LUCERNE,
INTERLAKEN, LAUSANNE, BERNE, SWISS-ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT, SIMPLON
PASS and LAKE GENEVA
Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available:YES
With
its unspoiled scenery, majestic peaks, fascinating old towns, sparkling
lakes, rich history, and cities with a cosmopolitan flair, Switzerland
is the perfect vacation offering something for everyone. On this
Switzerland tour, you’ll experience some of its most beautiful scenery
and interesting cities with overnights in Zurich, St. Moritz, Lugano,
Zermatt, the Lausanne area, and the Lucerne area.
No tour to Switzerland is complete without seeing the stunning scenery.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the high Alps to the tiny Principality of
Liechtenstein. Witness quaint villages, finely carved chalets, green
pastures, beautiful forests, magnificent mountain peaks, and rolling,
green hills on your way to St. Moritz, one of the world's most famous
winter resorts. Switch mode of transportation in Täsch, where
you’ll board a mountain train to car-free Zermatt, a picturesque
cluster of rustic chalets beneath the famous Matterhorn. If you desire
to see lakes, you'll enjoy Lake Maggiore, Italy’s second-largest lake;
stunning Lake Geneva; Lugano, the popular subtropical resort on the
shores of Lake Lugano; Interlaken, situated between Lake Thun and Lake
Brienz; and Lucerne, situated on Lake Lucerne in the shadows of the
snow-capped Alps.
One highlight of this Switzerland tour is the journey aboard the
Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano, Italy. Traveling on the “red
train”, the highest railway across the Alps, you’ll witness glistening
glaciers, stunning mountain streams, and alpine scenery, and you’ll
travel through tunnels and over bridges that are engineering
masterpieces! Enjoy a visit to a local cheese factory in
Gruyères, a picturesque medieval town that has been unaffected
with the passage of time. You’ll also spend time in Switzerland’s
capital, Berne, and storybook Lucerne.
From stunning scenery and vibrant cities to its special experiences,
this Switzerland tour is sure to delight. So grab your camera and get
ready for an amazing vacation!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
APPENZELL See the Old Town
VADUZ Visit the capital of
Liechtenstein
ST. MORITZ Visit BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN St. Moritz-Tirano
LUGANO Visit
LAKE MAGGIORE ITALY Scenic drive
ZERMATT Visit
GRUYÈRES Visit
the village and a local cheese factory
BERNE Visit
INTERLAKEN Visit
LUCERNE Visit Old Town
Inside visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites
can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Old City of Berne
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina
Landscapes
Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
Inside
visits and special features: Shown in
UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where
applicable.
HEADSETS
throughout the tour
OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your
own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS Airport
transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
ZÜRICH NOVOTEL ZURICH CITY-WEST (F)
ST. MORITZ HOTEL BAEREN (ST)
LUGANO IBIS LUGANO (T)
ZERMATT BEST WESTERN
BUTTERFLY (ST)
LAUSANNE AREA NOVOTEL
LAUSANNE BUSSIGNY (ST)
LUCERNE DREI KOENIGE
(ST) or IBIS STYLES LUZERNE CITY (ST) HOTELS -
(SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet
breakfasts; 4 dinners
TRANSPORTATION Scheduled transatlantic flights and
airport transfers in Zürich if Cosmos issues the air tickets.
Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free
Wi-Fi; Bernina Express train St. Moritz-Tirano; Alpine train
Täsch-Zermatt-Täsch
GUIDES
Services of a professional Tour Director while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive in ZURICH, Switzerland Check into your hotel in Zürich.
The rest of the day is free for exploring this exciting city. Tonight,
meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Dinner
Day2ZURICH–APPENZELL–LIECHTENSTEIN–ST.
MORITZA sensational drive today takes you
through some of Switzerland’s most renowned cantons. Stop in Appenzell
to see the Old Town with its 16th-century Town Hall. Continue to the
minute Principality of Liechtenstein for a visit of its tiny capital,
Vaduz. Pass through scenic “Heidiland” and into the Rhine Valley before
ascending mighty Julier Pass. Soon, you’ll be in the heart of
Switzerland’s largest canton, the Grisons, where you’ll marvel at some
of the world’s best alpine views. Spend the next two nights in
glamorous St. Moritz, host of two Winter Olympic Games (1928 and 1948)
and the premier winter retreat of European royalty, celebrities, and
the international jet set for more than a century.
