“Super Promo Alps 5-Country Tour and Bernina Express Route V2”

Tour details

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT

This tour is arranged with a minimum participation requirement of 40 people.  If sufficient participation is not achieved, the final cancellation notification date is 20 days before the tour start date. The tour cancelled due to insufficient participation will be notified to you through your agency.

VISA

Ordinary Passport  - Visa required                         

Green Passport -  Visa not required

Service Passport -  Visa not required 

You must have a passport valid for 6 months from the end date of travel and not older than 10 years.

HEALTH

There is no vaccination requirement for entry into Switzerland. We do not think there will be any issue that will threaten your health with meals taken at the region’s good restaurants and hotels. However, when you are not with the group, we recommend that you be careful about food and drink, definitely consume bottled water, avoid ice, milk and dairy products, and eat meat and fish products that you are sure are well cooked; for fruit, we recommend eating fruits that can be peeled, such as bananas and pineapples.

FLIGHT TIMES

Istanbul - Zurich 3 hr 25 min

Basel - Istanbul  3 hr 25 min

OPTIONAL TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Optional tours and activities are organized by the local agency we use with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people, and participation is not mandatory. If the required number is not reached, excursions cannot be carried out, or the prices, content, and vehicle to be used for optional tours/activities may vary depending on the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of optional tours/activities may be changed by the guide according to whether museums, archaeological sites, or venues at the destinations to be visited are open or closed, and according to weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION

During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used farther than the specified km. 

Triple rooms may be provided depending on hotel availability, and in such rooms, the bed provided for the 3rd person may be smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed and 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are folding beds and coach beds, participants are deemed to have declared that they accept the congestion that may occur in the rooms and the bed type in reservations for a 3rd person and/or children.

Children discounts are valid for a single (1) child staying with 2 adults and matching the age group specified in the pricing section. 

Breakfasts included among the services in the tour program are served at the hotel in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited, and generally with a limited menu called continental breakfast, consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group.

CURRENCY

The Swiss currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF) and the European currency is the Euro (EUR). It is useful to have Euro (EUR) with you.

TIME ZONE

Switzerland, France, and Italy are 3 hours behind Turkey in summer time and 2 hours behind in winter time. For example, when it is 18:30 in Turkey in summer, it is 15:30 in Italy.

CLOTHING AND NECESSARY ITEMS

If you are going in the summer season, we recommend that you bring T-shirts, short- and long-sleeved shirts that can be easily put on and taken off, cotton trousers, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for the evenings, and a light sweater. In addition; you may also bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs against possible noise, a camera, a video camera, and their chargers and spare memory cards. In winter, we recommend clothes that allow you to move comfortably and keep you warm.

 FOOD CULTURE

Swiss cuisine is influenced by French, German, and Northern Italian cuisine as well as, primarily, Switzerland’s history as an agricultural country. Many traditional Swiss dishes tend to be relatively simple and are made from staple ingredients such as potatoes and Swiss cheese. 

French cuisine, whose roots go back to the Middle Ages, has a rich culture. French cuisine, whose fame has spread around the world with its famous wines and various cheeses, is known for meat dishes cooked with different sauces and delicious desserts such as crème brûlée, macaron, and soufflé. 

Italian cuisine, which varies by region, is among the richest cuisines in the world thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean. It offers a wide range of options, from snacks prepared with fresh tomatoes, greens, and country-specific cheeses, to pizzas of magnificent flavor, from pastas made with a variety of sauces to seafood.

 IMPORTANT NOTES

Having a valid passport and/or having obtained a visa (for a destination/passport requiring a visa) does not mean that entry into the country will be granted. Passport police have the authority to deny you entry into the country. The agency is not responsible for this situation; responsibility belongs to the passenger.  

The agency is an intermediary institution between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the 28.09.1955 Hague Protocol. There may be a risk of delay on scheduled and special flights, or the times may change before the current tour and flight. The agency is obliged to notify such changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that flight details may change. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport tax and airport service fee. 

Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours arranged for the general introduction of cities and carried out panoramically from inside the vehicle with guide narration, lasting at most 2-3 hours and not including museum or archaeological site entrance fees. For panoramic tours, including other tours specified in the program, if they cannot be carried out on the day and time of the tour due to local authorities not allowing visits or entry, or due to closed roads because of any event, and likewise in cases where the tour becomes impossible due to weather conditions, the agency is not responsible for the inability to carry out the said tours. Some tours may be carried out by public transportation or on foot where possible at closed roads or points where vehicle entry is not permitted.

