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Switzerland/France

Bern to Lake Geneva: A Swiss & French Walking Adventure for Women

Program No. 24916RJ
Exercise your mind and your body on this active adventure exclusively for women through the history and landscapes of Switzerland and France.
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  • Snow-capped mountains rise majestically behind the scenic shoreline of Lake Geneva in Switzerland and France.
  • The historic Zytglogge clock tower and a colorful fountain line a cobblestone street at dusk in Bern, Switzerland.
  • Sunlight reflects off the Aare River which curves around the historic buildings of Old Town Bern, Switzerland, with a cathedral in the background.
  • A winding road curves through the vibrant green hills of Switzerland, dotted with traditional farmhouses and forests under a cloudy sky.
  • A train travels along a green mountainside in Switzerland, offering a sweeping view of Lake Geneva and the distant French shoreline.
  • The village of Rivaz in Switzerland overlooks Lake Geneva, with its vineyards cascading down the hill towards the water and mountains beyond.
  • Pink flowers hang over the lush, terraced vineyards of Lavaux, Switzerland, which slope down to the blue waters of Lake Geneva.
  • The historic Palais de l'Isle sits in the Thiou River, surrounded by colorful buildings and cafes in Annecy, France, under a blue sky.
  • A scenic view of Lake Annecy in France, with a small sailboat on the water and lush green mountains in the background.
  • Brown cows with cowbells graze in a green pasture with the French and Swiss Alps rising in the background under a blue sky.
Walking/HikingWomen OnlySmall Group
Length
12 days
Rating (4.2)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,999
Flights start at
FREE
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
21 meals ( 10B, 6L, 5D )
2 expert-led lectures
15 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Getting on/off a train; riding approximately 1.5 hours; All luggage needs to be collected by 11:15 a.m. for the luggage transfer. If your luggage is not collected by that time, you be required to handle your own luggage on the train. All luggage on the transfer will need to have a Road Scholar luggage tag (sent previously) so it can be recognized as belonging to our group; Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
We will transfer as a group by train to Bern. Upon arrival, we will walk from the train station to the hotel. If time permits, the Group Leader will take us on an introductory stroll through the city. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via public transportation unless noted otherwise. Meals will feature local cuisine in a variety of settings. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a train; riding up to 40min; getting on/off public bus; riding up to 1 hour. Hiking up to 4.5 miles, approx. 3 hours, over natural trails including uneven ground, tree roots, rocks, and other natural obstacles, elevation gain 225 ft (steepest grade max 8%), elevation loss 200 ft (steepest grade max 7%); City walking up to 1 mile, approx. 45 min over asphalt streets, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, uneven ground, standing up to 1.5 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will walk from the hotel and go to the train station. Here, we will meet our local expert and take the train to Kallnach for the start of today’s hike. Our hike will follow the Via Berna, a 186-mile-long hiking route through the canton of Bern, along the river Aare.
Lunch:
We will have sack lunches on the trail.
Afternoon:
We will continue our hike until we reach Aarberg, where we will enjoy some time for independent exploration in this charming town that became home to some of the Huguenots that fled religious prosecution in France during the Reformation. We will meet at a predetermined time and location to return to Bern by public bus using the first ever public bus connection in Switzerland.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transport; riding up to 30 min; Getting on/off a funicular; riding up to 15min; City walking up to 4.5 miles over approx. 2.5 hours, over asphalt roads, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, some uneven ground; Standing for approx. 2 hours; Hiking up to 1.5 miles, approx. 1 hour over gravel roads, natural paths with uneven ground, tree roots, rocks, and other natural obstacles, elevation gain and loss of 100 ft. (steepest grade max 6% up and 5% down)
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out from the hotel on foot for an expert-led walk through the city of Bern. The de facto capital of Switzerland, referred to as the “federal city” by the Swiss, is also the center of Swiss politics. We will learn about the path to women gaining the right to vote, what other issues are still current, and how women impacted and still impact the shaping of Switzerland’s society. At the conclusion of our walk, we will take public transportation to Gurten, Bern’s own “house mountain.” At the top, we’ll enjoy lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will take a short hike and enjoy views of the city. At the conclusion of the hike, we will return to the city center where the rest of the afternoon is free to explore on your own.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transportation; riding up to 30 min.; Getting on/off a funicular; riding up to 15 minutes; City walking up to 1.6 miles, approx. 40 min over asphalt roads, city streets, cobblestones, uneven ground; Standing up to 3.75 hours; Hiking up to 4.5 miles, approx. 3 hours over gravel and natural paths with uneven terrain, tree roots, rocks and other natural obstacles, elevation gain 650ft (steepest grade max. 12%), elevation loss approx. 500ft (steepest grade max 11%)
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out from the hotel on foot and walk to the train station where we will board the train to Emmental. This region is known for keeping traditions alive. We will learn about some of these traditions from our local expert as we hike through this picturesque region and pass by the famous farm building and their pretty flowerpots.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will take the public bus to the next village and stop at one of the local trade houses and learn from a worker about the traditions of how they craft their products today. We will return to Bern via public transportation. The remainder of the afternoon is on your own for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off train; riding up to 3 hours; Getting on/off public bus; riding up to 10 min; City walking up to 1.5 miles, approx. 45 min over asphalt roads, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, uneven ground; Standing for approx. 1.75 hrs; Hiking up to 3.5 miles, approx. 2.5 hours over gravel roads, narrow paths, natural paths including uneven terrain, tree roots, rocks and other natural obstacles, elevation gain 450ft (steepest grade max. 16%), elevation loss 350ft (steepest grade max 11%)
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After our luggage is collected, we will check out of the hotel and walk to the train station where we will board the train to Broc. Upon arrival, we will meet our local guide and hike along the river Saane to Gruyères. This hike connects two towns that are famous in the Swiss Industry as they produce some of Switzerland’s best-known products, cheese and chocolate.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. There will be an opportunity to purchase lunch prior to boarding the train in the morning. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
At the conclusion of our hike, you will have a little free time to wander around the charming little town of Gruyèrers before we meet at a predetermined time and location to catch our train connection to Montreux. Upon arrival in Montreux, we will check into the hotel and take some time to freshen up before we meet for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off cog-wheel railway, funicular & public bus; total riding on public transport up to 2.25 hours; City walking up to 1 mile, approx. 1 hour, over asphalt roads, city streets, cobblestones; Standing up to 2 hours; Hiking up to 3.7 miles, approx. 2.5 hours over narrow gravel and natural paths including uneven terrain, tree roots and rocks, some steep areas, some may be slippery when wet, elevation gain 275 ft (steepest grade max. 13%), elevation loss 200 ft (steepest grade max 13%)
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we will set out on foot from the hotel and begin our walk along the promenade around Lake Geneva with stunning views of the surrounding Alps as we make our way to the city center. Upon arrival, we will set out with our local expert for a city walk of Montreux.