Today’s Distance: 177 mi/ 285 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 3 AT LEISURE IN ST. MORITZEnjoy a whole day to explore this scenic
Engadine valley resort. Renowned for its stunning forest, lake, and
mountain setting and an average of 322 days of sunshine per year, St.
Moritz is comprised of two villages separated by a mile of lake
shore—St. Moritz Dorf and St. Moritz Bad. Extending up the slope from
the lake, terraced Dorf is a tapestry of grand hotels, upscale
boutiques, and traditional Engadine architecture, characterized by
arched wooden doors, small deep-set windows, and artistically etched
facades. Neighboring Bad is known for its ice rink, mineral and mud
baths, and energetic nightlife.
Breakfast
Day4ST. MORITZ–BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN TO
TIRANO, ITALY–LUGANO, SWITZERLANDOne of Europe’s most spectacular train
rides, the BERNINA EXPRESS begins today in St. Moritz, whisking you
across lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to Tirano in the
Italian Valtellina. Here, rejoin your coach and journey to the shores
of sparkling Lake Lugano.
Today’s Distance: 134 mi/ 215 kmBreakfast
Day
5
LUGANO–LAKE
MAGGIORE, ITALY–TÄSCH, SWITZERLAND–ZERMATTDiscover the highlights of charming,
subtropical Lugano before traveling to Lake Maggiore, Italy’s
second-largest lake. Consider joining the optional boat trip to visit
to the garden island of Isola Bella with its splendid 17th-century
palazzo (palace). Return to Switzerland via picturesque Simplon Pass
and hop aboard a train in Täsch for the only connection to
car-free Zermatt, a resort surrounded by Switzerland’s highest
mountains—including the celebrated Matterhorn.
Today’s Distance: 155 mi/ 250 kmBreakfast Dinner
Day6ZERMATT–LAUSANNE AREATime to stroll through town and maybe
take a break to sample the local fare, like raclette, fondue, or
hand-made chocolate. Perhaps shop for an authentic Swiss watch or Swiss
Army knife. Then, take the train back to Täsch, where you will
rejoin the coach and continue your journey through the vineyards and
apricot groves of the lower Rhône Valley to crescent-shaped Lake
Geneva, one of Europe’s largest lakes.
Today’s Distance: 112 mi/ 180 kmBreakfast Dinner
Day 7 LAUSANNE AREASpend either a whole day at leisure
exploring Lausanne and its environs, or join an optional excursion to
charming Geneva with its cobblestoned Old Town and the Palais des
Nations, European headquarters of the United Nations.
Breakfast
Day8LAUSANNE
AREA–GRUYÈRES–BERNE–INTERLAKEN–LUCERNE AREAThe first stop today is in picturesque
Gruyères to visit a local CHEESE FACTORY. Then, on to Berne,
Switzerland’s charming 12th-century capital. The Old Town is a showcase
of medieval architecture, arcaded shops, artistic fountains, and the
landmark Zytglogge (clock tower), an ornate animated astronomical clock
built in 1530. Travel on, skirting the shores of Lake Thun, and stop in
the renowned resort of Interlaken for a visit before crossing
Brünig Pass to Lucerne. Tonight, why not join an optional folklore
evening, complete with yodeling and alphorn blowing?
Today’s Distance: 155 mi/ 250 kmBreakfast
Day 9 LUCERNE AREA–ZURICHDiscover the wonders of Lucerne, a city
straight out of a storybook. Situated on Lake Lucerne beneath the
snowcapped Alps, Lucerne highlights include cobblestone streets lined
with frescoed homes, the world-famous CHAPEL BRIDGE, and the poignant
LION MONUMENT. Perhaps choose from a wonderful selection of optional
activities—the most popular is an excursion to mount Stanserhorn.
Return to Zurich for an overnight.
Today’s
Distance: 62 mi/ 100 kmBreakfast
Day10ZURICHYour vacation ends with breakfast this
morning.
