Itinerary
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Day 1
Zurich Zurich is Switzerland's most important city economically, and a major European business centre. Zurich also boasts the biggest and best cultural attractions in the nation. The Swiss National Museum, Switzerland's largest church and a truly international selection of restaurants are just a few of the attractions that draw visitors to this beautiful city. Zurich embraces change. It was one of the leading lights of the Reformation and even today the city has an exciting Modern Art movement best seen in the excellent Kunsthaus and the Fraümunster Church. More traditional entertainment can be found at the Opera House and from the Tonhalle Orchestra, one of Europe's finest musical ensembles. Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver. A welcome package with your itinerary, vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip. Enjoy a half day walking tour of Zurich, one of the most important cities in Switzerland. Your private guide will give you a good overview of Zurich in all its aspects: through the business and shopping center (famous Bahnhofstrasse) and the Old town, and along the Lake to the greenery of the recreational areas on the outskirts. Visit Fraumünster to see the Chagall windows, stop at the Lake and at a vantage point from where you will have a wonderful view of the City. No entrance fees are included in the tour. Alden Splügenschloss Hotel (5*) is the smallest and most intimate 5-Star-Boutique Hotel in Zurich. The historic hotel building, under heritage protection, dates back to 1895 and was completely refurbished 2004 with the aim of restoring its original splendor. The Alden Hotel Splügenschloss now combines fin-de-siècle elegance with the high-tech comforts of today. Whether privately in one of the 22 luxurious rooms and suites or in the comfortable library: ALDEN guests enjoy personal service in an elegant yet casual ambiance! Whether for a quiet business lunch meeting, a romantic tête-à-tête or a casual quick lunch: you will be pampered in an elegant and comfortable atmosphere by our service team at the ALDEN restaurant and bar. Overnight at Alden Spluegenschloss (5*). |
 Zurich |
 Zurich |
 Alden Spluegenschloss |
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Day 2
Zurich Enjoy a full day tour of Swiss countryside and Bern. Tour begins with a drive through a region characterized by gentle, green pastures, soft hills, and tiny villages scattered with farmhouses that hide beneath gigantic roofs and behind colorful flower beds; A dairy farming area, where the famous Emmental cheese is made. Arrive in Berne, the Swiss Federal Capital built between the 12th and 18th centuries. It is still the fine old city of by-gone days. Nothing could spoil its charming appearance, those ancient fountains, cellars and towers, as well as the sandstone steps which were worn down by past and present generations of walkers. The famous 4-miles of the arcaded streets of the old city - all weather-proof and traffic-free, under which are the shop windows, tempting the passer-by with their attractive choice of goods - a paradise of browsers and shoppers! The main sights are the Houses of Parliament, the Clock Tower, the Town Hall and last but not least the Bear Pit - the pride of every citizen of Bern. Overnight at Alden Spluegenschloss (5*). |
 Bern River and Village |
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Day 3
Zurich Enjoy a half day tour to Rhine Falls with private vehicle and guide. This fascinating tour begins with a drive to the northern part of Switzerland. From Zurich we follow the Rhine River to the quaint city of Schaffhausen, overlooked by the massive fortress of Munot dating back to the 16th century. Reach Neuhausen for the visit of the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfalls in Europe with its magnificent scenery. At a width of 150 meters and a height of 23 meters, an average 700 cubic meters of water rush over the cliffs every second. Across the Rhine stands the Castle of Laufen, a medieval structure with well preserved walls and towers. Return to Zurich. Overnight at Alden Spluegenschloss (5*). |
 Rhine Falls |
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Day 4
Luzern Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland and a focal point of the region. Due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne, within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is traditionally considered first and foremost as a tourist destination. One of the city's famous landmarks is Chapel Bridge, a wooden bridge first built in the 14th century. Another famous statue would be Bertel Thorvaldsen's Lion Monument of a dying lion which commemorates the hundreds of Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when the mob stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Enjoy a private transfer from Zurich to Luzern with private vehicle and driver. Art Deco Hotel Montana (4*) is the best rated four star business hotel in Switzerland, located in Lucerne in a slightly elevated location and has a Swisscom Wireless LAN. Guests of the Montana enjoy not only the incomparable ambiance of the Art Deco-style rooms, but also an unique view across the lake, town and mountains. The numerous events in the Montana have already become legendary - for example the annual 'Ess-Theater' or the jazz concerts in the intimate surroundings of the Louis Bar. By the way, the shortest funicular in the world leads in only 60 seconds from the hotel lobby directly to the lake promenade. Overnight at Art Deco Hotel Montana (4*). |
