Quintessential Switzerland
11 Days
from
$4,114
to
$5,412
per person*
Highlights:
Switzerland
(Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Geneva)
Trip Start/End:
Zurich
/
Geneva
The best that Switzerland has to offer! From vibrant cities to mountains that touch the sky, experience the true essence of Switzerland in all its glory. The crystal clean water and air will make you never want to leave. A combination of private city walking tours and shared day excursions, you will see some of the greatest highlights of the country, like Luzern, Zurich's famous old town, and the wonderful alpine villages and pristine hiking trails of Zermatt and Interlaken. With private transfers and comfortable 4* hotels, you will experience Swiss hospitality at its finest.
Overview
| Day | Activities | Hotel |
- Day 1
- Zurich
| - Transfer - Private - Airport - Luxury Vehicle/Driver
- Switzerland - Welcome Package
- Lunch (not included)
- Private - 1/2 d Walking Tour (2 hrs) - Guide
- Dinner (not included)
| Basilea (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 2
- Zurich
| - Shared - 1/2 d Rhine Falls (3hrs) - Coach/Guide
- Swiss Half-Fare Card - Swiss Half-Fare Card
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Basilea (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 3
- Zurich - Lucerne
| - Local taxi (not included)
- Train - Zurich - Lucerne [50 min] - 2nd Class Ticket - Half Fare Card
- Transfer - Private - Train Station - Luxury Vehicle/Driver
- Lunch (not included)
- Private - 1/2 Day Walking City Tour (2hrs) - Guide
- Dinner (not included)
| Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 4
- Lucerne
| - Shared - 1/2 Day Mount Pilatus with Boat Ride on Lake Lucerne (5.5hrs) - Coach/Guide
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 5
- Lucerne - Interlaken
| - Local taxi (not included)
- Train - Lucerne - Interlaken [2 hrs] - 2nd Class Ticket - Half Fare Card
- Lunch (not included)
- Transfer - Private - Train Station - Luxury Vehicle/Driver
- Private - Horse Carriage (1 hr) - Horse Carriage
- Dinner (not included)
| Goldey (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 6
- Interlaken
| - Private - Mountain Guide
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Goldey (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 7
- Interlaken - Zermatt
| - Local taxi (not included)
- Train - Interlaken - Zermatt [2 hrs] - 2nd Class Ticket - Half Fare Card
- Lunch (not included)
- Shared - Walking Tour (1hr) - Guide
- Dinner (not included)
| Walliserhof (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 8
- Zermatt
| - At Leisure
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Walliserhof (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 9
- Zermatt - Geneva
| - Train - Zermatt - Geneva [4 hrs] - 2nd Class Ticket - Half Fare Card
- Transfer - Private - Train Station - Luxury Vehicle/Driver
- Private - 1/2 Day Walking Tour (2 hrs) - Guide
- Dinner (not included)
| Bernina (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 10
- Geneva
| - Shared - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (9hrs) - Coach/Guide
- Dinner (not included)
| Bernina (3*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 11
- Geneva
| - Transfer - Private - Airport - Luxury Vehicle/Driver
| Depart (Int`l Airport)
|
| B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive |
Trip Itinerary
Zurich
Hotel Brasilea
Day 1: Zurich
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.
Accommodation: Basilea (3*) Basilea Hotel (3*) is located just a 5 minute walk from Zurich’s main railway station, right in the heart of the historic old town. In order to make your stay as comfortable as possible, the hotel offers separate smoker and non-smoker floors. The hotel is located in a side street, peace and quiet is guaranteed.
Rhine Falls
Day 2: Zurich
On the shared Rhine Falls tour, the journey will take you to Northern Switzerland close to the German border. En route, you will be driven through Schaffhausen with its famous Munot Fortress, from the 16th century. See the fantastic nature spectacle that is the Rhine Falls, Europe's biggest waterfall. Let yourself get thrilled by this sublime natural phenomenon by taking a boat ride close to the falls (optional). Enjoy 1 hour at leisure at the Rhine Falls. Return to Zurich with a stop at the Airport, where departing guests can end their tour. The entire tour is with a multi-lingual guide.
With the Swiss half-fare card you receive a 50% discount on tickets bought for trains, buses, boats and mountain-top excursions. Each card is valid for one month.
Accommodation: Basilea (3*) 
Lucerne
Lion Monument
Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Lucerne Hotel
Day 3: Zurich - Lucerne
Enjoy a train ride from Zurich to Luzern.
Enjoy a train station transfer with private vehicle and driver.
