Lake Como & the Swiss Alps
SMALL GROUP TOUR: Explore picturesque northern Italy and the Swiss Alps on this 6-day small group tour from Milan. Enjoy an included boat trip on beautiful Lake Como, explore the cultural melting pot of Lugano, and wander around the ‘Garden City’ of Varese. Marvel at the famous Matterhorn peak on a train ride, discover the stunning town of Lauterbrunnen, journey through the picturesque UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, and experience the historic castles of Bellinzona.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Lake Como & Locarno
Day 1 Lake Como & Locarno
Milan - Como - Lugano (Switzerland) - Locarno. Welcome to Italy! Starting the day in Milan, we begin by travelling to stunning Lake Como. Marvel at the panoramic mountain views and picturesque villas as we glide across the lake on an included boat trip to the town of Lenno. After enjoying the views and lunch in Lenno, we cross the border into Switzerland and visit the city of Lugano where we have a couple of hours to explore this melting pot of Swiss, Italian, and Mediterranean cultures. Following an hour-long drive, we arrive in the small and sunny town of Locarno, where we spend the night.
Please note: Pick up point for this tour is at 8:15 on day 1 (tour departs at 8:30) - Milan Pick Up, Business Palace Milan, Milan.
2025 Itinerary change: From 1 April 2025, new departure point: AC Hotel Milan Sesto 4*, Via Luciano Lama, 10, 20099 Milano MI, Italy.
Day 2 Locarno, Stresa & Varese
Day 2 Locarno, Stresa & Varese
Locarno - Stresa (Italy) - Locarno (Switzerland). After breakfast we travel back across the border to the Italian lakeside town of Stresa. Here there is an optional tour to Isola Bella where we wander through picturesque gardens and explore Palazzo Borromeo, a 17th century palace of the influential House of Borromeo.
In the afternoon we continue to the ‘Garden City’ of Varese. Enjoy a guided walk through the old town centre to learn about how this town earned its nickname. Returning to the shores of Lake Maggiore we spend our second night in the town of Locarno.
Day 3 The Alps & The Matterhorn
Day 3 The Alps & The Matterhorn
Locarno - Lausanne. Leaving Locarno, our first stop of the day is Santa Maria Maggiore. After this quick stop that gives you time to take some pictures of this stunning town, we head up to the Simplon Pass. This is a historic location that has been a major route through the Alps since the Stone Age. Arriving in the village of Tasch we take a round-trip train journey to Zermatt where we admire the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the world-famous Matterhorn peak. Returning to the mini-coach, we head to our overnight accommodation in the city of Lausanne, overlooking the shore of Lake Geneva.
Day 4 Lausanne, Gruyeres & Gstaad
Day 4 Lausanne, Gruyeres & Gstaad
Lausanne - Gruyeres - Gstaad - Lausanne. We begin our day in Gruyeres, the birthplace of Gruyere cheese. Explore the charming medieval town and enjoy panoramic views of the Saane Valley. Next, we'll journey alongside majestic Alpine peaks to Gstaad, a renowned Alpine village frequented by skiing enthusiasts and celebrities alike. Following this, there is an optional excursion to Chillon Castle near Montreux. This captivating castle is the most famous and visited in all of Switzerland. Returning to Lausanne in time for dinner, we spend our second night here.
Day 5 Lauterbrunnen & Interlaken
Day 5 Lauterbrunnen & Interlaken
Lausanne - Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken. Welcome to the "Valley of 72 Waterfalls," a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and our first destination today. We have the entire day to explore Lauterbrunnen at our leisure. Take a pick from scenic walks, mountain peak train rides, and much more. If suggestions are needed, feel free to ask the guide for recommendations. After immersing ourselves in Lauterbrunnen's breath-taking mountain views and picturesque Swiss landscapes, we journey to Interlaken. This charming resort town, nestled snugly amidst the mountains, is our home for the night.
Day 6 Return to Milan
Day 6 Return to Milan
Interlaken - Bellinzona - Milan (Italy). Leaving Interlaken, we journey through the picturesque UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, a landscape straight out of a "Sound of Music" scene, with cows grazing in lush green fields and awe-inspiring views. While nature rejuvenates the soul, it won't satisfy your hunger. Your guide will locate an excellent lunch spot, possibly in Altdorf, however, we're flexible and may explore other fantastic dining options.
Descending from the Alpine heights, we arrive in Bellinzona, where ancient castles, now UNESCO heritage sites, have guarded the northern Italian access since Roman times. You can choose to explore these impressive castles or simply relax in the town.
We arrive in Milan in the evening where the tour comes to an end.
Please note: This tour finishes at 18:30 - Milan Drop Off, Business Palace Milan, Milan.
