Best of Switzerland

Zürich is your springboard to a spectacular journey through Switzerland. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a social-impact guided walking tour. This evening, attend a dinner to launch your Swiss experience.

• Embark on a walking tour of Zürich's Old Town with a Local Change Maker

We leave the bright lights of Zürich behind and stop to admire the beautiful stone houses of Bern from the Aare river. Journeying to Lake Geneva, we arrive in the resort town of Montreux, set against the pristine backdrop of snow-covered peaks and vineyards. After lunch, consider joining an Optional Experience to cruise Lake Geneva, including a visit to the Charlie Chaplin museum in his former estate, Manoir de Ban.

This morning, we visit Chillon Castle, immortalized by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner of Chillon'. For nearly four centuries, this water fortress was the residence of the Counts of Savoy and an important stop for traders. For our next step, we’ll Connect With Locals over lunch at our Be My Guest experience. Continue your journey to the resort town of Zermatt, set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Matterhorn.

• Enjoy the Flavours of Local Wine, Cheese and Breads at a local Vineyard Overlooking Lake Geneva
• Chillon Castle Visit

Spend a full free day soaking up Zermatt's crisp mountain air and panoramic vistas. Relax in beautiful surroundings or consider an Optional Experience to the Klein Matterhorn for the most spectacular mountain views.

Leave the alpine charm of Zermatt and journey to the shores of Lake Maggiore. Take a lunch break by the water, soaking up the Italian elegance of this region. You might choose to join an Optional Experience by private boat to Isola dei Pescatori, a small fishing island where you can enjoy its small streets and a lunch of local specialities. Continue back to Switzerland and the commune of Locarno in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino. Tonight enjoy an evening to relax or perhaps visit the lakeside in nearby Ascona.

Leave Locarno behind and travel deep into the Swiss Alps, arriving in St. Moritz with time to explore. You might stroll along the lakefront or take in the mountain views from a local cafe. For something different, there’s the Optional Experience to Roseg Valley by horse and carriage. Later, board the Rhaetian Railways and travel the UNESCO-listed route past the glaciers of Piz Bernina towards Poschiavo. Return to St. Moritz where a relaxed dinner rounds off the day.

• Travel over the Bernina Pass

Journeying through lush green landscapes, past Lake Zürich, we arrive in lakeside Lucerne. Pay tribute to the brave Swiss Guards, who lost their lives defending King Louis XVI at the Lion Monument, and admire the iconic wooden Chapel Bridge before strolling past the city's colourful facades. Consider joining a cruise on the tranquil lake waters and then ride the world's first double deck 'CabriO' cable car to the top of Mount Stanserhorn.

• Lucerne Orientation

We travel to Interlaken at the heart of Switzerland, which lies in the shadow of the Jungfrau Mountain. Stopping in the village of Brienz en route, we’ll gain insights into the centuries-old tradition of wood carving for which this village is so famous. Spend some time on your own and enjoy superb views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. This evening, we enjoy dinner with our fellow travellers and Travel Director toasting the highlights of Switzerland we've enjoyed along the way.

• Brienz Woodcarving Centre

As our journey through the Best of Switzerland comes to an end, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell.