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People won't believe what we are seeing and experiencing. We really saw the best of Swtizerland and the Alps during the Chirstmas holiday season. - G.S. - Ontario, Canada
On arrival in Zurich, take a short train ride to Lucerne (1 hr) in the heart of scenic central Switzerland and set on Lake Lucerne. The group will meet in the hotel lobby at 12:00 and we depart for an excursion to Einsiedeln which is home to the Baroque Benedictine monastery and is the largest place of pilgrimage in Switzerland. Christmas highlights will be the Diorama Bethlehem which has over 450 wood-carved figures, the gingerbread bakery and museum, and the enchanting Christmas market set in front of the Monastery. Overnight in Lucerne. (D)
We head south to Switzerland's Italian-speaking region to Lugano where we will participate in a risotto-making workshop for lunch today. Following lunch, we will take a funicular up to Monte Brè for amazing views over the lake and city. We will return to Lugano where this Mediterranean city center is decked with lights and an Italian-inspired Christmas market. (Lunch will be included today instead of dinner) Overnight in Lucerne. (BL)
Today, we will train to Basel. With the Rhine River flowing through it, Basel has a rich history. It's a center of European art and was a seat of learning and a focal point of the Northern Renaissance. The three borders of Switzerland, France, and Germany come together here, and we'll have a fine view of each country from the Münster church. We will have time to visit Basel's largest Christmas market on the Barfüsserplatz, considered the most beautiful in Switzerland. In the afternoon we will return by train to Lucerne. This evening we take a Fondue dinner cruise across Lake Lucerne to participate in one of the most unique and traditional Christmas celebrations in Europe—the Küssnacht Klausjagen. Overnight in Lucerne. (BD)
Departing Lucerne, we cross the scenic heartland of Switzerland's Bernese Oberland along Lake Brienz and Lake Thun for a short visit to the town of Interlaken. We then take the panoramic GoldenPass Express train through the beautiful pre-alp villages of Gstaad and Chateau d'Oex to arrive in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Switzerland's French-speaking region, and home of Switzerland's largest Christmas market. We’ll stay at a lakeside hotel in Montreux. Overnight in Montreux. (BD)
In Montreux, we visit the lovely lakeside Marché de Noël and the 12th-century Castle of Chillon, which inspired Lord Byron, Victor Hugo, and Rousseau. It will surely inspire you. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the Christmas market along the lake. Overnight in Montreux. (B) Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on their own in Montreux tonight.
Departing Montreux, we ascend the Rhone Valley, Switzerland's largest wine region. No visit to Switzerland is complete without an excursion to car-free Zermatt to see the majestic Matterhorn. Zermatt is the quintessential Swiss resort village. We'll have time for strolling the charming town and connecting with its historic and legendary past. We stay at a beautiful spa hotel with Matterhorn views. Overnight in Zermatt. (BD)
We take the historic cogwheel railway to the Gornergrat summit for breathtaking views of Switzerland's highest peaks set in a glacial paradise (weather permitting). When you're not out exploring the mountain scenery and lively shopping scene in Zermatt, you'll certainly enjoy time in the spa, sauna, and heated indoor/outdoor pools. Overnight in Zermatt. (B) Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on their own in Zermatt tonight.
Our concluding day in Switzerland takes us back to Zürich with its Christmas Market set in the medieval town center as well as Europe's largest indoor Christmas Market in the main train station. We have our final dinner together to reflect on the many wonderful memories we have created. Overnight in a hotel in the heart of downtown Zürich. (BD)
We say our goodbyes and hopefully Auf Wiedersehen as we head off to our morning departure from Zürich to catch our flights home. (B)
Alpenwild Adventures are designed for people who are energetic, active, and filled with a spirit of adventure. We rate this trip as easy to moderate and ACTIVE. You should be capable of walking 1-2 miles per day and at least 1/2 mile in one stretch (about 1500 steps and may be uphill). You should be capable of walking about 2 to 4 miles per day, often on cobblestone streets and with potential compacted snow and ice (so be careful). There will be times where stairs can not be avoided, so guests will need the ability to go up and down stairs. On one day, a mountain railway will take you to an elevation of 10,200 feet.
Walking: in addition to walking on flat surfaces, you also need to walk on uphills, on uneven terrain, and cobblestones. You'll likely not walk this amount all at once, but you need to be able to get to/from train stations, hotels, and excursions. We can accommodate slower walkers, but you must still be able to walk the distance. You should be able to walk a half mile at a time and it is possible that you may need to walk this amount a few times a day.
Stairs: at train stations when we must change platforms; most of the station platforms only have stairs or ramps -- not elevators. There are often many steps on the walk to the hotels, there are steep steps to get into some trains, and there may even be steps inside the trains before you get to your seat.
Getting on and off trains: be aware that many trains have a few steep steps to negotiate in order to get on or off. You need to be confident that you can get on and off the trains. Also note that there may be multiple train transfers on any of the travel routes. It is rare to ride just one train to our next destination on the tour. Some train connections are tight, and the group may need to walk quickly to catch the next train.
Standing time: you need to be able to stand on your feet for at least 10-15 minutes as benches at train stations are not in good supply. Note that this tour will visit Klausjagen which is an evening parade and will need to stand for at least 30 minutes.
Luggage: before the tour starts, you will travel by train to Lucerne and meet the group at the first hotel. This means you'll need to get your own luggage on/off the trains and to/from hotel rooms once at the hotels (there are elevators in all hotels). During the tour, we hire a company to pick up the luggage and deliver to the next hotel.
