Indulging in Swiss Luxuries: Lausanne, Zurich and St. Moritz Tour

In the morning, the aroma of fresh coffee will drift along the streets beneath the stone façade of the medieval Cathedral of Notre Dame. After breakfast, your private driver will escort you to edge of the lakeside islet that supports the fantastical Chateau de Chillon, a 12th-century castle that retains its mystique and majesty. Elements of the original drawbridge are visible as you cross the permanent, modern bridge and the Dukes and Counts of Savoy once used the castle to control movement between France and Italy through the Alps.

Ramparts connect the Duke’s Tower to the front gate, along with numerous rooms, and make it possible for the Duke to traverse the grounds of more than 20 buildings without ever being seen. Stroll along the castle’s defenses, dedicated to protecting the luxuries of the court. The strong walls, from the watchtowers to the double ramparts, the turreted walkways to the moat, are there to prevent possible attacks. Today, these same walls offer fabulous views of the lake and mountains around the castle.

The Swiss Wine Route rises above the shores of Lake Geneva by more than 1,000 feet as vineyards drape across the hills and the trails lead from 16th-century towns to the 18th-century homes that seem to rise out of the vines.  Wine production remains similar to the way Cistercian and Benedictine monks made wine in the 11th century, and you can sit in a traditional wine cellar to sip a refreshing glass of Chasselas. The minerals and unique terrain create a crisp wine with a taste of citrus and ripe apples.

The sunlight will spread across the steps of the Escaliers du Marche, a stairway that connects the Place de la Palud to the terraces of the Cathedral. The aroma of fresh flowers and rich hot chocolate emanate from the old cafes, and after you take it in, your guide will meet you in the hotel and lead you on a fabulous half-day tour of Lausanne’s highlights.  Your tour will end at Place St. Francois, the 13th-century Franciscan church. The graceful central tower was erected in the 16th century, and the charm of the tiered city spreads across the lake and into the countryside to bring you to the village of Gruyeres.

The main cobblestone street leads to the edge of the castle that dominates the skyline. The village brings a lot of medieval character to the region with more than 800 years of architecture, history, and culture overlooking the Saane River. After roaming the enchanting alleyways and lanes, you can visit the nearby cheese factory for an introduction into the production of the region’s celebrated flavors. 36 regional farmers deliver milk to the factory two times a day as the cows graze on the lush grass, herbs, and wildflowers of the alpine meadows located up to 4,800 feet above sea level.

Master cheesemakers produce up to 48 wheels of Gruyere cheese daily and will take you on a guided tour to look at the way each wheel turns from pasteurized milk into delicious cheese. The aroma of hay and typical alpine flowers fill the gallery and often emanate from the cheese. You can touch the milk at different stages to note the changing textures, and the tour will end with a tasting of cheeses at three different maturities, from six, eight, and ten months.

Switzerland’s capital city stands atop a sandstone hill that is surrounded on three sides by the Aare River, which bisects the celebrated historical center from the contemporary districts on the opposite banks. Red-tiled rooftops shine in the sunlight as the medieval clock tower known as the Zytglogge provides a show on the hour as the figurines that work the clock come to life and ring the bell. The city was established in the 12th century and named after a bear that was discovered in the nearby forest.

The domed structure of the Federal Palace glows with stained glass windows that show an elaborate coat of arms as the 19th-century dome rises to a height of nearly 210 feet tall. The main Cathedral of the Bern Munster stands in the heart of Old Town near the banks of the Aare River, and the Gothic architecture contains a sandstone hue that spans 276 feet in length as 254 steps lead to the top of the bell tower for a remarkable view of the city’s eclectic architectural style. More than 200 wood and stone sculptures adorn the main entrance and illustrate the Biblical tale of the Last Judgment.

The aroma of myrrh and frankincense fill the nave as the 15th-century stained glass windows feature religious allegories and fill the gallery with striking color. After your exploration of the Bern’s charms, you continue to the vibrant city of Zurich for an unforgettable meal at a restaurant that uses 21st-century techniques to interpret classic Swiss cuisine for a perfect finish to your day.

Zurich effortlessly blends its historical charms with its contemporary lifestyle as the heart of the old city boasts cobbled streets and old buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries, including the Brunnenturm, which housed the headquarters of the Lombard moneychangers. The electric trolley runs through the more contemporary districts, such as the Bahnhofstrasse, a sophisticated street that spans nearly 4,000 feet, with public art, shading trees, trickling fountains, and luxury boutiques filling their windows with bright displays.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast to escort you on a half-day tour of the city’s unforgettable sites beginning with Fraumunster Cathedral. The turquoise spire soars above the edifice built on 9th-century foundations laid by the grandson of Charlemagne. The spire overlooks Munsterhof Square, and a small door beneath the spire leads you into the gallery. Three aisles draw your eye to the 3rd-century Romanesque choir, notable for its nearly 60-foot height as five stained glass windows designed by Chagall filter the morning light.

