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- Bernina Express: A European Fairytale Tour with Turkish Airlines, 6 nights, Morning departure to Milan and afternoon return from Milan
Bernina Express: A European Fairytale Tour with Turkish Airlines, 6 nights, Morning departure to Milan and afternoon return from Milan
ISTANBUL – MILAN – COMO – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – ST. MORITZ – HEIDI’S VILLAGES – ALSACE
We arrive at Istanbul Airport International Terminal 3 hours before departure to complete baggage drop-off, ticketing, and passport control procedures, and then fly to Milan on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1873 at 06:55. After arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport at 08:45 local time, we transfer by our private vehicle waiting for us at the airport and head to Como. Como is a center located in the Lombardy region, distinguished by its historic buildings and orderly urban layout. The city squares, cathedral, and shoreline offer visitors a compact and easy-to-explore area. Lake Como is one of Italy’s most famous lakes, and the hills surrounding it, lakeside settlements, and well-organized transportation lines complete the region’s natural appearance. The lake area is visited regularly throughout the year and presents a balanced view between city and nature. During our Como & Lake Como tour, we first arrive at Como city center and view the cathedral area, squares, and shoreline from the outside. Then free time will be given on the shores of Lake Como; during this time, visitors may walk around the lake, take photos, or explore the surroundings. After the free time, we head to Tirano for our unforgettable and dreamlike train journey on the Bernina railway line with the Bernina Express / Red Train. Built between 1898 and 1904, this world-famous line is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a dream route for many travelers. During this fairytale journey, we will witness extraordinary landscapes and have the opportunity to photograph them. After approximately 2 hours of pleasant train travel, we arrive at St. Moritz station. After a short sightseeing tour in St. Moritz, we continue with a panoramic journey through the scenery of Heidi’s Villages, with vast mountains and green meadows, where the lovable heroine Heidi, who left a smile in all our childhoods and lived in the Alps with her grandfather and best friend Peter, is remembered from the cartoon. Afterward, we arrive at our hotel in the Alsace region. Check-in and free time to rest.
ALSACE / BASEL – (Pearls of Alsace: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – STRASBOURG – FREIBURG – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast, we depart for Strasbourg. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Pearls of Alsace: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euro). On this tour, we first go to the fairytale town of Colmar, where we will see the Old Customs House, Pfister House, and the colorful houses around the Rhine River in the city’s most famous area, Petite Venise (Little Venice). In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and canals, you will have the chance to enjoy many delicious foods and buy souvenirs. Our next stop is Riquewihr, famous for its vineyards, flower-decorated balconies, distinctive row of shops, cobblestone streets closed to car traffic, buildings that somehow survived World War II without damage, and charming cafes; it is a village straight out of a Grimm fairy tale, with the tower that houses the Dolder Museum, which preserves the story of the town through documents. After our visit to Riquewihr, we continue to Strasbourg. Located at the border of Germany, Switzerland, and France, and the largest city in the Alsace region, Strasbourg welcomes us like a painting, as if straight out of a fairy tale. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 and hosting the European Parliament since 1992, Strasbourg’s traffic-free center and streets will be explored on foot during our panoramic city tour, where Gutenberg Square and Statue, Notre Dame Cathedral, the city’s most important and central structure, and Kammerzell House, the oldest house in the city and still serving as a hotel and restaurant, are among the sights. After free time in Strasbourg, we continue to Freiburg, one of the finest examples of green urbanism. In Freiburg, where only low-carbon-emission vehicles have been allowed to enter since 2010 and transportation is mainly provided by tram and bicycle, it is possible to see traces of the historical and architectural influences of Germany, France, Austria, Spain, and Sweden that the city has been under throughout its history. Known as the capital of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), our city tour in Freiburg will include the city’s most important symbol, Freiburg Cathedral, the charming streets with small water channels unique to Freiburg, Martin’s Gate from the Middle Ages, and Rathausplatz. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Alsace region.
