Zurich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, wealthiest in Europe, with the best quality of life in the world. Its history goes back to its founding by the Romans in 15 BC and has a rich medieval background.
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.
- Please, note: in case of early arrival, city tour may be moved to Day 1 to make an introduction of the city
- Optional tour: Zurich Sunset Tour with Fondue Tasting
This evening join a group to take a trip around the most famous gastronomical places in the Zurich area. At first, visit the chocolate factory Lindt & Sprungli and enjoy a ride on the aerial cable car ride. When you reach the hilltop station Felsenegg, go to a restaurant overlooking Lake Zurich, where you enjoy the great view and taste a glass of wine or Gluhwein, then continue to another traditional restaurant to try a freshly prepared chocolate dessert and natural cheese fondue!
No meals are included.
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, an altitude of which is 2132 m (6995 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 the 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.
Breakfast is included.
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.
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.
Breakfast is included.
Modern Swiss trains are one of the fastest and most comfortable ways to get to Zermatt. A restaurant, family coach with play area, comfortable seats, and extensive luggage space are at your service during the journey.
Zermatt
Set gracefully just at the foot of the highest summit of the Alps, majestic Matterhorn, the city of Zermatt, Switzerland is a popular ski resort that's all about gorgeous natural panoramas.
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.
Breakfast is included.
Enjoy your journey traveling along the highest open-air railway in Europe providing with some truly scenic views, which can be admired through the wide windows of the train. (Connection with 1 train change).
Montreux
If you have Switzerland on your travel radar, we highly recommend visiting the lovely Swiss Riviera with the capital in Montreux. Stretching along the shores of Lake Geneva, it boasts a mild climate and inspiring landscapes that are worth the ride.
In the morning after breakfast you check out from the hotel, go to the railway station and have a train ride to Montreux also known as 'Swiss Riviera'. In about 2.5 hours your train arrives to the traditional resort town located on the shores of Geneva Lake.
After check in you take a public boat cruise* on Lake Geneva to reach the most recognizable historic monument in Switzerland - Chillon Castle which dates back to medieval ages. Its charming architectural style and rich history inspired such literary geniuses as Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Lord Byron. First, you admire the exterior of this historical monument from water. Upon disembarkation, you have a private guided tour around the most spectacular parts of Chillon Castle.
Following Chillon you head for Montreux where you meet your guide and have a private walking tour.
You learn about the history and culture of charming 'Swiss Riviera' strolling along the lake shores where the summer Jazz Festival takes place. On the way up to the old town you enjoy stunning views over the lake and pass by the oldest house in Montreux, dating back to the 16th century.
While you walk the little streets of this charming town, your guide shares with you the stories of the famous expats in Montreux such as Vladimir Nabokov and Freddie Mercury. You see the statue of Freddie Mercury and have a chance to visit the Queen: The Studio Experience exhibition located in the original Mountain Studios, part of the Montreux Casino. Queen recorded a total of seven albums here at Mountain Studios in Montreux, which the band owned between 1979 and 1996, including the final album Made in Heaven.
During the tour you also find out how fire at the Montreux Casino inspired Deep Purple's classic "Smoke on the Water." Since then the casino has been beautifully rebuilt, so have a great chance to visit it in the evening.
After the tour you return to your hotel.
- Please, note: cruises are available from mid-April to mid-October; in winter season they are replaced with train rides.
Breakfast is included.
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 the 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 lakefront. 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.
Breakfast is included.
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!
Breakfast is included.
Boasting a fantastic location in the heart of Montreux, the favorite city of legendary Freddie Mercury, the Ads Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic is among the best places to stay for anyone who appreciates unparalleled comfort and great service. It offers 155 well-fitted guestrooms, providing everything you need for a good rest as well as fantastic views over the city.
What's Included
- Accommodation at remarkable centrally located 4-star hotels in Zurich, Zermatt, Montreux;
- Delicious breakfasts at your hotels;
- Airport arrival transfer with private driver;
- Breathtaking sightseeing tours according to the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides;
- Entrance tickets to Chillon Castle;
- Tickets for public boat cruise, cogwheel train, cable car and bus for the tour to Mt Pilatus;
- 1st class train tickets: Zurich - Zermatt, Zermatt - Montreux and Montreux - Geneva Airport;
- 2nd class train tickets: Zurich - Lucerne - Zurich, Montreux - Geneva - Montreux;
- Tickets for non-guided tour to Gornergrat by cogwheel train;
- Support line during the trip.
Note: Hotels availability is subject to change. In case current hotels are booked out we will provide alternative hotels of an equal value for you.
Note: We include 1 vehicle for your arrival transfer. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.
Not included: international flights, multiple arrival/departure transfers, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, all personal expenses.
Tour Highlights
- Exploration of Lucerne region
- A sightseeing tour in Zurich
- A day trip to Gornegrat
- A guided tour around the Chillon Castle
- Day trip to Geneva
What To Know
- Tipping is included in the price of your meal at restaurants in Switzerland. If you liked the service, it is acceptable to round up the bill to the nearest Franc
- Shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays. Luckily, there are no free days for the gas stations and they are very well equipped
- Communication equipment in Switzerland takes 230 volts, you will need an adapter plug (type J) to make your plug fit into the socket
- You can safely drink tap water, the quality of it is often measured as purer than that of bottled mineral water
- Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc as currency
- Don't forget to take a mini umbrella and a light raincoat
Dates & Rates
- From United States:
My family and I truly enjoyed our Switzerland and Italy vacation
Traveled to Italy, SwitzerlandMy family and I truly enjoyed our Switzerland and Italy vacation. We couldn't have managed this trip without Firebird’s help. It was a trio of a lifetime to take with my family and it went better than I expected. I have already recommended Firebird to friends and family.
Published, Aug 17, 2018 - From United States:
Thank you all for the prefect holiday
Traveled to SwitzerlandMichael and I had a fantastic time on our firebirds trip. We can not fault it. The accomodation, the guides the activities were all prefect. Thank you all for the prefect holiday where everything was done for us and made stress free. Look forward to booking another trip with you soon. Thanks very much.Published, Oct 25, 2016 - From Canada:
Firebird was well organized and meet us at each location on time and waiting
Traveled to SwitzerlandWe had a great trip. Firebird was well organized and meet us at each location on time and waiting. The hotels were in great locations and the quality was high end. The tour guides were very good, knowledgeable and helpful. We certainly would recommend Firebird to others and are considering another trip for next year. Thank you so much.Published, Sep 27, 2016
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