Day 1: Following your early morning taxi pick up, we join our platinum executive tour coach and head to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival we continue our journey through the French countryside to our overnight hotel in the Dijon area.
Day 2: This morning we depart our hotel and continue through France, crossing the border into Switzerland Our first destination this morning is the city of Geneva, which is situated between alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura. The city is home to the luxury watch industry and has a very cosmopolitan flair. With beautiful lakeside promenades and lively side streets, this is the perfect place to stroll and enjoy Switzerland’s elegant shops. Take the time to explore some of the principal sights of the city, such as the lakefront with the famous ‘Jet d’eau’ fountain, or the Jardin Anglais with its Flower Clock, composed of eight concentric circles. From here, we continue on to our hotel for the next 2 nights - the Eurotel Victoria les Diablerets. On our arrival we are greeted with a welcome drink while our luggage is taken to our rooms.
Day 3: This morning, after a leisurely breakfast we head to Lausanne. The setting of Lausanne is extremely picturesque and it is hardly surprising that the International Olympic Committee has been based here since 1914. The town is built on three hills, surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet, rising impressively from the opposing French lakeshore are the Savoy Alps. The attractive old town is largely car-free and the small alleyways with cafes and boutiques shape the streetscape in the medieval city centre. The old town is dominated by the cathedral, which is regarded as Switzerland’s most impressive piece of early Gothic architecture.
This afternoon we continue our journey around Lake Geneva to Montreux. Located on a sheltered bay on the Lake, and surrounded by lush vineyards and the snow-capped Alps, Montreux is often called “the Swiss Riviera”. The unique combination of Mediterranean palm trees and mountainous landscape gives visitors a true feeling of paradise. Whilst here you will have free time to stroll along the most beautiful waterfront in Switzerland, or you may wish to discover the old town with its small cafes, bars and bistros. One of its most famous former residents is Freddie Mercury, and a statue of Mercury, the lead singer from iconic rock band 'Queen', can be found in the town.
Day 4: This morning we depart the Eurotel Victoria Hotel and we head to Brig for the highlight of the tour, a ride on the famous Glacier Express. Whilst we are onboard, we will enjoy one of the most scenic experiences, as the ‘slowest express train’ travels over the Oberalp and Furka mountain passes, and delves into the Rhine Gorge. The panoramic carriages provide a front row seat to the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’, as we see waterfalls, ravines and dazzling views. After a journey of roughly 3.5 hours, we arrive in the charming town of Chur, where we re-join the coach and travel to Feldkirch and our hotel for the next 4 nights - The Weisses Kreuz on a dinner bed and breakfast basis. On our arrival we are greeted with a welcome drink while our luggage is taken to our rooms.
Day 5: After a traditional breakfast we take a short local bus ride to join our guide in the centre of Feldkirch for a leisurely guided walking tour. Feldkirch is an enchanting town on the border between Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and is the second largest town in the Vorarlberg region. The history of this amazing medieval town dates back to the 1200’s with the creation of Schattenburg Castle and the town has seen numerous battles including the Battle of Feldkirch in 1799 between the Austrian and French military. Several remaining sections of the city walls and guard towers can still be seen, and the Katzenturm is one of the finest and most complete examples. This defensive tower stands at over 8 stories high and was built during the Habsburgs reign between 1491-1507 by King Maximillian I as part of the towns fortifications. At the top of the tower hangs the huge 8573kg Katzenturm bell which was added in 1857 and is still rung once a week to this day.
After our guided tour we include entry to Schattenburg Castle Museum. Originally a residence of the Earls of neighbouring Bregenz for over 200 years, the castle then changed ownership to the mighty Habsburg leaders who ruled over the estate until the late 1700’s. The beautiful building with its white walls and brown tiled roofs stands out in Feldkirch and the museum and restaurant inside are of particularly good quality. The museum is split into several different themed rooms, all of which have been restored and feature historical furniture and architecture. After your visit the afternoon is free in Feldkirch.
Day 6: Today we have a full day excursion through the Bregenzerwald, with a visit to a traditional cheesemaker. We then enjoy a scenic ride onboard the little Wälderbähnle Railway from Bezau to Schwarzenberg before traversing the breath-taking Bodelpass.
Day 7: Today we see the old city of Constance. The historic old town with its picturesque alleys and facades, stunning harbour with its Mediterranean feel and breath-taking views of the lake and the Alps makes it a great place for a stroll. We cross the lake on the ferry to Meersburg and then enjoy a visit to Salem Castle. The former Cistercian abbey and present-day Salem Castle is located in the midst of extensive parks and gardens. Since 1802, when the Margraves of Baden came to acquire the former monastery during the Secularisation, Salem Castle was used as a summer residence for the Grand Dukes. Today, Salem Castle, with its Gothic monastery church and its lovely interior and gardens, is a highly significant and popular tourist destination. Our last stop of the day is in Hagnau for an included wine tasting before returning to Feldkirch for our final evening.
Day 8: This morning we bid farewell to our hotel as we head back through Switzerland, where we make a brief stop at the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. The Rhine falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls on the main land in Europe. Visitors can walk around the basin, cross the bridge above the Rhine Falls to the 'Känzeli' observation platform, a most spectacular viewpoint built directly beside the water. We then continue our journey crossing into Germany. We make our way through the Black Forest and cross the Rhine, back into France as we head for our overnight hotel.
Day 9: This morning we continue our journey home, taking a short sea crossing to Dover, before heading back to Norfolk where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
8 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1717pp
Single Supplement: £239
Insurance: £POA Due to crossover renewal dates over the festive period, new insurance policies cannot currently be purchased online. Please contact our office in the new year for further details.
Tour Reference: EUR1849
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure