GRAND TOUR OF (6020) 9 days or 8 days from Zurich to Zurich Starting at: $1,179.00*

Vacation Overview

On this vacation, discover the wonders of the very special country of Switzerland: unspoiled countryside, majestic peaks, glittering lake shores, and cities with cosmopolitan flair. Begin your trip in Zürich, Switzerland’s largest city, and travel through hilly landscapes to Appenzell with a stop in the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein. Enjoy pastoral views of “Heidiland” before reaching the glamorous St. Moritz ski resort. From here, experience the highlight of the tour: breathtaking views on the included alpine train that takes you to , . Rejoin your motorcoach and arrive on the shores of Lake Lugano, then back to Italy’s Lake Maggiore, crossing Simplon Pass to re-enter Switzerland. Overnight in Täsch. Join the included train excursion to car-free Zermatt, the famous resort at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn. Your journey then takes you to Lausanne on Lake Geneva, to Gruyère to visit a local cheese factory, to the charming Swiss capital of Berne, and on to Lake Lucerne, surrounded by snow-capped . Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s finest cities, offers impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument—a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. While in Lucerne, marvel at the surrounding Alpine peaks. Your Switzerland vacation ends back in Zürich. This tour through Switzerland offers you breathtaking scenery not to be missed, as well as beautiful resorts and old cities. A vacation of a lifetime!

Itinerary Day 1Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT Day 2Sat. ARRIVAL IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND Check into your hotel in Zurich. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this exciting city. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3Sun. ZURICH-ST. MORITZ A sensational drive today through some of Switzerland’s most famed cantons. By way of the market town of Herisau, stop in Appenzell to see the old town center with its Town Hall. Further east to the minute Principality of Liechtenstein. A scenic drive through “Heidiland” to the Rhine Valley before starting the ascent of mighty Julier Pass. Soon you’ll be in the heart of Switzerland’s largest canton, the . Here, see some of the world’s best Alpine views before arriving in St. Moritz. (B)

Day 4Mon. ST. MORITZ-BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN TO TIRANO, ITALY-LUGANO, SWITZERLAND Enjoy the highlight of the whole tour and a wonderful way of crossing the Alps. One of Europe’s most spectacular train rides begins in St. Moritz and takes you across the lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss area to Tirano in the Italian . Here, rejoin your coach for the journey to the shores of Lake Lugano. (B)

Day 5Tue. LUGANO-LAKE MAGGIORE-TÄSCH Morning break in sub-tropical Lugano. Afterwards, return to Italy to savor the luminous atmosphere of Lake Maggiore. Time for an optional visit to Isola Bella, a magnificently located palace and garden island. Then, back into Switzerland via scenic Simplon Pass. Overnight in the village of Täsch. (B,D)

Day 6Wed. TÄSCH-ZERMATT-LAUSANNE This morning an excursion by train to Zermatt, the famous resort beneath the Matterhorn. In the afternoon, motor through the vineyards and apricot groves of the lower Rhône Valley to Lake Geneva before arriving in Lausanne on its northern shore. (B)

Day 7Thu. LAUSANNE-LAKE LUCERNE Stop awhile in Gruyère to visit a local cheese factory. Then on to Switzerland’s beautiful capital, Berne, a charming town with arcaded shops, carved fountains, and towers. The visit features the Bear Pit and the monumental Federal Palace. Then by way of the shores of Lake Thun to Interlaken. After a visit, continue over Brünig Pass to Lake Lucerne. Time for an optional folklore evening in Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 8Fri. LAKE LUCERNE-ZURICH Today, visit Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the main highlights. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day. The most popular option is an excursion to the Stanserhorn. In the late afternoon an easy drive back to Zurich for an overnight. (B)

Day 9Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY (B)

Optional Excursions

Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand- picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online currency converter for exchange rate information.

