The moment we arrive in Zurich, the breathtaking Alps emerge as we travel through the picturesque countryside to the beautiful lakeside town of Lucerne for a 2-night stay.
After our stay in Lucerne we proceed, via touring in Bern and Interlaken, to the welcoming mountain resort town of Villars-sur-Ollon (also known as Villars) for a 5-night stay. We will experience the utmost in Alpine splendour at this traditional resort which is beautifully situated in the heart of the Vaudoise Alps, in view of the peaks of the Dents du Midi and the chain of Mont Blanc, with a sweeping view of the Rhone Valley. While the town has a busy little downtown area, it still retains a sense of coziness and tradition in the true Swiss sense. Villars will be our base for visiting the surrounding region with visits to Montreux, Gruyeres, Vevey and L’Etivaz.
Next, we traverse the Simplon Pass into Italy for a 7-night stay at Lake Maggiore’s most beautiful resort town - Stresa. Bursting with flowers, sprinkled with fine old villas and famous for its lush gardens and mild climate, Stresa has been a holiday resort since the 19th century. On our non-touring days you can enjoy people-watching in the lovely town square, or take the cable car to the top of Monte Mottarone for famous views of distant snowy peaks and all 7 of the major Italian lakes. This idyllic spot is an ideal base for touring the beautiful Italian Lakes area, and also the lively city of Milan. This will be a perfect opportunity to experience la vera Italia (the real Italy).
* Those joining any of our tours to Europe must be able to walk fairly long distances and climb stairs easily.