Bernina Express and a European Fairytale Tour with Turkish Airlines, 7 Nights, morning departure to Zurich and evening return from Basel

ISTANBUL – ZURICH – BERN – (Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour by Train: Swiss Alpine Villages) – GENEVA
Arrive at Istanbul Airport International Terminal 3 hours before departure, and after completing baggage drop-off, ticketing, and passport control, we depart for Zurich on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1907 at 07:50. Upon arrival at Zurich Airport at 09:50 local time, we meet our private vehicle waiting at the airport and depart for Bern. Bern is one of the rare cities in Europe that has remained completely unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historical character, it is included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Bern, located within Switzerland and with German as its official language, also reflects the influence of German culture in its architecture. After our tour in Bern, during the free time provided, guests who wish may join our optional Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour by Train in the Swiss Alpine Villages (80 Euro). Our first stop on the tour will be Interlaken. Named “inter-lakes” because it is situated between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, we will explore Interlaken, famous for its natural beauty and the captivating views of these surroundings. Important hotels, casinos, and shopping streets of the region are located along our walking route. The historic Victoria Jungfrau Hotel and Höhematte Park are among the places we will see panoramically. After free time for photos and sightseeing, we head to the train station for the next stop of our tour, Lauterbrunnen. After about a 20-minute train journey from Interlaken, we arrive in Lauterbrunnen. We will feel the deep structure of the valley and the steep rock walls as soon as we exit the station. As we walk toward the village center, we will have the chance to see and photograph the enchanting Staubbach Falls, cascading down toward the valley floor, panoramically. Lauterbrunnen is known for the small settlements lined along the valley that hosts 72 waterfalls and its walking trails. On our walking tour along the designated route in the village, we will take plenty of photos of the region’s traditional chalet architecture, the natural formations surrounding the valley floor, and the wonderful natural landscapes that resemble paradise. We return to Interlaken and complete our tour. After the tour, we head to our hotel in the Geneva region. Upon arrival at our Geneva-area hotel, room distribution and free time to rest.
GENEVA – (Lausanne & Montreux and Fairy Tale Castles & Gruyères Tour)
After breakfast, we depart for our Geneva city tour. Known as “the French side of Switzerland,” Geneva, located on the shores of Lake Geneva, is an extraordinary city where history, culture, science, and nature come together. The presence of international organizations such as CERN, the World Health Organization, UEFA, FIFA, and the United Nations in Geneva gives the city a central role culturally and administratively. During our tour of Geneva, where museums, parks, historical monuments and streets, and clean air come together, the main places to be seen include St. Pierre Cathedral, Jet d’Eau, which has become a symbol of Geneva and rises up to 140 meters, and the Reformation Wall. After our tour in Geneva, during the free time provided, guests who wish may join our optional Lausanne & Montreux and Fairy Tale Castles & Gruyères Tour (90 Euro). Our first stop will be Lausanne, which holds a very important place in our national history because it hosted the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on 24 July 1923, and is also one of the important episcopal centers of the Middle Ages. Lausanne, with its castles, including D’Ouchy Castle, palaces, cathedrals, and museum buildings from the Middle Ages, takes visitors deep into history, and its appeal is further enhanced by its location on the shores of Lake Geneva. After our sightseeing tour in Lausanne, we head to Montreux. Montreux, also very familiar from our national history, is an important city for the music world as well as for its castles such as Chillon and Blonay, historical buildings, natural beauty, and the statue of Freddie Mercury. After our sightseeing tour in Montreux, we head to Gruyères. Selected as Switzerland’s most beautiful village in 2014 and the birthplace of the world-famous Gruyère cheese, Gruyères is a fairytale village that has preserved its medieval character unchanged to this day, giving its name to the region and its world-famous cheese, with its flower-decorated houses and streets. Located in the upper valley of the Saane River, on a hill at 800 meters altitude and with no vehicle traffic, this village is known not only for its cheese but also for fondue, one of Switzerland’s famous dishes. After our sightseeing tour in Gruyères, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Geneva region.
GENEVA – (Annecy Tour) – NICE
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Nice. Along the way, guests who wish may join our optional Annecy Tour (50 Euro). Known as “the Venice of the Alps” because of the canals running through it and the Thiou River, Annecy enchants visitors with its canal-based structure and its extraordinary location between the mountains and the lake. During our tour, the Château d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and Palais de l’Isle, a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts, will be seen panoramically. After a short free time on the shores of Lake Annecy, the third largest lake in France, we complete our tour and continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Nice region, room distribution and free time to rest.
