France and Swiss Alps

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Night-time transfer to the Montmartre neighborhood. Funicular ride (included)


IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.


NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.






WELCOME TO PARIS!
Transfer from airport to hotel and free time to explore before meeting your guide and fellow travellers. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

18.30 hrs (approximately) Transfer to the Montmartre quarter, a Bohemian district known for its artists. The visit includes a ride in the funicular railway to the top of the hill which has wonderful views of Paris. Relax and enjoy a delicious dinner in a magical and romantic setting.
Return to hotel.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour in Paris. Boat ride along the Seine. Climb to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Evening transfer.


09:00h Comprehensive tour of Paris with a local guide, visiting the Champs Elysees, Arch of Triumph, Concorde Square, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Palace, Garnier Opera House, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Town Hall of Paris, Eiffel Tower, etc. Includes admission to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in the lift.


The visit is followed by a spectacular cruise on the river Seine which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose.


At sunset enjoy the evening transfer to “Quartier Latin”, a very picturesque area of the historic centre where a wide variety of international cuisines await you. Return to hotel.


Note: Because of the tourist attraction of the Tower, there may be important queues at the time of your access. In order to minimize the problem, in some occasions, the ascent to the Eiffel Tower can be given at another time of your stay in Paris.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: free time in the city of lights.


08.30 hrs.- We go to the centre of Paris, the area of the Louvre Museum.


Free time to stroll in the city. If you wish, we can accompany you to Benlux, one of the most complete and best-known perfumeries in Paris.
Rest of the day free.

Total distance: 500 km. Today’s highlights: Vineyards in Beaune and Bourgogne region.
Landscapes: Pleasant landscapes in the center of France; Picturesque villages. Funicular climb in Lyon.


08.00 hrs.- París –departure-. We travel to the center of France. We cross the region of Bourgogne, an area known for its wines.
11.15 hrs.- Semur en Auxois –Arrival-. A walk and a coffee in this small medieval village surrounded by impressive walls.
12.00 hrs.- Semur –departure-.


13.30 hrs.- Beaune.- Charming small village in the middle of the wine region of Bourgogne; Its streets full of flowers, its hospice, its wine museum. Time to walk and have lunch.


15.00 hrs.- Beaune –departure to Lyon-.
17.00 hrs.- Lyon –Arrival-. On the banks of the Rhône River, the third city of France that once was the capital of the Roman Gallia. The historic centre of this lively City has been declared a World Heritage site. We include a funicular climb to Notre Dame de Fourvière where we have a great view of the city. Free time.


Note: Sometimes, for events or congresses, accommodation may be provided in a city near Lyon (normally Chambery).

Total distance: 350 km
Landscapes: Very beautiful landscapes on Lake Leman. Great lakes, high snowed peaks in the distance. In the afternoon, journey between mountains, crossing beautiful wooden villages.




08.00hrs- Lyon- Departure- Entering mountainous areas we travel to Switzerland.
10.00hrs- GENEVA, a city next to Lake Leman that houses the European headquarters of the United Nations, the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, the Red Cross and many other international organizations. We will see them from the bus and enjoy free time to stroll through the old city.


12.30 hrs.- Geneva – Departure after lunch -. Our road follows the shore of Lake Leman. Amidst magnificent vineyards (an area declared World Heritage).
14.00 hrs- Chillon Castle, Arrival at this fantastic mediaeval castle built in the waters of the lake. Tickets included.


15.00 hrs.- Chillon Castle - Departure -. Magnificent mountain scenery; we cross areas of pretty villages with wooden architecture.
15.45 hrs- Gruyere.- – In the centre of the area of production of the famous cheese, Gruyere is a very picturesque walled tourist village. Very near to Gruyere are some of the main Chocolate manufacturers of Switzerland (NESTLÉ among them). We visit the Cailler factory, with a sweet tasting included!


18.15 hrs.- Gruyere. Departure through mountainous regions and beautiful Swiss villages.
19.30 hrs.- Gstaad, arrival in this pretty little village with its wooden houses. Accommodation in the area of Gstaad-Saanenland.

Total distance: 360 km
Landscapes: Probably the most spectacular stage of our route in the Alps; High summits where snow remains all year round; Lakes.
Note: Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. It is advisable also some waterproof (especially for the visit of the waterfalls).


Notes: Due to weather conditions (strong wind) or maintenance, the cable car may not operate at any time. If that assumption happens, we would try to offer an alternative lift to another similar point.


07.30 hrs.- Gstaad – Departure-. Mountain landscapes and lakes of great beauty
09.15 hrs- Grindenwald.- Time to have a coffee at this mountain resort in the Bernese Alps before taking the Cable Car (ticket included) to Grindenwald First, the largest ski center in the region. We will make a walking route (30 minutes) in which we will have an opportunity between impressive alpine landscapes to take the "footbridge over the emptiness" enjoying the glaciers that surround us; Lunch included for all passengers.
13.15 hrs- Grindenwald Fist departure.