ALSACE/BASEL – (Bern & Gruyeres Tour) – LAUSANNE – MONTREUX and FAIRY-TALE CASTLES – GENEVA
After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Lausanne. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Bern & Gruyeres Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop is Bern. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historic character, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Switzerland and with German as its official language, Bern also reflects German cultural influence in its architecture. After our tour of Bern, we proceed to Gruyeres, our next stop. Selected as Switzerland’s most beautiful village in 2014 and the birthplace of the world-famous Gruyère cheese, Gruyères is a fairy-tale village that has preserved its medieval character to this day, giving its name to the region and its famous cheese, and known for its flower-decorated houses and streets. Located at 800 meters above sea level on a hill in the upper valley of the Saane River, this car-free village is famous not only for its cheese but also for Switzerland’s renowned dish, fondue. After our sightseeing in Gruyères, we continue our journey to Lausanne. Lausanne, which holds an important place in our national history because it hosted the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, is also one of the important bishopric centers of the Middle Ages. With its medieval castles, Château d’Ouchy, palaces, cathedrals, and museum buildings, Lausanne takes visitors deep into history, and its location on the shores of Lake Geneva makes it even more attractive. After a short city tour in Lausanne, we visit Montreux. Montreux, also well known in our national history, is a city important not only for its castles, historic buildings, and natural beauty but also for the music world. The song Smoke on the Water recounts a casino fire in Montreux, and there is also a statue of Freddie Mercury, who spent the final period of his life working here. After our city tour in Montreux, we pass by the iconic Chillon Castle and photograph the postcard-perfect view. At the end of the tour, we depart for Geneva. Known as the “French side of Switzerland” and located on the shores of Lake Geneva, Geneva is a magnificent city where history, culture, science, and nature come together. The presence of international organizations such as CERN, the World Health Organization, UEFA, FIFA, and the United Nations makes the city a central hub in cultural and administrative terms. In Geneva, where museums, parks, historic monuments, streets, and clean air come together, the sights include St. Pierre Cathedral, the Jet d’Eau fountain, which has become the city’s symbol and rises up to 140 meters, and the Reformation Wall. After the city tour, transfer to our hotel in the Geneva region. Check-in and free time to rest.
GENEVA – (Annecy Tour) – NICE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Nice. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Annecy Tour (50 Euro). Known as the “Venice of the Alps” thanks to the canals passing through it and the Thiou River, Annecy captivates visitors with its canal-based structure and extraordinary location between the mountains and the lake. During our visit, Château d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and Palais de l’Isle, a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts, will be seen panoramically. After a short free time on the shores of Lake Annecy, the third-largest lake in France, we complete the tour and continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Nice region, check-in and free time to rest.
NICE – (Cannes & Nice Tour) – (Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join the optional Cannes & Nice Tour (70 Euro). On this tour, we first head to Cannes. Famous for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival, Cannes has a sparkling sea and golden beaches. During our city tour, we first see the old town, the city’s first settlement. While walking through the narrow, winding, traffic-free streets of the old town, we will have the chance to see souvenir shops and shop. After our visit to La Croisette Boulevard, lined with many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels, and Meynadier Street, we arrive in Nice. During our Nice tour, sights include Promenade des Anglais, Nice Port, Masséna Square, Flower Market, and the Courthouse. After free time in Nice, guests who wish may join the optional Eze & Monaco & Monte Carlo Tour (80 Euro). On this tour, our first stop is Eze Village, one of the most famous villages on the Côte d’Azur for its magnificent views, where we visit a perfume factory where you can test many beautiful and famous perfumes and purchase them at reasonable prices. After the tour, our second stop is the country of Monaco, the world’s second-smallest state after Vatican City, located on the French Riviera. Upon arrival, we will take a panoramic city tour of Monte Carlo, the center of luxury and splendor. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Nice region.
NICE – (Portofino by Boat Tour) – MILAN
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Milan. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Portofino by Boat Tour (65 Euro). Surrounded by colorful houses and inspiring songs with its beauty, Portofino enchants visitors with its narrow streets, colorful homes, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean scenery. After our visit to Portofino, we continue our journey to Milan. One of Europe’s fashion capitals, Milan is also known for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although it is recognized as Italy’s business and financial capital, it is also the right address for shopping and dining experiences. During our city tour in Milan, the famous opera house La Scala, Duomo Square and Cathedral, and Porta Romano are among the main sights. At the end of the Milan city tour, we head to our hotel in the Milan region. Upon arrival, check-in and free time to rest.
MILAN – (Outlet Tour) – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Milan Malpensa Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Outlet Tour (35 Euro). After free time for enjoyable and affordable shopping at a famous outlet center home to prestigious brands, cafes and restaurants, and personal activity areas in Italy, which sets global fashion trends, we complete our tour and continue to Malpensa Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, we complete baggage drop-off, check-in, and passport control procedures, and then fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1896 at 15:10. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 19:05 local time and end of the tour.
What's Included
Turkish Airlines scheduled flights on the Istanbul Airport (IST) – Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) – Istanbul Airport (MXP) route, round-trip airfare,
Airport taxes and service fees,
In-flight refreshments,
Accommodation for a total of 6 nights with bed and breakfast in hotels in the specified category,
Airport / Hotel / Airport transfers and intercity transfer,
Panoramic city tours and/or surrounding area excursions in Como, St. Moritz, Strasbourg, Freiburg, Lausanne, Montreux, Geneva and Milan,
Train journey with the BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN,
Turkish-speaking guide services
TURSAB Professional Liability Insurance
Not Included
Visa fee and service charge
Exit tax fee
All kinds of hotel extras and personal expenses,
Domestic connecting flight ticket,
Lunch and dinner,
Extra tours and excursions mentioned or not mentioned in the program,
(Mandatory) Hotel city accommodation and city entrance taxes (45 Euro)
(Optional) Driver tips (10 Euro)
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