Switzerland is on almost everyone’s bucket list. Yet the real Switzerland is impossible to discover without insider knowledge.
I’m blessed to know it as few outsiders can thanks to my Swiss husband, our family and friends.
I adore Switzerland’s hearty food, farmhouse stalls and outdoor food markets. And I love its crisp white wines, soft reds, picturesque vineyards and breathtaking scenery. I’m accredited by Switzerland Tourism as a Swiss Travel Expert.
Let me show you the hidden corners of Switzerland that tourists never find.
Cheesemaking, cheese fondue and the best cheese trolleys you’ve ever seen are all part of any Swiss food and wine tour. We start ours in a 300-year-old chalet in the Jura mountains with delicious traditional fondue and crisp white wine.
We'll stay in the pretty village of Romainmôtier, built around a thousand-year-old priory. Dinner is chicken spit-roasted in front of the priory's huge open fireplace and breakfast is excellent coffee and pastries in the local boulangerie.
Our hotel on Lake Murten has spectacular views across to the highest peaks of the Alps. We'll dine on fish fresh from the lake, explore Murten's medieval ramparts, visit local vineyards and dine at a Michelin starred family auberge.
In the beautiful Emmental countryside we'll stay in ancient Landgasthof Bären. The breakfast buffet is a feast of cheese, yoghurt and cold cuts from local farms and dairies and dinner offers an impressive seasonal game menu.
The UNESCO-listed old town of Bern retains much of its ancient charm. A stroll around it feels like a walk through time. From the ornate medieval clock tower, past the Gothic cathedral, to the elaborate 16th century fountains.
We'll ride the world’s steepest cable car to lunch at the Schilthorn's revolving restaurant. At almost 3,000 metres, the 360-degree views of Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and many other Alpine peaks is truly breathtaking.
Hotel Trois Couronnes is the place to stay on Lake Geneva, with heart-stopping views of the French Alps. Stroll along the lake front to Charlie Chaplin's statue and browse the small shops in the cobbled streets of the old town.
The vineyards in this region are steeply terraced above the lake. After a tour and tasting with a local winemaker, we'll lunch in a small wine villages on delicious local fare with wonderful views of the vineyards, lake and Alps.
Immerse yourself in the food and wine of Switzerland. Visit artisanal food producers and boutique wineries, eat regional specialties in local restaurants and enjoy hands-on cooking with like-minded food and wine lovers in a relaxed, comfortable environment on this small group Swiss food and wine tour.
The above itinerary covers the tour highlights, the order of activities and locations may vary.
Airport transfers not included. Closest international airport is Geneva; 1.5 hrs by train to/from Romainmôtier (tour start) and Vevey (tour finish). Trains from Zurich international airport to Lausanne take about 2.5 hours then to Croy-Rômainmotier a further 30 minutes – see sbb.ch for details. Car transfers can be arranged on request.
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