In Transit: Depart the U.S. for Geneva, Switzerland.

Note: Approximate transfer time: 1.5 hours. Approximate walking time: 1 hour.

Arrive To: Meet your group for the group transfer (approx. 1.5 hours) to Villars-sur-Ollon (4100 feet). Check in at the hotel and take a walk through the village. Welcome reception before dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Eurotel Victoria Villars

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 1 hour. Approximate walking time: 3 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Take the train from Villars to Bevieux, then walk through terraced vineyards and woods to Ollon. Short transfer by public train to Aigle (1300 feet), the medieval capital of the wine growing Chablais area.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Castle of Aigle. This castle displays the cultural aspect of the wine production. Enjoy a wine tasting here, and learn about the castle during a field lecture. Enjoy some free time before taking the public bus back to Villars.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Eurotel Victoria Villars

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 1 hour. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Begin the morning with local transportation to Bretaye (6000 feet), the starting point of today's walking field trip. The trail leads across alpine meadows with the stunning Swiss Alps at every turn. Continue through the villages of Ensex and Conche and end at the lake of Bretaye. Hear a field lecture on Bretaye Lake.

Lunch: Picnic on the trail.

Afternoon: This afternoon visit an Alpine Farm. Meet the farmer and learn the details of alpine farming during a field lecture. Transfer on the rack railway down to Villars.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Eurotel Victoria Villars

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 3.5 hours. Approximate walking time: 2 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Following breakfast, transfer by private coach down to the Rhone Valley and up to the incredible St. Bernard Pass (8100 feet), an ancient Roman transalpine route and more recently the path of Napoleon's army into Italy in 1800. En-route there is an excursion to the St. Bernard Museum, the first hospice founded as early as 1049 and appropriately named after Saint Bernard. This name later became famous for the St. Bernard dogs, loyal companions to the monks and mainly used as rescue and watchdogs. Learn about the "History of the Great St. Bernard Pass and the St. Bernard Dogs" during a field lecture.

Lunch: Lunch at a local establishment.

Afternoon: Continue on the winding road down to the French speaking Valle d’Aosta in Italy and on to Cogne (5000 feet), the main gateway to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, founded in 1920. Upon arrival, attend an orientation and stroll through the town. Enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel before dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Sant'orso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 30 minutes. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by local transportation to the village of Lillaz (5304 feet) and the Lillaz waterfall. The walking field trip begins here, continues along the Urtier River and ends in Cogne. Beautiful views of the mountain peaks and glaciers continue to the three waterfalls (total height 492 feet) on the Urtier River.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: Local transportation to the old village of Gimillan (5900 feet), built on a natural terrace. From there, walk across alpine meadows and take in the panoramic views of the majestic mountains of the Gran Paradiso Nationalpark. Learn about Gimillan and the national park during a field lecture. Take a brief stop for coffee before we return to Cogne by minibus. Prior to dinner, watch a video on traditional mining in the Cogne valley.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Following dinner, there will be a liqueur tasting (made from local herbs).

Lodging: Hotel Sant'orso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 1 hour. Approximate walking time: 2 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer by private coach to the attractive mountain town of Aosta (1900 feet), founded by the Romans in 25 BC - primarily a military camp, and called the “Rome of the Alps.” The setting of this town is pure enchantment, surrounded by mountains. The roman layout of the streets of Aosta, its narrow cobbled streets, and overhanging upper stories, give the town a very alpine flair. Hear as lecture called "Aosta and Cogne – Past and Present."

Lunch: Lunch on your own in Aosta.

Afternoon: Independent time (2 hours) before returning by private coach to Cogne.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Sant'orso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 15 minutes. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning there will be a short transfer by local transportation to the hamlet of Valnontey, where your walking field trip begins. Start on a gentle one-way trail along the Valnontey River, through forests of coniferous and larch trees to the Alpe Vermiana (5800 feet). Experience fabulous views as you walk closer to the permanently snow-covered Gran Paradiso Mountains. Today's field lectures include "Alpine Garden in Valnontey" and "Liqueurs Made of Local Herbs."

Lunch: Picnic above Valnontey.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon baking bread, a local tradition in the Valnontey Valley.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Sant'orso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 2 hours. Approximate walking time: 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Private coach transfer to Chamonix with an excursion stop and walk in Courmayeur, a striking and fashionable resort located at the foot of Mont Blanc. Continue through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix (3,500 feet).

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: After check-in, rejoin the group for a walking field trip of Chamonix, including a visit to the Alpine Museum and the monument established in honor of Michel Paccard, first climber of Mont Blanc (15,800 feet) in 1786. Today's field lecture covers the past and present of Chamonix, and the Alpine Museum.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Prieure

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: The day begins with a walk from the hotel on the north side of Chamonix going slightly uphill above the town (4000 feet). The well-kept Petit Balcon Sud trail leads through forested and open areas and offers the most spectacular views of the north face of Mont Blanc and of course many other white mountain peaks. Learn about the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc during a field lecture.

Lunch: Picnic on the trail.

Afternoon: Descend on the same trail back to Chamonix.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Prieure

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: short train ride and cable car. Approximate walking time: 1 hour.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Today ride the cable car up Mont Blanc, enjoying the marvelous views as it first climbs to Plan de l’Aiguille (7600 feet) and then to Aiguille de Midi (12,700 feet). The panorama on a clear day is simply one of the best in the Alps, with views of mountains as far as the eye can see. If the sky is clear, you may even get a glimpse of the Matterhorn! This is a wonder that attracts people from all over the world. Hear a field lecture on the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc. Walk from the middle station Plan del'Aiguille (7,600 feet) to the Lac Bleu Lake. Return to Chamonix by cable car.

Lunch: Lunch on your own in Chamonix.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time this afternoon.

Dinner: Special drink and farewell dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Prieure

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Approximate transfer time: 1.5 hours. Approximate walking time: 2 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the Chamonix hotel.

Morning: Transfer by private coach to an airport hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Geneva during free time. You may want to see the large fountain Jet d'eau, the European headquarters of the United Nations, Palais des Nations, or Saint Peter's Cathedral. There are also many museums and gardens to see in Geneva.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time this afternoon.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Geneva Airport

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Independent shuttle transfers to the Geneva, Switzerland airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast