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e-mail: dl@tandctours.com

Ten days in GENEVA, VEVEY and LUGANO. Dine with the stars of Swiss gastronomy. Meet and taste with the greatest winemakers of Switzerland. Be received in private homes and castles amidst splendid tapestries, furnishings, and fine art.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Depart New York on Swiss Air for Geneva.

Day 2: GENEVA/VEVEY. Passengers arrive in Geneva this morning and are surrounded by a lovely country setting with the flavor of France in the air and mighty Mount Blanc in the background. Upon arrival, transfer to our deluxe hotel (Hotel Des Trois Couronnes owned by Danish Royalty) where all rooms face the lake. Balance of the day at leisure. Our deluxe hotel is located in a priveledged spot in the immediate vicinity of the business and shopping center of Vevey. This afternoon, you might want to take a walk and visit the antique shops and bistros in this romantically beautiful Swiss resort. Evening get-acquainted cocktail and dinner party at the hotel. Hotel Des Trois Couronnes.

Day 3: VEVEY. Free morning. Optional visit to the Nestle's Food Museum in Vevey. This afternoon, lunch in the vinyards with a little wine-seminar given by a professional wine-grower. This evening, dinner at the Auberg du Raisin in Cully. Michelin-rated restaurant. Hotel Des Trois Couronnes.

Day 4: VEVEY. Three Alpine Countries. A full-day excursion by coach through Switzerland, Italy and France. Drive along the Rhone Valley and Valley of Entremont. Pass the village of St. Bernard, famous for its monastery and dogs. We will travel through the St. Bernard Tunnel and reach Aosta. Time for lunch and shopping. Continue to Chamonix (France) at the foot of Europe's highest mountain , Mont Blanc, 15,900 feet. After a stop in this interesting town, return to Switzerland and back to Vevey. Dinner at the hotel. Hotel Des Trois Couronnes.

Day 5: VEVEY. This morning we visit Lausanne old-town, cathedral and Olympic Museum. Free afternoon. This evening, dinner at a medieval castle above Montreux. Hotel Des Trois Couronnes.

Day 6: VEVEY/LUGANO. This morning, departure by private motorcoach for Lugano and the beautiful lakes of the Ticino. Here in Lugano, we will spend the next four days in palatial splendor at the Villa Principe Leopoldo. Built as a residence for Prince Leopold Hohenzollern of Austria at the turn of the century, it later belonged to a major Swiss industrialist. In 1986, the estate was transformed into an opulent and very exclusive hotel. Dinner tonight at SANTABBONDIO whose creative young chef earned his first Michelin star in 1997. Villa Principe Leopoldo.

Day 7: LUGANO. Morning at leisure. This afternoon, excursion to Locarno and Ascona. Across the Monte Ceneri Pass and the Magadino Plain, the coach reaches first Ascona, carefully set on a beautiful bay, sheltered from the north wind. Take a walk along the lakeside and discover the lovely boutiques, small restaurants, and coffee shops. After a short stop, the coach continues to Locarno. Optional: by cable-car to the Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary. Visit to the old city and walk through the romantic streets under the typical arcades. Dinner at the hotel. Villa Principe Leopoldo.

Day 8: LUGANO. Morning at leisure. Afternoon excursion to Lake Como and Villa Carlotta. with this interesting afternoon excursion you have the opportunity of visiting the most attractive part of Lake Como. After crossing the border at Gandia, the coach travels along the narrow road, passing through Porlezza as for as Tremezzo. Visit to the Villa Carlotta with its large, beautifully coloured gardens. Continuation by boat to Bellagio where a short stop is made in order to see the picturesque village with its narrow streets and typical Italian promenade. After a visit to a wine cellar, return to Tremezzo by boat and to Lugano by coach. Free evening. Villa Principe Leopoldo.

Day 9: LUGANO. Today we visit the remarkable private art collection of the Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza at the Villa Favorita. The rest of the day at leisure, perhaps to explore the lakes by steamer with a stop at the charming village of Gandria or just to luxuriate at our villa. Tonight, after a champagne reception on the terrace, a gala farewell dinner at the MOTTO DEL GALLO in Taverne, where in an antique-filled 16th century home, worthy of museum status, the brothers DE LA IGLESIA have earned 17,120 points and three red toques from Gault-Millau. Villa Principe Leopoldo.

Day 10: Early morning departure for Geneva and our Swiss Air flight to New York.

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