 Luzern |
 Art Deco Hotel Montana |
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Day 5
Luzern Enjoy a half day tour with private vehicle and guide. Explore storybook Lucerne, situated on Lake Lucerne, a charming city with many faces. Reflect on the history of Lucerne as you walk across the 14th century Chapel Bridge with its paintings of heroic town events. Then cross Mill Bridge to see the "Dance of Death" paintings. Musegg Town Wall, the old city ramparts and the stately Town Hall, displaying suits of armours from the Middle Ages. Continue on to the Lion Monument memorializing the Swiss Guards who defended the Royal Palace in Versailles during the French Revolution. You might also include a visit to see the Swiss Transport Museum, famous for its huge collection of rail vehicles, aircraft cars, bicycles and motor-bikes as well as other exhibits and models connected with the history of transport and communication (optional). The entrance fees are not included in the tour and need to be paid on the spot. Overnight at Art Deco Hotel Montana (4*). |
 Chapel Bridge & Water Tower |
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Day 6
Lausanne Lausanne is one of Switzerland's most important cultural centres. It also has a vibrant nightlife and clubbing scene. Over the centuries the city perched above Lake Geneva has attracted a string of literary giants such as Voltaire, Byron and Dickens, and it was here that TS Eliot wrote The Waste Land. Today the hilly city of steep stairs and winding streets is renowned for the Maurice Bejart ballet company and classical music concerts performed by the French Swiss Orchestra and the Orchestra of Lausanne. Add to that a picturesque old town, a stunning Gothic cathedral and the lakeside resort of Ouchy, which makes it a great place to visit for a few days. Enjoy a train station transfer with private vehicle and driver. Enjoy a train ride from Luzern to Lausanne. Transfer using a local taxi. Please note that this is not included in trip price and is payable locally. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Lausanne. Built in three tiers, Lausanne has the sparkling blue waters of Lake Geneva at its feet, deep green forests at its back and snow-capped Alps in the distance. It is a city to explore with your senses, offering everything from quaint country markets to cosmopolitan shops and shows. A climb up to the Old City will take you to Lausanne’s superb gothic cathedral, to the ancient castle of Saint Maire and to the university with its fine museums. Down by the waterside is the picturesque resort of Ouchy, where you can linger in one of the lakeside restaurants or visit the famous Olympic Museum. Entrance fees are not included in the tour cost. The Beau-Rivage Palace has built a reputation for being one of Europe's favourite hotels for its service and high quality. Located in 10 acres of parkland, on the banks of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, the elegant belle époque buildings of the Beau-Rivage Palace command breathtaking views across the lake to the majestic French Alps beyond. Sumptuous architecture, antiques and fine reproductions steep guests in the glorious past in both public and private spaces. On the other hand, guests feel instantly at home, thanks to the warm and attentive staff, which includes Switzerland's only female chief concierge. Overnight at Beau Rivage Palace (5*). |
 Lausanne |
 Ouchy Resort Lakeside |
 Beau-Rivage Palace |
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Day 7
Lausanne Enjoy a full day tour of Gstaad and Interlaken. There is no doubt that this is the picturebook tour you always had in mind when thinking of Switzerland. From Aigle you will be driven along the Vallée Grand-Eau (Big Water Valley) and soon reach Gstaad, the “Jet-Set” holiday resort with its charming wooden chalets, with bright splashes of geraniums on the window sills. The winter and summer holiday resort is very popular with Royalties and artists. Here you will cross the language border as German is spoken from here onwards. Follow the River Simme on a small, winding road, passing through quaint villages with their white churches, driving through lush green meadows dotted with grazing cattle, in the distance pine trees, cascading waterfalls, and mountains rising into the blue sky. Interlaken, the town between the Lake of Brienz and the Lake of Thun, was one of the first holiday resorts in Switzerland’s long tourist history. Visitors are enchanted by the magnificent view of the “Queen of the Alps”, the famous Jungfrau Mountain. There is plenty of time to walk around the charming town. Return in Lausanne in the afternoon. Tickets to Mt. Jungfraujoch are included in the tour cost. Overnight at Beau Rivage Palace (5*). |
