France and Swiss Capitals / 9 Days

A scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breath-taking monuments of Paris. We end the visit at the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument. End your visit with a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose. At sunset enjoy dinner in “Quartier Latin”, a very picturesque area of the historic centre where a wide variety of international cuisines await you. Return to hotel.

We go to the centre of Paris, to the area of the Louvre Museum.  Free time. If you wish we can accompany you to Benlux, one of the most complete and best-known perfumeries in Paris.  Rest of the day free.

We travel to the centre of France to the Bourgogne region, famous for its wines. A stop in NOYERS, a small mediaeval town classified amongst the prettiest places in France.  After this we will visit BEAUNE in the centre of the Bourgogne region where its streets full of flowers, its hospice and its wine museum can be reminders of your trip. Time for lunch. LYON – Arrival mid-afternoon -, the capital of Roman Gallia on the banks of the Rhône, its historic centre has been declared a World Heritage site. Free time.

We have a beautiful stage. We travel to Switzerland. GENEVA, arrival. City located by the Lake Leman which hosts the European headquarters of the United Nations. You can stroll through the old city or know any of its museums. At noon we travel outlining Lake Leman. Among magnificent landscapes of vineyards (declared World Heritage area) we arrive at VEVEY, small and elegant city by the lake. Time to walk around and lunch. We include a small cruise on the Lake Leman (boat line) that allows us to enjoy the lake (crossing Montreux). Arrival at Chillon Castle, fantastic medieval castle built in the lake (entry cost included). Then by small roads between bucolic landscapes of mountains and picturesque villages made of wood arrive to GSTAAD, nice little town between landscapes. Accommodation in Gstaad - Saanenland area.

Today´s journey has fascinating mountain scenery. We passed Interlaken and we outline its beautiful lake. Arrival to GRINDELWALD where we will have time for a coffee before taking the cable car (ticket included) up to Grindelwald First. We will walk along the path (30 minutes) in which we shall be able to take the ¨footbridge over the empty¨ among the fantastic scenery enjoying glaciers around us. Lunch included (vegetarian option available). After that we continue to MERINGEN and the spectacular AARESSCHLUCHT Gorge (entrance included). Then we enter the region of Switzerland where the official language is Italian. Accommodation in CHIASSO, a Swiss city on the Italian border.

We will know LUGANO the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland with its beautiful lake. Time to stroll.  We continue and on the highway, we crossed St. Gotthard Pass. We stop in BURGLEN, the tiny village where William Tell was born, we shall see the chapel of the XVI century with paintings illustrating his life. If you want, you can also visit the museum of William Tell. In the neighboring city of ALTDORF we can also find traces of his history. Continue to LUCERNE, free time to explore this beautiful city by the lake that bears its name. Dinner included in the hotel.

We leave Lucerne driving along the Four Cantons Lake towards EINSIEDELN, its immense baroque abbey is the most important pilgrimage center in Switzerland. After that we continue towards the East of Switzerland. MAIENFELD is the village which inspired Heidi’s story. A walk in its historic center after which we will be visiting Heidi’s House (Ticket not included. Entry to the facility is free), a picturesque place with beautiful landscapes that we will reach through a pedestrian path. Then we enter into the independent country of Liechtenstein, and its capital city VADUZ with its impressive castle. Time to stroll and have lunch. Subsequently, we go to the neighbor city of FELDKIRCH, in Austria, located next to the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany: charming walled city with a genuine historic city center and a castle. Free time.

We start our day heading to ST. GALLEN, whose center is part of the World Heritage List by UNESCO with a wonderful cathedral and its historic center. Afterwards we will continue by Constanza Lake, between Germany and Switzerland. We will have time for a walk at Constanza’s center before visiting MAINAU Island (access by pedestrian bridge) with its stunning botanic garden (entry included). Then, again in Switzerland, we will take a stroll in STEIN AM RHEIN, a typical village on the Rhein River with precious houses with painted walls. We will also visit Rhein Waterfalls (entry included), the waterfalls with the most abundant flow in Europe. 
End of our services.