TOUR SUMMARY

 SPLENDORS OF EUROPE offers this ten day luxury escorted tour to Switzerland featuring Geneva, Yvoire, Zermatt, St Moritz, and Luzern.  This is a small group tour of Switzerland that includes walking tours and excursions which highlight Switzerland’s lakes, mountains, history, architecture, art, churches, rustic villages and museums.   On this tour the journey is as interesting and fun as the destinations.  Two professional escorts ensure that everyone in our small group of 12 or less has a personally rewarding experience.   Travel in Switzerland is by first class panoramic train, cogwheel mountain train and luxury lake steamer.  The famous Glacier Express panoramic train is enjoyed across the Alps of Switzerland between Zermatt and St Moritz.  The Wilhelm Tell Express luxury lake steamer is also enjoyed the length of Lake Luzern on this exceptional tour.  This tour includes visits to all the best sights.  Travel across the exquisite Alps and Lake Luzern of Switzerland with SPLENDORS OF EUROPE and you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery daily.  You'll have the best vacation trip ever.  Visit the hotel, restaurant, and tour photo galleries at the end of this page.

An exciting array of scenic transportation and excursions are included on this tour.  This tour features an unforgettable journey aboard Switzerland’s outstanding panoramic train the Glacier Express.  You’ll also enjoy scenic mountain train and cable car excursions near the Matterhorn where you’ll travel to spectacular mountain summits for incredible views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers.  You will also visit extraordinary Alpine lakes and enjoy a cruise aboard an elegant lake steamer on beautiful Lake Geneva and stunning Lake Luzern.

The Glacier Express is Switzerland’s premier panoramic train excursion, offering unparalleled views from large picture windows.  Crossing central Switzerland, this fascinating seven and one half hour rail journey, passes over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels and over the Oberalp pass at 6,670 feet.  You’ll see lush Alpine pastures, rushing mountain streams, unspoiled mountain forests and Glaciers.  On board you will enjoy first class accommodations and the haute cuisine in the elegant surroundings of the stylish dining car.

Geneva is an inviting international city rich in history and culture.  It is situated at the southern tip of Lake Leman (Lake Geneva) where the Rhône exits the lake.  You’ll enjoy commanding panoramic views of the waterfront and the French Alps nearby.  In town you will visit the old historic left bank of the Rhône.  Here you’ll discover the 16th century cobbled streets with a pleasant mix of museums, churches, shops and restaurants.

Yvoire is located on a strategic point of land between the “small lake” and the “large lake” on the French shore of Lake Geneva, Count Amédée V the Great, built fortifications their beginning in  1306, during the  war  between the Dauphiné and Savoy.  Later after a change of power, Yvoire became a sleepy fishing village.  Today its a charming well preserved medieval village with a fine castle, ramparts and fortified gateways.

Yvoire has been part of the association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France for the last 20 years and is now ranked as "Four Flowers" with Geraniums and Pansies spilling out of every window.  Here you’ll enjoy exploring the tiny cobbled streets, shops, restaurants, and panoramic views of Lake Leman (Geneva).

You will enjoy the unspoiled car free village of Zermatt. Located in a narrow mountain valley of meadows and trees, its weathered wood chalets, geranium filled flower boxes and ancient stone roofed houses contribute to its inescapable Alpine ambiance.  It’s from the twisting pedestrian streets you will first see the awe-inspiring Matterhorn, that tooth shaped icon of Switzerland.  The Gornergratbahn, a 5.5 mile cog wheel train excursion takes us up close to the Matterhorn and further up to Gornergrat station for a broader perspective of the areas expanse of 24 glaciers and the highest peaks in the Alps.

Internationally acclaimed for its winter sports events and the famous Cresta run, St. Moritz is a glamorous resort town year round.  With 322 sunny days a year, St. Moritz is the sunniest place in Switzerland.  The natural mineral springs started a 500 year old reputation as a healing spa resort now offering every manner of spa experience.  There are plenty of temptations from the many upscale shops and boutiques in town too.  Here you can relax in style and enjoy a bit of pampering before continuing your journey.

You’ll enjoy first class passage aboard an elegant lake steamer on Switzerland’s Lake Luzern.  The views of the surrounding mountains are stunning.  The lake is surrounded with fiord like cliffs and alpine mountains.  Charming story book little villages cling to small meadows at the edge of the lake.  On board chefs serve delicious meals and refreshments in wood paneled dining salons which you’ll enjoy while taking in the spectacular Alpine lake scenery.

Located on Lake Luzern where the powerful Reuss river exits the lake, Luzern presents itself as a proud culturally rich and historical town.  Wooden covered bridges, stone towers, and cobbled pedestrian areas provide an inviting setting to explore.  The town also has a number of fine churches and restaurants.

12 Day Itinerary

Your escorts greet you at the airport and check you in at our beautiful hotel.

Relax before lunch on the terrace where you’ll get acquainted with your escorts and fellow travelers. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon walk along the lake.

This evening we enjoy welcome cocktails at our hotel before we savor dinner at an exceptional restaurant.

This morning we take a walking tour through the cobble stone streets of old town Geneva. Here we visit Cathedral St.-Pierre. We also make a visit to the museum of Art and History.

We enjoy a terrace lunch surrounded by the mountains. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing afternoon orientation walk through this charming Alpine village and hear about its history, and the famous Matterhorn expeditions of the past.

Dinner is at your leisure tonight with a wide array choices just steps from our hotel. B+L

You’ll see weathered timber houses with their geranium filled window boxes and green Alpine pastures surrounded by snow covered peaks. You’ll see lush Alpine pastures, rushing mountain streams, unspoiled mountain forests and glaciers.