 Village of Gstaad |
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Day 8
Lausanne Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Swiss Cheese country with private vehicle and English speaking driver-guide. Drive along picturesque vineyards to Chexbres and Châtel St. Denis, typical wine growing villages. Visit the Cheese Factory where you can watch the cheese production and even taste some of it. Perched on a hill in a landscape full of grace and harmony is the picture-book, medieval town of Gruyères with its quaint houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, a real paradise for photographers. There will be time to stroll along the cobblestone streets before returning to Lausanne. The entrance fee to the Cheese factory is included in the tour cost. Overnight at Beau Rivage Palace (5*). |
 Gruyères Medieval Town |
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Day 9
Geneva Geneva is in a stunning setting, lapped by Lake Geneva and surrounded by mountains. And one of its most famous citizens - Rousseau - was a leading light in the Romantic movement. Geneva is a genteel town where you can feel the weight of history and still escape to Switzerland's magnificent countryside. The United Nations has an important base here and there are some excellent museums. The Swiss Riviera starts just up the lake at Lausanne. Enjoy a private transfer from Lausanne to Geneva by private car and English speaking driver. Enjoy a guided tour of Geneva with a private vehicle and guide. The territory of the "Republic & Canton of Geneva" comprises only 110 square miles. Yet, thanks to its central location it is and has always been a crossroad of Europe, a great international centre housing the UNO, the International Red Cross, the International Labour Office and many, many more. Among Geneva's main attractions is its beautiful Old town, where it is so pleasant to stroll or linger in a sidewalk Cafe‚ soaking up the past, fascinated by the charm of its narrow, winding, historic streets. Art Lovers can just meander at leisure through its scores of stunning art galleries and Antique Hunters will be overwhelmed by the authentic treasures of its shops. Geneva, proud of its glorious past, cherishes the relics of its ancient heritage and offers you a chance of taking an exiting promenade through 2000 years of history. Entrance fees are not included in the tour. Beau Rivage (5*) a superb 1865 former mansion overlooks Lake Geneva, located in the heart of Geneva close to the UN's Palais des Nations. Hotel offers panoramic views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. The 91 spacious rooms are individually decorated, with welcome baskets, designer toiletries, and connections to the hotel’s Virtual Private Network for high-speed Internet. Frescoes, statues, marble columns and a fountain set a lavish tone in the atrium. The Beau Rivage's Le Chat Botté restaurant provides French cuisine and is rated with 1 star in the 2012 Michelin Guide and with 18 out of 20 points in the 2012 Gault Millau restaurant guide. The Le Patara restaurant offers Thai cuisine. There is also the chef's private table in the kitchen for up to 8 guests. Overnight at Beau Rivage Palace (5*). |
 Geneva |
 United Nations Geneva |
 Hotel Beau Rivage Geneva |
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Day 10
Geneva Enjoy a full day tour to Chamonix, a first class alpine center of worldwide renown. The holiday resort is well known as an important outdoor centre for hiking, biking, golf and of course being in the shadow of Mont-Blanc. Visit the 'Aiguille Du Midi' by one of the highest aerial cableways in the world (3842m/12605ft) to view an unforgettable panorama of the French, Italian and Swiss Alps. The tour includes vehicle and English speaking driver-guide. Overnight at Beau Rivage Palace (5*). |
 Top of the 'Aiguille Du Midi' |
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Day 11
Geneva Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver. Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary. Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport). |
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Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services
Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance
Trip Terms & Conditions
- Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
- Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
- Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
- Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
- Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
- Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
- Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.
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