What's included
  • Economy class airfare with Turkish Airlines between Istanbul (IST) – Zurich (ZRH) / Basel (BSL) – Istanbul (IST)
  • 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in 3*& 4* hotels
  • Airport-hotel-airport transfers & all transfers by private bus
  • Train ticket with Bernina Express between Torino – Pontresina
  • Panoramic Zurich city tour
  • Panoramic Milan city tour
  • Panoramic Geneva city tour
  • Panoramic Mulhouse city tour
  • Basel Tour worth 50 Euro included
  • Bern Tour worth 30 Euro included
  • Lausanne Tour worth 30 Euro included
  • Geneva Tour worth 50 Euro included
  • Freiburg Tour worth 40 Euro included
  • Como & Lugano Tour worth 100 Euro included
  • Professional Turkish-speaking guiding and assistant services
  • Hotel and tourist city taxes (25-30 Euro)
  • TURSAB compulsory professional liability insurance
  • Travel and health insurance (a surcharge applies for those over 65)
Not included
  • Visa fee, service fee
  • Exit tax fee
  • Domestic connection ticket
  • Driver tips and gratuities are excluded.
  • Lunch and dinner
  • All kinds of personal expenses and hotel extras
  • Optional excursions/activities
  • Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites not specified in the included services
Tour Program
Istanbul - Zurich
After meeting our guide at Istanbul Airport International Terminal, we complete our baggage and ticket procedures at the Turkish Airlines counter and depart for Zurich. Upon arrival, after completing passport procedures, we begin our city tour. During our panoramic tour of Zurich, known as one of Europe’s most orderly cities, the sites to be seen include the Chagall stained-glass windows of Fraumünster Church, Grossmünster Church, the Old Town (Altstadt), the Opera House, Lake Zurich, and Bahnhofstrasse, the heart of the city. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. The evening is free at leisure. Guests who wish may take a walk along the lakeside. Overnight at our hotel.
Zurich - Lindau - Bregenz - Liechtenstein - Rapperswil
After breakfast at our hotel, we have free time. Guests who wish may join our optional “4 Countries in One Day Tour” organized by our guide: Lindau – Bregenz – Liechtenstein – Rapperswil (160 EUR). Early in the morning, we are picked up from your hotel in Zurich by our private vehicle and begin our pleasant journey. Our first stop is the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. Here we take a short break. You can stand right near the thundering waters and feel the power of this natural wonder, as well as take plenty of photos. After our visit to the waterfall, we continue south. Along the way, we listen to our guide about Switzerland’s cultural richness and history. We then cross the border into Liechtenstein, one of the smallest yet most impressive countries in the world. When we arrive in the capital, Vaduz, we are given free time in the city center. Guests may shop in boutique stores, sit in cafés, or see Vaduz Castle on the hill. Those who wish can have a souvenir Liechtenstein stamp placed in their passport. After leaving Vaduz, we continue on to Austria. We arrive at Bregenz, a town on the shores of Lake Constance. Here we take a short break by the lake. After Austria, our next stop is Germany. We cross to Lindau, a town on the other side of the lake. This is an island town famous for its medieval streets and preserved historic character. We walk through its narrow streets and see the Bavarian Lion Statue and Lindau Lighthouse. Here, panoramic views of the lake and the Alps await you. Before ending the day, we return once again to Switzerland. Along the way, we make one last stop in Rapperswil, a town located at the northern end of Lake Zurich. Known as the “Town of Roses,” Rapperswil offers the chance to stroll along the lakeshore and enjoy magnificent views from Rapperswil Castle on the hill. At the end of the day, we return to your hotel in Zurich. Overnight at our hotel.
From Zurich to Milan by Bernina Express
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart and head to the town of Pontresina for the magical Bernina Express journey. At Pontresina station, we board the red Bernina Express & Red Train, which is included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Throughout this delightful journey, as we pass through Alpine peaks, glaciers, bridges, and tunnels, we enjoy breathtaking views. This route, enhanced with photo stops, is one of the highest mountain railways in the world. At the end of the journey, we arrive in Tirano and then continue by bus to Milan. Upon arrival, our panoramic city tour begins: Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala Square, and the Brera district are among the places to be seen. Free time in the evening and overnight at our hotel.
Milan
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for a city tour of Milan. During our panoramic Milan city tour, the places to be seen include the Duomo Cathedral, considered the symbol of the city, the Galleria, Scala Square, and La Fortezza. Afterwards, free time for shopping. Guests who wish may join the optional Portofino & Outlet tour (80 Euros), organized by our guide. Our first stop is Portofino, where pleasant moments await us among houses dominated by yellow, orange, green, and red colors, with green trees prevailing behind the houses. Then we head to Fidenza Village Outlet, where our guests can enjoy shopping to their heart’s content. After the tour, we return to our hotel in Milan. Overnight at our hotel.
Milan - Como - Lugano - Geneva