2025 Itinerary change: From 1 April 2025, new return point: AC Hotel Milan Sesto 4*, Via Luciano Lama, 10, 20099 Milano MI, Italy.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
Hotel des Patients in Lausanne, Switzerland, seamlessly combines contemporary design with modern comfort. This hotel offers tastefully decorated rooms, many with scenic views of Lake Geneva or the Jura Mountains. Guests can savour Swiss cuisine at the on-site restaurant and unwind in the cosy bar. The hotel's prime location puts Lausanne's attractions, including the Olympic Museum and the charming Old Town, within easy reach. With nearby public transport options, exploring the surrounding vineyards and lakeside towns is effortless.
Nestled in the heart of Interlaken, Switzerland, Hotel Weisses Kreuz is a charming retreat offering both comfort and convenience. The hotel's central location provides easy access to the town's vibrant shops, restaurants, and attractions. Inside, guests will find tastefully appointed rooms that offer a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring a restful night's sleep. As for amenities, the hotel boasts a delightful on-site restaurant, serving Swiss and international cuisine, perfect for savouring a meal after a day of adventure in the Swiss Alps. Hotel Weisses Kreuz is the ideal choice for travellers seeking a memorable Swiss experience with a touch of traditional hospitality.
Tour Reviews
This was our first trip with On The Go. Overall, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery but unfortunately were disappointed with the tour itself. Pros: We felt confident with the driver and the transportation was comfortable. Group size was also a plus as it was only 4 of us! We enjoyed that the itinerary included some smaller towns/villages that you maybe wouldn't know about or typically visit. Cons: Unfortunately, we were quite disappointed with the guide on this tour. It didn't feel like we had much of a "guide" with us at all. He did not come off as very personable, and never tried to get to know us at all. There were only 4 of us and he never asked for our names, or any introduction in the beginning whatsoever. Phone numbers/WhatsApp or any form of communication was never initiated by him so we did have not have any way to contact for safety or questions during our allotted free time at all. Us and the other two travelers took it upon ourselves. The long rides in between each destination were very quiet and dull, no effort to talk to us or point out much scenery of all the places we were passing through. We think it definitely would have been useful to use that time to talk AHEAD of when we would be arriving to each stop on what to expect, any suggestions or recommendations on activates there, restaurants, the landscape, bathrooms, really any information at all. We only had a short amount of time in each place, so it felt rushed and unorganized to waste time trying to figure out where we were or what there was to do. The biggest example of this was the day in Lauterbrunnen. The trip notes actually say "Ask your guide for advice on activities because there are so many options". Unfortunately, our guide had a family emergency that day and had to leave the trip once we arrived to Lauterbrunnen, so the driver stepped in and gave last minute information once we had arrived. That was the day we were looking forward to most, and because there are so many options and it is quite spread out, it ended up being a more stressful day trying to figure out where we should go or what activities we should do because we weren't given any guidance ahead of time. Regarding the accommodations, the @ Home Locarno Hotel was the best option. Of the 3, the other two were quite underwhelming. The Hotel Des Patients hotel is Lausanne was a very odd choice. It is far away from the lake and town, and is just a weird environment for a holiday trip. No AC as well. The one in Interlaken was very much just OK as well. Interlaken as a whole we felt could have been skipped from the itinerary. Very crowded and touristy, and not much to see. Feel like there would be much better options to stay in for the night. We are undecided on if we would use On The Go for a future trip.
I thought the tour matched the tour notes well, I had a good idea what to expect as far as the pace of each day. I feel that the tour guide could have done better introducing himself and the tourists to each other on the first day, including sharing a way like “ what’s app” for emergency and other contact. There needed to be more information shared before each stop as far as excursion options and possible costs and time frames. There were a couple of excursions where we were not given sufficient time to complete the tour, and asked to pay for things like a private boat transportation on the spot versus knowing the other options. The Lauterbrunnen day was chaotic, it was hard to determine the best option for our day as all excursions were pretty spread out, but our tour guide had a family emergency that day, so understandable that he was forced to leave the tour. I did not think that Interlaken was the best stop, just another shopping town, but the other lake towns like Locarno were beautiful. Overall, I would recommend the tour for people like me who prefer lakes and scenery and lovely hamlets to big cities and shopping. The driver did a good job, I felt very comfortable when he was driving on the difficult roads.
This tour was simply amazing! We only had 4 people on our tour which gave some flexibility in what we did and time spent at different locations. Cristina, our guide, and Leonardo, our driver, were caring, informative and great fun. The hotels were clean and comfortable, the bus was spacious and great for the longer drives. The scenery was spectacular. An included welcome dinner on the first night could enhance the experience.
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