Grand Switzerland Christmas Market Tour 2565 (Grand Switzerland 2022), 9 Days 8 Nights (excluding travel days)

Day 1: No tour activities today as your flight arrives in Zurich in the evening. We arrange a private transfer to pick you up at Zurich Airport and take you to your hotel in Zurich.

9:00 AM: Travel to explore Lucerne and Lake Lucerne. Visit the wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke), the Water Tower (Wasserturm), and the poignant Lion Monument (Lowendenkmal), the iconic symbol of Lucerne. Stroll around the town, shopping for souvenirs and Swiss watches from top brands.

Lucerne was an important medieval trade town and still preserves many charms of its Old Town. Most visitors head to Lucerne's most popular landmark, the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a wooden bridge built in 1333 featuring over 100 paintings depicting saints and scenes from the town's history. Adjacent to it stands the 13th-century Water Tower.

You can spend time exploring the Altstadt (Old Town) on the right bank of the Reuss, admiring the brightly painted historic townhouses, timber buildings, and small squares with fountains. Look out especially for the Kornmarkt with the Altes Rathaus, built in 1602-06, and the adjacent 14th-century tower.

You will have plenty of free time to explore the city at your own pace, or even take a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne at your leisure.

19:00: Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Lucerne.

9:00 AM: Today, visit Bern, the capital of Switzerland and a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. See the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggeistkirche), the Astronomical Clock Tower, and the Federal Palace of Switzerland (Bundeshaus).

The capital of Switzerland was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its streets lined with houses and shops from the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by steep pitched roofs and covered arcades.

The Old Town is even more picturesque, set on a high ridge surrounded by the Aare River. Here you will find many top attractions, including the famous clock tower with moving figurines and the stunning Münster, along with charming cobblestone streets and alleys, beautiful fountains, steep roofs, and towers.

Sample local Emmental cheese and Swiss Kambly biscuits to add extra flavor to today's stroll.

After lunch, travel to Interlaken, a charming small town nestled between two lakes, Lake Thun (Thunersee) and Lake Brienz (Brienzersee).

Along the way, stop at Brienz, a peaceful and scenic small lakeside town not far from Interlaken, to admire Lake Brienz.

Continue to Interlaken, one of Switzerland's most popular summer holiday resorts. In the town center, the Höhematte is a triumph of urban planning spanning 35 acres of open green space, flower gardens, hotels, and cafés lining the Höheweg, the main boulevard boasting breathtaking mountain views.

The majestic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau tower above the town, providing exceptional opportunities for Alpine adventure, with hiking, mountaineering, abseiling, and kayaking among the main highlights.

More than 45 mountain railways, cable cars, gondolas, and ski lifts transport visitors around the region, offering endless sightseeing opportunities in the mountains. In summer, paragliders soaring over the town make for a delightful spectacle.

19:00: Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Interlaken/Wilderswil.

9.00 Transfer to Lauterbrunnen station. Lauterbrunnen is situated in a fork-shaped valley in the Alps. Tourism is a key highlight of this town, along with its waterfall cascading right in the center of the village.

You can explore the village of Murren, taking a leisurely stroll to enjoy the scenery, local houses, shops, and charming accommodations along the way until reaching the Schilthorn Bahn cable car station. Take the cable car up to the summit of Schilthorn at 2,971 meters, the famous filming location of James Bond 007: On Her Majestic's Secret Service.

Here, you will find the 007 museum to explore, as well as a 360-degree viewpoint to take in the views (Note: This is an independent walking tour; you can also choose to visit Jungfraujoch - The Top of Europe or enjoy other activities today).

19.00 Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Interlaken/Wilderswil (night 2).

9:00 AM: Depart for Zermatt, an enchanting small town that is completely car-free, allowing only electric vehicles. Vans are not allowed to enter because motor vehicles are prohibited within the town, and only electric vehicles can operate.

Board the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train to take in the breathtaking beauty of the famous Matterhorn. The scenery along the way is stunningly beautiful, as you take in Zermatt with its crisp, fresh air.

