Discover Lake Geneva

Travel to Switzerland

Take a short sea crossing to Calais and travel to south through France for an overnight stop before arriving on Lake Geneva on day 2.

Gruyère cheese and Nestlé Chocolate Factory

Today we discover two of Switzerland’s most famous products – cheese and chocolate. We travel up into the hills overlooking Lausanne to visit the Maison de Gruyère, a dairy where an audio guide talks you through the process of making the famous cheese. A few miles away is the charming village of Gruyères itself, a delightful place with a magnificent 12^th century castle. After lunch, it’s time for dessert with a visit to the Nestlé chocolate factory at Broc. A walking tour reveals the secrets, and there are chocolates of all flavours to sample, and buy, at the end.

Note – this excursion is also available by special ‘Chocolate Train’ from Montreux.

Lake Geneva Cruise and Château de Chillon

Today we take to the lake with a relaxing cruise that takes us from the quayside at Montreux to the elegant Château de Chillon. This 13^th century fortress, situated on a rocky islet overlooking the lake, is an internationally renowned symbol of the Lake Geneva region and one of the most attractive castles in the country.

Lake Geneva Panorama

An opportunity today to explore three very different lakeside destinations. We start in Lausanne, a thriving university city, dominated by its 13^th century Gothic cathedral. Explore the old town and walk down to the harbour area of Ouchy. If time permits, visit the fascinating Olympic Museum. Our next stop is the attractive lakeside town of Vevey, often described as one of the ‘Pearls of the Swiss Riviera’. The town was home to the film comedian Charlie Chaplin and a new museum, opened in 2016, tells the story. Our final stop is at Montreux, a delightful resort with a beautiful promenade and spectacular views across to the French Alps. Look out for the statue of singer Freddie Mercury!

Bern – Switzerland’s Hidden Gem

Today we travel to the remarkable city of Bern, the Swiss capital. Few cities have managed to retain their historic features quite like Bern. The old town, built into a loop on the River Aare, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a highlight of which are the six kilometres of ‘Lauben’, covered shopping arcades. The elevated Rose Garden above the Bear Park, and the platform of the 101-metre-high Cathedral tower offer the best views. Pop into the Albert Einstein House, stroll among the narrow streets and sandstone houses, and take in the medieval air. Bern really is a hidden gem.

Return to the UK

It’s time to leave Switzerland behind us. We stop overnight in France on the way back to Calais for our return ferry to the UK.