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GRAND TOUR OF SWITZERLAND
- 2010
9 days incl. air,
or 8 days from Zurich to Zurich (CO-6020)Return to Italy
Vacations & Tours  Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation
Overview
On this vacation,
discover the wonders of the very special country of Switzerland:
unspoiled countryside, majestic peaks, glittering lake shores, and cities
with cosmopolitan flair. Begin your trip in Zürich, Switzerland’s largest
city, and travel through hilly landscapes to Appenzell with a stop in the
tiny Principality of Liechtenstein. Enjoy pastoral views of “Heidiland”
before reaching the glamorous St. Moritz ski resort. From here,
experience the highlight of the tour: breathtaking views on the included
Bernina Express alpine train that takes you to Tirano, Italy. Rejoin your
motorcoach and arrive on the shores of Lake Lugano, then back to Italy’s
Lake Maggiore, crossing Simplon Pass to re-enter Switzerland. Overnight
in Täsch. Join the included train excursion to car-free Zermatt, the
famous resort at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn. Your journey then
takes you to Lausanne on Lake Geneva, to Gruyère to visit a local cheese
factory, to the charming Swiss capital of Berne, and on to Lake Lucerne,
surrounded by snow-capped Alps. Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s finest
cities, offers impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate
patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument—a
masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis
XVI. While in Lucerne, marvel at the surrounding Alpine peaks. Your
Switzerland vacation ends back in Zürich. This tour through Switzerland
offers you breathtaking scenery not to be missed, as well as beautiful
resorts and old cities. A vacation of a lifetime!
Itinerary
Day
1 Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Sat. ARRIVAL IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Check
into your hotel in Zurich. The rest of the day is free for you to explore
this exciting city. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow
travelers. (D)
Day
3 Sun. ZURICH-ST. MORITZ
A
sensational drive today through some of Switzerland’s most famed cantons.
By way of the market town of Herisau, stop in Appenzell to see the old
town center with its Town Hall. Further east to the minute Principality
of Liechtenstein. A scenic drive through “Heidiland” to the Rhine Valley
before starting the ascent of mighty Julier Pass. Soon you’ll be in the
heart of Switzerland’s largest canton, the Grisons. Here, see some of the
world’s best Alpine views before arriving in St. Moritz. (B)
Day
4 Mon. ST. MORITZ-BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN TO TIRANO, ITALY-LUGANO,
SWITZERLAND
Enjoy
the highlight of the whole tour and a wonderful way of crossing the Alps.
One of Europe’s most spectacular train rides begins in St. Moritz and
takes you across the lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to
Tirano in the Italian Valtellina. Here, rejoin your coach for the journey
to the shores of Lake Lugano. (B)
Day
5 Tue. LUGANO-LAKE MAGGIORE-TASCH
Morning
break in sub-tropical Lugano. Afterwards, return to Italy to savor the
luminous atmosphere of Lake Maggiore. Time for an optional visit to Isola
Bella, a magnificently located palace and garden island. Then, back into
Switzerland via scenic Simplon Pass. Overnight in the village of Täsch.
(B,D)
Day
6 Wed. TÄSCH-ZERMATT-LAUSANNE
This
morning an excursion by train to Zermatt, the famous resort beneath the
Matterhorn. In the afternoon, motor through the vineyards and apricot
groves of the lower Rhône Valley to Lake Geneva before arriving in
Lausanne on its northern shore. (B)
Day
7 Thu. LAUSANNE-LAKE LUCERNNE Lake Lucerne
Stop
awhile in Gruyère to visit a local cheese factory. Then on to
Switzerland’s beautiful capital, Berne, a charming town with arcaded
shops, carved fountains, and towers. The visit features the Bear Pit and
the monumental Federal Palace. Then by way of the shores of Lake Thun to
Interlaken. After a visit, continue over Brünig Pass to Lake Lucerne.
Time for an optional folklore evening in Lucerne. (B,D)
Day
8 Fri. LAKE LUCERNE-ZURICH
Today,
visit Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its
snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear
mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the main
highlights. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day.
The most popular option is an excursion to the Stanserhorn. In the late
afternoon an easy drive back to Zurich for an overnight. (B)
Day
9 Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
Note:
Security cruise regulations require clients’ family and first name,
D.O.B., gender, and nationality at time of booking.
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
3/26/2010
|
3/27/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
$1,169.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/2/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
4/9/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
4/16/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/23/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
4/30/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/7/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/14/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
5/21/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/28/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
6/4/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/11/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
6/19/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/18/2010
|
6/19/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
6/25/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
7/2/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/9/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
7/16/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
7/24/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
7/23/2010
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7/24/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/30/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
8/6/2010
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8/7/2010
|
8/14/2010
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$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
8/13/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/20/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/27/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
9/4/2010
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$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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9/3/2010
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9/4/2010
|
9/11/2010
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$1,249.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/10/2010
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9/11/2010
|
9/18/2010
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$1,189.00
|
Available
|
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9/17/2010
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9/18/2010
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9/25/2010
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$1,189.00
|
Available
|
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9/24/2010
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9/25/2010
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10/2/2010
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$1,189.00
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Available
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10/1/2010
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10/2/2010
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10/9/2010
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$1,149.00
|
Available
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Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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