By Judy Bereza, Guest blogger

What would be the best way to experience Switzerland when you are an “advanced” Senior couple, reasonably fit and looking for adventure, but  perhaps not ready to undertake all the planning and responsibility for the glitches can occur along the way? 

This was the challenge my husband  and I undertook when we decided to explore Switzerland.  We wanted to see as much of the country as possible in ten days, enjoy the perks of five star hotels, experience gourmet dining, avail ourselves of the opportunity to hike occasionally on our own, enjoy cultural and historic sites, all in the company of a small group with a dedicated and top notch guide for the entire trip.  Quite a list!

Luxury Gold Tours, a family owned travel company, offered the perfect trip for us.  With an average of 18 guests, a curated itinerary which  circumnavigated  the country, and enticing experiences, it fulfilled all our aspirations. 

Zurich

We arrived  in Zurich this past September, a beautiful city, although on that day shrouded in clouds and rain.  Not the best weather welcome, but we were warmly welcomed by our tour guide in our beautiful hotel, and later toured the city.  Zurich is the commercial heart of Switzerland, beautiful we were told, with the mountains in the background which, of course, we could not see.  

Liehtenstein

Not to worry, the next day was lovely and we spread out in our coach, designed for twice as many people as our small group.  WE enjoyed  a quick side trip to Liechtenstein, a tiny European Principality.

St. Moritz

St. Moritz was the next stop.  It  is the quintessential example of everyone’s postcard vision of Switzerland.  It is simply stunning.  (As an aside, I might run out of adjectives to describe how gorgeous this country is, so bear with me.)  The next morning we headed out to board a cable car which carried us to a breathtaking vista which just begged for an exploratory hike.  We accommodated.  After wandering through the luxe ski village,  we topped off the day with a scenic tour on the Bernina Express Train.

The next day, we boarded the fabled Glacier Express Train, an eight hour journey, which carried us from St. Moritz to Zermatt.  Gourmet all the way. We basically rubber necked the entire trip.  Waterfalls, frozen mountain tops, pristine Swiss villages, rivers, tunnels, glaciers, it lived up to it’s reputation as one of the most scenic train rides in the world. 

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

And then, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.  Zermatt is actually an ancient village, founded during Roman times, and has protected structures dating back to the 16th century, The Matterhorn put it on the map as a tourist destination.  As part of our visit, we took a cog railway to an elevation of 10,000 feet to see the storied mountain up close.  Again,  shrouded in clouds, but this time no rain.  To our astonishment, the clouds ever so briefly parted, and we were overwhelmed by its massive size.  More hiking followed.

Montreux and Lake Geneva

Then, on to Montreux and along Lake Geneva to Geneva, the functioning heart of the United Nations.  Another historic city center,  followed by a tour of the city and the United Nations buildings.

Gruyeres

After being saturated with so much beauty and history, we were not even close to being finished.  On our way to Lucerne, we stopped at Gruyeres. Ah, Gruyeres, the perfectly preserved medieval Swiss Village, with an unequaled panoramic view.  And, a visit is not complete without the traditional Gruyere fondue.  

Lucerne

Then, the perfect ending to our visit to Switzerland, Lucerne.  Now I’m really running out of descriptive words.  Situated at the end of Lake Lucerne, the city has a carefully and colorfully preserved medieval center, a walkable lake front with mountain vistas all around, flowers everywhere, and a notable covered bridge.

At the end of the trip, we reluctantly said goodbye to our new international friends, our lovely tour guide, and to the most beautiful country we have ever visited.  A bit smug, we  congratulated ourselves on our brilliant trip planning.

As the cliche goes, it exceeded our expectations.

  Judy loves to travel with family and friends, taking off on adventures far and near with her husband, family and friends.  A retired interior designer, Judy divides her time between Michigan and Florida, while making many trips each year to visit grandchildren in other states.