France & Switzerland Explorer
- Duration13 Nights
- StylePrivate Tour
- When to GoApr - Oct
- Price GuideFrom £7,499 Per Person
At a Glance
Paris
- Arrival into Paris & transfer to hotel
- Private Half-Day City Tour
- Private Half-Day Palace of Versailles Tour
Lyon
- 1st Class High-Speed Train to Lyon
- Private Half-Day City Tour
Geneva
- 1st Class Train to Geneva
- Private Afternoon City Tour
- Lavaux Wine Tour from Montreux with Lunch
Interlaken
- GoldenPass Panoramic Train to Interlaken in Prestige Class
- Free day to enjoy Interlaken
- Full day excursion to Jungfraujoch
St Mortiz
- Glacier Express to St. Moritz - Excellence Class as standard
- Free day to Enjoy St. Mortiz
- Optional day trip on the Bernina Express
Zurich
- 1st Class Train to Zurich
- Private walking tour of Zurich Old Town
- Transfer to Zurich Airport
Meet Our Expert
Chelsea
European Specialist
Hailing from America with Irish roots, I’ve spent most of my life exploring and embracing the best of the UK. In recent years, I’ve expanded my expert knowledge, now confidently selling Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and Switzerland.
What's Included
- 13 nights in 4 or 5-star accommodation
- Daily breakfast at all hotels
- Private arrival and departure airport transfers
- 1st Class rail throughout
- All mentioned tours and sightseeing on a private basis with private driver and English-speaking local guides
- Entrance fees for any mentioned sightseeing, permits, local taxes, etc
- 24/7 support from our dedicated staff
- Flexible, personalized itinerary based on your interests
What's not Included
- International flights from your country of origin
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, hotel staff
- Any meals, tours, or activities other than those specifically mentioned in itinerary
- Incidental local expenses - souvenirs, laundry, taxis, etc
- Travel visas. Your consultant will advise of any required visas and how to obtain them
- Travel insurance - we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip
Day by Day Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris: Arrival into Paris, France
Welcome to Paris. Your private driver will be there to welcome you upon arrival to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, or Gare du Nord for those arriving by Eurostar. A private transfer will be provided to your elegant boutique hotel in the posh Saint-Germain neighborhood. It’s surrounded by cafes and restaurants just steps from the popular Rue de Rennes shopping district. After checking into your hotel, you’ll have the remainder of the day at your leisure. Once you’ve taken time to settle in and refresh, you might enjoy a stroll to soak up the enchanting atmosphere of the city, perhaps enjoying a bit of shopping before sitting down for a drink or a delicious meal.
- Day 2
Paris: Private 4-hour Walking Tour
Today you’ll get to explore Paris in depth with your own private guide on a four-hour tour of its many highlights. As Paris is a large city, we’ve included a metro card allowing you to see more of the city in less time. It’s also much quicker than traveling by car. As this is a tour just for you, it can be personalized so that you can see what interests you most, but some of the must-see landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Montmartre neighborhood. If you visit Sacre Coeur, you can take in a fabulous view overlooking the Louvre and much of the city. Your guide will provide insight along the way and can also offer tips and suggestions for restaurants, shops, attractions, and more. The afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure.
- Day 3
Paris: Versailles day tour with Private guide
One of the most popular day trips from Paris is a visit to the Palace of Versailles and this morning your private driver/guide will bring you to this grand chateau and its breathtaking gardens. No detail was overlooked with opulence throughout the stunning royal residence and its grounds. Follow your guide along the winding paths through the gardens to view colorful flower beds, ornamental lakes, and the canal used by King Louis XIV for gondola rides. With skip-the-line tickets in hand, you’ll head into the palace without a wait to marvel at the over-the-top grandeur, including the 17 arched windows all of which are embellished with individual mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors.
- Day 4
Paris: Morning at leisure. Train to Lyon
Now that you’ve gotten your bearing in the French capital, feel free to enjoy a morning at leisure, before a private transfer will take you to Gare de Lyon. Here you will board the highspeed TGV service for the 2-hour journey southeast to Lyon – France’s third largest city. Transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation Options:
- Day 5
Lyon: Private 2-hour tour of Lyon
This morning you will be met at the hotel by your guide for a 2-hour private tour of Lyon. Set on the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, Lyon has been a city of strategic importance since Roman times. It’s famed for its magnificent caricature spanning two millennia, including the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, the medieval streets and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu’île peninsula. The center of the city is compact so you will get your bearings easily giving you ample free time in the afternoon to enjoy the city at your leisure.
- Day 6
Geneva: Transfer from Lyon & Walking Tour
Morning transfer back to the station for the beautiful 2-hour journey through the foothills of the French Alps to Switzerland and its second city, Geneva. After checking in to your hotel, you will meet the local guide for a 2-hour walking tour exploring the old town’s narrow streets with their shaded terraces, each one home to numerous treasures from Geneva’s history that the tour guide will reveal.