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Lake Como, one of Northern Italy’s most popular destinations. This glacial lake, located at the foot of the Alps, is famous for its elegant villas, chic cafés, and breathtaking scenery. Piazza Cavour Square and the historic Duomo Cathedral are among the places to be seen. We then cross into Switzerland and head to the city of Lugano. Located at the foot of the Alps, Lugano reflects Switzerland’s Mediterranean spirit with its lake views, palm trees, and elegant squares. On our panoramic city tour, Via Nassa shopping street, Parco Ciani park, and the lakeside will be among the places to be seen. After a short walk along the shore of Lake Lugano, we stop for a photo break. At noon, we continue on the road and arrive in Geneva. At the end of the day, transfer to our hotel and free time. Overnight at our hotel.
Geneva - Lausanne - Montreux - Bern - Mulhouse
After breakfast at our hotel, we will take a city tour of Geneva. During our visit to Geneva, the main sights we will see include St. Pierre Cathedral, the Jet d’Eau fountain, which has become the symbol of Geneva and rises up to 140 meters, and the Reformation Monument. We then depart for Lausanne. Lausanne, which hosted the Treaty of Lausanne signed on 24 July 1923 and therefore holds a very important place in our national history, is also one of the important bishopric centers of the Middle Ages. In Lausanne, which takes visitors deep into history with its castles dating back to the Middle Ages, the D’Ouchy Castle, palaces, cathedrals, and museum buildings, and whose appeal is further enhanced by its location on the shores of Lake Geneva, we will take a short city tour and then visit Montreux. Montreux, which is also well known in our national history, is a city of great importance to the world of music as well as for its castles, historic buildings, and natural beauty. The song Smoke on the Water, which left its mark on an era, tells the story of a casino fire in Montreux, and there is also a statue of Freddy Mercury, who spent the final period of his life working here. After our city tour in Montreux, we will see Chillon Castle, which has become the symbol of Montreux, in panoramic view and take photos of the postcard-perfect scenery, then head to Bern. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historic texture, it is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Located within Switzerland and with German as its official language, Bern also shows the influence of German culture in its architecture. After a short break in Bern, which was built around the Aare River, we will return to our hotel for the night.
Mulhouse
After breakfast at our hotel, we have a full day at leisure. For those who wish, we depart for the Alsace Wonders Colmar & Strasbourg Tour (100 Euro), which will be organized optionally by our guide. First, we go to the fairy-tale town of Colmar, where we will see the Old Customs House, Pfister House, and the colorful houses around the Rhine River, as well as the town’s most famous area, Petite Venise (Little Venice). In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and its canals, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many delicious local foods as well as buy plenty of souvenirs to your taste. Our next stop on the tour is Riquewihr, the most visited village in the Alsace region, surrounded by vineyards and famous for its flower-filled balconies, unique rows of shops, car-free cobblestone streets, quaint cafés, and buildings that somehow survived World War II without damage; it also features the tower that houses the Dolder Museum, which preserves the town’s history with documents brought down to the present day. With a population of about 1,100 and surrounded by vineyards, Riquewihr is considered the pearl of the region. Its charm is further enhanced every year by the grape harvest festivals that begin in mid-September. Typical German-style half-timbered pastel-colored houses decorated with flowers line the gently sloping cobblestone main street, “Grand Rue,” stretching upward from the town gate. After completing our visit here, we head to Strasbourg. This is the second most important city in Europe after Brussels in terms of the European Union. Rich in history and culture, it is the city of Gutenberg, Rouget de Lisle, Dutch philosopher Erasmus, and German writer Goethe. Strasbourg’s historic city center is located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed “Grande Île” area. The Notre Dame Cathedral and most of the places we will see on the city tour are located on an island surrounded by rivers. In the southwest of this island lies Strasbourg’s most beautiful and interesting district, Little France (La Petite France). This is a region where rivers converge and are regulated, filled with historic Renaissance-era houses and museums. After the tour, we transfer back to our hotel and then have free time. Overnight at our hotel.
Mulhouse - Freiburg - Basel - Istanbul
After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Freiburg, Germany’s beautiful university city. Münsterplatz Square, the 116-meter-high Cathedral, Rathausplatz, and the Gerberau district are among the places to be seen. Then we continue to Basel. The Mittlere Rheinbrücke Bridge over the Rhine River, the Town Hall made of red sandstone, the Münster Cathedral, and the streets of the Old Town will be viewed panoramically. In the evening, transfer to the airport. We fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight. Upon arrival, our tour comes to an end.