Lunch:
We will have sack lunches along the trail.
Afternoon:
At the conclusion of our hike, we will board the cog-railway and travel to the summit of Rochers-de-Naye. Here, we will take in the breathtaking panorama of the surrounding Alps. We will then board the cog-railway and return to Montreux. We will enjoy a stroll through town with our Group Leader. The remainder of the afternoon is free to do as we like.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off train & public bus; riding up to 30 minutes; City walking up to. 0.5 miles, approx. 35min, over asphalt roads, city streets, cobblestones, uneven ground; Standing for approx. 1.5 hours; Hiking up to 2.5 miles, approx. 1.5 hours, over narrow paths, uneven terrain and some unavoidable steps, elevation gain approx. 350ft (steepest grade max. 6%); elevation loss approx. 125 ft (steepest grade max 4%)
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out on foot from the hotel and walk to the train station where we will take the train to the nearby town of Rivaz. Upon our arrival, we will begin our hike with the Group Leader and our local hiking guide through the heart of the Lavaux region. With its numerous vineyards, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has some of the most stunning landscapes in the Lake Geneva region. At the conclusion of our hike, we will visit a local winemaker.
Lunch:
At the winemaker, including a tasting of wines from the vineyards we hiked through.
Afternoon:
After lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is free to see and do what interests you most. Perhaps you may fancy a visit to Chaplin’s World in Vevey or to return to Montreux for a visit to Chillon Castle. There are endless possibilities, and your group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public bus; riding up to 10 min; Getting on/off train; riding up to 2.5 hours; Getting on/off metro; riding up to 10 min; Getting on/off public boat (ferry); riding up to 35 min; City walking up to 4 miles, approx. 3.5 hours over asphalt roads, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, uneven ground and hilly terrain, elevation gain approx. 200 ft (steepest grade max. 9%), elevation loss 100 ft (steepest grade max 10%); Standing for approx. 3 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Once our luggage is loaded, we will check out of the hotel and make our way to the train station and take the train to Lausanne. Here we will visit the Olympic Museum. Learn on an individual visit about the long history of the Olympic Games and their truly extraordinary participants.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will regroup after lunch at a predetermined time and location and make our way to the ferry terminal where we will get on the ferry and make our way to Évian-les-Bains. This town is best known for its namesake brand of water. Originally, the water from Évian was known for its healing attributes and transformed the town into a wellness destination. Upon arrival, we’ll take a short stroll through the town with our group leader before continuing our transfer to Annecy by public transportation. Upon arrival, we will take a stroll through the town with the Group Leader before checking into our hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off private bus; riding up to 1 h; City walking a total of approx. 0.5 miles in 30 min, over asphalt roads, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, uneven ground; Standing for approx. 1.75 hours; Hiking up to 3.5 miles, approx. 2.5 hours over narrow gravel paths and uneven ground, Elevation gain approx. 500ft (steepest grade max. 12%), Elevation loss approx. 500ft (steepest grade max 18%).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to the starting point of today’s hike. Upon arrival, we will join our local guide and start hiking upwards to the top of Semnoz. During the hike, we will gain a stunning view of Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountain scenery.
Lunch:
We will have sack lunches along the trail.
Afternoon:
At the summit, we will loop back and return to our starting location. We’ll board our motorcoach and start our return to Annecy. On the way, we will stop at a small animal park. This park is home to local animals, such as deer and hinds. Once we reach the hotel, the remainder of the day is free.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
City walking for up to 2 hours over asphalt roads, city streets/sidewalks, cobblestones, and uneven ground, Standing up to 1 hour, there are hills but elevation changes will be minimal; Average Altitude of 1470 ft; Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out on foot for an expert-led walk of Annecy. During this walk we will learn about the women of this city.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar Program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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