Country Roads of Switzerland - Classic Group
Tour Type: Country Roads
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Premium 2025 v1
See Switzerland in all its natural splendor during this 2-week guided tour that whisks you from snow-capped mountain peaks to floral valleys. Outside Lucerne, complete with wooden bridges and baroque churches, zip to the top of Mount Stanserhorn, a pinnacle so tall you can see France and Germany. Take in beautiful Bern and its Catherdrals with a Local Expert followed by a stop in Gruyères. Glide along the Glacier Express, a glass-topped train that will carry you through the Oberalp Valley and to Grindelwald, an idyllic alpine village set to the backdrop of winding rivers and towering waterfalls. In St. Moritz, a mountain railways pass will allow you to traverse the alpine village's cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts. Then taste the freshest cuisine in Switzerland during an intimate farm-to-table dinner experience, including cheese.
Additional Included Highlights
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Premium 2025 v1
See Switzerland in all its natural splendor during this 2-week guided tour that whisks you from snow-capped mountain peaks to floral valleys. Outside Lucerne, complete with wooden bridges and baroque churches, zip to the top of Mount Stanserhorn, a pinnacle so tall you can see France and Germany. Take in beautiful Bern and its Catherdrals with a Local Expert followed by a stop in Gruyères. Glide along the Glacier Express, a glass-topped train that will carry you through the Oberalp Valley and to Grindelwald, an idyllic alpine village set to the backdrop of winding rivers and towering waterfalls. In St. Moritz, a mountain railways pass will allow you to traverse the alpine village's cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts. Then taste the freshest cuisine in Switzerland during an intimate farm-to-table dinner experience, including cheese.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, y
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Lucerne Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your Welcome Dinner served with wine.
- Zurich Raise your glass and enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant for your Celebration Dinner.
- Zermatt Choose between fine local restaurants.
- 13 Breakfast (B)
- 5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- Lake Geneva Visit Chillon Castle with the Head of Collections to discover the artefacts, treasures and history of the chateau.
- Bellinzona Explore the stunning town of Bellinzona with your Local Expert. Julie will passionately share with you her insights into the three marvelous castles, and her personal stories about how she fell in love with this city and decided to move to the
- Lake Geneva Visit a family-run winery overlooking Lake Geneva. Enjoy a tasting, and learn how the family is preserving the estate for future generations. Savor delicious farm-to-table fare, made from locally sourced produce. Alongside using sustainable a
- Stanserhorn Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora.
- Lucerne During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
- Martigny View the Roman Amphitheater during your orientation.
- Montreux At the foot of the Alps this town boasts one of the most beautiful walks along Lake Geneva, join your Travel Director for an orientation before there is free time to explore.
- St Moritz If you think there's no such thing as a free ride, you'd be mistaken! With your inclusive pass, travel on 13 cable cars, funiculars, chairlifts and select public transport options (when available). The crisp Alpine air is included in the deal.
- St Moritz Travel along the route of the world-famous Glacier Express, through looping tunnels and dizzying viaducts, in the scenic heart of the Swiss Alps, on a regional train fully powered by hydroelectricity.
- Lake Geneva Enjoy first-class seats as you cruise on the serene waters of the King of Lakes, inspiration to the early Romantic movement.
- Sion Your Travel Director will show you the two fortress-churches, the cathedral and Old Town Hall.
- Bern Your exploration with a local historian through Switzerland's capital includes seeing the floral displays, Cathedral of St. Vincent, Federal Palace, clock tower and Ogre Fountain.
- Staubbach Falls In the Valley of the Waterfalls, witness these magnificent falls that plunge 300 meters.
- Zermatt Your Travel Director will lead you on an orientation of this picturesque village, high in the mountains.
- Geneva During your orientation, your Travel Director will show you the Jet d'Eau and Floral Clock.
- Lugano During the orientation with your Travel Director see the historic city of Lugano.
- St Moritz During your orientation of this alpine resort see the spa quarter and glacial lake.
- Lauterbrunnen Enjoy your orientation of the village that takes its name from 'many fountains,' referring to the 72 waterfalls that are within the surrounding valley.
- Stanserhorn Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
- Brienz Learn the history of woodcarving at the Jobin Swiss Woodcarving Center.
- Grindelwald Explore this famous glacier village with your Travel Director. Embedded in a unique Alpine landscape at the foot of the Eiger north face, Grindelwald is one of Switzerland's most beautiful Alpine towns.
- Gruyères Travel along valley floors covered with rich meadowland, to the pretty town of Gruyeres. Your Travel Director leads an orientation tour where you will see the main street and 13th century castle.
- Zermatt Ride the shuttle trains of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway up to the traffic-free Alpine resort. Should weather permit, you may even see the majestic peak of the Matterhorn.
