Spain and Switzerland with enchanted Alsace

Welcome to the vibrant city of Madrid! Upon your arrival at the airport, we will escort you to your hotel where you can relax and freshen up. In the evening, we will take you to the historic Plaza Mayor and the lively neighborhood of La Latina, renowned for its bustling nightlife and tapas restaurants. Here, you can enjoy a delightful dinner from a variety of cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Spanish, and Middle Eastern.

Kickstart your day with a comprehensive tour of Madrid's city center. We'll explore the iconic Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. Next, we'll visit the tranquil Retiro Park, home to a serene lake and the stunning Glass Palace. The highlight of the day will be a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the home ground of Real Madrid, one of the world's top football clubs. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure before we return to the hotel in the evening.

We'll depart from Madrid in the morning, journeying through the lands of Castile towards Aragón. Our first stop will be Zaragoza, where we'll visit the magnificent Pilar Basilica. We'll then continue to the Monastery of Poblet, one of the world's best-preserved medieval monasteries, nestled within beautiful surroundings. After our visit, we'll proceed to Barcelona, arriving in the evening.

Start your day with a city tour of Barcelona, a city that opens up to the Mediterranean Sea and is famous for its modernist architecture, promenades, and memories of the Universal Exhibitions and Olympics. In the evening, we'll head north to Catalonia. Before checking into our hotel, we'll take a stroll through Girona, admiring its beautiful historic center, colorful houses, the old Jewish quarter, and the cathedral.

We'll depart from Girona and cross into France, traversing the beautiful region of Provence. Our first stop will be Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its Roman theatre and small Romanesque churches. After some time for lunch and a stroll, we'll visit the Carrieres de Lumiere, an impressive underground art, image, and sound show located in former quarries. If the Carrieres de Lumiere show is unavailable due to high visitor numbers, we'll instead visit the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard. We'll end the day in Chambery, the charming capital of Savoy, known for its medieval cityscape and grand castle.

We'll leave Chambery and head to Switzerland, arriving in Geneva. Here, we'll visit the Palace of Nations, the English Garden, and admire the Jet d'Eau, Europe's tallest fountain. Next, we'll travel to the picturesque village of Gruyeres, famous for its cheese. We'll also visit the Cailler Chocolate Factory for a tasting session. Our journey continues to Chillon Castle, a stunning medieval castle built in the waters of the lake. We'll end the day in Leysin, a charming holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc. Dinner will be provided at the hotel.

Today's journey takes us through breathtaking high mountain scenery. We'll ascend to Glacier 3000, a spectacular spot where you can see ice and snow all year round. We'll take a cable car ride up to the glacier, where you can walk on the suspended bridge between two mountain peaks or enter the Ice Cathedral. After a stop in Interlaken for lunch, we'll continue to Lucerne, one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities. We'll end the day in Zurich, where you'll have some time to explore downtown before heading to the hotel.

We'll leave Zurich and head to Basel, a significant city on the banks of the Rhine, bordering Germany and France. After exploring Basel, we'll continue to Alsace, a French region with strong Germanic roots. We'll stop in Colmar, a city known for its unique architecture, colored wooden houses, and canals. We'll also visit two of Alsace's most beautiful villages: Riquewihr, a medieval town with cobbled streets and colored houses, and Ribeauville, known for its historic center and ruined castles. We'll end the day in Strasbourg, where we suggest exploring the Cathedral and Petite France area, full of charming spots and small restaurants.

Spend some time exploring Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and the seat of the European Parliament. We'll take a boat trip through the canals of Petite France and visit a traditional Champagne cellar, where you'll learn about and taste the world's most famous sparkling drink. We'll then make a brief stop in Epernay, the capital of Champagne, before continuing to Paris, where we'll arrive in the evening.

After breakfast, your unforgettable 10-day European tour will come to an end. We hope you leave with lasting memories and look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure.