A EUROPEAN FAIRYTALE TOUR WITH BERNINA EXPRESS Round trip from Milan to Basel with Turkish Airlines for 7 nights

ISTANBUL – MILAN
We depart for Milan with Turkish Airlines flight TK1895 at 12:35 after arriving at Istanbul Airport International Terminal 3 hours prior to our flight to complete luggage check-in, ticketing, and passport control procedures. We arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport at 13:30 local time, and then we set off with our private vehicle for a city tour of Milan, which is one of Europe’s fashion capitals, known for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although recognized as Italy's capital of business and finance, Milan is also an excellent destination for shopping and dining experiences. During our city tour, we will visit notable sites such as the famous opera house La Scala, Duomo Square and Cathedral, and Porta Romana. After the city tour, we will transfer to our hotel in the Milan area. Rooms will be available, followed by free time for relaxation.
MILAN – ST. MORITZ – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – (Como Tour) – MILAN
After breakfast, we set off for St. Moritz to embark on an unforgettable and breathtaking train journey on the Bernina Railway. We arrive in St. Moritz, a natural wonder of Switzerland and a favorite spot for the jet set, and depending on the train's departure time, we will have some free time and a brief sightseeing tour. Next, we will board the Bernina Express / Red Train for a magical journey on this UNESCO World Heritage-listed railway, built between 1898 and 1904. During this fairytale ride, you will enjoy extraordinary landscapes and have the chance to take memorable photos. After approximately 2 hours, we arrive at Tirano Station and return to our hotel in the Milan area with our waiting vehicle. Along the way, guests who wish can join the optional Como Tour (50 Euros). Upon arrival in Como, we will visit Lake Como, known for hosting summer homes of Hollywood celebrities and European elites, and enjoy the stunning views with a photo break. After the Como tour, we transfer back to the hotel.
MILAN – OUTLET – (Boat Tour to Portofino) – NICE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we head to an outlet center for shopping. In the famous outlet center, which hosts prestigious stores, cafes, restaurants, and activity areas, we will have some free time for enjoyable and budget-friendly shopping. After completing our tour, we depart for Nice. Guests can participate in the optional Boat Tour to Portofino (65 Euros). Portofino, surrounded by colorful houses and known for its beauty that has inspired songs, captivates visitors with its narrow streets, colorful homes, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean. After our visit to Portofino, we continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in Nice, rooms will be available followed by free time for relaxation.
NICE – (Cannes & Nice Tour) – (Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour)
After breakfast, we provide a full day of free time. During this free time, guests may join the optional Cannes & Nice Tour (70 Euros). On this tour, we first travel to Cannes, famous for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival, boasting a bright sea and golden sandy beaches. During our city tour, we will visit the old city, the first settlement of the town, and have the chance to shop in souvenir shops during our walk through the narrow, winding, and traffic-free streets. We will explore La Croissette Boulevard and Meynadier Street, which are lined with many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels. After some free time, we will reach Nice. Our Nice tour will include Promenade des Anglais street, Nice Harbour, Massena Square, Flower Market, and the Palace of Justice among the sites to see. After the Nice tour, we will have free time during which guests may choose to participate in the optional Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour (80 Euros). On this tour, our first stop will be Eze Village, known for its stunning views of the Cote d’Azur, where we will visit perfume factories where you can test and purchase beautiful and famous perfumes at reasonable prices. After this visit, we will head towards the small state of Monaco, the kingdom of fairy tales, and conduct a panoramic city tour of Monte Carlo, the center of luxury and splendor. We will return to our hotel in Nice.
NICE – (Annecy Tour) – GENEVA
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we head to Geneva. As we travel, guests who wish may join the optional Annecy Tour (50 Euros). Nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps” due to its canals and the Thiou River, Annecy, known for its extraordinary position between mountains and lakes, will enchant you. During our tour, we will visit Château d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and the Palais de l’isle, which is a photo enthusiast's paradise. After a short free time by Lake Annecy, we will continue our journey to Geneva. Upon arriving at our hotel in the Geneva area, rooms will be available followed by free time for relaxation.
