Magic Christmas Trio
SMALL GROUP TOURS
Destination: Croatia • Duration: 13 days / 12 nights • Dates: December 11 - December 19, 2024 • Destination: Germany - Switzerland - France • Duration: 9 days / 8 nights • Dates: December 11 - December 19, 2024 • Destination: Germany - Switzerland
Destination: Switzerland, Germany & France
Dates: Dec 11 - Dec 19, 2024
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
Arrive Geneva - Montreux
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
DAY 1
Today after breakfast we begin our amazing journey through Switzeralnd as we travel along the Lake Geneva to Geneva, where we’ll enjoy a chocolate-themed walking tour. Switzerland is famous for many things: Alpine peaks and luxury watches, but chocolate surely trumps them all! We’ll explore old town, visit traditional chocolate makers, and delve into the decadent world of Swiss chocolate. See how this tasty treat is made in all its colorful guises, as we visit artisan shops and sample this delicious treat. After the tour, we’ll have time to explore and enjoy the Christmas Markets in the old town. Enjoy trying out the street food from the stalls or sit down for lunch at one of the local restaurants. In the afternoon we’ll gather again and enjoy a scenic drive along Lake Geneva which brings us back to Montreux. The rest of the day is free. If you’d like, join your host and head out to have fun at the local Christmas markets.
Hotel: Eden Palace au Lac 4*
Montreux - Geneva - Montreux
DAY 2
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024
DAY 4
This morning we will enjoy a guided walking tour of the UNESCO protected city. We’ll enjoy walking through the medieval cobblestoned streets with its sandstone cover arcades and towering cathedrals, the Parliament Building, the Zytglock Clock Tower, and the famous ‘Baerengraben’ bear pits. The tour will end at the Christmas Markets area. The rest of the day is free. You can stay with your host and have some fun exploring the Christmas Markets together, or venture on own, and enjoy it at your own pace.
Hotel: Savoy 4*
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024
Bern
DAY 5
It’s time to continue our journey through Switzerland, so today we bid farewell to Bern and head toward our first stop for today: The city of Basel. Home to its popular Basler Weihnachtsmarket. The market is shopper’s paradise, selling handmade toys and local treats like läckerli (traditional Swiss gingerbread) and Swiss raclette from their wooden stands, plus enough twinkle lights and trees to fill a million Instagram feeds. Here, we’ll enjoy free time to explore on own (or together with your host). Whatever you do, don’t miss the view of the festive scene from St. Martin’s tower, open for admission throughout the Advent period. Be sure to write your Christmas wishes in the Basel Wish Book!
In the afternoon, we will head to the Black Forest and our hotel in Freiburg. We will check in and enjoy some time to refresh and relax before heading to Ravenaschlucht for a special Christmas experience.
Hotel: Central hotel Freiburg 4*
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024
Basel - Ravenaschlucht - Freiburg
DAY 6
Today we head into France! After breakfast we drive across the border to France, to grasp in Christmas spirit of French Alsace. Our first stop is a lovely Colmar, picture perfect town with its half-timbered houses, charming architecture, romantic canals, and narrow cobblestone streets. Explore one of the six festive Christmas markets meant to recreate the atmosphere of an Alsatian village, explore the charming Little Venice and the Fishmonger’s District. In the afternoon we will drive further, to Strasbourg, often called the ‘capital of Christmas’. Here, we will experience a real Christmas Fairytale! The majority of houses are decorated with pines and teddy bears, and everywhere you turn, you’ll find unique markets selling all sorts of Christmas goods, yummy food and mulled wine. We’ll stroll down the UNESCO protected charming streets of the Grand Ile to admire beautiful medieval buildings, such at the Palais Rohan and the Cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Freiburg also offers a large Christmas Market, if you wish to explore more this evening.
Hotels: Central hotel Freiburg 4*
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024
Day Trip to Colmar And Strasbourg
DAY 7
Enjoy the morning at leisure in Freiburg. If you wish, head out to visit its large Christmas market or stroll the historic city on your own. In the early afternoon we will enjoy the drive back to Switzerland and one of its most beautiful lake towns: Lucerne! We will settle into our hotels and head out to enjoy a short walking tour of historic Lucerne and see the highlights such as the Lion Monument, and the 14th century medieval Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe and Lucerne’s most photographed landmark. After our historic visit, we will enjoy our time discovering Lucerne Christmas markets. Join your host for drinks or stroll around and enjoy at your own pace.
