A SWITZERLAND ADVENTURE          

1st Day: Welcome to Lausanne. Our tour host will assist you in your check-in to our 4 Star hotel, where you have accommodations for 3 evenings. In late afternoon you will meet with your travelling companions for a welcome cocktail. Then it’s off to one of Lausanne’s finer restaurants for a delicious Welcome Dinner. (Dinner)

2nd Day: We take a morning tour of Lausanne, which lies in the middle of one of Switzerland’s most popular wine growing regions, with Lake Geneva at its feet. The upper town features small alleyways with cafes and boutiques, which shape the streetscape in the medieval town centre. The lower town’s scenic setting alongside Lake Geneva, known as Ouchy, is a great place to stroll along the waterfront promenade, enjoy its outdoor cafes and parks or just relax and watch the world go by. Some more fun is planned as we enjoy a wine-tasting of the region’s finest wines. This is followed by a 45 minute hike up to another vintner’s wine cellar for a tasting of some additional wines [those not wishing to hike will take a mini-tour of the lakeside town of Vevey and then be driven to the wine cellar to join the group for the 2nd tasting]. We're treated to a traditional Swiss dinner tonight. After dinner there will be plenty of time to enjoy the many clubs, lounges and bars in the famous Flon District of Lausanne. (B,D)

3rd Day: Fairytale-like scenery abounds as we take a ride on the famous “Chocolate Train.” We'll pass through a region of meadows, brilliant mountain peaks and countryside dotted with quaint farmhouses replete with grazing sheep and cows. We visit the charming town of Gruyeres to learn how its famous cheese is made. Lunch on your own in one of Gruyeres’ great restaurants – fondue anyone? We then continue on to the Cailler-Nestle factory, pioneers of Milk Chocolate, where we see how their delicious chocolates are created and get to taste some of the freshly made goodies. Free time in Montreux, a piece of paradise that has attracted artists and writers in search of beauty, tranquility and inspiration. Enjoy the promenade alongside Lake Geneva [immortalized by Freddie Mercury with the peaks of Le Grammont on the cover of the album “Made in Heaven”]. (B)

4th Day: A scenic morning drive takes us to Gstaad where it’s your choice! You can either take a [1] Fondue Hike: we take a cable car ride to the top of the mountain for a hike, with views that are not to be believed, to a local farmhouse where we enjoy preparing and eating our delicious fondue or [2] get your heart pumping on an Ebike tour through the gorgeous Gstaad-Sonnenland region. We spend two nights Gstaad, known as a destination of choice for the world’s rich & famous. (B)

5th Day: Today is a free day to do what you please in this incredibly beautiful mountain setting. We will assist you in arranging a mountain hike, an Ebike experience, downhill biking, paragliding or just relaxing in charming Gstaad, surrounded by these majestic Alpine mountains. (B)

6th Day: We drive to and tour Switzerland’s capital city, Bern, known for its more than 100 ornate fountains and one of the most impressive examples of medieval town architecture in Europe. Particularly appealing is the Astronomical Clock, which was built in 1530, whose puppets pop out of tiny doorways on the tower hourly to perform little skits. Afternoon choice: [1] take a craft brewery crawl to sample the numerous craft beers produced in Bern or [2] free time to explore this magical medieval city on your own. After checking into our hotel we are treated to a fabulous dinner in Bern. (B,D)

7th Day: A memorable day begins with a drive to Lucerne where we board our boat for a relaxing cruise on Lake Lucerne. Disembarking in Alpnachstad, we take the world’s steepest cog railway for a ride to the top of Mt. Pilatus, from where you’ll feel as if you can see all of Switzerland. Following our visit, we descend on the other side of the mountain in a cable car. At the midway point down we get off at Fräkmuntegg, where we have time to enjoy a toboggan run, rope park or just gaze at the magnificent panoramic views afforded us. We then board a gondola for the rest of the trip down. A visit to Lucerne follows so that we can see the famous wooden Chapel Bridge and the weeping Lion Rock Monument. Then it’s on to Zurich, where we have accommodations for the next 2 evenings. Our hotel’s location is perfect for those wanting to enjoy Zurich’s exciting gay nightlife. (B)

8th Day: We take a tour of Zurich, the cosmopolitan city by the water that combines creative urban life with nature in all its glory. A tour of Old Town lets visitors experience Zurich’s multi-faceted past; its medieval houses, narrow lanes, Europe’s largest clockface and its guild and town halls from the Renaissance period. We’ll stroll along Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s “shopping mile,” which is regarded as Switzerland’s Champs Élysées. It features a multitude of exclusive fashion boutiques, stores, banks, restaurants and street cafes that invite passersby to linger. A walk farther down the street brings us to lovely Lake Zurich, a gathering place for people, ferries and boats. The afternoon and evening are free to once again enjoy Zurich: its sights, restaurants, clubs, lounges and bars. (B)

9th Day: We check out of our hotel, leaving with memories of a remarkable trip to an extraordinary country. (B) …. or you may stay an additional night in exciting Zurich.

ADDED DATE: June 12 – 20, 2021…
Includes the SWISS PRIDE FESTIVAL in Zurich

 Days 1 – 6 are identical to those indicated above

7^th Day: Drive to Lucerne for cruise on Lake Lucerne. Cog railway to top of Mt. Pilatus. Cable car down other side of mountain. Drive to Zurich for the Swiss Pride Festival. Accommodations for 2 nights.   Zurich’s nightlife offers the LGBTQ community a broad and varied bouquet of clubs and parties. (B)

8^th Day: Morning tour of Zurich. The rest of the day is on your own to enjoy the concerts, shows, bars, food stands and incredible atmosphere of the Swiss Pride Festival. The Burkliplatz, adjacent to Lake Zurich and one of the world's most spectacular settings for a Pride event, is transformed into the party hotspot where tens of thousands of music fans dance around Zurich’s lake basin during the fabulous Street Parade. After the parade, there are numerous parties in many of Zurich’s clubs for you to enjoy. (B)

9th Day: We check out of our hotel, leaving with memories of a remarkable trip to an extraordinary country. (B) …. or you may stay an additional night in exciting Zurich.

LGBTQ rights in Switzerland
* Homosexual Activity: Legal since 1942
* Civil Unions: Legal since 2007
* LGBTQ Discrimination: Illegal since 1999
* Homosexuals serving openly in the military: since 1992

July 16-24, 2021  ...  August 20-28, 2021
June 12-20, 2021 ... Zurich Pride Festival **

Highlights
* Wine tasting in Lavaux
* Fondue Hike in Gstaad
* Ebiking - Hiking
* Scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne
* Cog Railway to top of Mt. Pilatus
* Cable Car to Krienz
* Chocolate Train to Gruyeres & the
  Cailler-Nestle Chocolate Factory
* Options: paragliding, mountain biking

Tour Package Includes
* 4 Star hotel accommodations for 8 nights
* 8 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
* Sightseeing & admissions
* Gratuities for included meals
* Services of a professional tour guide
* Deluxe motor coach transportation throughout
* Taxes

Prices: $3,499 per person, double occupancy
single supplement: $1,150
Extra night in Zurich: $179 pp, dbl ($339 sgl)

* Zurich Pride Festival: $3,649 pp, dbl
single supplement: $1.199
Extra night in Zurich: $189 pp, dbl (349)