The Matterhorn, Switzerland's iconic pyramid-shaped peak, is one of the highest mountains in the Alps, standing on the border with Italy. This legendary peak rises to 4,478 meters, with its four steep faces facing the cardinal points of the compass.

At the foot of this majestic peak lies the charming village of Zermatt, a premier international resort featuring horse-drawn carriages, quaint chalets, and world-class restaurants and hotels. To preserve air quality and the peaceful atmosphere, motor vehicles are prohibited in the village.

In winter, skiers can glide down over 300 kilometers of slopes. In summer, swimming and tennis are popular activities, along with hiking, cycling, and mountaineering in the surrounding mountains. Glacier skiing is also available in the summer.

hotel Overnight Zermatt

9:00 AM: A unique experience! We take you up the Alps to Leukerbad, a place full of wonders. Leukerbad is nestled in a scenic Alpine setting; for the past 500 years, Leukerbad has been synonymous with relaxing nature.

Relaxing thermal spring water flowing from the rocks at 51 degrees Celsius awaits us. We'll take you to bathe in authentic Alpine mineral springs. Leukerbad Therme is a spa offering panoramic mountain views, a wonderful experience, and healthy relaxation (please prepare swimwear and towels). It features authentic Swiss thermal pools, both indoor and open-air.

Along the way, stop for photos at the deep blue Lake Thun, north of the Alps. Lake Thun is especially popular among sailors and windsurfers who enjoy the gentle breezes.

Depart for an overnight stay in the Swiss spa town of Baden to experience its unique atmosphere. Baden is renowned for thermal springs dating back to Roman times. Its curative thermal waters boast the highest mineral concentration among many spas in Switzerland. At Thermalbank, an eight-meter-long bench where you can soak your feet in thermal water for free, there are also cafes and gathering spaces with bathing pools. Explore the charming medieval town center with its historic tower and half-timbered houses.

hotel Overnight Baden

9:00 AM: Depart for Zurich. Visit the FREITAG Flagship Store in Zurich, the authentic Swiss bag brand popular with trendsetters everywhere, and take lovely photos in this park.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time for shopping to your heart's content and strolling around Zurich for almost the entire day. In the evening, we transfer you to your hotel near the airport.

Zurich's location in north-central Switzerland, combined with the country's excellent rail network, makes it an ideal base for travel. Although not the capital, it is the best shopping city in Switzerland.

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, a major transportation hub, and a popular starting point for travelers. Located at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich, straddling the Limmat River, it is an affluent banking capital with a wealth of cultural treasures.

An ideal place to begin a walking tour is the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, lined with quaint shops, cafes, and galleries. The mile-long Bahnhofstrasse, one of Europe's premier shopping destinations, is packed with designer boutiques offering fashion, watches, and jewelry.

This city is home to more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries, as well as many other attractions. The most popular fine arts museum is Kunsthaus Zurich, featuring an impressive art collection from the Middle Ages to the present day. Another favorite is the Rietberg Museum, which focuses on non-European art with numerous works from China, India, and Africa, and the Swiss National Museum housed in a Gothic-style castle.

19.00 Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Zurich.

We take you to explore the lovely little town of Stein am Rhein, a charming small town in the canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Its medieval architecture has been so well preserved that it received the First Wakker Prize in 1972.

The Rhine River flows through this town. Its main attractions are clustered north of the train station. Admire the historic frescoes in the Old Town, lined with medieval buildings, along with restaurants and cafes on both sides of the street.

Travel to Schaffhausen, a historic town on the German border full of authentic Swiss charm, where you can stroll through the Old Town.

Next, visit Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe, measuring 150 meters wide and over 23 meters high. Schloss Wörth sits nearby, and there is an island in the middle of the river where visitors can take a boat ride to get up close to Rhine Falls.

P.S. If you prefer to continue shopping in Zurich instead of taking today's day trip, you are welcome to do so at your leisure.

Today, flights are mostly in the afternoon. No van service is required because your hotel is just a 200-meter walk from the airport. Inside and outside the airport is a large shopping complex where you can enjoy shopping for cosmetics, souvenirs, and gifts to your heart's content.