Christmas Markets & Alpine Adventures in Switzerland - JG Explorer

We catch the ferry to Calais and journey onwards to our hotel in Nancy for our overnight stay.

We make our way to Winterthur, with a stop along the way at Basel Christmas Market, one of the most celebrated festive markets in Switzerland. Located in the heart of the city, the market features beautifully decorated wooden chalets offering a wide variety of gifts and seasonal delicacies. The air is filled with the delightful aroma of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and freshly baked gingerbread. There are two main areas of the market: Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz. Barfüsserplatz is bustling and features many stalls and entertainment, while Münsterplatz provides a picturesque setting with its historic cathedral and majestic Christmas tree.

After some time exploring, we regroup and journey to Winterthur, arriving at the hotel in time for our welcome drink and evening meal.

With a morning at leisure, stroll around Winterthur and visit the town's two Christmas markets, situated in the Old Town and Teuchelweiherplatz, both a short walk from our hotel. There's also the famous Technorama, one of Europe's best science museums, or the Fotomuseum for art lovers. Find lunch at your leisure before we drive to Einsiedeln, to explore the charming village market located next to the magnificent Einsiedeln Abbey, a setting which creates a magical winter atmosphere. This market is filled with delicious local treats and holiday decorations, ideal for picking up festive ornaments for back home. Enjoy dinner at your leisure here before we return to our hotel.

We journey by train to Neuhausen to visit Europe's largest waterfalls - the Rhine Falls. Located near the town of Schaffhausen, these spectacular falls are a must-see. We experience the exquisite beauty of this area, including entrance to the popular Schloss Laufen, which stands guard high above the falls, before travelling to the delightful village of Stein-am-Rhein, where we explore the Märlistadt, a fairytale style Christmas market, set around the former monastery grounds with glowing lights, lending it a gently lit medieval ambience. Stroll through the charming lanes, browse the handmade gifts and enjoy lunch at your leisure before we rejoin the group and travel back to Winterthur.

We wrap up warm this morning, ready for our visit to Mount Pilatus! Our day begins after a leisurely breakfast with a drive to Kriens, where we board the cable car to Krienseregg. We then take an aerial cableway up to Pilatus Kulm, the summit. Take in amazing panoramic views over Lucerne, its shimmering lake and the surrounding snow-capped peaks of the Alps. There's free time to explore Pilatus Kulm, to take a stroll to various viewpoints or simply sit and take in nature's beauty.

This afternoon, we journey to the wonderful town of Lucerne, set on the shores of Lake Lucerne and famous for its lovingly restored Kapellbrücke wooden bridge, which spans diagonally across the River Reuss. Explore the lakeside Christmas market and wander the Franziskanerplatz market. Being located against the backdrop of Lucerne's historic Old Town and majestic mountains ahead adds to the beauty and magical atmosphere. There's also a Winter Magic village outside the convention centre, featuring illuminated displays.

There's time for dinner at your leisure here, before we return to our hotel.

We begin our journey home with a stop along the way at Frenkendorf to visit the Läckerli Huus, an interactive experience showcasing traditional Swiss confectionery. We discover the rich history of Swiss treats and watch skilled artisans craft the famous Läckerli.

From here, we continue to our overnight hotel in the Chalons-en-Champagne or Reims area, where a light evening meal is included.

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and journey to Calais for our return ferry home.