Final-year school trip to Switzerland and Italy: Lucerne, Pilatus, Lugano, Milan, Lake Como, the Borromean Islands, the Simplon Pass, Montreux and Bern (8 days)

Day 1: Departure from your school and arrival in Lucerne

• Departure from your school early in the morning, at the agreed time, and daytime drive to Switzerland via Luxembourg, Alsace and Basel (about 600 to 700 km, 7.5 to 8.5 hours excluding breaks), with two drivers on board.
• Our drivers drive for a maximum of 3 hours, then take a 30-minute break, day and night.
• Lunch at your own expense on the way.
• Arrival in the late afternoon and check-in at the accommodation in or near Lucerne for two nights; dinner and a quiet evening.

Day 2: Lucerne, its lake and Pilatus

• Walk through the old town: the Chapel Bridge and its water tower, the squares with painted façades and the Lion Monument.
• Cruise on Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, between mountains and lakeside villages.
• Ride up Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, then down by cable car to Kriens (on request).
• Lunch at your own expense, then back to Lucerne and supervised free time in the centre.
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 3: The Gotthard, Lugano and Lake Como

• Rooms vacated after breakfast and drive through the Gotthard tunnel to Lugano (about 170 km, 2 hrs 15 min excluding breaks).
• Walk along the lakeside and through the old town, around Piazza della Riforma.
• Lunch at your own expense, then across the Italian border and drive to Como (about 40 min).
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Como for three nights, dinner and a quiet evening.

Day 4: Milan, capital of fashion and design

• Drive to Milan (about 50 km, 1 hr).
• The Duomo and climb up to its marble terraces, among the spires and statues (on request).
• The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala and lunch at your own expense.
• The courtyards of Sforza Castle and Sempione Park, then visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” (on request).
• Back to Como for dinner and supervised evening.

Day 5: Como and Bellagio

• Walk through Como’s old town, from the cathedral to the lakeside.
• Funicular ride from Como up to Brunate for the view over the lake and the Alps (on request).
• Boat from Como to Bellagio, the “pearl of the lake”, and lunch at your own expense.
• Supervised free time in the stepped lanes of Bellagio, then return by boat.
• Dinner and last evening in Italy.

Day 6: The Borromean Islands and the Simplon Pass

• Rooms vacated after breakfast and drive to Stresa, on Lake Maggiore (about 1 hr 15 min).
• Boat excursion to the Borromean Islands and visit to the Borromeo Palace and its gardens on Isola Bella (on request).
• Lunch at your own expense on Isola dei Pescatori, the fishermen’s island.
• Drive via Domodossola and over the Simplon Pass (2,005 m) to Brig, in the Upper Valais (about 110 km, 2 hours excluding breaks).
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Brig for one night, dinner and a quiet evening.

Day 7: Lake Geneva, Chillon and Bern

• Departure after breakfast and drive along the Rhône valley to Montreux (about 150 km, 2 hours excluding breaks).
• Visit to Chillon Castle, a medieval fortress set on Lake Geneva (on request).
• Walk along Montreux’s flower-lined promenade and lunch at your own expense.
• Drive to Bern (about 1 hr 15 min): the UNESCO-listed old town, its arcades, the clock tower (Zytglogge) and the bear park; visit to Einstein’s House (on request).
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Bern for one night, dinner and last evening.

Day 8: Return to your school

• Rooms vacated after breakfast and departure around 7.30 am.
• Daytime drive back to Belgium via Basel and Alsace (about 600 to 700 km, 7.5 to 8.5 hours excluding breaks), with two drivers on board.
• Lunch at your own expense on the way and regular breaks.
• Arrival at your school in the evening.