Day 1 - arrival in Lausanne

Your private driver will meet you upon arrival at Geneva airport for the short drive to your hotel located in the heart of the lakeside town of Lausanne. Your luxury accommodations are in a veritable castle that was turned into a hotel.  After checking in, take a moment to freshen up and admire the lakefront view from your room.  

Across Lake Geneva tower the Swiss Alps in all their splendor. Just outside the front door of your hotel is the lovely lakeside promenade in Ouchy, perfect for a walk, people-watching, or relaxing while gazing at the high peaks across the water.

For a more cultural angle, visit the Cathédrale Notre Dame, a stunning gothic cathedral dating from the 13th century.  Finish your day at one of our recommended lakefront restaurants. If you’re ready to dive into the culinary specialties, it’s not too early to sample the legendary Swiss cheese fondue!

Day 2 - a tasty day in Gruyère

After the bustle of the lakeside town, today you are heading to a quintessential Swiss village. Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Gruyère, a medieval town located in the canton of Fribourg which is known as the cheese capital of Switzerland.  

Quintessentially Swiss, Gruyère boasts an amazing concentration of medieval architecture as well as a 13th century castle perched atop a hill.

Your guide will first take you for a stroll through the medieval town and around the 13th century Gruyère Castle.  Then comes the visit of the Gruyère cheese factory, where you will learn all about the process of producing the famous Gruyère cheese.  You will also be treated to a sampling of 3 different varieties of local cheese.  Next, visit the Château in Gruyère built in the 13th century by the Counts of Gruyere. You’ll feel like you’re stepping into a fairy tale, with its medieval towers rising above rolling green hills and alpine scenery. 

For local color, make a stop at Giger's Bar, designed by the famous designer Hans Giger, the creator of the images for the movie “Aliens”.

Day 3 - Lavaux Vineyards & Château de Chillon: A Day on Lake Geneva

This morning your private guide will meet you at your hotel for a half-day tour through the vine-covered hills of Lavaux, Switzerland's largest contiguous vineyard area with almost one thousand-year history. Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lavaux is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Lavaux wine region is famous for its unique landscape, long traditions and absolutely stunning views.

For a complete immersion in the Lavaux charm you will stop off at a local winery for a visit and tasting. The tour is roughly 4 km in length and is mainly hilly, comfortable foot wear is strongly advised! Your guide will not only take you to wine tastings, she will also share the history of the region, the varieties of grapes that are grown here, the local wine’s characteristics and why only around 1% of Swiss wine is exported. 

Travel a bit further down the shores of Lake Geneva to the iconic Château de Chillon. Built in the 13th century, it served as a key toll station for merchants traveling by the lake, ensuring that those who passed through paid the required fees. Explore its ancient halls, courtyards, and dungeons while taking in breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding Alps.

Day 4 - Scenic Rail to Lucerne

This morning your private driver will take you to the Lausanne train station where you will board a direct train to Lucerne. A train ride in Switzerland is an incredible viewing experience in itself, with mountains, lakes and villages gliding by your window. You’ll arrive in Lucerne in about 2.5 hours.  

Located on the shores of Lake Lucerne, the train station is a 5-minute drive from your lakefront accommodations, the Mandarin Oriental Palace. An iconic Belle Epoque landmark originally built in 1906, this hotel offers a premier luxury experience with stunning lakefront views of the Swiss Alps.

Take the afternoon to discover Lucerne on foot.  Of course the first stop is the Kapellbrucker, or Chapel Bridge, the covered wooden bridge over the Reuss River that is one of Lucerne’s most famous landmarks.  Take a walk through the charming medieval streets with frescoed buildings, where you’ll also find plenty of cafés, shops, and photo spots. For a bit of exercise, head to the Musegg Wall & Towers, a well-preserved fortified wall from the Middle Ages, with towers you can climb. 

Finish the day with dinner at your hotel’s Quai 10 restaurant for an al fresco Mediterranean ambience right on Lake Lucerne.

Day 5 - Mount Pilatus Golden adventure: Boat, rail, & sky

In this land of lakes, mountains and quaint villages, today’s experience is truly unique: one excursion with five means of transport! First sail from Lucerne to the lakeside village of Alpnachstad aboard the 'Unterwalden' steamship. Second, board the world's steepest rack-and-pinion railway up to Mount Pilatus at 7,000 feet altitude. The 'Locher system' toothed rack and the special track switch at the mountain station are quite unique.

Take in the breathtaking views of the mountain and the city of Lucerne. You can opt for a walk through the rock gallery or a hike to the Tomlishorn where you can savor a delicious snack in the restaurant. Your third ride is by aerial cable car known as the Dragon Ride, with its large panoramic windows. It truly feels as though you are flying high above Lake Lucerne! The fourth ride is the gondola that takes you down to Kriens, where you board a bus back to Lucerne.  What a day!!!

Day 6 - let’s go to lugano

Today’s 2-hour train ride to Lugano is even more spectacular than the previous one. First a long glide around the contours of Lake Lucerne, then a network of tunnels and bridges that take you across the highest Alpine terrain in Switzerland.  Much like Lucerne, the train station of Lugano is on the shores of the lake carrying its name. Your lakefront accommodation here is the Hotel Splendide Royal, also an icon of the Belle Epoque built at the end of the 19th century.  

Take the afternoon to discover Lugano. Start with a stroll along the lakeside promenade, one of Lugano’s most relaxing spots. Maybe take a pause amidst the leafy Parco Ciani, right on the water. Mountains tower all around Lugano, you have two amazing funiculars to choose from: Monte Brè, known as one of the sunniest mountains in Switzerland, which boasts a restaurant at its summit. The other spectacular viewpoint is from atop Monte San Salvatore which you reach via the funicular from Paradiso.  

For a bit of architecture, stop by the San Lorenzo Cathedral or the Church of Santa Maris degli Angioli, both famous for the frescoes of the Renaissance era.

Day 7 - Bellinzona, Locarno & Swiss Chocolate Delights

Today your private guide will pick you from your hotel for a magical outing that starts in the Bellinzona, one of the most wondrous destinations in Switzerland, its ancient churches and chapels and its surrounding vineyards, forests and crystal clear lakes.  It boasts no less than 3 castles - Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro, which, along with the ramparts surrounding the town, have been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2000. Enjoy lunch in the delectable Piazza located at the heart of the old town.

Next is Locarno, a gorgeous town on the shores of Lake Maggiore, also surrounded by high mountains. Your guide will take you through the architecture and history that surrounds the Madonna del Sasso church and the Visconteo castle.  Outside of town, the Verzasca Dam in nearby Valle Verzasca, is famous for the opening bungee jump scene in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye.

On the way back to Lugano, your guide will make a stop in Caslano to visit The Alprose Chocolate Museum. This is a delightful stop is all about the history of chocolate and, of course, the sampling of some of Switzerland's finest creation.

Day 8 - time to head home!

Your private driver will take you to Milan for your flight home to the USA.