10-Nights Switzerland & the Italian Lakes - Connections Boutique Group Journeys from $10,995

Abercrombie & Kent: Switzerland & the Italian Lakes

DAY 1 Zurich, Switzerland

Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and one with a well-deserved reputation for offering a high quality of life, among the best in the world. You are met and transferred to your hotel, where you meet your fellow guests this evening for dinner.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Zurich this morning, taking in its alluring mix of modern and Old World architecture while strolling its wide, pedestrian-friendly avenues. Zurich is known for its churches, and your walk incorporates several noteworthy ones, including the Fraumünster, with its Marc Chagall-designed stained glass windows, and the Grossmünster, supposedly founded by Charlemagne and later playing a key part in establishing the Reformation in Switzerland. After lunch at a local bierkeller (beer cellar), gather for a sweet finish with a visit to an independent chocolate producer. Learn about the fascinating history and production of Swiss chocolate at the last manufacturer who still starts with the raw cacao beans.

This morning, travel to Lucerne, on the shores of its beautiful lake, and stroll the streets of this medieval jewel. The city’s most famous landmark is the Chapel Bridge, the oldest coveredwooden bridge in Europe. Its interior is decorated with vivid paintings, many of which date back to the 17th century and depict events from the city’s history. You also visit Corn Market Square and the nearby Old Town Hall, built in 1602. There is time for at leisure for lunch or further exploration, Continue to Alpnachstad and board the cogwheel train for a ride on the world’s steepest railway to the top of Mt. Pilatus. Descend via a cable car and alpine gondola. Continue to your hotel in Bern, named for the bears that may still be seen in the European wilderness.

This morning, discover the charms of Switzerland’s intimate capital, strolling delightful old streets and stepping inside the Zytglogge for a private, guided visit of this legendary medieval clock tower. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, free to relax or explore on your own. Tonight, dine at your elegant hotel.

Travel to the pretty mountain village of Habkern and partake in two Swiss traditions. Enjoy a special class with a yodel teacher and a lesson in the history of the famous alphorn. In former days, these massive horns were used by herdsmen on the mountain slopes to communicate with people in the valleys below; today, they are played and enjoyed as musical instruments, and your lesson includes the opportunity to play one yourself. After lunch, visit scenic Interlaken and cruise beautiful Lake Thun, surrounded by the glory of the Alps. Return to Bern for an evening at leisure.

Begin your day with a drive to Andermatt, stopping in the scenic village of Fluelen for lunch on the edge of Lake Lucerne. Then, board the famous Glacier Express and settle into your first-class carriage as you traverse the majestic scenery, arriving in the mountain town of Zermatt — one of the most popular waypoints for adventurers exploring the Alps. Cap your evening off with a Swiss fondue dinner.

This morning, ride the Gornergrat Railway to a height of 10,135 feet for spectacular views over the Alps, the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn. One of the world’s most renowned peaks, the Matterhorn has a pyramid-shaped summit with four distinct faces, making it an endlessly fascinating sight. It is also a formidable technical challenge for mountaineers — the first successful summit in 1865 cost the lives of four climbers.

A short train ride takes you out of Zermatt today. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the spectacular Simplon Passbefore arriving in the Italian Lakes District and the beautifulresort town of Stresa, nestled on the shores of Lake Maggiore.Ernest Hemingway set portions of his World War I novel A Farewell to Arms here, although he didn’t actually visit in person until 1948. Settle in to your lakeside hotel before a fine dinner.

Drive to Orta San Giulio, a charming medieval town resting upon a shimmering lake. The town occupies a promontory commanding wide views over the lake and farther shore, and its shaded streets are made for wandering. Take a boat to the nearby island of San Giulio to see its Benedictine monastery and church. Legend claims the island was once infested by serpents and monsters that terrorized local villages, until patron saint Julius of Novara arrived with a great storm at his back and banished them forever. Return to Stresa in the afternoon.

This morning, relax and enjoy the amenities at your hotel, stroll the local market in Stresa or just sit in a café and watch the world go by. Later, board a private boat for a tour of Lake Maggiore and its islands, renowned for their impressive gardens. On beautiful Isola Bella, enjoy a special farewell dinner with your fellow guests as the sun sets over the surrounding mountains.

Transfer this morning to Milan Malpensa Airport for youronward travel.