In Transit: Depart US for an overnight flight.

Zurich Arrival - Transfer to Appenzell (approximately 1.5 hours transfer). Lecture: "Then and Now of Appenzell"

Note: Orientation stroll through the Appenzell village - one hour.

Arrive To: Arrive Zurich airport - private coach transfer with Group Leader to Appenzell.

Lunch: Participants, depending on arrival, may wish to eat a light lunch or snack.

Afternoon: At the hotel, learn to bake your own "Appenzeller Biber" (a traditional gingerbread with almond filling) and taste the final product. Then take a short orientation walk through the village. Prior to dinner, enjoy a welcome drink and orientation in the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Cafe Adler

Meals Included: Dinner

MOUNT KRONBERG WALK; Jakobsbad, Kronberg Mountain and the Alpstein range and Mount Saentis. Lecture: "Mountains Surrounding Appenzell"

Note: 3.5 hours of walking on trails through meadows and on mountain trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Short train ride to Gontenbad (2940 feet/890 meters). Walk on a high plateau through meadows and along a high moor on easy trails to Jakobsbad (2850 feet/870 meters). Continue by cable car up to Kronberg Mountain (5450 feet/1660 meters) with its magnificent views of the first Alpstein range and its highest peak, Mount Saentis (8300 feet/2500 meters).

Lunch: Selected lunch menu on the top of Mount Kronberg.

Afternoon: Cable car and train back to Appenzell following lunch or leave the train at Gontenbad and walk the rest of the distance back to Appenzell. In the early evening, enjoy a concert at Hotel Hofweissbad. Become familiar with the unique sound of music for stringed instruments and learn about the famous musical tradition of the Appenzellerland.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Cafe Adler

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

HOHER KASTEN WALK; Boehli bakery and pastry shop, Weissbad, Mount Hoher Kasten, lunch at a mountain guest house. Lectures: "Boehli Bakery" and "Alpstein, Rhine Valley and Austria Alps (flora and fauna)"

Note: 2.5 hours of walking mountain trails, through meadows and valleys.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today begins with an excursion to the local bakery and pastry shop “Boehli”, a five generation bakery – aromas and possible tasting included. Start walking from the hotel along the Sitter River to Weissbad (2700 feet) or (optional) on a moderate uphill trail to Bruelisau (3000 feet), then ride the cable car up to Mount Hoher Kasten (6000 feet). Luxuriate in the magnificent views of the Alpstein, Rhine Valley and the Austrian Alps.

Lunch: At the mountain guesthouse.

Afternoon: After lunch, continue walking, then take a cable car and train back to Appenzell. Back in Appenzell, enjoy some free time. You may wish to explore the museum of Appenzell. Field lecturing.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Cafe Adler

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ST. GALLEN'S OLD TOWN & ABBEY LIBRARY Lecture: "History of the Abbey Library and Cathedral of St. Gallen"

Note: One hour guided walking in the village of St. Gallen.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Train transfer to St. Gallen. Field trip and lecture in the Cathedral of the late Baroque period and the Abbey Library, containing manuscripts dating back to the 8th century. The library is housed in Switzerland's most beautiful Rococo secular hall with stucco work by the Gigi brothers and ceiling painting by Josef Wannenmacher.

Lunch: Independent lunch - voucher or local currency will be given to each participant.

Afternoon: Independent afternoon, return to Appenzell by train at your leisure. Train ride is approximately 45 minutes and trains depart every 30 minutes between St. Gallen and Appenzell.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Cafe Adler

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

EBENALP-SCHAEFLER WALK; Wasserauen, Ebenalp to the prehistoric cave of Wildkirchli, special guesthouse of the Alpstein - the Aescher. Lecture: "Prehistoric Cave of Wildkirchli"

Note: 3.5 hours of walking on asphalt roads, gravel paths, and mountain trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk begins by train to Wasserauen, then cable car to Ebenalp (5000feet/1524 meters). Descend through the prehistoric cave of Wildkirchli and stop at the most thrilling guesthouse of the Alpstein, the “Aescher”. Continue the walking field-trip up to Mount Schaefler offering unforgettable scenery of Mt. Santis. Field lecture: "Prehistoric Cave of Wildkirchli and Mt. Schaefler".

Lunch: Picnic lunch on the trail or at a mountain hut.

Afternoon: Continue the field trip to the Chlus saddle at the foot of Mt. Schaefler with magnificent views of the Appenzeller Mountains, then return to Appenzell by cable car and train.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Cafe Adler

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: 2 hours walking on paved roads.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by private coach with a stop in the medieval village of Werdenberg (1706 feet/520 meters), founded in 1230, take a walk around the lake or enjoy a cup coffee. Continue by coach along the Walensee Lake, with a stop in Einsiedeln, known for its splendid church, constructed between 1674 and 1770, considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Switzerland.

Lunch: Independent lunch during the stop in Einsiedeln.

