Switzerland, 8 Days · Tailor-made by car

Route through South-west Switzerland

From
999
Departure on 26/10/2024 from Cork

Discover all the secrets behind chocolate, cheese and Swiss watches

There are three things that Switzerland is world-famous for: its watch-making industry, its exquisite chocolate and - of course - its excellent variety of quality cheeses. Thanks to this road trip through the south-west regions of Switzerland you can discover firsthand the secrets that have led these three products to reach international fame. The charming village of Le Sentier, a part of the canton of Vaud, along with the neighbouring Le Brassus, have been the cradle of Swiss watchmaker art for almost 300 years. And today, it continues sheltering several manufacturers of the sector. There is also the Watch Museum "L'Espace Horloger", where you can discover the beginnings of watchmaking in the Central European country... and even assemble your own watch! For its part, the tourist trains that depart from the city Montreux on gourmet trips, such as the "Chocolate Train" or the "Cheese Train", showing the production of these two delicacies so characteristic of Swiss cuisine. The first of the culinary excursions gives you access to the world of chocolate from the "Maison Cailler" by Broc, and cheese thanks to the "Maison du Gruyere" in Gruyere, all on the same trip. Meanwhile, the "Cheese Train" visits the museum "Vieux Pays-d'Enhaut", one of the most important ethnographic museums in Switzerland, and visits Château-d'Oex where the cheese production "Le Chalet Bio" is explained. Regardless, during this complete adventure, which certainly does not leave out any corner of the Swiss southwest to explore, you will find various urban typologies in cities such as Geneva, Neuchâtel, Freiburg, the capital Bern and Lausanne. And all of them are scattered with bakeries and cheese shops where you can taste all the excellent varieties of local chocolate and cheese. And of course, they are also cities where you can admire the impressive historical and cultural legacy of Switzerland, a country that has deep roots in the history of Europe, but also where you can witness modernism and avant-garde that makes it an attractive destination. And if we add a visit to the imposing Monte Cervino, or Matterhorn, one of the most recognisable symbols of Switzerland across the globe, the circle is complete. Enjoy the Swiss southwest at your leisure.

Route through South-west Switzerland

Departure date

Departures from April 2024 till March 2025

From

Dublin, Shannon, Cork...

NatureFamilies

Travel details

  • Travel details

  • Day 1 City of origin - Geneva

  • Day 2 Geneva - Le Sentier - Neuchâtel - Freiburg

  • Day 3 Freiburg - Bern - Thun

  • Day 4 Thun - Täsch - Zermatt

  • Day 5 Zermatt - Täsch - Saint-Léonard - Montreux

  • Day 6 Montreux - Chocolate Train or Cheese Train - Montreux

  • Day 7 Montreux - Vevey - Lavaux - Lausanne

  • Day 8 Lausanne - Geneva - City of origin

Your trip includes

  • Return flight.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Geneva.

  • Selected meal plan in Geneva.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Freiburg.

  • Selected meal plan in Freiburg.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Thun.

  • Selected meal plan in Thun.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Zermatt.

  • Selected meal plan in Zermatt.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Montreux.

  • Selected meal plan in Montreux.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Lausanne.

  • Selected meal plan in Lausanne.

  • Rent-a-car.

Your trip doesn't include

  • Accommodation taxes in Switzerland direct payment in facility.

  • Possible toll charges.

  • Insolvency protection.

  • Train Täsch-Zermatt-Täsch.

  • Chocolate Train or Cheese Train.

Important remarks

- Driving in Switzerland: 1. It's compulsory to drive with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest summer's day. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers. 2. Speed limits. 2.1 Built-up areas up to 50 km/h. 2.2 Roads up to 80 km/h. 2.3 Dual carriageways and motorways up to 120 km/h. 2.4. There are many radars in Switzerland, especially in speed-controlled sections, and radar detectors are forbidden. Fines for speeding are very high, so make sure you stay within the limits at all times. If you are fined, the police can demand on-the-spot payment. 3. In Switzerland, blue road signs indicate secondary roads, while green ones indicate motorways. 3.1. Make sure that your rental car has a Swiss motorway vignette on the windscreen. This means you can use all Swiss motorways for free over a one-year period (in Switzerland there are no toll roads as such). 4. Studded tyres are allowed from October to April, but they're not allowed on most roads throughout the rest of the year. The speed limit with these tyres is 80 km/h. 5. A red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest must always be carried in your car in the event of a breakdown or accident. 6. Alcohol. The legal limit is 0.25 g/l. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 7. Parking. All the major cities in Switzerland have metered parking. 7.1. If you want to park on the street, take careful note of the road markings. Yellow line: parking prohibited. Blue line: free parking, but limited to one hour (except at night). You can get a blue parking disc free of charge at tourist offices in any city and it will be valid for the whole of Switzerland. White line: metered parking for a limited time (varies depending on the location). You have to pay at the special parking meters.

- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.

- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.

- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.

- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.

- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.

- Parallel to purchasing this road trip, we recommend that you buy the optional train tickets in advance, as they are not included in the trip and, depending on the time of year, the trip may vary. To ease the planning of your trip, please consult schedules and rates on the train companies' websites before choosing your start date. Check the website of the Matterhorn Terminal for the Täsch-Zermatt-Täsch route (https://www.zermatt.ch/en/arrival/mtt/Matterhorn-Terminal-Schedule-Prices); and the website of the company Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB) for the Chocolate Train excursions with the route Montreux-Broc-Gruyères and return, or the Cheese Train with the route Montreux-Château-d'Oex -Montreux (http://www.goldenpass.ch/en/goldenpass/offer/view?id=15).