From Appenzell to Lugano: Gentle Hiking Through Switzerland

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 5, 2027

Meet the group at Hotel Löwen Appenzell in Appenzell

Start of Trip:  Group transfer to Appenzell; 3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 6:00 p.m. Orientation; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: Traveling from Zurich Airport to Appenzell requires the use of two trains and the trip will take up to 1 hour 45 minutes total. Please contact Rail Europe for assistance with schedules (www.sbb.ch). You may purchase tickets at the SBB counter at the airport. Total cost is approximately CHF 36 - 40. Once in Appenzell, it is a five-minute walk to the hotel. Taxis are available; taxi fare from Zurich Airport to Appenzell will cost approximately CHF 450 - 500. To book a taxi, please visit www.7x7.ch/en/home.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Local transportation from the airport, instructions are supplied in final program packet.

Your trip ends on: Saturday, October 16, 2027 in Lugano at Hotel Walter au Lac

End of Trip: 10:00 a.m. after breakfast; 10:30 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Yes A taxi from the Walter au Lac Lugano to the Milan airport will cost between CHF 140 - 250. Traveling from Lugano to Malpensa Aeroporto by train will take approx. 1.5 - 2 hours and cost approximately CHF 40. The best way to get from the hotel to the train station is by public bus (fare included in the guest card). Other possibilities are: Ten-minute walk directly to train station. Four-minute walk to the funicular station, then two minutes by funicular for a cost of about CHF 2. Ten-minute taxi ride from hotel to train station will cost between CHF 15 - 25. Traveling to Milano Centrale by train will take approx. 1.5 hours and cost between CHF 22 - 60.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Transfers for Independent Travelers Road Scholar no longer offers complimentary transfers to participants with “Program Only” status. However, THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TRANSFERS on this program are an exception to that policy due to the distance and complicated nature of the transfers. If you arranged your flights with Road Scholar and are arriving early or staying beyond the end of the program, or have made your own flight arrangements, there is a possibility to reserve a seat on the group arrival and/or departure transfers. Reservations for the transfers can be made by contacting the Road Scholar Europe team no earlier than receipt of the first information packet and no later than 30 days prior to the start of the program. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHMENT AT THE BACK OF THIS PACKET FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PLACE YOUR TRANSFER REQUEST. Transfer schedules are based on the times of arrival/departure for Road Scholar booked flights and will vary from departure to departure. For those arranging their own flights, your arrival flight must arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. in order to be approved to join the transfer. We will not be able to guarantee transfers for independently booked flights arriving later than 12:00 p.m. To join a departure transfer, your departure flight must depart no earlier than 11:30 a.m. We will not be able to accommodate a transfer for independently booked flights departing before 11:30 a.m. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404.