Switzerland in a Nutshell

Arrival
Welcome to the largest city in Switzerland - Zurich! Upon arrival, your driver meets you at the airport and transfers you to your remarkable hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is free, so you can relax in your room, have dinner in a local restaurant, start exploring the nearby attractions or join our carefully planned optional tour.

Exploring Lucerne Region
Following breakfast, you head to the railway station to take a train to Lucerne. In about 50 minutes you meet your guide at the station of Lucerne.

Then you are invited to take an unforgettable trip with your private guide who shows you the magnificent views of Mount Pilatus and the Lucerne region. The tour starts with a cruise across the Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad. There you board the famous cogwheel train that takes you across the world's steepest railway passing through lush Alpine meadows, spectacular rocks and sparkling mountain streams to the top of Mt Pilatus, the altitude of which is 2,132 m (6,995 ft).

For the return journey, you ride a cable car to enjoy the fantastic scenery once again. As the last part of your magnificent tour, you take a 20-minute bus from Kriens to Lucerne. Tickets* for a public boat cruise, cogwheel train, cable car, and bus are included.

Please note: boat and cogwheel train are available only from middle of May to September. The rest of the year they are replaced with cable car and bus.

After the tour, you take a train back to Zurich. The rest of the evening is free.

Zurich City Tour & Departure to Zermatt

After breakfast, you check out from the hotel and leave your luggage in the hotel storage room. Then you meet your private guide and enjoy a perfectly-planned sightseeing tour around the most beautiful landmarks of Zurich.

Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the Old Town for the following 3 hours, walking through its narrow cozy streets and exploring its breathtaking medieval houses, churches and town hall.

After the tour, you pick up your luggage and have a transfer to the station for a train ride to Zermatt.

Arrival 
Zermatt is famous not only for being a popular ski resort. This lovely village is located in the southern canton of Valais which is home to some of the world's most spectacular mountains, including Matterhorn.

Upon arrival, you walk to your hotel for check-in and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day Trip to Gornegrat 
After breakfast you walk to the railway station, where you board a cogwheel train equipped with large windows which allow you to enjoy a journey across the highest open-air railway in Europe. The Gornergrat Bahn is the cog railway which was the first in the world to be fully electrified. Nowadays regenerative braking system of this eco-friendly railway generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy.

After about 45 minutes you reach the station of Gornergrat which is considered to be the highest open-air railway station of Europe at an altitude of 3, 090 m (10,135 ft). Gornergrat observation platform is accessible all year round and offers one of the finest panoramas in Switzerland. From there you have a glorious view of more than 20 four-thousand m (13,123 ft) peaks, one of which is Matterhorn. A truly unforgettable experience you cannot miss!

Please, note: It is important to wear something warm and wind/rain protective when going to Gornergrat. The temperature there is usually lower than in the cities even in summer. In case you feel too cold you can always go inside the restaurant which is close to the observation platform. The trains to/from Gornergrat are heated well.

After some free time in Gornergrat you have a train ride back to Zermatt. The rest of the day is free.

Departure 
In the morning after breakfast you check out from the hotel, walk to the railway station and depart from Zermatt. 

Arrival to Montreux and Trip to Chillon Castle
Welcome to the traditional resort town of Montreux located on the shores of Geneva Lake! Upon arrival, you walk to your centrally-located hotel for check-in.

After check-in you set out to explore one of Switzerland’s most iconic landmarks — Chillon Castle, a striking medieval fortress perched on the shores of Lake Geneva. Its captivating architecture and rich history have inspired literary giants such as Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Lord Byron.

In summer, your journey to the castle begins with a public boat cruise across Lake Geneva, allowing you to admire the scenic shoreline and the castle’s dramatic exterior from the water before disembarking.
In winter, when lake cruises are unavailable, you travel to Chillon by train, enjoying equally beautiful views of the lake and surrounding landscape en route.

Upon arrival, you enjoy a private guided tour through the most impressive parts of Chillon Castle, uncovering its centuries-old secrets and stories.

After the castle visit, you continue to Montreux, where you meet your local guide for a private walking tour of this elegant lakeside town, known as the Swiss Riviera. As you stroll along the picturesque promenade — home to the Montreux Jazz Festival each summer — you’ll hear about the region’s cultural heritage and iconic residents.

Climbing toward the old town, you pass the oldest house in Montreux, dating back to the 16th century, and enjoy panoramic views of the lake. Your guide shares stories of famous expats including Vladimir Nabokov and Freddie Mercury. You’ll visit the Freddie Mercury statue and have the opportunity to explore Queen: The Studio Experience, an exhibition housed in the original Mountain Studios at the Montreux Casino, where Queen recorded several albums including Made in Heaven.

You’ll also learn how the fire at the casino famously inspired Deep Purple’s classic song Smoke on the Water. The casino has since been beautifully rebuilt, and you may choose to visit it in the evening. After the tour, you return to your hotel.

Day Trip to Geneva
Following breakfast, you walk to the train station for a 1-hour train to Geneva.   

Upon arrival, you meet your guide and start exploring the highlights of Geneva, the second most populous city of Switzerland and a capital of Romandy, the French-speaking region. Being the European seat of the UN and headquarters of the Red Cross, Geneva is known as the «capital of peace». 

You start discovering Geneva sights by the lake front. You take a short water tram ride on lake Geneva and see one of the most famous landmarks, the Jet d'Eau fountain of 140 m (460 ft) and enjoy the view of the mountains.  

Then you proceed to the astonishing Old Town and see St. Peter Cathedral, the English Garden with Flower Clock, Ile Rousseau and Castle Tour-de-l'ile. Here you also see the city council building where the first Geneva Convention was signed, in the Alabama Room, as it is now called, and learn about the beginning of international Geneva. You also visit the grounds of the University of Geneva to see the Reformation Wall that features statues of the four Geneva luminaries and learn about the role Geneva played in the Reformation in the 16th century. 

Finally, you have a short ride by public transport to view the international district of Geneva and its heart - United Nations Office located in the Palace of Nations.   

After the tour you return to Montreux by train.

Departure
This is the final day of your tour. Following breakfast, you check out from the hotel and have a direct train ride to Geneva airport for your flight back home.

We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future vacations!