GENEVA – (Train to Swiss Alpine Villages: Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour) – BERN – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we will conduct a city tour of Geneva. Known as "the French part of Switzerland," and located by Lake Geneva, Geneva is a magnificent city where history, culture, science, and nature come together. Hosting international organizations (CERN, World Health Organization, UEFA, FIFA, United Nations), Geneva takes a central place culturally and administratively. During our tour of Geneva, we will see St. Pierre Cathedral, the iconic Jet d’Eau fountain rising to 140 meters, and the Reformation Monument among the main sites to visit. After the city tour, we will head toward Bern. After arriving in Bern, guests who wish may join the optional Train to Swiss Alpine Villages: Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour (80 Euros). Our first stop will be Interlaken. Nestled between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, it is famous for its natural beauty and stunning scenery. We will conduct our tour of Interlaken, where many of the region's important hotels, casinos, and shopping streets are located. We will see the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel and Höhematte Park panoramically. Following a free time for photography and exploration, we will head to Lauterbrunnen via the train station. After approximately 20 minutes on a train from Interlaken, we will arrive in Lauterbrunnen, where we will feel the valley's deep structure and steep rock walls. While walking to the town center, we will see the magnificent Staubbach Falls and will have a chance to take pictures of this iconic landmark. Known for housing 72 waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen is filled with quaint villages along the valley and hiking paths. We will explore the village that showcases the traditional chalet architecture, the beautiful natural formations surrounding the valley, and the breathtaking scenery. After the tour, we will return to Bern for the city tour. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical fabric. Located within Switzerland, Bern has an official language of German, and the influence of German culture can be seen in its architecture. We will conduct a tour of Bern around the Aare River, and afterwards, head to our hotel in the Alsace / Basel area. After arriving at the hotel, rooms will be available followed by free time for relaxation.
ALSACE / BASEL – (Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – STRASBOURG – FREIBURG – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast, we head towards Strasbourg. Along the way, guests who wish may join the optional Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euros). On this tour, we will first go to Colmar, known as a fairy-tale land, where we will see the Old Customs House, the Pfister House, and the colorful houses around the Rhine River, including the most famous area, Petite Venise (Little Venice). In this unique atmosphere, which is bordered by the Rhine River and canals, you can find many delicious foods and opportunities for souvenirs. Our next destination will be Riquewihr, famous for its flower-lined balconies, its shops, car-free brick-lined roads, buildings that survived World War II, and charming cafes, as well as the Dolder Museum, which carries the city's story to the present day with its documents. After our visit in Riquewihr, we will continue our journey to Strasbourg, which is located at the borders of Germany, Switzerland, and France and is the largest city in Alsace. Strasbourg will greet us like something out of a fairy tale, with its stunning beauty. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, it has hosted the European Parliament since 1992. During our panoramic city tour of Strasbourg, which we will conduct by walking among the car-free center and streets, we will see Gutenberg Square and Statue, the most important building of the city, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Kammerzell House, the city’s oldest house, which continues to operate as a hotel and restaurant. After the Strasbourg tour, we will have free time, and then we will head to Freiburg, known for being one of the best examples of green urbanism, where only low carbon vehicles have been allowed since 2010, and transportation is predominantly managed through trams and bicycles. In Freiburg, we will see the historical and architectural influences of Germany, France, Austria, Spain, and Sweden throughout history. In Freiburg, known as the capital of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), we will conduct a city tour wherein we will visit the Freiburg Cathedral, the charming streets with small water canals unique to Freiburg, the Marktplatz, and Martin's Tor, which is an ancient gate from the Middle Ages. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Alsace / Basel area.
BASEL – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Basel Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival at the airport, we will complete our baggage check-in, check-in, and passport control procedures, and then we will fly to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines flight TK1924 at 10:55. We will arrive at Istanbul Airport at 16:05 Turkish time, marking the end of our tour.