Best of Switzerland

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Description

Summary

Starts
Zurich
Duration
8 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy
Minimum age
15 years

Description

Embark on an unforgettable multi-day tour through the heart of Switzerland, where every day brings new adventures and breathtaking landscapes. From the vibrant cityscapes of Zurich and Bern to the serene beauty of Lucerne and the majestic Alps, this journey offers a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural wonders. Delight in Swiss culinary traditions, explore medieval towns, and experience the thrill of alpine adventures. Whether you're wandering through charming villages or savoring world-renowned cheeses, this tour promises an enriching experience that captures the essence of Switzerland.

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Included

7 breakfasts

vegetarian, vegan

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All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

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Lucerne - Boat Cruise & Mt Pilatus Golden Circle Tour

Bulle - Cheese tasting in a local fromagerie

Bulle - Chocolate tasting in local chocolate shop

Bulle - La Maison du Gruyère visit

Bern - Leader-led orientation walk

Bern - Zytglogge (Clock tower) tour

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The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION:

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE BASIS:

Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME:

Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION:

If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

FACILITIES:

Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

Hotel (7 nights)

hotel: 7 night(s);

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TRANSPORT IN EUROPE:

Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.

SWISS TRAINS:

On this trip you will be predominantly travelling by train. Swiss trains are most likely the best in Europe, clean, comfortable, and, you guessed it, punctual. Some of them will have restaurant carriages, but all of them have toilets. You will also be able to charge your phone or camera on the train as well (as long as you have the right adapter with you). And what is guaranteed, are the best views you can ever imagine.

Train , Public bus , Boat , Cable car , Cog railway

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Destinations

Bulle
photo of Winter landscape in Grindelwald at sunrise, behind the Mittelhorn and Wetterhorn, Wetterhorn, Interlaken-Oberhasli, Bernese Oberland, Canton of Bern, Switzerland.Grindelwald
Val-de-Charmey
Panoramic view of historic Zurich city center with famous Fraumunster, Grossmunster and St. Peter and river Limmat at Lake Zurich on a sunny day with clouds in summer, Canton of Zurich, SwitzerlandZurich
Lucerne - town in SwitzerlandLucerne
Bern, Switzerland. View of the old city center and Nydeggbrucke bridge over river Aare.Bern

Map

Attractions

photo of astronomical clock on the medieval Zytglogge clock tower in Kramgasse street in old city center of Bern, Switzerland.Zytglogge
JungfraujochJungfraujoch
photo of Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne, Switzerland.Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne
Lenkerseeli
Mount Pilatus, Alpnach, Obwalden, SwitzerlandMount Pilatus
Trümmelbach Falls

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Zurich

  • Zurich - Arrival day
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  • Zürich Opera House
  • Lake Zurich
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Kick off your Swiss adventure in the vibrant city of Zurich. After settling into your hotel (Hilton or similar), meet your fellow travelers at 5 PM in the lobby for a welcome gathering. As the sun sets, embark on an evening orientation walk led by your guide, exploring the enchanting river and lakefront vistas that Zurich offers by night.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Discovering Lucerne

  • Lucerne
  • Zurich
  • More
  • Zug Altstadt
  • Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne
  • Kastelen Tower Ruins
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Experience the efficiency of the Swiss rail system as you journey to Lucerne, a charming city nestled by the pristine Lake Lucerne. Here, you'll embark on a guided walking tour, wandering past 15th-century frescoed houses and crossing historic wooden bridges. Climb the medieval towers for breathtaking views of the city and its mountainous backdrop. Explore the quaint streets of the old town, where local crafts and unique handmade goods await.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: The Golden Pilatus Tour

  • Zurich
  • Lucerne
  • More
  • Mount Pilatus
  • Spreuerbrücke
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Embark on the Golden Pilatus tour, a roundtrip adventure from Lucerne to the summit of Mt Pilatus. Begin with a steamboat ride along Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, then ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the mountain's peak. Enjoy panoramic views and perhaps a yodelling demonstration. Descend via gondola and return to Lucerne for an evening of leisure.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Exploring the Jungfrau Region

  • Grindelwald
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  • First
  • Jungfraujoch
  • Grimselpass
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Venture into the heart of the Swiss Alps with a stay in Grindelwald. Choose from a variety of activities, from the adrenaline-pumping First Cliff Walk to a scenic train ride to Jungfrauroch, the Top of Europe. Enjoy the stunning alpine views and explore nearby destinations like Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Alpine Adventures Continue

  • Grindelwald
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  • Trümmelbach Falls
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Continue your alpine exploration with more free time in Grindelwald. Opt for a day trip to Lauterbrunnen to witness the awe-inspiring Trummelbach Falls, Europe's largest subterranean waterfalls. Enjoy the serene beauty and thrilling adventures that the Jungfrau Region offers.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: A Culinary Journey in Gruyere

  • Bulle
  • Val-de-Charmey
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  • Castle of the counts of Gruyères
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Travel to Bulle and then to Gruyere, where you'll delve into the world of Swiss cheese. Visit La Maison du Gruyère to learn about traditional cheese-making methods, followed by a tasting session at a local fromagerie. Conclude your culinary adventure with a visit to a chocolate shop for a delightful tasting of Swiss chocolates.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring Bern's Rich Heritage

  • Bern
  • More
  • Zytglogge
  • Old Arsenal Museum
  • More

Arrive in Bern, Switzerland's captivating capital. After checking into your hotel (Sofitel or similar), embark on a guided tour of the Old Town, where Einstein once lived. Visit the iconic Zytglogge clock tower and enjoy panoramic views of the city. In the evening, explore Bern's diverse culinary scene, offering everything from traditional Swiss dishes to international cuisine.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Departure from Bern

  • Bern - Departure day
  • More

Conclude your Swiss journey in Bern. With no scheduled activities, you are free to depart at your leisure after breakfast. Should you wish to extend your stay, additional accommodation can be arranged. Reflect on the unforgettable experiences and breathtaking landscapes that have made this tour truly remarkable.

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