Note: your itinerary will change depending upon the day of the week you depart.
DAY 1, Sunday - Depart for Switzerland
Depart for Switzerland
DAY 2, Monday - Arrive in Basel
Arrive in Basel, located along the mighty Rhine River and transfer
to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin
with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6
PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights
which arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3, Tuesday - Basel City Tour & Christmas Markets, Colmar Christmas Market
Begin your exploration of Basel's historic Old Town, and learn
about the city's rich history. View the Münster Cathedral, Basel
Historical Museum, City Hall, Münster Pfalz, and Tinguely Fountain. In
the afternoon, head to the small town of Colmar, located in the Alsace
region of France, with its half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone
lanes and romantic canals. Explore the festive Christmas market with its
plethora of wooden stalls selling original ware and festive treats,
before returning to Basel
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Wednesday - Obernai, Strasbourg
This morning, head to the town of Obernai in France. Walk the
medieval streets of the Old Town with its half-timbered houses, and view
the Town Hall with its colorful façade. Enjoy the ambience before
traveling to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. Stop at the Gothic
Cathedral of Notre Dame, and continue to La Petite France district, and
Place Kleber, a large historic square. Explore the Christmas market, the
march???????©s de Noël. Taste the traditional cakes of Alsace called bredeles
and stroll the stalls filled with handcrafted wares. Conclude your
visit with a boat tour and admire the historic landmarks of Strasbourg
from the water. Time for dinner on own, Later, return to Basel
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Thursday - Zurich Christmas Market, Lucerne
Depart Basel and travel to Zurich, Switzerland's financial center.
Take an orientation walk through the Old Town. View Fraumunster Church,
St Peter's Church, historic Limmatquai, and famous Bahnhofstrasse.
Enjoy free time to stroll through the Christmas market. Sip on mulled
wine as you browse stalls with handcrafted gifts. In the afternoon, head
to Lucerne. Upon arrival, view the inspiring Lion Monument and check
into your hotel. Tonight following dinner, embark on a walking tour of
Lucerne. Visit the lively Christmas markets and view the illuminated
medieval Chapel Bridge, forming the centerpiece of Lucerne's townscape
Overnight: Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, Friday - Full Day in Lucerne
Spend the day at leisure, or join the optional Full Day
Bern with dinner tour. Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region.
During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted
throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's
woodcarving tradition. Afterward, stop in Interlaken, a chic resort town
with views of the snowy Jungfrau peak for lunch at leisure, before
continuing to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Stroll through the Old
Town and view the Gothic Cathedral, the Muenster, with its stunning
portal and its depiction of the Last Judgment. Witness the hourly parade
of painted figures at the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). Explore the lively
Christmas market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday
gifts and gingerbread. Savor a fondue dinner before returning to Lucerne
late evening
Optional: Full Day Bern with dinner (AM)
Overnight: Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7, Saturday - Travel to Lugano, Evening Cruise on Lake Lugano
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional tour to
Mount Pilatus. Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the
summit of Mt. Pilatus at nearly 7000 feet. After admiring the panorama,
descend by aerial cableway. In the afternoon, depart for Lugano in
southern Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino region. On arrival, take a
walking tour of Lugano with its mix of Swiss-Mediterranean cultures.
Afterwards, check into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a sunset
panoramic cruise on Lake Lugano. Tonight at dinner, bid farewell to your
Tour Manager
Optional: Mount Pilatus Tour (AM)
Overnight: Lugano
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8, Sunday - Depart Switzerland
Transfer to the airport in Milan for your departure flight. Milan is approximately an hour and a half drive from Lugano
Meals: Breakfast
All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability and are quoted in U.S. Dollars. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour
operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material
provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates
are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators.
Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices
on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors,
omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to
confirm availability and pricing.