The windows are more than 32 feet tall and each contains a particular thematic color, from green for the earth to yellow for the heavens. After exploring the architecture of Old Town, you can dive into the pleasures of the cuisine, beginning with the celebrated a celebrated coffee house. Your guide will give you the history of chocolate from its Mayan roots to its beginnings in Switzerland as the coffee house opened in the mid-19th century and the moment you step inside the aroma of pralines, chocolate, and cinnamon wash over you.

The decadent flavors of the chocolate on your tour will fill you with delight. You could have spent more time dipping into the many confectionaries across Zurich and tasting the local specialties, but in the morning you will take the opportunity to visit the Thermalbad and Spa at Hurlimann Areal. The rooftop pool provides a magnificent view of the city, and the bordering mountains as wooden tubs filled with water harken back to the building’s roots as a brewery as the tubs now offer steam baths and shallow pools. When you are ready, your private transfer will lead you to the stunning lakeside resort town of St. Moritz, situated in the high-lying valley of Engadine at an elevation of nearly 6,100 feet.

Gourmet restaurants and luxurious accommodations accentuate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape as pathway winds around the lakeshores and lead to the tranquil alpine village of Pontresina. For insight into the valley and its past, you can visit the Engadine Museum with its archetypal residences and artifacts of the region ranging from traditional stoves to jewelry to household utensils and farm implements. In the evening, you can relax in a cozy chalet and enjoy the rustic atmosphere of the village and its superb restaurant located in a converted farmhouse to relish the flavors of the rich tradition of fondue.

The aroma of roasting coffee beans emanates from Caferama, a coffee museum that gives a perfect introduction to the international and Swiss worlds of coffee. The gallery features images and exhibits on the traditions of coffee farmers from around the world, including within the borders of Switzerland. It also houses the highest lying coffee roasting plant in the world in terms of altitude. After breakfast, the day will be yours to enjoy the luxuries of St. Moritz and the surrounding landscape. Visit the plant of Caferama to learn more about the roasting process and then relax on the lakeshores with a cocktail with one of the best views of the Bernina Massif.

A remarkable footpath will then lead you out of town and up to nearly 6,570 feet at the summit of Hahnensee. Pass through the forest and enjoy the minty aroma of the leaves that line the trail as a restaurant at the path’s end provides a spectacular terrace to view the snow-capped peaks. The blankets of white contrast with the sweeping emerald forest below and you can continue to the slopes of Fuorcla Surlej for a panorama of the Engadine Lakes from a viewpoint at over 9,000 feet above sea level as the crisp air pinch at your cheeks.

The Segantini Museum opened in the early 20th century and highlights the life, work, and passions of the famous Giovanni Segantini. A large dome adorns the structure and embodies the artist’s eye for drama as the paintings demonstrate Segantini’s triptych motto of “life, nature, death,” with an emphasis on the Engadine Panorama. Today you will have another opportunity to bask in the beauty of St. Moritz and the surrounding scenery, and then make your way to the funicular to ascend more than one mile up to Corviglia with an intermediate station at more than 6,579 feet above sea level.

The view of the forest will turn into a green wave that washes over the valley as a cable car takes you to a higher plateau along Piz Nair more than 10,000 feet above sea level. From here, the fresh coat of snow covers the limestone summit and more adventurous hikers can put on snowshoes and trek along the highland trails. The air is cold in your lungs and refreshing against your skin. If you prefer a more cultural exploration, you can venture to the villages of Sils Maria and Sils Baselgia, which are nested between two lakes. A boat ferries people to the tranquil hamlet of Isola, a peninsula arching into the water and the village was made famous for its connection with the famous German author Nietzsche.

In the morning, the sunlight will wash over the rippling waters of St. Moritz Lake as the white stone architecture glints like pearls in the passing light. On the edge of town, a natural toboggan run swoops down to the slopes, shaped by the glacial formations along the mountains. For an amazing experience, you could zoom down the nearly 5,650-foot track accompanied by professional bobsledders and count down the seconds until you pass the finish line as the toboggan rides up the walls and whizzes across the ice.

The force will pull you back as it takes an average of just 75 seconds to complete the entire run. Your heart will pound against your chest with excitement as the thrill of it all takes you over. This final hurrah before your departure for home provides you with fun and a brief understanding of the bobsledding culture near St. Moritz, a city that has hosted the Winter Olympics twice in its history. Your private transfer will then escort you from the bobsled track to nearby Milan and the Malpensa Airport for your flight home, or you could extend your trip into Italy.