15.00 hrs.- Meringen- arrival to the spectacular Aaresluch Gorge (entrance included).
16.30 hrs.- Aareslucht – We leave with the bus taking one of the most spectacular mountain roads to the region of Switzerland where the official language is Italian.


19.30 hrs- Accommodation in CHIASSO, a Swiss city on the Italian border

Total distance: 220 km
Scenery: Beautiful landscapes on our motorway. Lakes and mountains.


08.00 hrs.- Chiasso –Departure-.
08.30 hrs.- Lugano – arrival to the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland with its beautiful lake. Time to stroll.
10.00 hrs.- Lugano – We continue on the highway, crossing the mountains to get back to German-speaking Switzerland.-


12.00 hrs.- Bürglen.- Time to stroll in the tiny village where William Tell was born, we shall see the chapel of the XVI century with paintings illustrating his life. If you want, you can also visit the museum of William Tell.


12.45 hrs.- Burglen –departure.-
13.00 hrs.- Altdorf – Arrival to this nice city. In its central square you will also find traces of the history of William Tell. Time for a walk and lunch.-


14.30 hrs.- Altdorf –departure.-
15.15 hrs.- Lucern – free time to explore this beautiful city by the lake that bears its name.

Total distance: 190 km.
Scenery: Beautiful Swiss landscapes.
Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes in the meadows of Heidi village.
Note: Tonight we stay in Feldkirch, a small town located in Austria next to the Swiss border. Don´t forget to bring Euros, you will need them in Feldkirck and tomorrow in Mainau.


08:30 hrs.- Lucerne, departure. We surround the lake of the four cantons.
09:45 hrs - Einsiedeln .- Its immense baroque abbey is the main point of pilgrimage in Switzerland. You can visit it and walk around the city.


11:00hrs. - Einsiedeln.- Departure. We continue towards the East of Switzerland to the border of Liechtenstein and Austria.
12:15hrs - Mainfeld.-The village which inspired Heidi’s story that perhaps you know by the popular cartoons. A walk in its historic center after which we will be visiting Heidi’s House (Ticket not included. Entry to the facility is free), a picturesque place with beautiful landscapes that we will reach through a pedestrian path.


13:45hrs. Mainfeld, departure. We enter into the small independent country of LIECHTENSTEIN.
14:15 hrs. - Vaduz- With its castle that rises on a steep hill in the middle of the city. Time to walk and have lunch.


16:30hrs. - Vaduz. Departure.
17:00 hrs. - Feldkirch. In Austria, in the border with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; Charming walled town with beautiful medieval old town and castle. Free time and accommodation.

Total distance: 215 km
Scenery: Picturesque all day; Lakes, charming villages.
Note: The island of Mainau is in Germany, you may need some euro.-


08:15hrs.- Feldkirch,- Departure. We enter to Switzerland again.
09:00 hrs. - St Gallen. whose center is part of the World Heritage List by UNESCO with a wonderful cathedral and its historic center.


10:00hrs. St. Gallen- Departure. We follow Lake Constance, between Germany and Switzerland.
11:15hrs. - Constance - Time to stroll through this elegant city.


12:45hrs. - Constance - departure.
13:15 hrs. - Island of Mainau.- Access by pedestrian bridge. We include the entrance to know its beautiful botanical garden. Time for lunch.


15:30hrs. - Island of Mainau - departure.
16:15hrs. - Stein Am Rhein.-a typical village on the Rhein River with precious houses with painted walls.


17:15hrs.- Stein Am Rhein,- Departure.
17:45 hrs. - Rhein Waterfalls (entry included), the waterfalls with the most abundant flow in Europe.


18:45hrs. - Rhein Waterfalls - departure. We continue to Zurich.
19:30 hrs. - Zurich.

Total distance covered by train: 42 km Note: Our stage today is different; we travel across Lake Zurich by boat and return by train. The transfers from the hotel to the centre may also be done on public transport (depending on the total number of participants). The indicated timetables of the boat we use may change (the itinerary may be adapted accordingly).


09.00 hrs.- We will leave the hotel on this peaceful day. With our guide, we will take a walk around the most populated city of Switzerland, which is also the country’s financial and cultural capital. The city of banks as been twice declared the city with the best quality of life in the world.
10.30 hrs.- We start our almost two-hour cruise on Lake Zurich. The boat makes brief stops to allow us to admire the villages along the way.


12.30 hrs.- RAPPERSWILL, a small, picturesque village overlooked by its mediaeval castle. Time for a stroll and lunch.
15.00 hrs.- Rapperswill, We return to Zürich by train, and will see the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss railways. We will reach Zürich in a little under 35 minutes.- Rest of the afternoon free.


Note: Depending on the number of travellers, on this stage, the transfers to the centre and from the station may be made on public transport.

After breakfast, end of our services.