peaks including the Monte Rosa massif.
Day 4 St. Moritz
Zermatt , St. Moritz
Today you will spend the whole day aboard the Glacier Express, en route to St. Moritz. Dubbed the slowest express train in the world, the panoramic coaches provide ample views of the 291 bridges and 91 tunnels during the eight-hour journey. A sumptuous lunch is served on-board and you can tune into the audio guide to learn more about the magnificent scenery you are passing through.
Day 5 St. Moritz
St. Moritz
In the morning meet your guide for an orientation tour of St. Moritz. You may venture up to the summit at Piz Nair, or along the Engadin valley to Muottas Muragl. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in one of the Alps most glamorous resorts.
Day 6 Lugano
St. Moritz , Lugano
Today is your second panoramic train journey from St. Moritz to Lugano in the Italian-influenced region of Ticino in southern Switzerland. The train climbs the Bernina Pass, skirts around shimmering glacial lakes and across spectacular viaducts throughout the seven-hour journey south to Tirano, Italy. Here you change to a bus with panoramic windows for the final leg of the journey around Lake Como and over the mountain to reach Lugano. Have the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 7 Lugano
Lugano
Make you way to the pier for a scenic boat cruise across Lake Lugano to a traditional grotto where you will be taught to make a classic risotto. Accompanied by appetizers and local wine, enjoy your efforts as lunch at the lake edge. Head back to Lugano by boat and have the rest of the day to explore the peaks of Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore for sunset views.
Day 8 Lake Como
Lugano , Lake Como
A short train ride will transfer you across the border into Italy to the town of Como for your final three nights on Lake Como. Once settled into your hotel a driver will collect you for a short journey toward Bellagio from where you will embark on a two-hour private kayak trip around the headland.
Day 9 Lake Como
Lake Como
This morning you'll set off with your private guide and boat driver to explore the lake. One of the highlights will be a visit to Villa Balbianello, a stunning lakeside retreat where the James Bond film 'Casino Royale' was filmed. After this you'll head to the picturesque town of Bellagio, often referred to as the 'pearl of the lake', to enjoy some free time before heading back down the lake to your hotel.
Day 10 Lake Como
Lake Como
Today you'll have a full day at leisure to explore more of the lake's highlights. A great option is to take the public ferry north to the charming towns of Varenna and Menaggio. You could even stop off in Tremezzo to visit the beautiful gardens of Villa Carlotta.
Day 11 Return home
Lake Como
You'll be met at the hotel by your driver today for a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