CITY: L.Maggiore

Boat Trip To Isolabella A short boat ride takes you to this enchanting island with its magnificent palace and gardens. View the staterooms and their masterpieces, and marvel at the wealth amassed to make this one of Italy's most famous stately homes. Approximate value: EUR €25 per person

CITY: Lucerne

Swiss Folklore Evening Contrary to belief, not all Swiss can yodel or blow the alp horn, but those you will meet at your after-dinner folklore party are real experts. They entertain you with merry melodies on the accordion and traditional dances, while you sample cheese fondue and a drink of your choice. Approximate value: EUR €45 per person

Scenic Lake Cruise An hour's guided cruise on the most beautiful lake in Switzerland gives you an introduction to this lovely city from a completely different aspect. With its many bays, it offers superb panoramas of the surrounding landscape. The area is rich in historical associations, particularly the William Tell legend. Approximate value: EUR €22 per person

Mount Stanserhorn A trip up the Stanserhorn mountain for breathtaking views is an experience not to be missed. The Mt. Stanserhorn Railway is a combination of an old-time funicular, which has romantic 100-year-old carriages with fringed curtains, and a modern aerial cable car, which takes you to the 6,300 ft. peak in about 30 minutes. Approximate value: EUR €43 per person

CITY: Lugano

Lake Cruise & Dinner Join a boat trip on the Gulf of Lugano, passing Campione d'Italia, an Italian enclave. Then proceed to Caprino where you will have dinner in a typical Ticinese "grotto", from where you can admire the lights of Lugano. Approximate value: EUR €45 per person

CITY: Zermatt

Gornergrat Europe's highest mountain railway takes you to the Gornergrat (10,132 feet) in 40 minutes. The incomparable panoramic views embrace some of Switzerland's loftiest peaks, including the world-famous Matterhorn. Approximate value: EUR €50 per person Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES Visits to Appenzell, Vaduz, St. Moritz, Lugano, Lake Maggiore, Täsch, Zermatt, Lausanne, Gruyère village, Berne, Interlaken, Lucerne

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS Julier Pass, Engadine Valley, Swiss-Italian Lake District, Simplon Pass, Lake Geneva, the Bernese Oberland

INSIDE VISITS Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

GUIDES Services of a professional Tour Director while touring

Accommodations MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner Buffet breakfasts (B) and dinners (D) as detailed in the tour description

HOTELS - (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class Zurich Novotel City West (F), St. Moritz Sporthotel Bären (ST) or Löffler (ST), Lugano Acquarello (ST), Täsch Walliserhof (ST), Lausanne Novotel Bussigny (F), Lake Lucerne Löwen (ST) at Lungern, Zurich Novotel City West (F) or Novotel Airport (F)

Dates and Prices

Departure Departure Tour Return Land/Cruise Status Details Date Start Date Date Price Only 7/10/2009 7/11/2009 7/18/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now

7/17/2009 7/18/2009 7/25/2009 $1,279.00 Not Available

7/24/2009 7/25/2009 8/1/2009 $1,279.00 Not Available

7/31/2009 8/1/2009 8/8/2009 $1,279.00 Not Available

8/7/2009 8/8/2009 8/15/2009 $1,279.00 Not Available

Popular Departure 8/14/2009 8/15/2009 8/22/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 8/21/2009 8/22/2009 8/29/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now 8/28/2009 8/29/2009 9/5/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now

Popular Departure 9/4/2009 9/5/2009 9/12/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 9/4/2009 9/5/2009 9/12/2009 $1,279.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 9/11/2009 9/12/2009 9/19/2009 $1,219.00 Please Call Now 9/11/2009 9/12/2009 9/19/2009 $1,219.00 Please Call Now

Popular Departure 9/18/2009 9/19/2009 9/26/2009 $1,219.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 9/18/2009 9/19/2009 9/26/2009 $1,219.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 9/25/2009 9/26/2009 10/3/2009 $1,219.00 Please Call Now Popular Departure 10/2/2009 10/3/2009 10/10/2009 $1,179.00 Please Call Now