Hotel: Continental Park hotel Luzern 4*
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024
Freiburg - Lucerne
DAY 8
Today is your day to enjoy Luzern. Relax, enjoy the views, take a walk into town, and enjoy the festivities at the Christmas Markets… If you want to explore more, you may consider ascending to Mt. Pilatus, or taking a leisure cruise on Lake Luzern. Tonight, we’ll gather one last time to enjoy an unforgettable traditional Swiss dinner, our farewell dinner…
Hotel: Continental Park hotel Luzern 4*
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024
Luzern
DAY 9
You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Zurich International Airport for your homebound flight.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
Depart Zurich
DAY 3
After the chocolate, it’s time for Swiss cheese! Today morning, we depart to Gruyeres, the real homeland of the famous Swiss cheese and chocolate. Before visiting the village, we stop at the cheese factory where we’ll learn more about the traditional production of this local specialty. Then, we’ll have the time to explore the charming town of Gruyeres, and visit the Gruyeres castle. We’ll sit down for lunch in one of Gruyere’s rustic chalet-style restaurants for a tasty Swiss Fondue. After lunch, we’ll continue to the classy Swiss capital, the medieval city of Bern. After we check in, we’ll have some time to freshen up, and later, you can join your host and stroll to the local Christmas Markets to have some fun together.
Hotel: Savoy 4*
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024
Gruyeres and Bern
Arrive at Geneva international airport, meet your driver, and transfer to your hotel in Montreux. Settle in, relax, do your own thing. If you are eager to start exploring, venture out and enjoy the lovely lakeside Marche de Noel, home of Switzerland’s largest Christmas market. In the early evening, meet your host and fellow travelers at the lobby. From here, we’ll head out to an amazing local restaurant where we’ll dive into the Swiss life with a delicious traditional Swiss raclette dinner.
Hotel: Eden Palace au Lac 4*
Pricing
Price Per Person In
Double Occupancy Rooms
$950
Single Supplement
$4350
Request To Book
What's Included
Accommodation at listed hotel with breakfast daily, based on double occupancy rooms, with the option for single use at a supplement
Customized arrival and departure airport transfers, according to your individual arrival and departure flight timing
All transfers as per program with comfortable air-conditioned small bus
Visit Christmas Markets in Montreux, Bern, Basel, Ravenaschlucht, Colmar, Strasbourg and Luzern
Welcome drink at the hotel
Welcome dinner at the local restaurant with a traditional Swiss raclette dinner, including 2 glasses of wine/ beer or soft drinks
Guided walking tour of Strasbourg with an English-speaking licensed local guide
Afternoon guided walking tour of Lucerne with and English-speaking licensed local guide
Farewell dinner at traditional Swiss restaurant, including 2 soft drinks/ 2 glasses of wine or 2 glasses of beer
Tour is hosted by Urska Klikovac, your travel specialist for the region
Morning guided chocolate-themed walking tour of Geneva, with and English-speaking licensed guide, including visit to traditional chocolate makers and chocolate tasting
Visit cheese-making factory with cheese tasting
Entrance fee to Gruyeres castle
Traditional Swiss Fondue lunch at local restaurant in Gruyeres
Morning guided walking tour of Bern with and English-speaking licensed guide
Orientation tour of Colmar
Visas, passport, and/or departure taxes
Airfare
Any items not listed above
Expenses of personal nature, including tips to guides and drivers, telephone calls, table drinks, internet, laundry, etc.
Travel insurance – highly recommended! Check out World Nomads.
Not Included
Pricing
Price Per Person In
Double Occupancy Rooms
$950
Single Supplement
$4350
Happy Clients
- The Coscia-Mancuso Family, White Plains, NY
We cannot thank Vagabonda Travel enough for custom-designing our family trip to Italy. Memories to last a lifetime. Every detail of our trip was perfectly curated and exceptional. We would have never been able to plan this adventure on our own. Communication with the staff is excellent and we felt secure knowing we had contact number while we were traveling. Cannot wait to book our next trip with you soon!
Trip of a lifetime.
Happy Clients
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We have never used a travel service before, and Vagabonda absolutely blew us away! From their hotel bookings, to the day-by-day itinerary, to hidden gems we definitely would have never found on our own, we can't thank their team enough! Highly recommend for anyone who wants an authentic experience in Europe!
BEST TRIP EVER! We'll remember this for the rest of our lives!
Happy Clients
- Pete and Paula, Lindenhurst, New York
When my husband and I started planning our 30th Anniversary trip to Italy we had no idea where to even begin. That’s when I stumbled across Alida’s TikTok videos. I absolutely LOVED her content. To be honest, at first I was skeptical about planning a trip like this off of someone I saw in a TikTok video, but after meeting with her we knew we picked the right travel agency. Our 17-day trip was absolutely incredible. Alida and Vagabonda Travel made our lifetime dream of touring Italy one we will never forget!
Happy 30th Anniversary to Us! A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
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