Enjoy a half day walking tour with a private 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, remind you of the Middle Ages. Continue on to the Lion Monument in memory of 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.
Accommodation: Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*) Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*) is located by the railway station and also close to the lake, old town, culture as well as the congress centre. Rest and relax at the hotel's well-appointed accommodation units, where you can enjoy the comforts of contemporary rooms with their reminiscence and tradition. Serving fine fresh food, the alcohol-free restaurant also offers a diverse selection of vegetarian meals for you to feast on. At leisure, you can explore the city of Lucerne and its beautiful attractions or pamper your senses at the sauna.
Mount Pilatus Tram
Day 4: Lucerne
Enjoy a shared tour of Mount Pilatus and relax on a boat trip on Lake Lucerne. Start the tour with a short bus journey to Kriens where you can take a ride on the panoramic gondolas to Mount Pilatus (7000 ft / 2132 m). From here, enjoy an unforgettable view over the surrounding mountains and lakes. Descend on the world's steepest cogwheel railway (48% gradient) to Alpnachstad before taking an unforgettable boat ride on Lake Lucerne. A multi-lingual guide will be with the group for the duration of the tour (5.5hrs). A fun optional activity on this tour is to take on the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland, 4500 ft (1.4 km).
Accommodation: Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*) 
Interlaken
Hotel Goldey
Day 5: Lucerne - Interlaken
Enjoy a train ride to Interlaken.
Enjoy a train station transfer with private vehicle and driver.
The center of Interlaken can't be thought of without horse and carriage rides. Enjoy a peaceful 1 hour ride in a carriage and enjoy an all new experience.
Accommodation: Goldey (3*) Goldey (3*) located by the banks of River Aare in a quiet location amid the Jungfrau ski region, only a 5-minute walk from the center of Interlaken. Along the shore of the River Aare you will find some of the nicest walking paths of Interlaken. Hotel offers 40 bright and friendly rooms with comfort-beds, all rooms are equipped with a bathtub or a shower, toilet, hairdryer, minibar, radio, cable-tv, safe and a telephone. With the exception of the north-facing rooms, all rooms have a balcony.
Interlaken
Day 6: Interlaken
Enjoy the services of a full day private mountain guide to take you through the small mountain villages and numerous hiking trails of the Interlaken region. Entrances to attractions and train tickets are not included.
Accommodation: Goldey (3*) 
Zermatt
Hotel Walliserhof
Day 7: Interlaken - Zermatt
Enjoy a train ride from Interlaken to Zermatt.
Enjoy a shared half day guided walking tour of Zermatt. If you are wondering why store houses in Valais stand on wooden posts with stone plates, or how people in Zermatt earned their living in the time before the rise of tourism, or if you wanted to know about the life of the legendary mountain guide Ulrich Inderbinen, who reached the age of 104, you'll get all of the answers on your tour!
Accommodation: Walliserhof (4*) Walliserhof Zermatt (4*) Enjoys an excellent location right in the heart of Zermatt close to many shops, restaurants, bars and the cable cars. The train station is only 220 yards away. Built in typical Valaisan chalet style, the Walliserhof not only offers cozy rooms and suites, but also tasty regional and international cuisine in its restaurant featuring a terrace right on Bahnhofstrasse. After a grand day out in the mountains, the spa area invites you to unwind. Wireless internet is available free of charge in all rooms.
Day 8: Zermatt
Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.
Accommodation: Walliserhof (4*) 
Geneva
Old Town Geneva
Hotel Bernina
Day 9: Zermatt - Geneva
Enjoy a train ride from Zermatt to Geneva.
Enjoy a train station transfer with private vehicle and driver.
Enjoy a walking city tour of Geneva with private guide. The territory of the "Republic & Canton of Geneva" comprises of 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 pleasant to stroll or linger in a sidewalk Cafe‚ soaking up the past, and charm of its narrow, winding, historic streets. Art Lovers can wonder at leisure through its scores of stunning art galleries and Antique Hunters get 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 exciting promenade through 2000 years of history. Entrance fees are not included in the tour.
Accommodation: Bernina (3*) Bernina (3*) Located in a prime location opposite the Main Railway Station of Geneva, Hotel Bernina is adjacent to a big shopping centre and only a 5-minute walk from Lake Geneva. Hotel is also next to the bus terminal and the business district as well as the commercial area of the city. The United Nations and other international organizations are approximately 1.6 km (one mile) away. Venture out, enjoy the night life of Geneva and retreat to your spacious, elegant and bright room for a good night's rest. Hotel provides guests with 80 rooms, with a family ambiance. It is a meeting point for businesswomen and men and international delegates.
