Switzerland, Alsace & the Black Forest

Board your overnight flight to Zurich today.

Welcome to Switzerland! After arriving in Zurich, transfer to your hotel in the Lucerne region to meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

With your guide leading the way, get to know lakeside Lucerne, the most populous city in Central Switzerland.

• Pass hand-painted facades along the cobbled streets of the Old Town
• View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution
• See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built in Switzerland north of the Alps
• Cross the iconic Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, and view the Water Tower

Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the Lucerne region on your own or add an excursion.

Pass through the scenic foothills of the Alps today, stopping to visit Chillon Castle and Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Then, make your way to the car-free mountain town of Zermatt. Upon arrival, follow your Tour Director on a short orientation tour and take in views of the iconic Matterhorn.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Set out to explore the mountainous landscapes surrounding the Matterhorn today. Stop along the way to visit Gornergrat, a ridge overlooking the Gorner Glacier.

• Board Europe’s highest open-air cog railway for a ride to the summit
• Take in spectacular panoramic views of the Matterhorn

Board the Glacier Express, a famed train with cars specially designed for scenic viewing, and travel north through the Alps to Andermatt. Then, make your way to Interlaken, the gateway to the region’s towering mountains and pristine lakes.

Sit down to an included dinner with your group this evening.

Enjoy a full free day in Interlaken or add an excursion.

Before crossing the border into France, make a stop in the Swiss capital of Bern for a sightseeing tour led by your Tour Director.

• Cross the Aare River and head to the iconic Bern Bear Park, home to a community of brown bears
• Stroll through the UNESCO-recognized Old Town, making your way past the Cathedral of Bern

Then continue on to Strasbourg, the capital of France’s Alsace region.

Explore Strasbourg on a tour with a local guide. Then, take to the river for a short cruise.

• Make your way through the Grande Île neighborhood, passing by Place Gutenberg, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, and Palais Rohan, known as a miniature Versailles
• Continue your tour by boat, admiring the Petite France neighborhood, Barrage Vauban, and Ponts Couverts from the water

This afternoon, enjoy free time to continue exploring Strasbourg on your own or add an excursion.

En route to the Black Forest region, stop for a guided sightseeing tour of the charming city of Colmar, known for its impeccably preserved old town.

• Discover “Little Venice,” an area known for its canals
• Walk through the famous old town, seeing Maison Pfister, the Bartholdi Museum, and Saint Martin Church

Continue on to the German town of Freiburg, known as the entry point into the fabled Black Forest. Here, you’ll set out on an orientation of the town with your Tour Director in the lead.

• Enter the Gothic Freiburg Cathedral, built during the 13th century
• Pass by the Historisches Kaufhaus, City Hall, and Martinstor city gate

Set out to explore more of the Black Forest region today.

• Visit the Black Forest Open Air Museum to learn about the region’s history, culture, and traditions from a local guide
• Try a slice of Black Forest cake, named for the tart cherry liquor that gives it its signature taste
• Marvel at regional artifacts inside the Black Forest Museum during free time
• Admire a traditional cuckoo clock and view Triberg Waterfall, one of the highest falls in Germany

Later this evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the Zurich airport for your flight home or continue your trip to explore the Rhine Valley.