- Zurich During your orientation of the city, your Travel Director will show you the Grossmunster, Fraumunster and elegant Bahnhofstrasse.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Call (336) 243-2153 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18824440
- Tour Operator
- Insight Vacations
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/30/2024
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
Day | Destination | Description |
Day 1 | Lucerne | Welcome to Lucerne: Welcome to Switzerland, a land of snow-capped summits and romantic lakes that has attracted poets, musicians and travelers for centuries. Arrive into Zurich airport and transfer to your hotel in Lucerne. Meet your Travel Director and travel companions for a pleasant Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Accommodations: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne. |
Day 2 | Lucerne | Ascend the summit of Mount Stanserhorn: Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels take you up the summit. Admire unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains and, on a clear day see as far as Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Return to the beautiful 14th century city of Lucerne to see its storybook wooden bridges, baroque church and sorrowful Lion Monument. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure to walk along the lake or perhaps shop for a special timepiece or chocolate. Accommodations: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne. |
Day 3 | Montreux | Bern, Gruyères and Montreux: In Bern, your Local Expert, a local English teacher, shows you the Cathedral of St. Vincent, Federal Palace and floral displays. Gather at the clock tower to watch the mechanical procession of painted figures before viewing the Ogre Fountain. Your travels continue into the wide, green valleys of the Vaud Alps with snowy summits filling the horizon. Continue through vineyards and alpine meadows to the fortified town of Gruyères, that gives its name to the well-known cheese. Enjoy time on your own to explore the pretty main street and 13th century castle. From Montreux, travel along the shores of Lake Geneva to visit a winery. Admire the stunning panorama overlooking the lake and savor a tasting of tantalising, local wines. Delight in a delicious Farm-to-Table light dinner, made from locally sourced produce, and learn how the family is preserving the estate for future generations on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. Accommodations: Grand Hotel Suisse-Majestic, Montreux. |
Day 4 | Montreux | Lake Geneva and the Swiss Countryside: On the western bay of Lake Geneva, visit Chillon Castle for a special tour of the former home to the Dukes of Savoy, immortalized by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon.' Keep a look out for where the writer is rumoured to have left his mark. Return to Montreux where the rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own or relax as you wish at your quayside hotel. Accommodations: Grand Hotel Suisse-Majestic, Montreux. |
Day 5 | Montreux | Geneva and Scenic Lake Cruise Relaxed Start: Follow the shores of the lake to the international city of Geneva, seeing the Jet d'Eau and Floral Clock. Next, relax in first-class comfort on the waters of Lake Geneva during a highlight cruise. This evening, enjoy time at leisure on the promenade of your lakeside resort. Accommodations: Grand Hotel Suisse-Majestic, Montreux. |
Day 6 | Zermatt | Martigny, Sion and Zermatt Relaxed Start: Journey into the upper Rhone Valley to Martigny to view the Roman Amphitheater. Continue to the town of Sion, dominated by two rocky peaks, each crowned with episcopal fortresses, and see the cathedral and Old Town Hall. Complete your journey via cogwheel train to the traffic-free mountain resort of Zermatt. This evening, take your pick from a selection a local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening. Perhaps you will delight in the typical Swiss dining experience of fondue? Accommodations: Resort Hotel Alex, Zermatt. |
Day 7 | Zermatt | Zermatt at Leisure Relaxed Start: Zermatt in the summertime offers many leisure possibilities: try swimming, hiking or relaxing in the fresh alpine surrounds. Perhaps take a trip to the Klein Matterhorn, see the Matterhorn from the church bridge or sample the delicious cakes known as Kuchen? Accommodations: Resort Hotel Alex, Zermatt. |
Day 8 | Lugano | The Italian Lake District to Lugano: Descend to Täsch for a scenic drive to Brig, where you'll commence your ascent of the Simplon Pass, taking in magnificent views over the Alps from the 2,000-meter summit. Cut through northern Italy, stopping along the shores of Lake Maggiore. The afternoon is at your leisure. Perhaps join an experience to the stunning Isola Bella? Accommodations: Hotel Simplon, Baveno. |
Day 9 | Saint Moritz | The Glamour and Glitz of St. Moritz: Journey to the three Fortifications at Bellinzona to meet your Local Expert, for a fascinating insight into this UNESCO World Heritage Site. These castles are enchanting examples of fortified medieval architecture of the Alps. Your travels continue through the Grisons Region, traveling via San Bernardino and the town of Tiefencastel, as you follow the young Rhine River. Head east towards the Julier Pass and the glamorous resort of St. Moritz, set in the Engadine Valley with the majestic Grisons Alps towering above. Accommodations: Crystal Hotel, St Moritz., Hotel Steffani, St Moritz. |
Day 10 | Saint Moritz | Leisure Time in St. Moritz Relaxed Start: Enjoy a day at leisure to jostle with the jet-setters in this elegant resort or perhaps take an exciting train journey over the Bernina pass. To help you make the most of your day, your Travel Director will provide you with a mountain railways pass, offering free travel on all cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts (when available) in Engadine St. Moritz. Accommodations: Crystal Hotel, St Moritz., Hotel Steffani, St Moritz. |
Day 11 | Grindelwald | The Glacier Express: Step aboard the Glacier Express to experience one of the world's great railway journeys. Cross the Landwasser Viaduct before heading down through the Oberalp Valley to rejoin the coach at Andermatt. Drive through the dramatic Schöllenen Gorge passing the Devil's Bridge. Marvel at the Wetterhorn Peaks as you travel along the Grindelwald Valley. Follow the sparkling Lutschine River to Lauterbrunnen, at the head of the Valley of Waterfalls, and see the Staubbach Falls plunge 300 meters from the plateau above. Accommodations: Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof Grindelwald. |
Day 12 | Grindelwald | Grindelwald at Leisure Relaxed Start: Enjoy a day at your leisure to explore Grindelwald further. Perhaps take a cogwheel train ride to the summit of the Jungfrau mountain? Accommodations: Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof Grindelwald. |
Day 13 | Zurich | Rural Switzerland to Zurich: Take in the spectacular lake views, as you journey to Brienz, famous for its woodcarving traditions. Visit the Jobin Swiss Woodcarving Center to trace the history of the trade back to the early days of the 19th century. Continue over the Brunig Pass and drive alongside the lakes of Lungern and Sarnen to return to Zurich. See the Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmunster, River Limmat and Frauenmunster on an orientation of the city with your Travel Director. Join your travel companions at a local restaurant. Your Celebration Dinner is accompanied with wine - raise your glass to toast to your adventures. Accommodations: Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel. , Opera Hotel |
Day 14 | Zurich | Depart Zurich: Your Swiss adventures come to and end this morning, with a transfer to Zurich airport. Accommodations: |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Twin prices are per person.
- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class