This fabulous vacation begins with a river cruise along the legendary Rhine River, which begins in Switzerland and stops in France, Germany, and Holland; then back to Switzerland for an in-depth land tour of everything the stunning country has to offer!Board your vessel in Amsterdam, Switzerland, then head for Breisach, Germany, where you’ll find the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty, best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock. In Strasbourg, France, be amazed by the red-sandstone gothic cathedral with ancient murals and the fascinating astronomical clock. Stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg’s castle, towering magnificently over the city, and stop in Mainz for a guided walk and a visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum. Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam, offers world-famous museums and an abundance of restaurants amongst the classic architecture and charming canals. See the treasures of the city on a canal cruise along the elegant grachten before preparing for the land portion of your vacation!With its stunning mountains, fascinating old towns, and beautiful lakes, Switzerland offers something for everyone. On this tour, experience some of its most beautiful scenery and interesting cities with overnights in Zürich, St. Moritz, Lugano, Zermatt, Lake Geneva, and Lucerne. And no tour to Switzerland is complete without seeing the stunning scenery, so enjoy a scenic drive following Lake Zürich and Lake Walen through the high Alps to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein. In Täsch, board a mountain train to car-free Zermatt, a picturesque cluster of rustic chalets beneath the famous Matterhorn. If beautiful lakes are what you desire to see, you’ll enjoy Lake Como; Lake Maggiore; Lake Geneva; and Lugano, the popular subtropical resort on the shores of Lake Lugano. To bring Switzerland to life, Globus has arranged some unique experiences for you. Enjoy lunch at a traditional Swiss working farm in Berne and a trip to the top of Mount Pilatus to enjoy heavenly views and an alphorn demonstration. Of course, Switzerland is known for its chocolates, so this tour would not be complete without a taste of traditional chocolate pralines.From stunning scenery and vibrant cities to its special experiences, this river cruise and land tour is sure to delight. So grab your camera and get ready for an amazing vacation!
City Highlights
Day 1 Amsterdam (Embarkation): welcome receptionDay 2 Amsterdam: canal cruiseDay 3 Cologne: choice of guided city walk or Jewish Heritage walkDay 4 Koblenz–Rhine Gorge–Rüdesheim: guided sightseeing in Koblenz; cruise through the Rhine Gorge; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; special treatDay 5 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg: guided walk, visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz; excursion to Heidelberg; guided visit of the castle, see the Great VatDay 6 Strasbourg: guided sightseeing, visit the La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; onboard woodcarving demonstrationDay 7 Breisach. Excursion to the Black Forest: visit a local woodcarver’s workshop or visit a Black Forest open-air museumDay 8 Basel (Disembarkation), Switzerland–Zurich: transfer to Zurich; welcome dinnerDay 9 Zurich–Vaduz, Liechtenstein–St. Moritz: orientation walk of the Old Town; taste Sprüngli chocolate pralines; visit the capital of LiechtensteinDay 10 St. Moritz–Lake Como, Italy–Lugano, Switzerland: picture stop in Lake ComoDay 11 Lugano–Stresa, Italy–Täsch, Switzerland–Zermatt: a stop in Stresa at Lake Maggiore; drive to ZermattDay 12 Zermatt–Lake Geneva: drive through the Rhône Valley to Lake GenevaDay 13 Lake Geneva–Berne–Interlaken–Lucerne: guided walking tour, stop at the Bear Park and enjoy a panoramic view from the Rose Garden; lunch at a working farm; at Interlaken take pictures of the Jungfrau massifDay 14 Lucerne: walking tour including the Lion Monument and Capel Bridge; Mount Pilatus excursion receive a souvenir cap; farewell dinnerDay 15 Lucerne–Zurich Airport: this morning transfer to the Zurich Airport
Meals
Cruise Portion: Captain’s welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapésWelcome dinnerDaily Afternoon TeaDaily Night FareFarewell dinnerComplimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner are included daily on board your vesselLand Portion:Full buffet breakfast (B) daily; 1 lunch in Berne; 4 three-course dinners with wine, including a welcome dinner in Zürich and a farewell dinner in Lucerne.
Notes
In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.In the event that a high-speed train is unavailable due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be altered or operated by motorcoach.
PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-XZG1-2018