- Day 7
Geneva: Private Lavaux Wine Tour from Montreux with Lunch
Transfer by train from Geneva along the shores of the lake to Montreux. You will be picked up for a full-day exploration into the heart of the Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural landscape of vineyards. You will visit two precious wineries and an artisan chocolate factory, as well as a stop for a gourmet lunch overlooking the lake. Return to Geneva late afternoon.
- Day 8
Geneva: Montreux to Interlaken aboard the Goldenpass Express
This morning you will board the Goldenpass Express in 1st class for the beautiful journey to Interlaken. The journey is just over 3 hours from the Vaud Riviera on Lake Geneva to the majestic peaks of the Bernese Alps. While the route is over 100 years old the trains are fresh and modern with large windows and raised seats all to help maximize the views. Highlights include the charming timber-framed stations, Vernex Lake, and the dramatic rock formation of the Diemtigtal Nature Park. On arrival it’s a short walk to the hotel, or a private transfer can be arranged at an additional cost. The afternoon is free to enjoy the town at your leisure.
- Day 9
Interlaken: Day at Leisure
Free day to enjoy Interlaken. Set on the shores of Lake Brienz and surrounded by mountains, the town is known as the capital of outdoor adventure in Switzerland, everything is on offer here from a gentle stroll in the hills to mountain biking and skydiving.
As you will be in possession of a Swiss Rail Pass we recommend taking the train and cable up the Schilthorn via the pretty car-free village of Murren. The panoramic revolving restaurant at the summit, Piz Gloria, was featured in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The views across the valley are unforgettable and the champagne brunch is definitely worth waking up early for! Due to the sometimes unpredictable weather in Switzerland, we do recommend booking activities on arrival to avoid disappointment.
- Day 10
Jungfraujoch - Europe’s Highest Mountain Railway
Enjoy one of the most incredible day excursions Switzerland has to offer and travel by rail to the top of the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 11,332ft. The summit, which includes the Top of Europe Restaurant and museum, overlooks the eternal snow of the Aletsch Glacier and from here there is an almost continuous line of over 13,1230-foot-high peaks and views down to Swiss Mittelland towards the Vosges, a true sight to behold. On the return journey, you may choose to jump off halfway down and enjoy one of the many hiking routes around Grindelwald.
The journey time up to the summit is about two hours. Be sure to pack some warm clothes so you can enjoy the outside viewing platforms in comfort.
- Day 11
The Glacier Express to St Moritz
Depart Interlaken by train to Brig where you will join the Glacier Express to St. Moritz. This is a very easy transfer across the platform and a lovely cafe right opposite if you have some time to wait.
Billed as Europe’s slowest express train, the Glacier Express is truly one of the world’s great train journeys. Taking 8.15 hours to travel just under 150 miles, the route runs from Brig to St Moritz, the country’s most glamorous resort. Along the route, the spectacular mountain scenery unfolds outside the train’s panoramic sightseeing windows, as you sit back and enjoy a luxury 5-course menu with accompanying wines. For an aperitif, some delicious cocktail or to exchange with fellow travelers, the Glacier Bar is the perfect place to visit. Thanks to the compass on the ceiling none of the many turns will be missed. On arrival in St Moritz, it’s an easy transfer to your hotel.
- Day 12
Day at Leisure or Bernina Express
Today is free for you to enjoy Switzxerland’s most precious resort at your leisure, you may choose to just enjoy the pretty town or take a stroll around the lake.
However, we highly recommend the spectacular Bernina Express. This is one of Switzerland’s if not the world’s most beautiful train rides. The trip takes approximately 4 hours covering a distance of 40 miles, through 55 tunnels, and a whopping 196 bridges! The main highlights include the Bernina Pass, past the Morteratsch Glacier, reaching its highest point at Ospizio Bernina,7,391 feet above sea level, where even in the height of summer icebergs dot the lake. While on the descent the train runs round the famous nine-arched Brusio Spiral Viaduct opened in 1908.
On arrival in Tirano, there is time for lunch before the return journey to St. Moritz
- Day 13
Zurich: Transfer and walking tour
This morning you will transfer by 1st class rail from St Mortiz to Zurich with an easy change in the town of Chur. After checking in at the hotel, a guide will meet you for a 2-hour walking tour of the charming old town. Explore the twisting old cobbled streets, colorful medieval townhouses, and of course the beautiful lakeside promenade. In the winter months, this will be swamped for a stop in a cozy historic inn.
- Day 14
Zurich: Departure or onward travel
Transfer to Zurich Airport for your onward flight.
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