You are invited to join the most unusual 13 day tour of Switzerland designed for those who enjoy historical antiquity, breathtaking scenery, and a sense of adventure and discovery. Your Switzerland tour will be guided by Wayne Barton, Director of the Alpine School of Woodcarving, noted carving authority and author. Wayne lived and studied in Switzerland. You will be guided on a most interesting tour with plenty of time for relaxation and shopping. Included in the tour are visits to Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy and more. Our tours always enjoy additional sights and stops not mentioned below. Join us for a most informative and exciting excursion!

Download the Switzerland itinerary as a PDF.


Friday: September 12     USA - MUNICH
Depart from your home town and connect for the international flight out of New York or Chicago for your transatlantic crossing to Munich.

Saturday: September 13      MUNICH - ROTHENBURG
Upon arrival at the Munich Airport, you will be met by Wayne Barton and your Swiss Tour Guide for the next 12 Days. On board our private deluxe motor couch, we will travel along the romantic road to Rothenburg with its cobblestone streets and houses dating back to the 16th century. After check-in at the Hotel, the afternoon is free to sleep off your jetlag or explore this charming medieval town. In the evening we will all meet for our first dinner at the Hotel Reichs-Kuchenmeister.

Sunday: September 14      ROTHENBURG
This morning we will meet our local guide and explore this walled city with its fortifications, gateways, towers and storied history. Included is a visit to St. James Cathedral, which contains a world famous altar carved by the renowned Master Tilman Riemenschneider. In the afternoon we will have a short drive through the countryside and quaint villages to Criglingen for a visit to the Herrgottskirche which contains another of the famous remaining high altars carved by Tilman Riemenschneider. If you have already conquered your jetlag, you should have enough time to stroll through the shops before our joint dinner. Not to be missed is the famous night watchman's tour in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Reichs-Kuchenmeister.

Monday: September 15      ROTHENBURG – ST. GALLEN
We will begin our day by traveling the romantic road to Switzerland, passing through little medieval towns such as Dinkelsbuehl and Noerdlingen, surrounded by ancient walls and towers. We will make a short stop at the Neresheim Monastery to enjoy the magnificent baroque cathedral with an opportunity to sample a typical monks meal for lunch. The rest of the days journey will take us through the festival city of Bregenz in Austria and on to our destination for the overnight in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Radisson.

Tuesday: September 16      ST. GALLEN
No need to pack your bags.  Today we will visit the culturally rich city of St. Gallen with a local guide for a leisurely walking tour which will include a visit to the world famous Benedictine Library with its literary treasures and hand-written documents dating from the 4th century.  In the afternoon we will drive to the quaint town of Appenzell to visit Firma Alpenbitter where one of Switzerland’s famous schnapps is manufactured.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Radisson.

Wednesday: September 17      ST. GALLEN –LOCARNO
Today we will enjoy a leisurely drive from the German section of Switzerland to the Swiss-Italian city of Locarno on the shore of beautiful Lake Maggiore where many visitors are surprised to find a sub-tropical climate including palm trees. Leisure time is available for strollers and shoppers who will love the continental and local fashions.  Dinner at a local grotto and overnight in Locarno. 

Thrusday: September 18      LOCARNO
Again, no need to pack your bags.  This is another leisurely day where we will visit the amazing representation of Switzerland in miniature form, one of the country’s most visited attractions.  After lunch we will enjoy a boat ride on Lago Maggiore to the island of Brissago.  This evening we will enjoy dinner along the lake.  Overnight in Locarno. 

Friday: September 19      LOCARNO - MONTREUX
Time to brush up on your French.  This morning we will leave Locarno and have a delightful excursion by train to Domodossola, Italy.  At Domodossola we will meet our coach and travel over the breathtaking Simplon Pass back to Switzerland through Brig, Sion and Martigny in Switzerland’s rich wine country to the ancient Aigle Castle, which today is a wine museum.  Here we will enjoy a wine tasting from the local vineyards.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Eurotel Riviera.

Saturday: September 20      MONTREUX – BRIENZ
We’ll start this morning with a visit the Château Chillon, nested on the shoreline of Lake Geneva and made famous by Lord Byron.  Here we will have a guided tour to explore these ancient walls and dungeons before we continue on through the town of Bulle. A special traditional Swiss meal is arranged this afternoon at the Le Chalet restaurant within the fortified walls of the ancient town of Gruyeres.  After lunch we will enjoy the landscape of the Bernese Oberland to our destination, the famous Swiss woodcarving center of Brienz.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Lindenhof. 

