8 Day Christmas Markets of Switzerland & France

8 days
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From$2,499
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Experience the charm of the world-famous Christmas markets in Basel, Strasbourg, Zurich, & Lucerne Explore Basel’s historic Old Town, and learn about the city’s rich history Walking tour of picturesque Strasbourg with its blend of French and German cultures View Fraumunster Church, a Zurich landmark with its Chagall windows View the impressive Lion Monument, commemorating the massacre of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution Enjoy a sunset panoramic cruise on glacial Lake Lugano †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

What's this trip about?

    3 Basel, 2 Lucerne, 1 Lugano

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe

Attractions

  • Basel
  • Bern
  • Lucerne
  • Strasbourg

Trip includes

    • Flights New York-Basel, Milan-New York Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges 6 nights First Class accommodations
    • 3 nights Basel 2 nights Lucerne 1 night Lugano Hotel taxes, fees & service charges Hotel porterage All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates† 9 meals: 6 breakfasts, 3 dinners Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout Services of English-speaking local guides Entrance fees per itinerary

Itinerary

DAY 1, Friday - Depart for Switzerland
Depart for Switzerland

DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Basel
Arrive in Basel, located along the mighty Rhine River and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM Overnight: Basel Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Sunday - Basel City Tour & Christmas Markets, Colmar Christmas Market
Begin your exploration of Basel's historic Old Town, and learn about the city's rich history. View the Münster Cathedral, Basel Historical Museum, City Hall, Münster Pfalz, and Tinguely Fountain. In the afternoon, head to the small town of Colmar, located in the Alsace r...
DAY 4, Monday - Obernai, Strasbourg
This morning, head to the town of Obernai in France. Walk the medieval streets of the Old Town with its half-timbered houses, and view the Town Hall with its colorful façade. Enjoy the ambience before traveling to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. Stop at the Gothic Cat...
DAY 5, Tuesday - Zurich Christmas Market, Lucerne
Depart Basel and travel to Zurich, Switzerland's financial center. Take an orientation walk through the Old Town. View Fraumunster Church, St Peter's Church, historic Limmatquai, and famous Bahnhofstrasse. Enjoy free time to stroll through the Christmas market. Sip on mu...
DAY 6, Wednesday - Full Day in Lucerne
Spend the day at leisure, or join the optional Full Day Bern with dinner tour. Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's woodcar...
DAY 7, Thursday - Travel to Lugano, Evening Cruise on Lake Lugano
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional tour to Mount Pilatus. Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the summit of Mt. Pilatus at nearly 7000 feet. After admiring the panorama, descend by aerial cableway. In the afternoon, depart for Lugano in southe...
DAY 8, Friday - Depart Switzerland
Transfer to the airport in Milan for your departure flight. Milan is approximately an hour and a half drive from Lugano Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,499
Price per day$312
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Gate 1 Travel Reviews & Ratings

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Other Gate 1 Travel Reviews

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DS

Jan 2024

Provided byGate 1 Travel

Gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

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NBR

Dec 2023

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THE ABSOLUTE WORST

THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

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Joyce Toler

Dec 2023

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Poor customer service

It has been about 7.5 years since I traveled with Gate 1 Travel. In the past, customer service was exceptionally great! Now I am appauded with the unprofessional and...

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Tour Operator

Gate 1 Travel

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

Independent Fly & Drive Packages

Multi-Destination Rail Packages

Customized Vacations (Vacation Builder)

Custom Groups and Individuals

Group Air

 

Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Not Included:Optional tours and gratuities.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
18 years and up
Optional Activities
Mount Pilatus Tour Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway which winds up through lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers, past sparkling mountain streams and fascinating rock faces to Mt. Pilatus. After admiring splendid views of the Bernese Oberland and the snowcapped Swiss peaks from the summit at nearly 7000 feet, descend by aerial cableway and return to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. *From November to May and in the event of adverse weather, the cogwheel will be replaced by the aerial cable car. OnDay : 7 Price : $104 Full Day Bern with dinner Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's woodcarving tradition. Afterward, stop in Interlaken, a chic resort town with views of the snowy Jungfrau peak. Spend free time, before continuing to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the Old Town and view the Gothic Cathedral, the Muenster, with its stunning portal and its depiction of the Last Judgment. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). Explore the lively Christmas market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday gifts and gingerbread. Savor a fondue dinner before returning to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 8 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $90 Mount Pilatus Tour Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway which winds up through lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers, past sparkling mountain streams and fascinating rock faces to Mt. Pilatus. After admiring splendid views of the Bernese Oberland and the snowcapped Swiss peaks from the summit at nearly 7000 feet, descend by aerial cableway and return to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. *From November to May and in the event of adverse weather, the cogwheel will be replaced by the aerial cable car. OnDay : 7 Price : $104 Full Day Bern with dinner Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's woodcarving tradition. Afterward, stop in Interlaken, a chic resort town with views of the snowy Jungfrau peak. Spend free time, before continuing to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the Old Town and view the Gothic Cathedral, the Muenster, with its stunning portal and its depiction of the Last Judgment. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). Explore the lively Christmas market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday gifts and gingerbread. Savor a fondue dinner before returning to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 8 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $90 Mount Pilatus Tour Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway which winds up through lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers, past sparkling mountain streams and fascinating rock faces to Mt. Pilatus. After admiring splendid views of the Bernese Oberland and the snowcapped Swiss peaks from the summit at nearly 7000 feet, descend by aerial cableway and return to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. *From November to May and in the event of adverse weather, the cogwheel will be replaced by the aerial cable car. OnDay : 7 Price : $104 Full Day Bern with dinner Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's woodcarving tradition. Afterward, stop in Interlaken, a chic resort town with views of the snowy Jungfrau peak. Spend free time, before continuing to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the Old Town and view the Gothic Cathedral, the Muenster, with its stunning portal and its depiction of the Last Judgment. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). Explore the lively Christmas market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday gifts and gingerbread. Savor a fondue dinner before returning to Lucerne. Approximate tour duration is 8 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $90
Additional Information

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.

Trip ID
gate1-CH-8DCHMCHFR-PKG-23

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