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- BERNINA EXPRESS and a European Fairy Tale Tour with Turkish Airlines, 7 nights, with the GOLDENPASS Express train, the opportunity for a Lausanne & Montreux tour, morning departure to Basel and morning return from Basel.
BERNINA EXPRESS and a European Fairy Tale Tour with Turkish Airlines, 7 nights, with the GOLDENPASS Express train, the opportunity for a Lausanne & Montreux tour, morning departure to Basel and morning return from Basel.
ISTANBUL – BASEL – STRASBOURG – (Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – ALSACE / BASEL
We depart from Istanbul Airport after completing baggage drop, ticketing, and passport control procedures at the International Terminal 3 hours prior to the flight, and fly to Basel on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1923 at 07:40. Upon arrival at Basel Airport at 09:45 local time, we meet our private vehicle waiting for us at the airport and depart for Strasbourg. Located at the border of Germany, Switzerland, and France, and also the largest city in the Alsace region, Strasbourg welcomes us with a picture-perfect beauty, as if straight out of a fairy tale. During our panoramic walking tour in the city center and streets closed to vehicle traffic, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 and has hosted the European Parliament since 1992, we will see Gutenberg Square and its statue, Notre Dame Cathedral, the city’s most important and central landmark, and Kammerzell House, the city’s oldest house, which still operates today as a hotel and restaurant. After the Strasbourg tour and some free time, we head to our hotel in the Alsace region. En route, those who wish may join the optional Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euro). On this tour, we first visit the fairy-tale town of Colmar, where we will see the Old Customs House, Pfister House, and the colorful houses around the Rhine River in the city’s most famous area, Petite Venise (Little Venice). In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and canals, you will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious local foods and shop for souvenirs. Our next stop is Riquewihr, famous for its vineyards, flower-decorated balconies, unique rows of shops, cobblestone streets closed to traffic, buildings that somehow survived World War II without damage, and charming cafés, and with its tower housing the Dolder Museum, which preserves the town’s history with documents, it resembles a Grimm fairy tale. After our visit in Riquewihr, we continue on to our hotel in the Alsace region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time for rest.
ALSACE – HEIDI’S VILLAGES – (Milan Masterpieces and Como Tour) – MILAN
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we continue our panoramic journey through the landscapes of Heidi’s Villages, filled with endless mountains and green meadows, featuring many of the sights we remember from the cartoon of our beloved childhood character Heidi, who lived in the Alps with her grandfather and her best friend Peter, and then head to Milan. En route, those who wish may join the optional Milan Masterpieces and Como Tour (65 Euro). Our first stop on this tour is Como. Upon arrival in Como, we visit Lake Como, famous for hosting summer homes of Hollywood celebrities, European elites, and the world jet set, and we take a photo break with the lake’s stunning views. After free time in Como, we continue to the city center of Milan for the second part of the tour. Milan, one of Europe’s fashion capitals, is also known for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although it is recognized as Italy’s business and finance capital, it is also the right place for shopping and dining. During our city tour in Milan, the main sights will include the famous opera house La Scala, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral, and Porta Romano. At the end of the Milan Masterpieces Tour, transfer to our hotel. Room check-in and free time for rest.
MILAN – ST. MORITZ – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – MILAN
After breakfast, we depart for St. Moritz for the unforgettable and dreamlike train journey on the Bernina railway line. We arrive in St. Moritz, Switzerland’s natural wonder and a favorite destination of the jet set, and, depending on the train departure time, enjoy free time and a short local orientation tour before heading to the station for our unforgettable and enchanting Bernina Express / Red Train journey on the UNESCO World Heritage Bernina railway line. Built between 1898 and 1904, this world-famous route, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a dream for many travelers. During this fairy-tale journey, we will witness extraordinary scenery and have the chance to photograph it. After approximately 2 hours of enjoyable train travel, we arrive at Tirano Station and return to our hotel in the Milan area with the vehicle waiting for us.
MILAN – OUTLET – (Portofino Tour by Boat) – NICE
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for our outlet center visit. Following free time for pleasant and affordable shopping at Italy’s famous outlet center, home to prestigious brands, cafés and restaurants, and recreational areas, we complete the tour and head to Nice. En route, those who wish may join the optional Portofino Tour by Boat (65 Euro). Portofino, surrounded by colorful houses and inspiring songs with its beauty, captivates visitors with its narrow streets, colorful homes, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean scenery. After the Portofino visit, we continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Nice area, room check-in and free time for rest.
