SAMSUN – STUTTGART – STRASBOURG – (Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – ALSACE / BASEL
We meet at Samsun Airport International Terminal 3 hours before the flight and complete baggage drop, ticketing, and passport control procedures before departing for Stuttgart on SunExpress Airlines scheduled flight XQ1750 at 04:10. Upon arrival at Stuttgart Airport at 06:45 local time, we proceed to begin our panoramic Strasbourg city tour. Strasbourg, located on the border of Germany, Switzerland, and France and also the largest city in the Alsace region, welcomes us like something out of a fairy tale, with a picture-perfect beauty. During our panoramic walking tour in the car-free center and streets of Strasbourg, which was included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1988 and has hosted the European Parliament since 1992, we will see Gutenberg Square and Statue, Notre Dame Cathedral, the city’s most important landmark located in the very heart of the city, and Kammerzell House, the city’s oldest building, which still operates today as a hotel and restaurant. After the Strasbourg tour and the free time that will be offered, we head to our hotel in the Alsace region. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euro). In this tour, we first go to the fairy-tale town of Colmar and see the Old Customs House, the Pfister House, and Petite Venise (Little Venice), the city’s most famous district with its colorful houses around the Rhine River. In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and canals, you will have the chance to enjoy many delicious local foods according to your taste, as well as buy many souvenirs. Our next stop in the tour is Riquewihr, famous for its vineyards, flower-decorated balconies, quaint rows of shops, car-free cobblestone streets, buildings that somehow survived World War II without damage, and charming cafes, and with its tower housing the Dolder Museum that preserves the city’s story with documents, it resembles a Grimm fairy tale. After our visit in Riquewihr, we continue on our way to our hotel in the Alsace region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room assignment and free time for rest.
ALSACE / BASEL – ST. MORITZ – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – MILAN
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for the unforgettable and dreamlike train journey on the Bernina railway line. We arrive in St. Moritz, the natural wonder of Switzerland and a favorite destination of high society, and after some free time and a short orientation tour, depending on the Bernina Express schedule, we reach the station for our unforgettable and breathtaking train journey on the UNESCO World Heritage Bernina railway line. During this fairy-tale journey on this world-famous line, built between 1898 and 1904 and now listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, we will witness extraordinary landscapes and have the chance to photograph them. After an approximately 2-hour pleasant train ride, we arrive at Tirano Station and return by our vehicle to our hotel in the Milan region.
MILAN – (Portofino Tour by Boat) – NICE
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for our Milan city 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 financial capital, it is also the right address for shopping and dining experiences. During our tour of Milan, the famous opera house La Scala, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral, and Porta Romano are among the main sights. After the tour and the free time to be offered, we head towards Nice. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Portofino Tour by Boat (65 Euro). Portofino, surrounded by colorful houses and an inspiration for songs with all its beauty, enchants visitors with its narrow streets, colorful houses, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean views. After our visit to Portofino, we continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Nice area, room assignment 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, guests who wish may join the optional Cannes & Nice Tour (70 Euro). In 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 will first see the old town, the city’s first settlement. During our walk through the narrow, winding, and car-free streets of the old town, we will have the chance to see souvenir shops and shop. After our visit along La Croisette Boulevard, lined with many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels, and Meynadier Street, we arrive in Nice. On our Nice tour, sights include Promenade des Anglais, Nice Port, Massena Square, the Flower Market, and the Courthouse. After free time in Nice, guests who wish may join the optional Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop 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 many beautiful and famous perfumes and buy them at reasonable prices. Afterward, our second stop is the principality of Monaco, the world’s smallest state after Vatican City, located on the French Riviera. Upon arrival, we will take a 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 – (Annecy Tour) – GENEVA
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Geneva. During our journey amid magnificent natural scenery, with views of Mont Blanc, known as the roof of Europe, on the common border of France, Switzerland, and Italy, guests who wish may join the optional Annecy Tour (50 Euro). Annecy, known as the “Venice of the Alps” thanks to the canals and the Thiou River running through it, captivates visitors with its canal-based structure and extraordinary location between the mountains and the lake. During our visit, Château d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and the Palais de l’Isle, a favorite spot for photographers, will be seen panoramically. After a short free time by Lake Annecy, the third largest lake in France, we complete our tour and continue to Geneva. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Geneva area, room assignment and free time for rest.
GENEVA – BERN – (Swiss Alpine Villages by Train: Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour) – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we begin our Geneva city tour. Known as the “French city of Switzerland,” Geneva is located on the shores of Lake Geneva and is a magnificent 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 gives the city a central cultural and administrative role. During our tour of Geneva, where museums, parks, historical monuments and streets, and fresh air come together, 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 are among the main sights. After the city tour, we head to Bern. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historical character, it is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Located in Switzerland and officially German-speaking, Bern also reflects German cultural influence in its architecture. After our tour of Bern, guests will have free time, during which those who wish may join the optional Swiss Alpine Villages by Train: Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop will be Interlaken. Named “inter-lakes” because of its location between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, we will tour Interlaken, famous for its natural beauty and breathtaking views. The region’s important hotels, casinos, and shopping streets are on our walking tour route. The Victoria Jungfrau Hotel and Höhematte Park, one of the town’s historical symbols, will be seen panoramically. After free time for photos and sightseeing, we move on to the station to take the train to Lauterbrunnen, our next destination. On the approximately 20-minute train journey from Interlaken, we arrive in Lauterbrunnen. Upon leaving the station, we immediately feel the deep valley and steep rock walls. Walking toward the village center, we will panoramically see the breathtaking Staubbach Falls cascading toward the valley floor. Lauterbrunnen is known for its valley lined with small settlements and walking paths, home to 72 waterfalls. On our walking tour along the designated route within the village, we will photograph the region’s traditional chalet architecture, the natural formations surrounding the valley floor, and its heavenly landscapes. We then return to Interlaken and complete our tour. After the tour, we travel to our hotel in the Alsace/Basel region. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Alsace/Basel region, room assignment and free time for rest.
ALSACE / BASEL – FREIBURG – OUTLET – STUTTGART – SAMSUN
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Freiburg. In Freiburg, the city of happy people, where only low-carbon-emission vehicles have been allowed since 2010 and transportation is mainly by tram and bicycle, our city tour will reveal traces of the historical and architectural cultures of Germany, France, Austria, Spain, and Sweden, which have all ruled the city throughout history. Known as the capital of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Freiburg’s most important symbol, Freiburg Cathedral, the charming streets with small water canals unique to Freiburg, the medieval city gate Martin’s Tor, and Rathausplatz are among the places to be seen during our city tour. After the tour, we head to the world-famous Metzingen Outletcity, home to outlet stores of many famous brands and attracting shopping enthusiasts from all over the world. Designed as an outlet city, Metzingen Outletcity offers visitors a very comfortable and enjoyable time for shopping and exploring. After our visit, we depart for Stuttgart Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, after completing baggage drop, check-in, and passport control procedures, we depart for Samsun on SunExpress Airlines scheduled flight XQ1591 at 21:55. Arrival at Samsun Airport at 02:45 local time and the end of our tour.