Rome | Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Explorer Small Group Tour

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On this 6-day small-group tour, you'll not only enjoy a true Italian & Swiss experience travelling through the less touristic areas & enjoying hot springs, epicurean delights & spectacular lake view and all in the company of no more than 16 fellow travellers

Day 1: Rome | Bologna

This morning you'll leave the dazzling capital of Italy and head north towards the region of Umbria stopping on the way as you travel through a land of forests and valleys dotted with pretty hill-towns. In the early afternoon, you'll arrive in charming Città di Castello where you can have lunch on your own. This small town with a medieval centre dates back to Roman times and is rich in history & art plus it is the place to try delicious truffles. Next,  travel to Bagno di Romagna, a little town in the Apennines. Located on the doorstep of the Casentinesi Forest National Park and boasting hot springs, this small mountain community is an oasis of slow-life. Here you can stroll through the charming hamlet; pop into its little palace, churches, and monasteries; or, depending on the group’s interests, head to the nearby national park to see Alferello Waterfall. Then travel through the green countryside of the Emilia-Romagna region as you head to Bologna, where you will spend the night. You arrive here in the late afternoon, so make sure to explore this city which boasts Europe’s oldest university; a beautiful network of porticoed, medieval streets; and some fine restaurants.

Day 2: Lake Como | Lugano

Today, you'll travel through Lombardy, Italy’s wealthiest region with a host of magnificent lakes. Your adventure first takes you to Lake Como, the most stunning lake in the region. Framed by the Rhaetian Alps, this Italian slice of heaven’s crystal clear waters seduced the most famous writers of the 18th and 19th centuries. You'll arrive in Lenno, a town on the west bank of the lake, where you have the whole afternoon to yourself to stroll along the shores of the town, drink in the magnificent views, and absorb its relaxed atmosphere. Don’t forget to find a restaurant or café to savour the unique flavours of the region before you continue to explore the area. Your day by Lake Como wouldn’t be complete without visiting a splendid villa, so make sure to see Villa del Balbianello. This 18th-century mansion is as magnificent as it is famous. The interior is filled with artwork, and the terraced gardens and vistas will take your breath away. And when you visit this place, you’ll feel like a movie star because this was used as a set from Star Wars Episode II and James Bond’s Casino Royale. Full of natural and architectural delights, you'll continue on to Lugano in the late afternoon, where you spend two nights.(B)

Day 3: Locarno | Lake Maggiore

Breathe in the fresh mountain air as you leave Lugano and continue to explore the stunning lakes on the border of Italy and Switzerland. You'll have a comfort break in Locarno, an Italian-speaking resort city in Switzerland on Lake Maggiore. With 2,300 hours of sunshine a year, numerous palm trees, and an air of elegance, this city is hard to leave. Next, jump over to Italy again and travel along Lake Maggiore to Stresa where you’ll be entertained for the whole afternoon by this town’s belle époque villas, lovely promenade, and cobbled streets. You can also take a boat to the magnificent Borromean Islands to uncover their artistic, historical and natural delights. Or, if you crave for striking vistas, get the cable car ride to the summit of Mount Mottarone that rises nearby. After an exciting afternoon, you'll swap the lakes for mountains and head to Varese to enjoy its pretty old town and grand art nouveau villas. In the evening, return to Lugano for your second night. (B)

Day 4: Lausanne

Today, you can delve into the mountainous heart of Switzerland where the soaring Alps are intertwined with green meadows, glittering lakes and cute villages. Your first short stop is in Altdorf, a little town with a famous monument to William Tell. Hear the story of the legendary folk hero who symbolized the struggle for political and individual freedom. Then, travel through some of the most scenic roads of the country, where every turn looks like a postcard photo. But just when you thought that the landscape can’t get any more magnificent, you arrive in Lauterbrunnen. This little village is the epitome of the alpine paradise. It’s located in an immense U-shaped valley framed by sheer mountain crags offering great views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, some of the most well-known mountains in the area, and it’s decorated with a staggering 72 waterfalls. You'll have almost the whole afternoon to explore this quintessential Swiss village. Start from admiring the chalet-style houses and eating some Swiss specialities then, stare in awe at Staubbach Falls, Europe’s highest free-falling waterfall located right at the end of the main street. If you still crave more, you can go slightly off the beaten track and visit Trümmelbach waterfalls, a series of 10 glacier waterfalls. After you’ve soaked up the peace and beauty of the rural landscapes, you head to Lausanne, your home for two nights and an ideal place for an evening stroll along Lake Geneva. (B)

Day 5: Gruyères | Gstaad

Man does not live on landscapes alone, so today you’ll have the chance to savour the famous culinary heritage of Switzerland. Head to the medieval town of Gruyères full of cobbled streets and quaint houses decorated with flowers. But you didn’t come here to admire the charms of the village. You came to try that nutty, semi-hard cheese the world raves about. And the best place to do this is at the local cheese factory, La Maison du Gruyère, where you can learn the history and production secrets of this delicious cheese. Alternatively, if you have a sweet tooth, visit Maison Cailler; a chocolate factory with a series of interactive, multi-sensorial experiences and chocolate tasting. Just remember to leave some space for other specialities like fondue and marvellous meringues with double cream. After trying some of the gastronomic highlights, you'll get back on the road and venture through the unspoiled landscapes of a regional nature park to Gstaad for lunch on your own. It might be a timber-lined village surrounded by mountains and pastures, but it’s popular with celebrities and exudes the glitz and glamour. From here,  travel back to the shores of Lake Geneva to visit another Swiss icon, the 13thcentury Chillon Castle which boasts a spectacular location before arriving back in Lausanne early in the evening. (B)

Day 6: Chablis | Paris

This morning you'll leave lovely Lausanne, travel through the brooding scenery of the Jura Mountains, and head into France. You’re now in the rural landscapes of the Franche-Comté region known for its beautiful nature and your first stop of the day will be in Dole, a charming town set in the stunning countryside of the Doubs valley. It boasts the status of ‘A City of Art and History’ thanks to its wonderful historical area, medieval streets, and interesting museums. To get the real flavour of this place, stroll along the town’s narrow streets, canals and bridges and taste some of the local cheeses. Back on the road, head to Chablis, home to the region’s famous dry white wines. This picturesque walled town will enchant you with its medieval timber-framed houses and here you can savour lunch on your own or go wine tasting in a nearby winery to discover some of the best Chablis. Or if you like wine trivia, peruse the impressive collection of 8,000 items in the Corkscrew and Vineyard Museum. In the late afternoon, say au revoir to the medieval town and journey to Paris through the lush landscapes of Burgundy.  This wonderful experience ends here in Paris arriving around 7 pm in the evening. 

Guaranteed departures!

Guaranteed departures: Monday, May 25, June 8 & 22 June; July 6 & 20; August 3, 17 & 31; September 14 & 28, 2020.  All visits & excursions are optional and at your own expense.   Cancellation & change penalties for this tour differ from regular CIT Terms & Conditions.   Full cancellation penalties of 100% apply at 45 days prior to departure.