Afternoon: Continue by coach arriving mid-afternoon in Engelberg (3444 feet/1050 meters). Orientation stroll through Engelberg.

Dinner: Prior to dinner there will be an orientation briefing at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

BENEDICTINE MONASTERY / WATERFALL VALLEY WALK; Monastery known for the wainscoted wall panels and furniture, Furenalp, Dellenstein (one of Engelberg's oldest farm homes). Lectures: "Benedictine Monastery","Waterfall Valley", and "How the Natives Live"

Note: 3 hours of walking through meadows, mountain trails and paved roads.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk from the hotel to the Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1120, for an excursion by the curator introducing the participants to the wainscoted wall panels and furniture. Afterwards walk to the waterfall (3555 feet) and take a cable car to Furenalp.

Lunch: Lunch at the "Hutte" on Furenalp.

Afternoon: Continue down by cablecar or take a circular walk on the Grotzliweg. Excursion to one of Engelberg's oldest farm homes - Dellenstein. You are welcomed by the owners and served tea and Apfelkuchen (apple pie). Continue the walk back to Engelberg.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

LOCAL FLORA & FAUNA AT RISTIS-BRUNNI ALP; Rigidal Stafel, a majestic ridge on Brunni. Lecture: "Geology, Wildlife and Flora of the Region"

Note: 3 hours of walking on mountain trails and through meadows.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk from the hotel accompanied by a local flower and plant expert, to the cable car to Ristis (5300 feet), then continue to Brunni Mountain by chair lift (6103 feet/1982 meters). Depending on the time of year you will be able to view some of the region’s wildlife and flora while walking along this majestic ridge.

Lunch: Picnic lunch on the trail.

Afternoon: Walk on to Rigidal Stafel, then back to Ristis and return to Engelberg by cable car.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MT. TITLIS - THE GLACIER & THE MOUNTAIN LAKE; Rotair (revolving) cable car, Glacier Grotto, Trubsee and the Gerschnialp. Lecture: "Mt. Titlis and the Glacier Grotto"

Note: 2.5 hours of walking on mountain trails and through meadows and farmland.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk from the hotel to the Mt. Titlis (10,627 feet/3239 meters) cable car and ascend Mt. Titlis, traveling part of the way in the world’s first revolving cable car, "Rotair". At the top of the highest mountain in Central Switzerland you will witness breathtaking scenery and walk through the Glacier Grotto. From Mt. Titlis walk over beautiful snowfields before taking the funicular via Trubsee (5890 feet/1780 meters) down to Gerschnialp (4180 feet).

Lunch: Special lunch at the mountain hut of a local cheesemaker.

Afternoon: Walk down to Engelberg via the ski trail or return by cable car.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

HERRENHAUS GRAFENORT; Hydroelectric station, 17th century Grafenort Home. Lecture: "Herrenhaus (stately home) from the 17th Century"

Note: 2.5 hours of walking along the ravine of the river "Engelbergeraa" down to the valley.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk from the hotel first following the railway track to Gruenenwald and on through forested area on a nice trail zigzagging down to the Hydroelectric station and a reservoir. Continue on following the Engelberg river to Grafenort (1866 feet) for the field trip through the stately home from the 17th century belonging to the monastery of Engelberg.

Lunch: Enjoy a light lunch prepared by the local farmers' wives at the Herrenhaus.

Afternoon: Return to Engelberg by train and the remainder of the afternoon is independent.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

CRADLE OF SWITZERLAND; Seelisberg to Rutli-Meadows "Cradle of Switzerland". Lecture: "William Tell and the History of the Everlasting League"

Note: 1.5 hours of walking on mountain trail and through a meadow.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This Switzerland adventure will end in spectacular fashion. The final walk will begin with a 30-minute train ride and continue on by postal-bus to Seelisberg (2627 feet/801 meters). Walking field-trip down through the forest to Rutli-Meadows (1670 feet/510 meters) -- the "Cradle of Switzerland" above Lake Lucerne Uri, where the Confederates convened to confirm the Everlasting League of 1291.

Lunch: Typical Swiss lunch at the Ruetli Guesthouse.

Afternoon: Board a boat and cross Lake Lucerne to Beckenried, return to Engelberg by local transportation.

Dinner: At the hotel, enjoy a special farewell dinner followed by a departure briefing.

Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: 2 hours on paved roads.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart the hotel by private coach transfer to the Zurich airport hotel. En route, a 3-hour stop will be made in Lucerne for a walking field trip.

Lunch: Money or voucher will be available for lunch on your own in Lucerne.

Afternoon: Continue on to the Zurich airport hotel. The remainder of the day and dinner is independent. The Group Leader can provide suggestions for independent activities or sightseeing suggestions in Zurich.

Dinner: On your own.

Lodging: Hotel Best Western

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Hotel shuttle to the airport - program ends. "AUF WIEDERSEHEN"!

Meals Included: Breakfast