Relaxed Roadtrip through the French and Swiss Alps

You will be picked up by a driver at one of Lyon’s TGV stations or the airport. 

After check in (or bag-drop), make your way by foot through the center of Lyon.

There are loads of things to see to start your romantic getaway – Lyon holds the finest art collection outside the Louvre, the country's main center for ballet, a major opera house and concert hall, Roman ruins and fashionable shopping streets. But it is the city’s restaurants, chefs and fine dining that attract most visitors. This is the birthplace of great French cuisine, and is a must-visit for any self-respecting foodie.  Your first Lyon Gourmet tour (small group/approx. 3 hours) will take you to explore just that. 

You’ll meet your guide somewhere central and explore the peninsula then the old town and learn all about the little anecdotes around these historic districts while tasting all the amazing products that make Lyon the Capital of Gastronomy: pink praline, ‘Coussin de Lyon’, charcuterie sliced meat, cheeses, wine.... all in the heart of the UNESCO listed central district of Lyon. Your guide provides a passionate of the history of the city and being specialized in modern and trendy culinary trends, will show you around in a fun and convivial way.

The evening is at your leisure to of course take in some extra tastings elsewhere.

After breakfast make your way to the nearby meeting point.  Your Golden Stones of Beaujolais tour (small group / approx.4 hours) will be with a top driver-guide we know well!

Take the time to explore southern Beaujolais and appreciate the diversity of this area (small group/ approx. 4.5 hours). Often compared to Tuscany, this hilly region is dotted with hilltop villages built in golden stone and offers a gentle pace of life. The cultural and gourmet itinerary leads you around the southern part of Beaujolais, only a few kilometres to north of Lyon, the region is green and hilly. Known around the world for its famous Beaujolais Nouveau wine, it is also a place where the locally quarried golden stones offers its villages a charming and unique style. Your driver-guide and wine lover will pass on his passion for the region to you during this rural excursion. The experience ends with an introduction to wine and a meeting with a wine-maker who will also invite you to a enjoy a tasting experience.

We invite you today to a visit of an old and historical district of Lyon, that has become very trendy and fashioned again for a few years: Authentic and gourmet Croix Rousse (small group/approx. 3 hours). 

Meet your guide and explore some real secret spots. Exploring one of the most enchanting and artistically rich neighborhoods in Lyon, this tour takes you right to the heart of the former silk workers district through cobbled streets, secret passages and peaceful squares. Home in Ancient times to communities of religious settlers and to this day a Roman amphitheatre, the Croix-Rousse became famous in the 16th Century as the centre of the City of Silk.  Your local guide will take you street by street through the history of this neighborhood of craftsmen and creative people, still seen today as the artistic hub of the city.

The evening is at your leisure.

Pickup by a driver and transfer to the station. The train to Annecy takes less than 1.5 hours. 

Arriving in Annecy, meeting your driver, you will sense an immediate change of scene. Sometimes called "the Venice of Savoie," owing to the lakeside setting, and the small rivers that run through the Alpine town; Annecy is treasured for its sloping hillsides, good weather and fun lifestyle. Despite being an important regional city it’s cobblestone streets and pastel-colored facades provide the same storybook feel that you'd find in some of France's tiniest villages.

Take the day to enjoy your hotel’s central location and the relaxed vibe that infuses the city.

Make your way to the port. 

The mountain guides from the Annecy Guides' Office offer you an unforgettable adventure between lake and mountain: Cruise and Hiking tour (small group /approx. 8 hours)! From Annecy, you will motor towards Menthon St Bernard, aboard a ship of the Lake Annecy Boat Company. From the port of Menthon St Bernard, there is an easy hike of about 2 hours, led and expertly commented by a mountain guide. You will travel through the protected natural reserve of Roc de Chère to Talloires. Picnic lunch in Talloires (not included) before you will hike to the wonderful Angon Falls. It is an hour and a half walk (uphill and down) to reach this 60mhigh waterfall. The return will be again via the quaint ferry from the charming village of Angon. 