Sunday: September 21      BRIENZ
This is another day you will not have to pack.  Today will find us enjoying our visit to the famous summer and winter resort area of Grindelwald where the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains  featured in Clint Eastwood’s film the Eiger Sanction can be seen.  There will be plenty of free time today to enjoy the shops and countryside.  This evening we will share a most exquisite dinner at the famous Grand Hotel Giessbach, restored to its original splendor overlooking Lake Brienz on one side and beautiful, cascading waterfalls on the other.  Overnight at Hotel Lindenhof. 

Monday: September 22      BRIENZ – STEIN AM RHEIN
Brienz is well known as Switzerland’s woodcarving center with its woodcarving school and museum dating back to 1864.  Today we will not only visit the school and museum, but also the workshop of Huggler-Wyss.  Its owner, Rudolf Thomann, will give us a personal tour of his shop and show us how today’s woodcarvings are produced in Switzerland both by hand and by machine.  We will then continue on to the capital city of Bern for a guided city tour.  Among the attractions we will see are the parliament buildings, the gothic cathedral begun in 1421, the clock tower gate and other points of interest.  We will also have a visit at the Frey chocolate factory with an opportunity to sample delicious authentic Swiss chocolates. Our dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel Closterhof in the storybook town of Stein am Rhein situated on the Swiss/German border.

Tuesday: September 23      STEIN AM RHEIN
This morning we will have a short drive to the quiet little village of Ittengen for a visit of the Carthusian Monastary founded in 1152 as a Benedictine Abbey.  As we return to Stein am Rhein, we will have a visit to the spectacular  Rheinfall, featured in the ever- popular Sherlock Holmes stories.  There will be free time for shopping and strolling through town and along the Rheine River upon our return to Stein am Rhein before we have a wonderful overnight and farewell dinner at the exclusive Hotel Closterhof. 

Wednesday: September 24   STEIN AM RHEIN – ZURICH AIRPORT
It is time for the last trip on our motor coach to Zurich Airport in time for your flight home to the United States.  There you will have time for duty-free shopping and one more opportunity to enjoy your Swiss experience. 

Book your Switzerland Tour

                                                 All Travel Arrangements By:
Lillet Lee
Beale Travel Service
20 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 210
Chicago, IL  60602
Phone: 312-346-4141
Fax: 312-346-4213

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PROGRAM

AIR TRANSPORTATION:  New York or Chicago to Munich and return from Zurich to New York or Chicago on Swiss International Airline.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION:  All ground transportation in Europe.

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS:  All are two-bedded rooms with private bath in first class hotels as listed in itinerary or similar.  Hotel accommodations are first class by both American and European standards.  These will vary according to location.

MEALS:  All dinners and breakfasts are included, as well as some special lunches as listed in itinerary.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Works of Tilman Riemanschneider, Neresheim Monastery, city tour of St. Gallen, Benedictine Abbey Library, Firma Alpenbitter, Swiss miniature visit, boat ride to Brissago Island, train ride to Domodossola, Aigle Castle with wine tasting, Château Chillon, dinner at Grand Hotel Giessbach, Huggler Wyss, Brienz woodcarving school and museum, Bern city tour, Frey chocolate factory, Carthusian Monastery, Rheinfall, and other technical visits and points of interest. 

TAXES:  All taxes on airline tickets are included as are all taxes imposed by government and/or local authorities on meals and accommodations.

NOT INCLUDED:  All services not specifically mentioned as included as well as items of a purely personal nature such as passport fees, laundry, telephone calls, gifts, souvenirs, etc.  Also, all beverages with evening meals are not included.

DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION:  A deposit of $200.00 per person is required to insure reservations, which sum will be applied to the price of the tour with the balance to be paid in full at the latest 60 days prior to departure.  Once an airline ticket is issued, the airline policy of non-refundability is in effect.  All cancellations must be addressed in writing to Beale Travel.  Cancellation insurance is available from Beale Travel. 

CONDITIONS:  All airfares and prices of land arrangements are based on rates in effect at time of printing and therefore are subject to increase in case of change of airfares or fluctuation of United State Currency.  Price increases due to the above are the responsibility of individual participants.

BAGGAGE:  Baggage allowance is one piece of checked luggage not exceeding 62” in length or 106” total L, W, H; and one carry-on bag not exceeding 45” L,W,H.  Bags may not exceed 50 pounds per piece.  Each individual will be responsible for their own pieces while on tour.  Assistance will be available if needed.