The Ultimate Swiss Escape

Welcome to the land of delectable chocolate, impeccable cheese, fine watches, and some of the cleanest streets you’ll ever stumble upon. Your Swiss adventure begins now with your arrival in Geneva. You’ll be whisked to your private transfer to Lausanne, the home to the Olympic Committee headquarters, Olympic Museum, and a smattering of traditional art and cuisine. You can even elect to transfer to the hotel by train if you’re craving a true Swiss experience.

Arrive at the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa — a favorite of aristocrats for over a century — and take some time to relax. After enjoying lunch on property, head to Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with your guide. Here, you’ll enjoy a special wine tasting. Fun fact: Switzerland only exports about ten percent of their wines, so you’ll be able to experience some amazing vintages you can’t find back home. Soak in the views from the vineyards with the lake and mountains all-in-one. before ending the night with dinner at La Brasserie du Royal.

Today, prepare yourself to experience some of the best culinary treats of Switzerland! Board the “Chocolate Train” of the Golden Pass Services which leads to Gruyères, before your final stop at La Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory. Dine on fresh coffee and croissants while taking in the views from your nostalgic panoramic carriage reminiscent of the “Belle-Epoque“. After approximately an hour-and-half on your first-class train, you’ll arrive at the Gruyères cheese factory.

Take some time to explore the cheese factory where you’ll learn about the process from start to finish. Of course, you’ll be tasting along the way; and dairy-sensitive travelers rejoice, all the cheeses are lactose-free! After some free time to discover the surrounding the village and its castle, it’s lunchtime. Finish up and continue to Broc, where the chocolate factory is located. After another ninety minutes or so on the train, you’ll arrive at the Cailler-Nestlé Chocolate Factory for a guided tour and tasting. On the way back to Montreux, take in the charming Swiss countryside before tucking yourself in for a final night at Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa.

This morning, it’s time to make the journey from Lausanne to Bern, Switzerland’s capital city. You have the option to either take the scenic train or enjoy a self-drive in a fun sports car (think: a red Ferrari!) through the stunning landscape. Either way, the Bürgenstock team will guarantee your luggage is transferred safely via the “Swiss Traveling Bellboy Service“.

Once you check-in and settle at the Schweizerhof Hotel & Spa, you’ll have some free time to acquaint yourself with Bern. Our team loves setting up a home base in Bern for an authentic, intimate Swiss experience. We suggest a guided walking tour of the city, starting with traversing the Old Town, which extends from the loop of the river Aare, across the “Moränenhügel,” westwards to the site of the medieval fortifications. Continue with a visit to the western city gate and tour the Clock Tower. Here, enjoy a unique view over the capital’s rooftops and streets. Discover ancient technology, like the workings of the astronomical clock.

Head back to Schweizerhof Hotel, located directly next to the train, for an evening of relaxation. If you’re up for it, take advantage of the spa for which the hotel has been known for decades. They offer jacuzzi pools, a hammam, a sauna, and five treatment rooms. The hotel gym is also open 24/7 if you need to squeeze in a workout! End the day with dinner at Jack’s Brasserie, widely considered the star culinary attraction of Bern. The schnitzel here is a must-try, and for those who love a good celebrity connection, check out the plaques across the restaurant noting famous faces who’ve also dined at Jack’s.

Today, you’ll take a day trip to Interlaken, a traditional Swiss town nestled between Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the stunning Bernese Oberland mountains. Overlooked by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, it’s the starting point for numerous activities and features what are arguably the best views of the entire country. If you’ve a hankering for adventure, book a tandem flight for a guided hang gliding experience! The hang-gliding season is a bit longer than the paragliding season – lasting from April to November.

Prefer keeping your feet on solid ground? Then elect to stay a little closer to the hotel and take a ride up the Gurten funicular. The “Güsche”, as locals call it, is a popular destination year-round for open-air festivals and gourmet dining. At the peak of this mountain, you’ll have pristine birds-eye views of the sparkling river and the snowy mountain caps. If you’d like a little blend of both experiences, you can elect to take a hot air balloon tour over the city.

You’re more than halfway through your trip, but nowhere near finished eating the incredible Swiss-made goods. Today, again, you’ll focus on the art of cheese! En route to Bürgenstock Resort, you’ll be taking a detour through the Emmental region. Learn more about how cheese is made in the countryside during your stop at Show Dairy in Affoltern. This hole-y cheese makes for the perfect souvenirs for the turophiles in your life.

The ultimate cheese experience is only just beginning! After checking into your luscious alpine suite, your guides will accompany you on a fondue helicopter tour. This one-of-a-kind experience will fly you up to the peaks of Lucerne’s mountains where your guides will present a delicious fondue spread. Just make sure to save some room for the surf and turf tonight at Oak Grill.

Enjoy breakfast at leisure as you prep for a day of guided city tours. You’ll take the funicular from the hotel down to the lake where you’ll catch a boat to reach the historical city of Lucerne, which has been preserved and carefully developed for centuries. Take a leisurely walk through Chapel Bridge and a maze of small streets and bridges. Then, relax for a lunch in the city center after your walking tour of countless historical towers, fountains, and frescoed buildings. If you’re in need of a decadent pick-me-up, we love Amore Mio for some gelato or hot chocolate.

Once you’ve had your fill of the city, take Bürgenstock’s very own boat back across Lake Lucerne. When you’re back at the resort, you can gear up for another chocolate tasting or visit the hotel’s very own Swatch store to bring yourself back a fashionable souvenir. This evening, relish in dinner at Spices Kitchen whose Asian fusion is sure to be a highlight.

For your final day in Swiss paradise, you can choose between relaxing at the spa or heading out for one last adventure. You can take a cruise on crystal-clear Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad where you’ll ascend by the steepest rack railway in the world to Pilatus Kulm. Once on top, you’ll have time to walk up to the vista point to admire the breathtaking panorama over the Swiss Alps and Lucerne. Then, descend by aerial cable car to Fraekmuentegg, change to smaller cable cars and sweep over pine forests and mountain meadows to the village of Kriens for your private transfer back to the hotel.

If you’re looking to stay closer to Bürgenstock, take a short hike to the Hammetschwand Elevator, the tallest elevator in Europe. Or, even go for a round of golf while you take in the mountains. Be sure to enjoy Alpine Golf Restaurant right by the links for lunch during the summer season. For a more upscale dinner, we love Bar Salon 1903 where Culinary Director Mike Wehrle will whip up exclusive specialties from Switzerland and the neighboring countries.

After a week of soaking up Swiss paradise, it’s time to go home. Lucky for your loved ones, you’ll hopefully be returning with lots of stories (and delicacies!) to share.