­­Depart Elite Coach, 1685 West Main Street, Ephrata at 11:00 AM. British Airways (BA). Flight #184 departs Newark (EWR) at 5:55 PM and arrives at London Heathrow (LHR) at 5:50 AM. Multi-meals.

BA Flight #732 departs LHR at  9:25 AM and arrives at Zurich (ZRH) at 12:15 PM. Two hour train ride to Appenzell, an idyllic car-free town famous for its centuries old traditions that are still thriving today. Synonymous with the most beautiful Swiss traditions such as yodeling, cheese, seasonal cattle processions and traditional dances. Marvel at its magnificently decorated houses and living craftmanship. We will spend the day leisurely exploring the town. Stay in Appenzell for 3 nights in the 3 star Hotel Lowen https://hoewen-appenzell.ch/en/

45 minute train and bus ride to Mount Santis, the highest, most compelling mountain in Northeastern Switzerland. This legendary mountain provides some of Europe’s most stunning natural scenery. On its summit, you can see 6 countries. We will journey by cable car. Afternoon may include a 15 minute ride to Ebenalp, another beautiful mountain. Possible lunch or snack at the world famous Aescher Ebenalp Restaurant, a cute little chalet built into a mountain cliff. Cable cars will get us here. We will see the famous “happy cows” as Ebenalp is home to some of the most gleeful cows in all of Switzerland! We will also spend some time admiring Ebenalp Seealpsee, a perfect emerald green alpine lake. Overnight in Appenzell.

A cultural day in Appenzell area. We will visit the Appenzell dairy-an experience promising to be very special, bringing together all the senses, tradition and comfort of an authentic Swiss dairy. We will learn how the world famous Appenzeller cheese is made, and of course, get to sample! Afternoon may include a 30 minute train to Maienfeld, better known as Heidi Village, from the beloved children’s book. Author Johanna Spryi was so inspired by the people and ways of life here that she based Heidi’s village off of this village. Experience the village in a back in time journey to the origin story of Heidi. Overnight in Appenzell.

Possible 1 hour train ride to Walensee, or Lake Walen, one of the largest lakes in Switzerland with steep cliffs rising up out of the lake. Possible picnic on the lake. 2 hour train ride to Engelberg, a small ski/hiking resort at the end of a valley framed by the glacial bulk of Mt. Titlis…Engelberg has 360 km of marked hiking trails set in gentle and gorgeous scenery…It has several cable cars, from the famous revolving cable car climbing to 3,020 meters over the stunning Titlis Glacier to more modest cars transporting farmers to their alpine meadows…Engelberg town has a nice pedestrian village and a    12th century Benedictine Abbey.  Stay 2 nights at the 3 star Hotel Crystal; https://www.hotelcrystal.ch

1 hour train ride to Lucerne, one of the most attractive old cities, known for its many sights as well as Lake Lucerne. Day to Explore Lucerne’s old town with its many sights, such as Chapel Bridge and Water Tower and Musegg Wall. We will also explore Lake Lucerne’s stunning fjord landscapes by boat. Overnight in Engelberg.

2 hour train ride to the Berner Oberland,the most famous mountain region in the country…We will stay in Wengen, a pedestrian only village, is a great base from which to explore this region. Stay 3 nights at the 4 star Victoria Lauberhorn Hotel in Wengen for 3 nights; https://www.faernresorts.com/wengen

Next 2 days are interchangeable as dictated by the weather… this is the best region for independent travel for those who want more walking… Short train rides and cable car rides to pedestrian only villages of Gimmelwald and Murren, perched on a cliff high above the valley…exciting cable car journey to the Schilthorn, a revolving restaurant made famous in a James Bond movie…overnight in Wengen… The next days may include

*Short cog train ride across the valley to Wengen, another pedestrian only village…visit to Grindelwald, a town famous for its view of the region’s 3 peaks, the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch…high alpine bus to Grosse Scheidigg for fantastic 2 hour walk to First…possible cable car rides to glaciers…overnight in Wengen…

*possible ride on Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train ride…

*possible 1.5 hour train ride to Bern, the beautiful Switzerland capital… we will wander the old town’s atmospheric cobbled streets, dipping in and out of the arcades on a street plan unchanged since medieval times… Bern is so beautiful, it is designated a UNESCO sight mountain bus for high mountain pass traveling… this is a tour offered by the Swiss travel systemfor easy access to mountain passes and villages…it is a rare opportunity to climb the passes in an era where most take the tunnels through the mountains…the high passes all around offer possibilities for spectacular postbus travel over the Grimsel, Sustenpass, and Furka (featured in James Bond “Goldfinger”) mountain passes…

1.5 hour train ride to Kandersteg… luggage transport… Kandersteg is a small town in an amphitheatre of spiky peaks studded with glaciers…its jewel colored lakes create a sublime natural backdrop to the rustic village of dark-timber chalets…

we will have time to ride a cable car from Kandersteg to Oeschinesee for a 40 minute down hill hike to see the extraordinary view of the Oeschinesee and the Blumlisalp…. Those who want to hike more can see great vantage points of the lake and hike down the valley… those who do not want to hike can ride a cart back to the cable car station and take the cable car down to Kandersteg, Stay 2 nights in Kandersteg at the

Private shuttle transport to nearby Gasterntal Valley, a beautiful valley unknown to most Americans… 2.5 hour walk on gravel roads… then, cable car ride high in the mountains and hike up to 2-3 hours more… those who do not want to hike more can take a cable car and return to our hotel by bus or a level valley hike…stay in Kandersteg..

Train ride to Fiesch to take cable car ride to visit the gigantic Aletch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps and a UNESCO site… the village of Fiesch has lifts up to the vantage point of the Eggishorn, offering the finest views of the glacier…luggage transport…2 hour train ride to world famous Zermatt, home to the Matterhorn…Zermatt is a pedestrian only village with old brown chalets and twisting alleyways in the Hinterdorf quarter… shopping opportunities abound… we will stay in Zermatt for 2 nights at the 3 star Hotel Bristol www.hotel-bristol.ch

Choices include cable cars and cog railways and hikes… one day will include a ride on the Sunegga lift to Blauherd and making a day hike from the 2.5 hours 5 lakes hike, featuring reflections on the Matterhorn, the 1.75 hour Nature Walk, and the 1.5 hour Riffelalp Walk…one day will include a ride on the Schwarzee cable car ride which offers the most picture-perfect views of the Matterhorn at close quarters…then, we will take the 3 hour Matterhorn Trail which will take us into a variety of terrain and into mountain hamlets…for those not wanting to hike as much, the Gornergrat is famous for its views of the Matterhorn as you climb over 3,000 meters… beautiful cable car rides to Rothorn summit, viewing alpine lakes along the way… walking opportunities abound… overnight in Zermatt

Time to return to Zurich…our luggage may be transported by the Swiss Rail System…we will stay at the 3 star Holiday Inn Express Zurich Airport www.ihg.com

Transport to Zurich airport…BA Flight #741 departs ZRH at 7:15 AM (yikes!!) and arrives at LHR at 8:10 AM… BA Flight #185 departs LHR at 11:10 and arrives at EWR at 1:55 PM. Multi-meals. Return to Ephrata.