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Switzerland–
Liguria
September 14– 24, 2007
Price: From $3,399, per person, double occupancy
Package includes:
- 9 nights, 10 days
- 4 star hotels
- 2 nights Sion
- 3 nights Lugano
- 2 nights in Novi Ligure
- 2 nights in Santa Margherita L.
- Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
- Bi-lingual tour guide throughout, motor coach for all transfers and excursions
- Visits to Alimentarium Vevey, Chillon Castle, Castello Bellinzona, , Villa Carlotta,
- Boat ride to Borromean Islands to visit 17th century palace and grdens
- Other boat rides to Bellagio, Tremezzo, and Portofino
- 1/2 day cooking course
- Visits to Suisse wine cellars with wine tasting in Sion, Ticino, and Italian wines in Piemonte
- Leisure time to explore and the flexibility to adjust daily excursions and activities
- Elegant shopping
- Scenic beauty, mountain top and lakeside vistas, arts, and antiquities
- Stroll quaint narrow streets of arcaded Old Towns, visit medieval
gothic churches, market places, gardens
ITINERARY
Day 1 -- Arrival Switzerland – Geneva (Dinner)
After morning arrival and welcome at the airport, you will be transferred
by private motor coach to your 4 star hotel in Sion. Along the way to
you will enjoy the sights of Geneva, Lake Geneva, and the views of the
many vineyards on the way to visit Vevey where you will visit the Alimentarium
in Vevey (Nestlé Food Museum). After a short drive to Montreux,
where you will have a guided visit of Chillon Castle. Welcome dinner at
hotel or in a local restaurant.
Day 2 -- Sion – Sightseeings (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, you will take a guided visit of the capital of Canton,
Valais, where the past and the future seamlessly meet. The Old Town, the
castles and museums are relics of the past and hug the Valère and
Tourbillon Hills. The town is surrounded by vineyards and is located in
one of the main vine-growing regions of Switzerland. This area is know
for its wine, such as Fendant. However, the Syrah is quite tasty. After
this morning tour, we will travel by bus to Täsch and by train to
Zermatt to explore this car free mountain mecca. Lunch will be in a rustic
restaurant in Zermatt. Time will permit for an optional excursion by cogwheel
train to the Gornergrat. In the afternoon, we will depart by bus to Visperterminen
(Europes highest vineyards) where there will be a wine tasting at J. Chardon.
Dinner on own (recommend Restaurant Cave tous Vents)
Day 3 -- Sion – Lugano (Breakfast and Lunch)
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Lugano by taking a bus
to Brig where you will take a train to Andermatt , traveling the famous
Glacier Express across the alps through the Gotthard tunnel to Southern
Switzerland. You will stop in Bellinzona for a visit to Castello Grande,
the Historical and Archaelogical museum, and Enoteca Castello. Lunch will
be at a typical grotto. Overnight in Lugano, a popular Italian speaking
village in the Ticino region. Dinner on own.
Day 4 -- Lugano - Excursion “Lake Maggbeginiore/Borromean
Islands” (Breakfast)
After breakfast, you will travel from Lugano across Mt. Ceneri Pass into
the Magadino plain and lake Maggiore. You will visit Locarno, a beautiful
town and resort which lies in the hollow of a sunny bay. We will also
stop at Ascona, a former, colorful fishing village which has long been
a favorite with artists, and then continue our journey along the scenic
lakeside road into Italy and Pallanza. We will take a boat to the Borromean
Islands for a visit of its 17th Century palace and the beautiful terraced
gardens. There will be plenty of time for to explore. Lunch on own. After
lunch, we will cross the lake by ferry to Laveno and continue via Ponte-Tresa
back to Lugano. A visit to a Ticino region Vineyard on the return. Dinner
on own
Day 5 -- Lugano - Day excursion to Como area (Breakfast and dinner)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will cross the border near Gandria, and
drive along lake Lugano via Porlezza to Tremezzo on lake Como. After visiting
the Villa Carlotta with its beautiful gardens, we will take a boat to
Bellagio, the “Pearl of the Lake“. You will have plenty of
time at leisure to view and experience the picturesque staircases, narrow
streets, the typical Italian promenade and the famous Villa Serbelloni
with its park. After lunch, on your own, we will return by boat to Tremezzo
and continue along the scenic lakeshore road via Villa d’Este to
Como. You will be given some time to shop, and sightsee before before
returning via Chiasso back to Lugano. Dinner will be in a local restaurant
before we return to Lugano.
Day 6 -- Lugano – Piemonte (Breakfast and dinner)
After breakfast in your hotel, we will drive to Piemonte in northern Italy.
Piemonte occupies the upper Po basin and the adjoining pre-Alpine moraine
and hill region and is bounded on the south, west and north by the mighty
mountain arc of the Apennines and the Alps which reach their highest points
in Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn. We will
stop at a famous wine cellar for a tasting and snack when we arrive at
NOVI LIGURE, between Alba and Gavi. We will spend the night at a very
good 4 star hotel. Dinner.
Day 7 -- Piemonte – sightseeing (Breakfast and dinner)
After breakfast, there will be a full day excursion to Alba, the area
for Barolo. We will stop at a wine cellar to taste the different wines
with a snack. After returning to our hotel, we will depart from the hotel
late afternoon to the restaurant IL CORTESE for a cooking course and dinner.
Day 8 -- Piemonte – Mediteranean Italian Riviera (Breakfast
and dinner)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Santa Margherita Ligure
where you will take a boat to Portofino. Leisure time will be available
to explore Portofino. Lunch on your own. Lodging will be at your 4 star
hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9 -- Mediteranean Italian Riviera (Breakfast and dinner)
After breakfast, you will depart by train to the Cinque Terre where you
will visit Monterosso, Manarola, and Vernazza. We will taste several wines
including the famous white wine of the Cinque Terre. Dinner will be in
a typical restaurant.
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Day10 -- Milan - Departure
After breakfast, you will be transfer to Milan airport for your flight
home.