Lake Como & the Swiss Alps - 6 days

Lake Como & the Swiss Alps - 6 days

185 Views
6 Days From

$2815

$2011

Lake Como & the Swiss Alps - 6 days

6 Days Starting in Milan and ending in Interlaken

Visiting: Como, Milan, Lugano, Locarno, Stresa, Lausanne, Zermatt, Gruyère District, Gstaad, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Entlebuch, Bellinzona

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 16

Age range:

Minimum age 15, escorted by an adult

Interests:

Cultural, History

From: $2815 $2011 Operator discount: -$704 Travel Club discount: -$100 -29%

NB: Prices correct on 19-Sep-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

SMALL GROUP TOUR: Explore picturesque northern Italy and the Swiss Alps on this 6-day small group tour from Milan. Enjoy an included boat trip on beautiful Lake Como, explore the cultural melting pot of Lugano, and wander around the ‘Garden City’ of Varese. Marvel at the famous Matterhorn peak on a train ride, discover the stunning town of Lauterbrunnen, journey through the picturesque UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, and experience the historic castles of Bellinzona.

Highlights

  • Lake Como - Cruise on this famous Italian lake to Lenno, an idyllic lakeside village

  • Isola Bella - Wander through the picturesque gardens and impressive palace on this historic island

  • Lugano - Explore this fascinating, cultural melting pot of a city

  • Varese - Enjoy a guided walk around the old town centre of the 'Garden City'

  • Gruyeres - Visit this charming medieval town and the home of Gruyere cheese

  • Zermatt (Matterhorn) - Marvel at one of the most famous and recognisable peaks in the world, the Matterhorn

  • Chillon Castle - Discover the most visited castle in all of Switzerland

  • Lauterbrunnen - Spend time doing scenic walks, taking mountain peak train rides, and much more

  • Biosphere Entlebuch - Journey through this UNESCO listed site that looks straight out of "The Sound of Music"

  • Bellinzona - Relax in this charming town or explore one of the many incredible UNESCO listed ancient castles independently

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Milan

Location: Como, Milan, Lugano

Milan - Como - Lugano (Switzerland) - Locarno. Welcome to Italy! Starting the day in Milan, we begin by travelling to stunning Lake Como. Marvel at the panoramic mountain views and picturesque villas as we glide across the lake on an included boat trip to the town of Lenno. After enjoying the views and lunch in Lenno, we cross the border into Switzerland and visit the city of Lugano where we have a couple of hours to explore this melting pot of Swiss, Italian, and Mediterranean cultures. Following an hour-long drive, we arrive in the small and sunny town of Locarno, where we spend the night.





Please note: Pick up point for this tour is at 8:15 on day 1 (tour departs at 8:30) - Milan Pick Up, Business Palace Milan, Milan.

Day 2: Locarno

Location: Locarno, Stresa, Lugano

Meals Included: Breakfast

Locarno - Stresa (Italy) - Locarno (Switzerland). After breakfast we travel back across the border to the Italian lakeside town of Stresa. Here there is an optional tour to Isola Bella where we wander through picturesque gardens and explore Palazzo Borromeo, a 17th century palace of the influential House of Borromeo.





In the afternoon we continue to the ‘Garden City’ of Varese. Enjoy a guided walk through the old town centre to learn about how this town earned its nickname. Returning to the shores of Lake Maggiore we spend our second night in the town of Locarno.

Day 3: Locarno

Location: Lausanne, Zermatt, Locarno

Meals Included: Breakfast

Locarno - Lausanne. Leaving Locarno, our first stop of the day is Santa Maria Maggiore. After this quick stop that gives you time to take some pictures of this stunning town, we head up to the Simplon Pass. This is a historic location that has been a major route through the Alps since the Stone Age. Arriving in the village of Tasch we take a round-trip train journey to Zermatt where we admire the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the world-famous Matterhorn peak. Returning to the mini-coach, we head to our overnight accommodation in the city of Lausanne, overlooking the shore of Lake Geneva.

Day 4: Lausanne

Location: Lausanne, Gruyère District, Gstaad, Lausanne

Meals Included: Breakfast

Lausanne - Gruyeres - Gstaad - Lausanne. We begin our day in Gruyeres, the birthplace of Gruyere cheese. Explore the charming medieval town and enjoy panoramic views of the Saane Valley. Next, we'll journey alongside majestic Alpine peaks to Gstaad, a renowned Alpine village frequented by skiing enthusiasts and celebrities alike. Following this, there is an optional excursion to Chillon Castle near Montreux. This captivating castle is the most famous and visited in all of Switzerland. Returning to Lausanne in time for dinner, we spend our second night here.

Day 5: Lausanne

Location: Lausanne, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken

Meals Included: Breakfast

Lausanne - Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken. Welcome to the "Valley of 72 Waterfalls," a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and our first destination today. We have the entire day to explore Lauterbrunnen at our leisure. Take a pick from scenic walks, mountain peak train rides, and much more. If suggestions are needed, feel free to ask the guide for recommendations. After immersing ourselves in Lauterbrunnen's breath-taking mountain views and picturesque Swiss landscapes, we journey to Interlaken. This charming resort town, nestled snugly amidst the mountains, is our home for the night.

Day 6: Interlaken

Location: Entlebuch, Bellinzona, Milan, Interlaken

Meals Included: Breakfast

Interlaken - Bellinzona - Milan (Italy). Leaving Interlaken, we journey through the picturesque UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, a landscape straight out of a "Sound of Music" scene, with cows grazing in lush green fields and awe-inspiring views. While nature rejuvenates the soul, it won't satisfy your hunger. Your guide will locate an excellent lunch spot, possibly in Altdorf, however, we're flexible and may explore other fantastic dining options.





Descending from the Alpine heights, we arrive in Bellinzona, where ancient castles, now UNESCO heritage sites, have guarded the northern Italian access since Roman times. You can choose to explore these impressive castles or simply relax in the town.





We arrive in Milan in the evening where the tour comes to an end.





Please note: This tour finishes at 18:30 - Milan Drop Off, Business Palace Milan, Milan.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    3 star hotels

  • 5 breakfasts

  • 5 nights in 3 star hotels

  • Escorted by an English-speaking guide

  • Transportation in an air-conditioned luxury mini-coach with a local driver

  • Boat trip across Lake Como

  • Return train tickets from Tasch to Zermatt with views of the Matterhorn

  • 20kg luggage - see Trip Notes for details

  • Note: This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers from different operators, not solely On The Go.

What's Not Included

  • International flights & visas

  • Airport transfers

  • Meals not specified in itinerary

  • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture!

  • Entry fees unless specified

Check out our Q&As

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)  

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

Land of the Northern Lights 5 day tour of Iceland

10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)  

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

1 Select your preferred date

Monday - Saturday

Oct 14, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
$2815 $2011

Operator discount: -$704

Travel Club discount: -$100

Monday - Saturday

Apr 21, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Apr 28, 2025 - May 03, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

May 19, 2025 - May 24, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

May 26, 2025 - May 31, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Jun 16, 2025 - Jun 21, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Jun 23, 2025 - Jun 28, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Jul 14, 2025 - Jul 19, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Jul 21, 2025 - Jul 26, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Aug 11, 2025 - Aug 16, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Aug 18, 2025 - Aug 23, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Sep 08, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Sep 15, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Oct 06, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Oct 13, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Nov 03, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Monday - Saturday

Nov 10, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025
$2995 $2140

Operator discount: -$749

Travel Club discount: -$107

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.