Switzerland A la Carte

Welcome to Zurich! Upon arrival at the Zurich International Airport, you will pick up your rental vehicle and drive approximately 10-minutes into the center of Zurich. Zurich is the “metropolis of experiences” and offers a unique mixture of attractions you can enjoy at your leisure on your first day.

After breakfast, drive approximately 1-hour and 15-minutes to St. Gallen and stop at the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall.  St. Gallen, the compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland, has a charming, traffic-free old town. (B) 

Breakfast at the hotel. You will drive approximately 1-hour and 35-minutes to Davos and pass village of Appenzell. The Appenzell region is known for rural customs and traditions. Continue your drive with a stop at Heidi’s Village in Maienfeld. The town inspired the poetess Johanna Spyri to write her novel, Heidi. In the Heidi village, the story of this cheerful, nature-loving little orphan girl comes to life at the original locales of the story. (B)

Today, drive approximately 2-hours and 45 minutes to Lugano in the south of Switzerland where you will have several possibilities to experience Grand Tour attractions. We recommend a stroll around the historical old town and excursion to Sa Salvatore or Monte Bre.(B)

Breakfast at the hotel and drive approximately 3-hours and 25-minutes to Zermatt. Along the way, and just a footstep away, lies Ascona. The city is famous for its mild climate, its Old Town and a lake promenade which is dotted with street cafés and boasts a Latin ambience. Further north, and also on your way, you can visit beautiful Bellinzona. With its castles, walls, towers, battlements and gates, this impressive fortress is a source of wonder and amazement and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Depart Mediterranean Ticino, heading north to cross the famous St. Gotthard Pass and Furka Pass, and continue into the region of Valais. Here lies the Aletsch Glacier - the biggest glacier in the Alps, with a length of 23 km. To explore the Aletsch Glacier is a magnificent journey into a stunning world of ice and rocks, Alpine flowers and forests. Continue moving down to Täsch, where you will leave your car for the night before you continue by train to Zermatt. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. A morning trip up the exhilarating open-air Gornergrat railway is not to be missed, for unrivaled views over the 4000m peaks surrounding Zermatt. After making your way back by train to Täsch to collect your car, drive approximately 2-hours through the Valais, the surrounding views dominated by amazing peaks. The river and forests accompany you as you enter French-speaking Switzerland, heading through Sierre and Sion. After traveling through Martigny, your final leg takes you up through Aigle and along the shores of Lake Geneva to Montreux. (B)

Today, drive approximately 1-hour and 15-minutes to Gstaad passing through the orchards and terraced vineyards of the Lavaux to Lausanne and pass the Greyerzer region with its lush landscape. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Interlaken where you can experience the majestic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau summits. If you have some time left before heading to Lucerne, you may consider spending some time on the lake and visiting lovely Bern. Enjoy a lake cruise on the turquoise Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, situated in the spectacular mountainous setting of the Bernese Oberland. The city of Bern has managed to retain its historic features as the capital of Switzerland. Drive approximately 2-hours and 35-minutes to Lucerne for overnight.(B)

After breakfast, you will spend your last day in one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. One of the highlights of Lucerne is the Chapel Bridge. Drive approximately 1-hour to the Zurich International Airport where you will return your rental vehicle and check-in for your onward flight. (B)