Chamonix
Day 10: Geneva
Enjoy a shared tour to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. A 90 minute drive by motor-coach through the picturesque Arve Valley will take you from Geneva to Chamonix, one of the most famous mountain villages at the foot of the remarkable and majestic Mont-Blanc, the highest peak in Europe (4807 m./15.771 ft). You will be crossing the Franco-Swiss border and will need to present your passport. During the tour you will have guides in both English and French. There is typically snow year round at the Aiguille Du Midi and a cable car can be taken to the summit (cost not included). Enjoy the distinctly "French" feel of Chamonix for the day before your shared transfer back to Geneva at days end.
Accommodation: Bernina (3*) Day 11: Geneva
Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.
Accommodation: Depart (Int`l Airport)
Accommodations
- Hotel Brasilea
Basilea (3*) - Zurich
Basilea Hotel (3*) is located just a 5 minute walk from Zurich’s main railway station, right in the heart of the historic old town. In order to make your stay as comfortable as possible, the hotel offers separate smoker and non-smoker floors. The hotel is located in a side street, peace and quiet is guaranteed.
- Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Lucerne Hotel
Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*) - Lucerne
Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel (3*) is located by the railway station and also close to the lake, old town, culture as well as the congress centre. Rest and relax at the hotel's well-appointed accommodation units, where you can enjoy the comforts of contemporary rooms with their reminiscence and tradition. Serving fine fresh food, the alcohol-free restaurant also offers a diverse selection of vegetarian meals for you to feast on. At leisure, you can explore the city of Lucerne and its beautiful attractions or pamper your senses at the sauna.
- Hotel Goldey
Goldey (3*) - Interlaken
Goldey (3*) located by the banks of River Aare in a quiet location amid the Jungfrau ski region, only a 5-minute walk from the center of Interlaken. Along the shore of the River Aare you will find some of the nicest walking paths of Interlaken. Hotel offers 40 bright and friendly rooms with comfort-beds, all rooms are equipped with a bathtub or a shower, toilet, hairdryer, minibar, radio, cable-tv, safe and a telephone. With the exception of the north-facing rooms, all rooms have a balcony.
- Hotel Walliserhof
Walliserhof (4*) - Zermatt
Walliserhof Zermatt (4*) Enjoys an excellent location right in the heart of Zermatt close to many shops, restaurants, bars and the cable cars. The train station is only 220 yards away. Built in typical Valaisan chalet style, the Walliserhof not only offers cozy rooms and suites, but also tasty regional and international cuisine in its restaurant featuring a terrace right on Bahnhofstrasse. After a grand day out in the mountains, the spa area invites you to unwind. Wireless internet is available free of charge in all rooms.
- Hotel Bernina
Bernina (3*) - Geneva
Bernina (3*) Located in a prime location opposite the Main Railway Station of Geneva, Hotel Bernina is adjacent to a big shopping centre and only a 5-minute walk from Lake Geneva. Hotel is also next to the bus terminal and the business district as well as the commercial area of the city. The United Nations and other international organizations are approximately 1.6 km (one mile) away. Venture out, enjoy the night life of Geneva and retreat to your spacious, elegant and bright room for a good night's rest. Hotel provides guests with 80 rooms, with a family ambiance. It is a meeting point for businesswomen and men and international delegates.
Travel Info
Travel tips of Switzerland
VISA/PASSPORT
Switzerland is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. and Canadian citizens may enter for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
Citizens of other countries may require a visa. Please ask your Sales Advisor. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the Embassy of Switzerland for the most up to date visa information.
HEALTH
Health insurance is recommended. Medical facilities are good quality. We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/switzerland.aspx
COUNTRY INFO
Capital: Bern.
Government: Federal Republic since 1848.
Language: German in central and eastern areas, French in the west and Italian in the south. Romansch is spoken in parts of the southeast. English (as a second or third language) is widely spoken.
Religion: Roman Catholic (48%), Protestant (44%), others (8%).
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Telephone: Country code +41. Phonecards are available for use in payphones.
Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.
Internet: Internet access is available in Internet cafes and phone booths operated by Swisscom.
What's Included:
- 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
What's not Included:
- 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 $350). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
- 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 30% of program price. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to loss of 100% of program price.
- 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.
- 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.
Stay in the know: Subscribe to our newsletter to have our hand-picked trips & specials delivered to you!