2022 Paris & Switzerland
September 12 - 21, 2022
Tour Begins in Paris, France and Ends in Lucerne, Switzerland
for Single Accommodations
This Trip Includes
AIRFARE & TRANSFERS
Round trip international airfare; Group transfer upon arrival and for departure
9 NIGHTS
Hotel accommodations, including porterage
13 MEALS
American breakfast (B) daily; 4 dinners (D)
SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES
Guided sightseeing with your Tour Manager as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary; visits, admissions and special features are shown in bold.
PROFESSIONAL TOUR MANAGER
Full time, English-speaking throughout the trip
Tour Highlights
- Full-time Tour Manager
- Welcome Dinner
- Paris Panoramic City Tour
- Montmarte Fabric Shopping
- Eiffel Tower
- Seine River Dinner Cruise
- Palace of Versailles Tour
- Nissim de Camondo Museum
- High Speed Train to Alsace Region
- Colmar Train Tour
- European Patchwork Meeting Admission
- Wesserling Park
- Textile EcoMuseum
- Black Forest Region of Germany
- Triberg Cuckoo Clock Shopping
- Bernina Factory Tour
- Lucerne Old Town Walking Tour
- Farewell Dinner
- Souvenir Shopping Bag
- Baggage Handling
- Thirteen Meals: 9 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
Hand Selected Hotels
PARIS, FRANCE
Le Meridien Etoile
COLMAR, FRANCE
Mercure Colmar Centre
FREIBURG, GERMANY
Hotel Novotel Freiburg
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Hotel Monopol
From fabric shopping on Montmartre, touring Versailles and dinner in the Eiffel Tower, to Germany’s half-timbered Black Forest villages and a tour of one of Switzerland’s most charming cities, this trip is Europe in a nutshell!
Day 1
Arrive Paris – Tour Begins
Relax and unpack at your hotel located in the heart of Paris. Meet your Tour Manager and companions tonight as we savor delicious French cuisine at our Welcome Dinner. D
Day 2
Paris
After breakfast, our private guide takes us on a tour of The City of Light. You’ll see world-famous landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde and the magnificent Place Vendôme. This afternoon, visit the beautiful Musee Nissim de Camondo. B
Day 3
Paris
Begin the day with a visit to the beautiful Palace and Gardens of Versailles. This afternoon explore atmospheric Montmartre. Perhaps you will wander into one of the many boutiques brimming with fabric, notions, wearables and trim. The remainder of your day is for you to explore the best of Paris independently. Shop along the Champs-Élysées or visit one of the world-famous museums. Tonight, marvel at breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower as you enjoy glittering nightscapes on an enchanting Seine River dinner cruise. B, D
Day 4
Paris – Colmar
Bid au revoir to Paris before boarding one of France’s high-speed trains that whisks us to Colmar. Take in the historic architecture and colorful restaurants on our tour of Old Town aboard the miniature-style Petit Train. Later, settle into the hotel, our home for the next two nights. B
Day 5
Colmar – European Patchwork Meeting
You’ll want the whole day at the fabulous European Patchwork Meeting and its exhibits of more than 1,000 works of textile art, with everything from traditional Amish (who originated here) and priceless heirlooms to wildly original contemporary quilts. Learn from demonstrations and classes, attend a fashion show, and shop for fabrics, patterns and needle-craft supplies. B
Day 6
Colmar – Freiburg
Return to the European Patchwork Meeting before visiting Wesserling Park to admire their Baroque and English gardens, some of which date back to 1699. Inside the gardens, we visit the Textile Ecomuseum whose focus on fabric arts and fashion pays homage to the textiles that were manufactured here in the Alsace region. You also can view the chateau, beautiful gardens and the former royal workshops. Tonight, we’ll stay in charming Freiburg, in Germany’s Black Forest region. B, D
Day 7
Freiburg – Titisee
As we drive deeper into the wooded hills of the Black Forest, with its half-timbered villages and rambling farmhouses, you might think you’ve strayed into a fairy tale. This is the home of the cuckoo clock, and in Titisee you can see one of the world’s largest cuckoo clocks. Shop for clocks, woodcarvings and other traditional Black Forest crafts before returning to our cozy hotel. B
Day 8
Freiburg – Steckborn – Lucerne
Travel to Steckborn for a private guided factory tour of Bernina International, with demonstrations of their sewing machines, software and accessories. After a leisurely lunch on your own, travel into Central Europe’s most mountainous country, Switzerland. After arriving in Lucerne, our home for the next two nights, you’ll have time to explore the shops that line this cobblestone street village. B
Day 9
Lucerne
Start your day in Lucerne, the “Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” Enjoy a leisurely paced Altstadt (Old Town) walking tour of the hidden treasures of the city. Lucerne has more than 800 years of history. Explore such medieval treasures as the covered Chapel Bridge (1333); the famous Water Tower, which has served as a prison, watchtower and treasury; the Renaissance-style Town Hall; the Baroque Jesuit Church; and the Lion Monument, carved from natural rock to commemorate the heroic Swiss Guard. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers. B, D
Day 10
Lucerne – Tour Ends
After a leisurely breakfast, we can swap addresses with new friends before our group transfer to Zurich Airport. B