Why Pair Paris with the Swiss Alps
France and Switzerland sit side by side, yet they offer very different weeks away: one the grand boulevards and museums of Paris, the other lakes, mountain villages and some of the highest peaks in Europe. This Europe tour package from the UAE joins the two by road through Burgundy and Lyon, so you see the countryside in between rather than flying over it.
Paris, Versailles and Burgundy
Paris needs little introduction. The Eiffel Tower, a cruise on the Seine and the artists’ quarter of Montmartre on its hill are the classic first-visit sights, and the city’s cafés, bakeries and department stores fill any free hours. Just outside the city, the Palace of Versailles and its formal gardens were the seat of the French court from the 17th century until the Revolution.
Heading south, Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy, known for its medieval hospice with its patterned tiled roof, and Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, is watched over by the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the hill above the old town.
Geneva, Zurich and the Bernese Oberland
Across the border, Geneva sits at the end of its lake with the Jet d’Eau fountain and the Palais des Nations, European home of the United Nations. Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, has a compact old town on the River Limmat and a lake busy with cruise boats, and the medieval castle town of Rapperswil lies at its far end.
The highlight for many is the day in the Bernese Oberland. At Grindelwald, a gondola climbs to First at 2,168 metres, where a cliff walk cantilevered out from the rock face looks straight across at the north face of the Eiger. Lucerne, with its covered wooden Chapel Bridge and lakeside promenade, rounds off the day.
Planning your Europe trip
This France and Switzerland tour package suits couples, friends and families who want a classic European itinerary with a guide on sightseeing days and the travel between cities handled. Early December in the Alps is cold, so pack a proper winter coat, gloves and sturdy shoes alongside lighter layers for Paris. Timed around the UAE National Day break, the tour uses the longer window after the holiday and works at other times of year too. Schengen visa rules apply, so check the Visa Info section before you book.
Take a look at the full itinerary and inclusions on this page, then send us an enquiry to check availability on this departure.