NICE – (Cannes & Nice Tour) – (Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, those who wish may join the optional Cannes & Nice Tour (70 Euro). On this tour, we first head to Cannes. Famous for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival, Cannes has a sparkling sea and golden sandy beaches. During our city tour, we first visit the old town, the city’s original settlement. While walking through its narrow, winding, traffic-free streets, we will have the chance to see souvenir shops and do some shopping. After visiting La Croisette Boulevard, which stretches along the Cannes coast and is home to many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels, and Meynadier Street, we continue to Nice, where we will see Promenade des Anglais, Nice Port, Place Massena, the Flower Market, and the Courthouse. After the Nice tour, free time will be given, and those who wish may join the optional Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour (80 Euro). On this tour, our first stop is Eze Village, one of the most famous villages on the magnificent Côte d’Azur, where we visit a perfume factory where you can test and purchase beautiful and famous perfumes at affordable prices. Our second stop is the Principality of Monaco, the world’s second smallest country after the Vatican, located on the French Riviera, where we will take a panoramic city tour of glamorous Monte Carlo. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Nice area.
NICE – (Annecy Tour) – GENEVA
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Geneva. During our journey through magnificent natural scenery and views of Mont Blanc, known as the roof of Europe, at the summit of the Alps on the common border of France, Switzerland, and Italy, those who wish may join the optional Annecy Tour (50 Euro). Known as the “Venice of the Alps” because of the canals and the Thiou River flowing through it, Annecy captivates visitors with its canal-based structure and its extraordinary location between mountains and a lake. During our visit, Chateau d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and Palais de l’Isle, a favorite spot for photography lovers, will be seen panoramically. After a short free time on the shores of Annecy Lake, the third largest lake in France, we complete the tour and continue our journey to Geneva. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Geneva area, room check-in and free time for rest.
GENEVA – (LOZANNE & MONTRÖ AND FAIRY-TALE CASTLES TOUR WITH GOLDEN PASS Express Train) – (Gruyères Tour) – BERN – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we begin our city tour. Known as the “French city of Switzerland,” Geneva is a magnificent city on the shores of Lake Geneva, where history, culture, science, and nature come together. The presence of international organizations headquartered in Geneva, including CERN, the World Health Organization, UEFA, FIFA, and the United Nations, gives the city a central cultural and administrative role. During our tour of Geneva, where museums, parks, historical monuments and streets, and clean air come together, the main sights will include St. Pierre Cathedral, the Jet d’Eau fountain, which has become the symbol of Geneva and rises up to 140 meters, and the Reformation Wall. After the city tour, we depart for Bern. En route, those who wish may join the optional GOLDENPASS Express train tour of Lausanne & Montreux and the Fairy-Tale Castles Tour (95 Euro). Our first stop is Lausanne, which holds an important place in Turkish national history as the city where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on 24 July 1923, and which was also one of the important episcopal centers of the Middle Ages. With its castles from the Middle Ages, D’Ouchy Castle, palaces, cathedrals, and museum buildings, Lausanne takes visitors deep into history, and its appeal is further enhanced by its location on the shores of Lake Geneva. After our orientation tour in Lausanne, we continue to Montreux. Montreux, also very well known in our national history, is important not only for its historical castles and natural beauty such as Chillon and Blonay, but also for the music world, as it has a statue of Freddy Mercury. After our orientation tour in Montreux, we embark on an extraordinary journey through the Swiss Alps with the GOLDENPASS Express. Our train ride departing from Montreux offers lake views and mountain silhouettes that will make postcards jealous. Following this breathtaking journey through nature, which ends near Gruyères, we continue to Bern. En route, those who wish may join the optional Gruyères Tour (40 Euro). Selected as Switzerland’s most beautiful village in 2014, Gruyères is the birthplace of the world-famous Gruyère cheese, a fairy-tale village whose medieval character has remained unchanged to this day, and from which the region and its famous cheese take their name. Situated on a hill at an altitude of 800 meters in the upper valley of the Saane River, this car-free village is known not only for its cheese but also for fondue, one of Switzerland’s famous dishes. After our orientation tour in Gruyères, we complete the tour and arrive in Bern. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historical texture, it is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Located in Switzerland and with German as its official language, Bern also shows the influence of German culture in its architecture. After our city tour in Bern, we head to our hotel in the Alsace / Basel region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time for rest.
ALSACE / BASEL – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we transfer to Basel Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival at the airport, after completing baggage drop, check-in, and passport control procedures, we fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1924 at 10:40. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 15:50 local time and end of the tour.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class flight ticket on Turkish Airlines scheduled flights on the Istanbul Airport (IST) – Basel Airport (BSL) – Istanbul Airport (IST) route,
- Airport taxes and service charges,
- In-flight refreshments,
- 7 nights’ accommodation with bed and breakfast in 3- and 4-star suburban hotels,
- Airport / Hotel / Airport transfers and intercity transfers,
- Panoramic city tours and/or excursions in Strasbourg, St. Moritz, Geneva, and Bern
- Train journey on the BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN,
- Milan Outlet Tour
- Turkish-speaking guide services
- TURSAB Professional Liability Insurance
Not Included
- Visa fee and service charge
- International departure tax
- All hotel extras and personal expenses,
- Domestic connecting flight ticket,
- Lunches and dinners,
- Extra tours and excursions specified/not specified in the program,
- (Mandatory) Hotel city accommodation and city entrance taxes (60 Euro)
- (Optional) Driver tips (10 Euro)