The evening is at your leisure. 

Today is an authentic Day of Terroir and Nature (private / approx. 6 hours). 

In the morning you’re transferred to a small village (20kms from Annecy/approx. 30 minutes). Your guide Quentin will take you to the cheese cooperative high in the alpine pastures, an adventure in itself, to choose and taste the cheese that will be used a little later for lunch. Your guide has lived in the area for years and will tell you everything you’ll need to know about our farms, farmers and the amazing “terroir” of Savoy. Once you get to Quentin’s house, you’ll start to prepare one of Savoy’s most famous dishes and your lunch, a tartiflette.

Your afternoon will be filled with conversation, explanations and insight about Savoy, the forests and everything found in them. Quentin will help you concoct your own herbal tea and of course Christmas Wine to take home. Other surprises await you. 

The driver will transfer you back to your hotel in the middle afternoon.

You’ll be picked up by a driver and taken just across the border to central Geneva. Pick up a Swiss rental car (automatic or manual) and start exploring Geneva and surrounds. 

Geneva enjoys one of the loveliest city settings in Europe: with the Rhône to the side, Lake Geneva, and the surrounding Alps. The city is the base for many international organizations, and has good restaurants, and plenty of museums. It is clean, efficient and safe, yet perhaps a little boring. We suggest you east to Montreux for your night stay, and yet don’t forget to see Yvoire on the way. This is a fortified village with beautifully weather-worn building facades and spires, and has earned Yvoire a place on the official list of 'The Most Beautiful Villages of France' (the road from Geneva to Montreux crosses the France / Switzerland border a couple of times). 

You will stay tonight in Montreux, in an area known as the Montreux Riviera. This chic spot in a sheltered bay on Lake Geneva has been drawing artists and romantics for hundreds of years (Lord Byron and Mary Shelley in 19th century; Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury in the 20th). You can see why, wrapped up on a scenic saunter on the flower-fringed promenade that runs from nearby Vevey, with its clutch of museums and, in winter, a lakeside ice rink, through Montreux and round to Chillon Castle. 

Hit the road early and make the most of the surrounding countryside. 

The nicest places to see on this route are Gruyeres and Zermatt. Explore a quaint countryside village with a long history and strong link to its eponymous cheese, then head along mountain roads and perhaps along a mountain railway to Zermatt. Views of the Matterhorn are admired from all around the town, and these east and north faces are often climbed by alpinists.  

Arrive late in the afternoon in Interlaken. 

Interlaken has been a tourist destination since the Victorian age.  Today it is the daredevil and adrenalin-junkie set who explore here. Straddling the glacier-fed Lakes Thun and Brienz and capped by the pearly white peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Interlaken is the gateway to the high mountains. 

Today is dedicated to a Swiss Alps experience (private/approx. 8 hours). 

Your local guide knows how to make you live your Swiss getaway to the max. You’ll leave knowing loads more about Swiss people, traditions, customs, culture and lifestyle.

You'll drive along the lake of Thoune up to the village of Aeschi bei Speiz. There you'll see a slice of real Swiss life (cheese and cows) and visit a dairy farm. From the farm house a splendid view over the lake of Interlaken awaits you.  You 'll drive deep into the valley up to Kandersteg, all the way to the last village. This village is home for one of the five Swiss Riccola herb gardens. Walk through the charming gardens and learn some mountain herb secrets. 

At lunch time you'll enjoy a gondola ride up to Oeschienensee. A horse carriage awaits you there, bringing you to the mountain lake. Why not glance at the reflection in the lake, sing a song (and hear your echo), but above all, just relax at this peaceful place.

After having a picnic or enjoying lunch at the mountain hut you'll walk back to the hill station. Keen for adrenaline? Check out the alpine coaster for the downhill.  In the middle of the afternoon you'll head back down to the valley with your guide and stop for the last highlight of this tour: the amazing Blue Lake.

