Food for thought
- Switzerland has four distinct regions, each with its own language and culture, and each of those regions merges time-honored local food traditions and the best of modern culinary art.
- Sample 350 different varieties of sausages and 450 varieties of cheese.
Flavors of the market
- Every city and large village holds a market once or twice a week, with the freshest foods from farmers, butchers, bakers and cheese makers.
- The markets in Bellinzona, Chur, Basel and Solothurn are particularly enticing.
Traditional food at the Swiss Open-Air Museum
- This museum in Ballenberg near Brienz works to keep history alive – and that includes the history of food.
- From spring to autumn, you can watch the butcher, the baker, the cheese maker and the chocolate maker at work. It’s enough to make your mouth water…
A delicious hike
- The high path between Chasseral and Frinvilliers near Biel offers not only spectacular views, but also the chance to visit a dozen or so métairies along the way.
- Métairies are alpine huts where regional specialties such as cheese, Rösti and ham are served.
Direct from the land
- Nearly all the fruits, vegetables, jams, wines, cheeses, and sausages from the canton of Vaud can be found in a single shop, La Ferme vaudoise in Yverdon-les-Bains.
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| Best of Switzerland – 8-day tour |
| Offer provided by Brendan Vacations |
Zurich • Liechtenstein • St. Moritz • Bellinzona • Lugano • Zermatt • Montreux • Geneva • Berne • Interlaken • Lucerne • Zurich
Your Virtuoso Experience includes:
- Double occupancy accommodations in hotels; hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
- Airport transfers in Zurich on days 2 and 9
- 7 buffet breakfasts; 5 three-course dinners, including a Welcome Dinner in Zurich
- Services of a professional Tour Director
- Private luxury motorcoach
- Inside visits and special features including admission charges where applicable
- Brendan flight bag and portfolio for travel documents
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| Available throughout 2008 |
Virtuoso rates from US$1,475 per person, per package, land only
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| Switzerland Hiking – 6 day tour |
| Offer provided by Backroads |
Kandersteg • Leukerbad • Zermatt
Your Virtuoso Experience includes:
- Accommodations throughout tour
- All meals except for one lunch and one dinner
- Hike along a ridge high above the turquoise waters of Lake Oeschinen
- Welcome drink and dinner at a traditional chalet in Kandersteg
- Hike a challenging route to Leukerbad over the Gemmi Pass
- Walk on the Talli Glacier led by your local guide
- Visit to a small cheese farm and sample the local fare
- Ride the Glacier Express train to Zermatt
- Walk through historic mountain hamlets in the Zmutt Valley
- Visit the Ricola herb garden exhibit
- Ride the cog railway to the top of 10,000-foot Gornergrat Mountain
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| Available July 6, 13, 20, 27; August 10, 2008 |
Virtuoso rates from US$3,898 per person, double occupancy, land only
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| Luxury Ski Week in Zermatt, Switzerland |
| Offer provided by Alpine Adventures |
Your Virtuoso Exclusive Experience includes:
- Seven nights’ accommodation in Double Deluxe room at the 5-star Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
- Roundtrip airfare from NYC to Geneva (Switzerland) via Delta Airlines
- Roundtrip first class train transfers from the airport to Zermatt
- Breakfast buffet and dinner daily at the hotel
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| Available January 18 through February 2, 2008 (Please inquire about other dates and departure airports). |
Virtuoso rates from US$3,480 per person, double occupancy
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| Swiss Adventures – 11-day tour |
| Offer provided by Tauck |
Montreux • Zermatt • Lugano • St. Moritz • Grindelwald • Lucerne
Your Virtuoso Experience includes:
- All hotel accommodations with private bath
- Train ride aboard in the private, domed observation car on The Glacier Express
- Motor coach transportation
- Special dinners throughout tour
- Most meals are included throughout tour
- Sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director
- Transfer to and from hotel based on Tauck’s selected flight(s)
- All gratuities for restaurant, hotel staff and local guides
Virtuoso Exclusive Offer: Book by November 1st and receive a Longitude Books gift set valued at $100 per booking. |
| Available May through September 2008 |
Virtuoso rates from US$4,890 per person, double occupancy
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| Lucerne and Interlaken – 7-day tour |
| Offer provided by Bucher Travel Inc. |
Your Virtuoso Experience includes:
- 3 nights’ accommodation in Lucerne
- 3 nights’ accommodation in Interlaken
- All meals including wine
- Service charge and taxes each day
- Virtuoso amenities at each property
- All transportation by private car with English-speaking driver as per program
- Museum pass valid for all museums in Lucerne
- Exclusive book about the Rosengart Collecton signed by Picasso friend, Angela Rosengart
- Personal meet & greet at Zurich airport
- Champagne and hors d’oeuvres during the airport transfer
- Private guide for all activities
- Private boat trip on Lake Lucerne
- Tickets to Mount Rigi and Jungfraujoch
- Helicopter sight-seeing tour
- Private visit to medieval clock tower
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| Available through December 31, 2008 |
| Virtuoso rates from CHF 20,300 (approx. US$17,510) per package, double occupancy
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