The Alps Out Loud: Switzerland & Lake Como By Design

Welcome to Zurich! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

ZURICH: Orientation walk of the Old Town includes sights of the Fraumünsterkirche.

RHINE FALLS: Take pictures of the waterfalls. (B)

BERNE: Guided walking tour includes the Old Town, a stop at Bear Park and a panoramic view of the city from Rose Garden.

CHILLON: Guided visit of the castle and wine tasting. (B)

YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

• SIP: Mountains Soar & Wines Pour Visit the lovely Lavaux region, one of Switzerland's most beautiful regions—carved by the Rhone Glacier and the masterful masonry of 12th-cenutry Cistercian monks who built kilometers of stone walls and terraces that are still cherished and tended by the winegrowers today. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to bountiful vineyards where renowned wines are nurtured by sunlight reflected by the waters of Lake Geneva and the warmth of the stone walls by night. Hop on a Swiss train to experience mountains and the magic of Switzerland's second-largest wine-growing canton and take a stroll around the timeless vineyards!
  
  
• TASTE: Swiss Chocolate & Cheese, Please! The only thing more inspiring than Switzerland's stunning scenery is its food! A sweet adventure awaits you at the Maison Cailler chocolaterie (chocolate shop). Explore the story of Swiss chocolate through a series of interactive, multi-sensory experiences, and uncover a few secrets along the way! Continue on to the picturesque town of Gruyères for a lunch of Swiss delicacies. Stroll through its pedestrian centre with Medieval cobblestones and fountains. A real charmer!
  
  
• STROLL: Fondue of You  Between the lake, mountains, and vineyards, the Montreux Riviera puts picture-perfect postcards to shame! An authentic little piece of paradise that has inspired numerous artists, writers, and travellers in search of beauty, tranquility and inspiration, the city of Montreux is the place to enjoy the Swiss Riviera (one of the world's best-kept secrets, known for gastronomical delights). Follow your Local Guide for a special walking tour and fondue lunch that's sure to please your palate! (B/L) 

AOSTA: Free time.

COMO: Orientation walk. (B)

YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

• STROLL: Amo Milano Depart from Como for the captivating cosmopolitan city of Milan. Visit the Castello Sforzesco grounds and admire Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini. Follow your Local Guide for a walking tour to La Galleria and Piazza Duomo, followed by an inside visit at the Duomo. Plus, enjoy free time to shop in Italy's capital of fashion.
  
  
• FLOAT: Villas, Villages & Vistas Embark on a one-hour boat cruise around Como's dazzling lake. Marvel at matchless views of the Italian Alps as you float past forested hills, charming lakeside villages, peaceful bays, exotic gardens, and the elegant villas of Versace, Mussolini, Clooney, and other glitterati. After the cruise, walk to the railway funicular station in Piazza De Gasperi. Operating since 1894, the train climbs quickly to Brunate—"the Balcony of the Alps" inviting you to take in views in every direction. (B)

YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

• STROLL: Oohs, Aahs & Swiss Geez! Explore the centre of Lugano with your Local Guide and take in views of its lovely lake. Enjoy free time before departing for Bellinzona. Hidden in a narrow valley at the entrance to three gorgeous Alpine passes, Bellinzona serves as a gateway to Italy from the north and the Alps from the south. Ascend by elevator to the vineyard-clad Castelgrande. Explore the castle grounds, stroll along the ramparts, and engulf yourself in amazing panoramas before enjoying a traditional lunch at a local grotto restaurant.
  
  
• FEAST: Pasta Perfetto in a Como Cucina! Welcome to a professional kitchen in one of the best locations on Lake Como. Master the art of making authentic Italian pasta when you prepare lunch with the chef, and learn how to perfectly combine traditional ingredients with a unique touch of innovation and creativity. Create a two-course menu of local specialties to enjoy with friends and family.

COMO: Farewell dinner at your hotel. (B/L/D)

Your holiday ends with breakfast in the morning. (The nearest airport is Milan.) (B)