Make your way to the train station. 

This Jungfrau Glacier excursion (group / approx. 7 hours) begins with a short bus journey from Interlaken to the mountain resort of Grindelwald.  Once there you’ll board the cogwheel train for a spectacular ride up to Jungfraujoch via Kleine Scheidegg. En route you’ll have stunning views of the world-famous triple peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. 

When you reach the top, marvel at the high alpine wonderland of eternal ice, snow and rock. Experience the Alpine Sensation adventure tour marking the 100th anniversary of the Jungfrau Railway. You’ll visit the Sphinx Observation Terrace and Plateau for breathtaking panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, neighboring countries and the Aletsch Glacier. Walk through the tunnels of the Ice Palace at the heart of the glacier. 

Restaurants are available for meals and refreshments.

During the descent you’ll pass the holiday resort of Wengen and stop at Lauterbrunnen, before the bus awaits for your return trip to Interlaken.

Drive to Lucern (70km and 1 hours’ drive).  

Check into your hotel and start enjoying Lucerne. It is not a very big town, having a population of only 60,000; but the sheer beauty of its setting - a magnificent lake surrounded by soft green hills and snow-capped peaks - is hugely exhilarating.

Take a small stroll and then find the meeting spot to meet your guide for a Lucerne City Walking Tour and Chocolate Tasting (private / approx. 2 hours).  This tour is about the city's history and includes also a visit to a local chocolate maker. Excellent tour for those who are coming for the first time to Lucerne and want to taste also real Swiss handmade chocolate from a local confectioner.  You will see the highlights of the city (Chapel Bridge and Water Tower from the 14th Century on the river Reuss, Jesuit baroque Church and much more), get to know also about Swiss culture and people, get insider tips where to eat Swiss food and regional specialties and of course enjoy a chocolate tasting in chocolate lover's paradise (local Swiss chocolatier family owned and handmade chocolate of the very best quality).

Evening at leisure to explore. 

Walk a short distance to the start at the ferry port in central Lucerne.

The Golden Round-Trip (group / approx. 6 hours) goes around and over Mount Pilatus.  It is a round trip by boat, cogwheel railway and aerial cableway. The journey takes you to the most spectacular spots on the Pilatus and to the summit by boat, cogwheel railway, aerial cableway and Panorama Gondolas. You can experience the variety of Lucerne's local mountain from May to October.

Lucerne–Alpnachstad (by boat)–Pilatus

The starting point for the ‘Golden round trip’ is Lucerne. You will enjoy a boat trip on Lake Lucerne and a view of the surrounding mountains. In Alpnachstad you will board the steepest cogwheel railway in the world to reach the summit of 2,132 opportunities. At 2,132 meters above sea level you will be received with the inimitable Pilatus warmth. There are restaurants at the summit. The breathtaking panorama and view of the Alpine massif and its mountain range do their part to make your visit unforgettable.

Pilatus–Kriens–Lucerne

You will glide down to Kriens on the aerial cableway known as the Dragon Ride and then on the Panorama gondola. From the valley station it is a five-minute walk to the stop for Bus no. 1 and a convenient ride to Lucerne.

The Golden round-trip can easily be done in the opposite direction.

Drive towards Zurich, and we suggest take in the lakeside of Vitznau before leaving the region. The summit of Rigi is just nearby and this deserves to be explored.  

Following that, drive to Zurich.  

Known as the cleanest and most efficient city in Europe, notwithstanding you will find plenty to keep you occupied in beautiful Zürich, on the bank of Limmat River. The city has undergone a massive explosion in arts and popular culture, and there are a handful of medieval churches, art galleries and a pleasant medieval Old Town. It is perfect for wandering and finishing your roadtrip. Take in the lively café culture at night: sit in the café arcades by the River, and survey the glitter of mountains over the lake.  How romantic!

Drive the short distance to Zurich airport, and drop back your rental car. Allow enough time for the few formalities before taking your flight home. 

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