Steam Boat Schiller on Lake Lucerne
Peace of Mind
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Cities by the Lakes
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Steam Boat Schiller on Lake Lucerne
Zurich
Gotthard Panorama Express
Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne
Lugano
Vitznau–Rigi cogwheel railway
Switzerland

Cities by the Lakes (Tour code: 14972)

Starts and Ends
Zurich to
Lugano
Travel Periods
09 Jul 25 - 15 Oct 25 | 01 May 26 - 07 Oct 26
Experience
Travel Style
Independent Holiday Packages
Experience Switzerland by train with this 7-day journey through Zurich, Lucerne, Mount Rigi and Lugano, combining lake cruises, mountain views, and charming old towns in one seamless package.

Highlights

Travel through Switzerland’s heart on the Gotthard Panorama Express, a scenic journey combining historic rail routes with spectacular alpine landscapes

Stroll along Zurich’s world-famous Bahnhofstrasse, a shopper’s paradise

Enjoy a leisurely lake cruise across Lake Lucerne to the peaceful village of Vitznau

Reach the summit of Mount Rigi, the “Queen of the Mountains,” for panoramic alpine views

Wander the lush Belvedere Gardens and Parco Civico in Lugano, filled with exotic plants and sculptures

7 days
From
AUD 3,850
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

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Only $100pp deposit to Book Now

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Overview

From the stylish streets of Zurich and the lakeside charm of Lucerne to the peaceful trails of Mount Rigi and the Mediterranean flair of Lugano, this itinerary offers a perfect mix of culture, nature, and relaxation. Travel by train, boat, and mountain railway as you uncover Switzerland’s diverse regions, each with its own unique character and unforgettable views.

Peace of mind booking plan
  1. ENTIRE Cooling-Off Period
  2. ENTIRE AUD Prices
  3. ENTIRE Change of Mind
  4. ENTIRE Industry Accredited
  5. ENTIRE On Ground Support
  6. ENTIRE Australian Owned

Inclusions

1-night in Zurich in a 4* hotel
1-night in Lucerne in a 4* hotel
2-nights in Vitznau in a 4* hotel
2-nights in Lugano in a 4* hotel
Daily Breakfast
Rail ticket in 2nd class
Seat Reservation on Gotthard Panorama Express
Boat Cruise on Lake Lucerne
Mount Rigi Day Pass
Lucerne Guest Card - free local transport in Lucerne
Ticino Ticket - free local transport in Canton Ticino
50% discount on additional travel by rail, bus & boat, mountain excursions

Day 1 Zurich

Arrive in Zurich by rail and begin your Swiss adventure with a leisurely stroll along the iconic Bahnhofstrasse, the city’s premier shopping boulevard. From high-end boutiques to elegant storefronts, it’s perfect for some relaxed window shopping. Just steps away, the cobbled streets of Zurich’s old town invite you to explore a quieter side of the city, filled with charming artisan shops and historic architecture.

For those with more time, optional excursions (extra cost) are available to discover even more of Zurich’s cultural and natural highlights.

Overnight in Zurich in a 4* hotel.

Zurich
Zurich

Day 2 Zurich Lucerne

After breakfast at the hotel, travel by rail to the picturesque city of Lucerne.

Nestled beside a serene lake and framed by a dramatic mountain backdrop, Lucerne offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and historic charm. Time at leisure to stroll around the charming old town.

Overnight in Lucerne in a 4* hotel.

Breakfast
Zurich → Lucerne
Lucerne

Day 3 Lucerne Vitznau

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some more time in Switzerland's most popular resort before boarding one of the many lake steamers taking you across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau where you will be staying for the next 2 nights, beginning your ‘green’ escape.

Overnight in Vitznau in a 4* hotel.

Breakfast
Lucerne → Vitznau
Lake steamers taking you across Lake Lucerne

Day 4 Vitznau Mount Rigi Vitznau

After breakfast at the hotel, explore Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, with spectacular views and over 75 miles of hiking trails. Take the journey to the summit for stunning vistas of the lake and surrounding peaks. Discover the area on foot via numerous easy walking trails, especially around Rigi Scheidegg, where several exciting walks begin, perfect for all ages. Popular routes include the legendary ‘Bench Walk’ and the ‘Dwarf Walk’ near Rigi Burrgeist.

You may also choose to visit the Thermal Spa at Rigi Kaltbad (pre-booking required- extra cost).

Overnight in Vitznau in a 4* hotel

Breakfast
Vitznau → Mount Rigi → Vitznau
Mount Rigi

Day 5 Vitznau Gotthard Panorama Express Lugano

After breakfast at the hotel, continue your journey to the sun-kissed city of Lugano in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region. Start your journey from Vitznau to Flüelen, then catch the Gotthard Panorama Express train to Lugano. Enjoy stunning views before overnighting in Lugano.

Overnight in Lugano in a 4* hotel.

Breakfast
Vitznau → Gotthard Panorama Express → Lugano
Gotthard Panorama Express

Day 6 Lugano

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then spend a relaxing day discovering more of Lugano’s Mediterranean charm. Wander through the elegant town centre, where arcaded streets and sunny piazzas invite you to slow down and soak up the laid-back atmosphere. Unwind in the lush Parco Ciani, nestled along the lakefront, or stroll the lakeside promenade to the picturesque Belvedere Gardens, home to vibrant camellias, magnolias, and striking modern art. Whether you’re exploring or simply taking in the views, Lugano offers the perfect setting for a leisurely day.

Overnight in Lugano in a 4* hotel.

Breakfast
Lugano
Parco Ciani

Day 7 Lugano

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and continue to your onward destionation in Switzerland.

Breakfast

Additional information

Official language
French, Swiss - German, Italian, Romansh
Local currency
SWISS FRANC
  • We work with a selection of hotels in each location. All bookings are subject to availability, which means our team will confirm your specific hotels upon confirmation and payment of deposit. 
  • Itinerary can be booked in reverse. Package is based on a TAM ticket starting and ending in Zurich (other start/end points possible). 

Excluded

  • International airfares and taxes
  • Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
  • Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
  • Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
  • Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
  • Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
  • Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package
  • Local taxes such as hotel city taxes

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

  • They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
  • Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
  • We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
  • Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
  • They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
  • A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

  • We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
  • You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

  • Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
  • The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

  • Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
  • A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
  • The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

  • Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
  • TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
  • Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

  • To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
  • For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
  • For further details please visit our Payments page.

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

  • Travel on a specific airline of their choice
  • Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
  • Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
  • Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
  • Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

  • On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
  • You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
  • To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
  • An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

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