DAY 1 – USA/ZURICH
Departure from USA by scheduled air service. Contact our office for a quotation of the lowest cost airfares available for your dates.

DAY 2 –ZURICH/CHÂTEAU-D’OEX/GSTAAD
Arrival to Zürich airport where you will board your train to Château-d’Oex/Gstaad. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.

DAY 3 – CHÂTEAU-D’OEX
This morning you will experience an extraordinary hot air balloon flight* over the Alps. Lunch at the restaurant “Le Chalet” with live cheese making demonstration. This afternoon is at your leisure to browse and shop or visit the hot air balloon museum. This evening is at your leisure.

DAY 4 – CHÂTEAU-D’OEX/GSTAAD
This morning you will have the option to enjoy a hiking day in the gorgeous natural park reserve of “La Pierreuse” (with guide on request). Then you can continue by bus to l’Etivaz to visit the cheese cellars to discover how the cheese is stocked for months in these salty caves and enjoy a cheese tasting accompanied by local wine. Or you may choose to visit Glacier 3000 for a spectacular view from the restaurant designed by award winning architect Mario Botta, on the top of the glacier. This afternoon and this evening will be at your leisure.

DAY 5 – BERN
This morning board your train to Bern, the Swiss capital. Upon arrival in Bern, you will enjoy a city tour of the old town, which has been named as an UNESCO world heritage site, followed by lunch at the historical restaurant “Kornhauskeller”. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to browse and shop before boarding the train back to the hotel. Evening is at your leisure.

DAY 6 – MONTREUX/LAVAUX
This morning board your train to the charming town of Montreux. Upon arrival stroll along the lakeside until you reach the “Chillon Castle”, a medieval fort built on the water’s edge of the Lake of Geneva. After lunch, you can take the short boat trip to Vevey. Here, you will visit on your own the Alimentarium, a food museum of the Nestle foundation. This afternoon we have made a reservation for a wine tasting in the Lavaux area. Once here you will also visit, guided by a local wine producer, one of the UNESCO world heritage vineyards.

DAY 7 – GRUYERE/FRIBOURG
Today you will board the train to Gruyère, famous for its cheese production. Independently visit the medieval village, the castle and the Giger Museum that exhibits the most extensive collection of artworks. After lunch at restaurant “Le Chalet” in Gruyère, you will board the train to Fribourg. Upon arrival you will enjoy a private city sightseeing tour of the old town and of the Art and History Museum. In the afternoon, transfer back to the hotel by train. Evening at leisure.

DAY 8 – CHÂTEAU-D’OEX/GSTAAD/ ZÜRICH/USA
This morning board your train for the Zurich airport in time for your flight back to USA.

* Hot air balloon ride dependent on weather conditions and may need to be re-scheduled or substituted with helicopter ride if favorable conditions do not exist.

Price per person based on double occupancy
 

Services Included:
. 6 nights accommodations in Château-d’Oex or Gstaad: 3 star Bon Accueil in Château-d’Oex; 4 star Hotel Arc-En-Ciel in Gstaad
. 3 lunches as specified in the itinerary (beverages not included): “Le Chalet” in Château-d’Oex, Kornhauskeller” in Bern, “Le Chalet” in Gruyère
. Welcome dinner at your hotel’s restaurant on arrival night (beverage not included)
. Hot Air Balloon Flight
. Wine tasting in Lavaux
. Entrance fee to the Arts and History Museum in Fribourg
. Half day (2hrs) regular city sightseeing in Bern
. Half day (2 hrs) private city tour in Fribourg
. Breakfast daily at the hotel
. 8 Day Swiss Pass (2nd class for 3* hotel package, 1st class for 4* hotel package)