THE BEST OF ALPINE SWITZERLAND

MAY 23 - JUNE 1, 2009


Just $1749 per person “alumni” rate land package for twin room

$1849 per person for “first timer” travelers with The Trip Chicks™


Alpine pastures, fairytale villages, snow-capped peaks, savory cheeses, & sinful chocolate…Ja, das must be “die Schweiz!” So, get out your hiking boots, practice your yodeling, & jump on a bike. We’re heading for Switzerland, home to Heidi, alphorns, & the world’s oldest democracy. Join Ann Lombardi & Wendy Swartzell, Certified Switzerland Specialists, on our wonderful small group getaway to Europe’s most enchanting alpine nation. It’s packed with fantastic hikes & bike rides, folk traditions, friendly locals, heart-stopping train trips, free time to explore, tasty Swiss cuisine, & pristine mountain air. On this fitness adventure using muscles, trains, lake steamers, & postal buses, we spend four nights in a sleepy village in the Bernese Alps & four nights in a stunning mountain town in the heart of the French-speaking cheese & wine region of Switzerland. We enjoy all breakfasts & most dinners in our cozy three-star hotels. Cycle & hike from our two home-base villages to corners of Switzerland few tourists see. Our excursions, making good use of our Swiss Rail Passes, highlight local culture, great insider discoveries, & the picture-perfect Alps. Discover a special slice of old-world Europe. Sign up now for our “Bike & Hike Switzerland” getaway & enjoy the best of alpine Europe. Space limited to just fourteen travelers so don’t delay!

Our trip includes:


► 8 nights’ lodging in family-run Swiss village hotels (with private facilities)
► 8 full breakfasts (B) & 5 dinners (D), including welcome supper
► 3 guided cycling rides (each 30-50 k) & 2 guided mountain hikes (each 3-5 hours)
► Welcome hike with Ann from Kandersteg to Oeschinen Lake
► Hosted day excursions by train, boat, postal bus, & on foot
► Swiss Rail 2nd class train pass valid for 8 days of unlimited travel
► Use of 21-speed touring bike for 3 days & airport transfers Kandersteg-Kloten
► Entrance fees to selected museums & sights -- including folklore traditions museum, Gruyères & Spiez castles, Ballenberg Open Air Museum (Brienz), & more
► Lake steamer ride from Interlaken to charming woodcarver village
► Tours of chocolate factory & cheese dairy with scrumptious samples
► Wine-tasting in French Switzerland
► Additional individual day trips on request & free time to explore on own!


Contact us for details on recommended Travelex travel insurance & optional airfare.

For information & reservations:

Phone The Trip Chicks™ today

770-454 - 7205 or 404-320-3033.

Suggested Daily Itinerary


Day 1 U.S.A. - Zurich Depart on your overnight transatlantic flight to Zurich. (D)

Day 2 Zurich - Château d’Oex Welcome to Switzerland! Meet Ann at airport & then take a train for the gorgeous 3 ½ hour ride to the heart of the Vaud region. Settle into our village hotel, our snug home base for the next four nights. Breathe in the clean mountain air, rest up from jet lag, or roam around town. Wine-tasting before our welcome dinner. Early to bed tonight with dreams of edelweiss & splendid alpine scenery. (B/D)

Day 3 Bike Château d’Oex - Gruyères - Molèson After a hearty breakfast, cycle downstream on the banks of the River Sarine to the medieval town Gruyères, with its perfectly-preserved 12th c. castle set on a craggy hilltop. Gruyères’ idyllic main street is lined by old houses brimming with colorful flowers. Then visit the cheese factory for a look at modern-day cheese production. Ride to tranquil Molèson, past rich pastureland. Catch a great view of Lake Geneva before going back to Château d’Oex for dinner on our own. (B) 25 miles

Day 4 Bike Château d’Oex - Rougemont - Gstaad Bike to historic Rougemont, a lovely village full of traditional wooden chalets so characteristic of this region. The 11th c. Romanesque church is especially picturesque. Next we head off the beaten track along a scenic valley floor past happy cows munching sweet grass. Reach tiny chalet-strewn Saanen, at the juncture of four alpine valleys, en route to glitzy Gstaad, a mountain paradise “hang out” for international celebrities. Return to hotel. Dinner on own. (B) 20 miles

Day 5 Bike Château d’Oex - Bulle - Fribourg This morning we spin away to Bulle, a medieval town with an imposing fortress, patrician houses along cobblestoned alleys, & a folk traditions museum expecting our visit. Finish our cycling day in Fribourg, one of Switzerland’s best-kept secrets. The town’s arching bridges, ramparts & fountains, red-orange rooftops, ancient passageways, gothic churches, & bustling open markets are just waiting to be discovered. Return to Château d’Oex for dinner on our own. (B) 30 miles

Day 6 Train Château d’Oex - Kandersteg Board a morning train to Kandersteg, via part of the world-famous “Golden Pass,” an exceptionally scenic route with pristine mountain scenery. In 3 hours, we reach our German-speaking Swiss hamlet at the crossroads of a lofty plateau pointing south to Italy. Join Ann for an optional leisurely hike to the glacial lake Oeschinensee, known for its deep blue waters & striking wildlife. Tonight our Kandersteg hotel treats us to a special welcome supper. (B/D)

Day 7 Kandersteg - Courtelary - Bern Our insider’s encounter with the world of Swiss chocolate takes us to a modern factory in French-speaking Switzerland. After a special 90-minute tour, we savor samples of the exquisite Swiss treat known the world over. Next we go to Bern, romantic Swiss capital city & UNESCO World Heritage site. See the Aare River & amble with Ann’s Swiss “mom” Ruth through the arcaded medieval center for a glimpse at the city’s cathedrals, “Clock Tower,” & colorful fountains. The “Bärengraben,” are the bear pits housing the playful animals for which Bern is named. Return to Kandersteg for dinner at our hotel. (B/D)

Day 8 Hiking Kandersteg - Blausee - Frutigen Our 70-year-old hardy hiking guide Doris leads us on a varied, peaceful hike along the upper Kandertal Valley & Kander River. We take in the legendary Blausee (Blue Lake), meadows, forests, & beautiful mountain hamlets with decorated chalets. Catch the train from Frutigen back to Kandersteg or linger longer to explore more of the area at leisure. Dinner at our hotel. (B/D)

Day 9 Hike Bernese Oberland It’s time for the whistle-stop train to picture-book Lauterbrunnen, where we meet our local Swiss guide Sylvia. Our hiking region boasts pastoral countryside, 72 thundering waterfalls, & magnificent views of three of the “top draw” Swiss peaks. Called “the most beautiful valley in all of Europe,” this part of the Bernese Alps offers easy rail connections to Interlaken, where we take a fairytale ride on a lake steamer to a colorful woodcarver village. Train back to Kandersteg for our final night’s Swiss dinner (B/D)

Day 10 Kandersteg - Zurich Airport Adieu, Switzerland! Our van shuttles us from our hotel to Zurich Kloten Airport for our return home with memories of a lifetime. (B)

Contact us for details on recommended Travelex travel insurance & optional airfare.

For information & reservations:

Phone The Trip Chicks™ today
770-454 - 7205 or 404-320-3033.