Terraces of Lake Geneva
8 day Food Independent Program
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DAY 1: USA / ZURICH
Departure from USA to Zurich by scheduled service. Contact our office for a quotation of the lowest cost airfares available for your dates.
DAY 2: ZURICH / LAUSANNE
Upon arrival at Zurich airport, you will collect your luggage and take the escalators down to the train station and board your train to Lausanne. Transfer to your selected hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with a sample of some of the local cuisine.
DAY 3: LAUSANNE / LAVAUX
This morning you will enjoy a private walking tour of Lausanne’s old town and the Cathedral. Next, you’ll take a short train trip to the Lavaux area for a visit with a local wine producer in the famous UNESCO Heritage vineyards. An aperitif and a light lunch will be served at the vineyard. Following lunch, stroll along the lovely vineyards to the lakeside, and transfer by train back to Lausanne to visit the unique Olympic Museum of Lausanne. The evening is at your leisure.
DAY 4: AIGLE / SIERRE
This morning board the train to Aigle and walk the short distance to the Aigle Castle to visit its wine museum. Then, continue by train to Sierre, where you will enjoy a special lunch at Terminus Restaurant, prepared under the direction of Chef Didier de Courten, voted “Cook of the Year” in 2006. Following lunch, enjoy a leisurely visit to the Chateau Villa where you can taste and shop for local wines. At your leisure, travel back to Lausanne by train for an evening is on your own.
DAY 5: MONTREUX - VEVEY
Board the Belle Epoque boat from Lausanne to Montreux. You’ll pass beautiful terraced vineyards along the way. Upon arrival, stroll along the lake until you reach the Chillon Castle, a medieval fort built on the water’s edge of the Lake of Geneva. Free time for lunch on your own in this charming town before boarding the short train trip to Vevey. Here, you have time to visit the Nestle Food Museum and see the Charlie Chaplin statue. This evening, you will enjoy an award-winning dinner at your choice: Chez Chibrac, situated outside of town, high on the surrounding hills and boasting a panoramic view, or the trendy Les Trois Couronnes, located right in town. Either way, you will enjoy the finest cuisine of the region. Following dinner, transfer by train back to Lausanne.
DAY 6: GRUYERES
This morning board the train to Montreux and the Belle Epoque Golden Pass train line for Gruyeres, the origin of Switzerland's most famous cheese. Morning visit to a local cheese factory to learn how the cheese is made. Independently visit the medieval village and the castle of Gruyeres before enjoying a typical cheese raclette or fondue lunch at the restaurant Le Chalet. Following lunch, enjoy some free time to browse and shop before boarding the train back to Lausanne. This evening is at leisure.
DAY 7: GENEVA / LA COTE
Board the train to Moreges/Mont-sur-Rolle to the wine cellars of Domaine Meylan for a visit to the cellars and wine tasting. Then board a Belle Epoque boat* from Rolle to Geneva passing the medieval village of Yvoire. Lunch will be served on board the boat. Upon arrival, you’ll enjoy a private city sightseeing tour of Geneva. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure in Geneva and you can board the train back to Lausanne with an optional stop in Nyon to visit the castel or the Swiss national Museum. The evening is at leisure in Lausanne.
*Belle Epoque boat may be substituted with paddleboat during parts of the year.
DAY 8: LAUSANNE / ZURICH / USA
Following breakfast at your hotel, board your train for the Zurich airport in time for your flight back to USA.
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