Swiss Alpine Adventure: Lausanne & Interlaken - 7 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy tours of famous Swiss locales like Interlaken and Lausanne
• Ride cable cars up to mountain ridges and snowcapped summits
• Embark on a wine tour of the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards
• Kayak across lakes and ride bikes between colorful Alpine towns

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Zürich, City Tour & Train to Lucerne

Welcome to Switzerland! This jewel of Central Europe is famous for its Alpine landscapes, including soaring peaks, expansive valleys, glassy lakes, and rushing rivers—all of which offer great fun in winter or summer. This itinerary focuses on the latter, as during this season the sun is out, the meadows are in bloom, and the lakes beckon for a cruise.

You'll arrive in Zürich, Switzerland's financial heart. But this city offers more than just commerce—it enjoys a beautiful lakeside location backed by rolling hills and snowcapped peaks. There's also history and culture to spare, which you'll see on a self-guided tour. Perhaps head to the waterfront and hop in a paddleboat for a ride around Lake Zürich. Then, hit Bahnhofstrasse, an exclusive shopping district, to indulge in some retail therapy. Also, don't miss the charming Old Town (or Altstadt), where cobblestone streets lead past medieval buildings, historic churches, museums, and quaint squares.

Later, transfer to the station for a quick 40-minute train trip south to Lucerne. Sitting on the shores of the eponymous lake and backed by snowcapped peaks, this city is the perfect hub for nature excursions. Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and will have the evening free.

Day 2: Cable Car Up Mount Rigi, Lake Cruise & City Tour

It's time for your first mountaineering adventure in the Swiss Alps! In the morning, meet your driver for a short ride around the lake to the resort town of Weggis. There, you'll board an aerial cable car for the 10-minute ride up forested mountain slopes to the village of Rigi Kaltbad. Leave the cable car and continue riding on Europe's first-ever cogwheel mountain railway up to the summit of Rigi-Kulm, the highest peak in the Rigi massif at 5,905 feet (1,800 m). At the top, relish amazing views looking out at over a dozen lakes as well as the surrounding Alpine peaks.

After a snack at a summit restaurant, you'll take the train down to the waterfront town of Vitznau. There, you'll board a boat and enjoy a scenic one-hour cruise across the lake back to Lucerne. Upon arrival, you can embark on a self-guided tour around Lucerne's Old Town. Stroll the cobbled streets and visit historic highlights like the Musegg Wall medieval ramparts, the 17th-century Baroque Jesuit Church, and the 14th-century Chapel Bridge. 

Day 3: Train to Interlaken, Kayaking on Lake Brienz

Wake up early for another travel day. In the morning, transfer to the station for the two-hour ride southwest to Interlaken. Located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland between two turquoise lakes (Thun and Brienz), this picture-postcard town offers a breathtaking backdrop with the towering Swiss Alps peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel.

A little while later, you'll transfer a short way to the Brienz waterfront for today's group activity: a fun kayak ride on the lake. During this leisurely three-hour excursion, you'll paddle across Brienz's glassy turquoise waters and enjoy views of the surrounding peaks. It's a guided ride during which you'll travel along waterfront cliffs, stop at hidden beaches, and visit castles dating to the 12th century. At the end of the ride, you'll transfer back to your hotel in Interlaken. 

Day 4: Cable Car Up to Jungfraujoch

The Alpine adventures continue today with a trip up another famous mountain. This full-day excursion begins in the morning with a transfer a short distance south to the storybook mountain village of Grindelwald. Upon arrival at the station, board a cable car for the 15-minute ride up to the Eiger Glacier Station, an access point to the mountain of the same name. 

The station is located in the Jungfraujoch region of the Swiss Alps. Known as the "Top of Europe," this high mountain pass in the Bernese Alps sits at an elevation of 11,371 feet (3,466 m). It's a wildly popular tourist destination, as you'll see when you arrive. There are great views of the Eiger's north face at the station, but for some truly epic vistas, head to the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory. Here, you'll look out to the majestic Aletsch Glacier (the longest glacier in the Alps), a vast ice flow laid out like an enormous freeway running between mountain peaks. 

While here, you can admire views of the glacier and surrounding peaks, plus tour the glimmering tunnels of the Ice Palace attraction. Then, after lunch at a mountaintop restaurant, you'll descend by cogwheel train to the mountain resort town of Wengen in the verdant Lauterbrunnen Valley. From there, you'll transfer by car back to Interlaken. 

Day 5: Interlaken E-Bike Tour

You're in for a treat, as this morning, you'll hop on an e-bike for a ride from Interlaken to colorful mountain villages and lush Alpine countryside. Meet your guide in the town center to receive your equipment and bike. Then, set off to the medieval village of Unterseen. From there, you'll ride along the shores of turquoise Lake Thun, passing charming cottages and historic manor homes. 

Follow the route back around, traveling to postcard villages and countryside areas around Lake Brienz, like Wilderswil and Bönigen. The entire excursion lasts three hours, and at each highlighted locale, your guide will reveal insight into the history and culture of the area. The ride ends back in Interlaken, and you'll have the rest of the day free.

Day 6: Train to Lausanne, Lavaux Wine Tour

After breakfast, board a train for the two-hour ride west to Lausanne. Switzerland's fourth-largest city enjoys a scenic location on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) and is famous for being a hub for all things Olympics. It's home to the Olympic Museum, which celebrates the history and culture of the Olympics through memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and works by famous artists. But Lausanne is also surrounded by beautiful nature and one of the best wine-producing regions in the country, which you'll get to experience on a tour.

Upon arrival in Lausanne, you'll meet a guide/driver and transfer a short way east of the city to the Lavaux wine region. This gorgeous wine region consists of terraced vineyards on hillside slopes running down to the lakeshore. The history of the vines here can be traced back to the 11th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area—and there's some evidence grapes were planted here in Roman times. Because of this rich history, the region was bestowed UNESCO World Heritage status.

During a half-day tour accompanied by local experts, you'll travel to different vineyards as well as a family-run winery. Here, you'll dive deep into the terroir, sampling the region's high-quality chasselas and pinot noirs. The former is the most common grape variety cultivated here, producing crisp and refreshing white wines. Of course, today's trip includes plenty of sommelier-led tastings. At the end of the tour, you'll return to Lausanne and your hotel.

Day 7: Lake Geneva Cruise, Train to Geneva, Depart

What better way to cap your time in Switzerland than on a cruise of Lake Geneva? That's exactly what you'll do this morning when you transfer to the harbor in Lausanne and board a boat for a leisurely ride across the azure waters of Switzerland's largest lake. Not only can you relax on deck with refreshments and take in some sun, but the cruise will pass close to some of the most beautiful waterfront estates and manor homes. 

Afterward, you'll transfer to the station for the 45-minute train ride south around the lake to the city of Geneva. Continue on to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Until next time!

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