Breakfast
Grand
Tour of Switzerland
10 Day Tour
From $1999USD
(Less
applicable COSMOS PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel Discounts)
REQUEST
RATES, AVAILABILITY AND
OTHER INFORMATION HERE!
To
request ourLOW
UNPUBLISHED RATE and
availability for this tour pleaseview
our
scheduled departures listed HERE.
We
will provide our private rate back to you by email
response or phone call
as you prefer it.
PLEASE NOTE: We
have access to the U.S./Canada reservations only for this tour. If
you reside outside of the U.S./Canada please contact the closest Globus
Family of Brands travel agent in your country of origin.
Exceptional
Vacations
Celebrating
over 85 Years of Touring!
Prices
are
per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer
competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit
with this particular touring program.
Toll Free Call
1-877-510-4653 USA and Canada
We
provide an additional agency
point-of-sale discountfor
all Globus,
Cosmos
and Avalon
Waterways
tour programs. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
TALK
TO AN EXPERIENCED
As
a
full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your
perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been
representing the GLOBUS Family of
Brands for
over 35 years as a Premier Agency
Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies
that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We
can take you all the way from your own hometown to
some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back
again - all with the expertise of a seasoned GLOBUS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional GLOBUS Certified travel specialists. Please feel free
to call us or email us or we would be happy to provide your information
via email
on the tour form, below.
Requesting Availability We will check your requested tour
program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in
the boxes below and reply back to you as soon as possible. Of course
the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in
matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass
along your information that you provide to any third party for any
reason (see Liabilities
and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your
information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout
our website. We
are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday
(except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 |
817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via
email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your
email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the
availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may
request from our listed programs. We will respond to your
requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components
of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon
double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Thank
you for
your interest in this quality tour by The GLOBUS Family
of Brands!
Randy
C.
Gardner President Gardner Travel
Service,
Inc.
and The Globus Family of
Brands
More
than three decades ago Cosmos
pioneered the idea of quality value
travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of
vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or
third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and
experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our
volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at
wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of
all
the details. Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll
never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Guidance At
the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable
folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go
to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and
Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual
so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest
experience possible.
Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will
provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.
The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We
build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and
explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer
suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many
intriguing optional excursions.
Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that
reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy
inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who
will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features
are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual
itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.
Personalize Your
Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are
meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history,
or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip.
Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance
online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.
Cosmos
Takes
Care of Your
HotelsWhere
you stay makes all the difference After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive
hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the
money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards.
However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and
others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer
good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or
overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a
toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a
roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos
specifies
your hotels Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T)
establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings
follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by
national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is
determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your
tour.
Stretch
Your
Vacation Dollars Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices. With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is
devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles
save
with "guaranteed share" rates More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We
therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles
the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded
rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms.
"Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour,
on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions. If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share"
basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be
accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge. Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple
room
reduction Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same
accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and
Prices
box on the tour page.
A word of caution:
Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed,
if there is one, is often a rollaway bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount
for
young tour members Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Cosmos Vacations
Offer Flexibility Joining late and
leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have
already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or
more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight
hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that
apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations
with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.
A
professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay,
please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our
knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on
what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening
entertainment, and theater outings for you.
Extra
nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end
of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted
below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation.
Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath,
breakfast, service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your
tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join
your tour later than Day 2.
Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your
tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative
accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When
this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our
expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights
before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap
between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel
space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to
sell extra nights.
Trust
& Travel Insurance
For
generations, Globus has worked
hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer
service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel
industry.
DETAILS
OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.
and The Globus
Family of
Brands
More than 90
years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial
goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat
would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus
is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world.
Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations
with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to
six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).
Antonio's
frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to
consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His
entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some
motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In
1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring
called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches
which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.
By
1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches
and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and
the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours
and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the
leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus
pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class
European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its
Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring
for the cost-conscious British traveler.
The
coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon
introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday
packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos
air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline,
Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used
Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most
successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets
and its own engineering division.
Under
the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president
and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great
Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia.
Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its
offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour
operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Today,
the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated
by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation
businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals
worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000
passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of
guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals
of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard
work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These
values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue
to grow.
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