NICE – (Cannes & Nice Tour) – (Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join our 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 beaches. During our city tour, we first see the old town, the city’s original settlement. While walking through its narrow, winding, pedestrian-only streets, you will have the chance to shop and browse souvenir stores. After the old town, La Croisette Boulevard, lined with many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels, and Meynadier Street are among the places we will visit, followed by free time before arriving in Nice. On our Nice tour, Promenade des Anglais, Nice Harbor, Massena Square, the Flower Market, and the Courthouse are among the places to be seen. After the Nice tour, during the free time provided, guests who wish may join our optional Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop on this tour is Eze Village, one of the most famous villages of the Côte d’Azur with its magnificent views, where we visit a perfume factory where you can test beautiful and famous perfumes and purchase them at reasonable prices. After the tour, our second stop will be Monaco, the world’s second smallest state after the Vatican, located on the French Riviera, and upon arrival we will conduct our panoramic city tour of Monte Carlo, the center of luxury and splendor. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Nice region.
NICE – (Portofino Tour by Boat) – OUTLET – MILAN
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Milan. Along the way, guests who wish may join our optional Portofino Tour by Boat (65 Euro). Portofino, surrounded by colorful houses and inspiring songs with all its beauty, captivates visitors with its narrow streets, colorful houses, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean scenery. After our Portofino tour, we continue to the outlet center. After free time for pleasant and budget-friendly shopping at the famous outlet center, home to prestigious stores, cafes, restaurants, and leisure areas in Italy, which sets the trends in world fashion, we complete our tour and arrive at our hotel in the Milan region. Upon arrival, room distribution and free time to rest.
MILAN – (Milan Masterpieces and Como Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join our optional Milan Masterpieces and Como Tour (80 Euro). Milan, one of Europe’s fashion capitals, is also notable for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although known as Italy’s business and financial capital, it is also the right destination for shopping and dining. During our city tour in Milan, the famous opera house La Scala, Duomo Square and Cathedral, and Porta Romano are among the main places to be seen. After a short free time at the end of the Milan Masterpieces Tour, we head to Como for the second part of our tour. Upon arrival, we visit Lake Como, famous for its luxury lifestyle and natural beauty, home to summer houses of Hollywood celebrities, European elites, and the world’s jet set, and we will have a photo break accompanied by the lake’s unique scenery. After free time in Como, we complete the tour and head back to our hotel in the Milan region.
MILAN – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – ST. MORITZ – ZURICH – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for an unforgettable and dreamlike train journey on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Bernina railway line, operated by Bernina Express / Red Train. Built between 1898 and 1904, this world-famous train, listed today as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is a dream for many travelers. During this fairytale journey, we will enjoy extraordinary views and have the chance to photograph them. After about a 2-hour delightful train ride, we arrive at St. Moritz Station. Upon arrival in St. Moritz, Switzerland’s natural wonder and a favorite destination of the jet set, we will have a short free time and sightseeing before departing with our waiting vehicle for Zurich city tour. On our Zurich city tour, Fraumünster Church, Grossmünster Church, the Swiss National Museum, the Opera House, Lake Zurich, the Clock Tower, the Old Guild Houses, Zurich Altstadt (Old Town), and Bahnhofstrasse (Station Street), a lively and colorful avenue lined with world-famous stores, are among the places to be seen panoramically. After the Zurich tour, following a short free time, we depart for our hotel in the Alsace region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room distribution and free time to rest.
ALSACE / BASEL – (Pearls of Alsace: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Basel Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. Along the way, guests who wish may join our optional Pearls of Alsace: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euro). On our tour, we first go to the fairy-tale city of Colmar, where we will see the Old Customs House, Pfister House, and the most famous area of the city, Petite Venise (Little Venice), with its colorful houses around the Rhine River. In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and canals, you will have the opportunity to taste many delicious foods as well as buy many souvenirs. Our next stop in the Alsace region will be Riquewihr, famous for its flower-filled balconies, distinctive rows of shops, car-free cobblestone streets, buildings that somehow escaped damage during World War II, and charming cafes, surrounded by vineyards. With its tower, which also houses the Dolder Museum preserving the city’s story through documents, Riquewihr resembles a Grimm fairy tale. After our visit in Riquewihr, we continue our journey to Basel Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, after completing baggage drop-off, check-in, and passport control procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1926 at 18:05. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 23:15 Turkish time and end of the tour.