Food & Wine Tour of France and Switzerland

What to expect on this itinerary
Champagne pops and fizzes as the vineyards grow with lush leaves and plump grapes; the scent of chocolate truffle fills the confectionery with the promise of decadence to come on your custom tour of France and Switzerland. Medieval cathedrals glisten with stained glass windows as jewelry shops glint with gilded window displays. The layers of history accentuate the contemporary styles of chic restaurants and lavish chocolatiers. Enjoy full immersion into luxury from hidden wine regions to wine cellars submerged in caves, to cities with Roman roots to Renaissance architecture. Step beyond the beauty of the streets and savor splendor in cuisine.
Customizable Itinerary
Paris – Arrive in Celebrated and Vibrant Paris, Known for its Rich Cuisine
Paris is more than just the “City of Love,” and the “City of Light,” as it embodies a spirit of pleasure from the great beauty of the architecture to the stunning colors and texture of the artwork on display. Music pours out of cafes and along the cobbled streets of the old neighborhoods. Window displays offer more than opulent marketing for the local shops but provide an inkling of insight into the delights of a different world, from the glittering bracelets on the Champs Elysees to the vintage-inspired candies found deep in the Parisian alleys.
Your private transfer greets you at Charles de Gaulle Airport and escorts you into the heart of Paris, where you immediately immerse yourself in the sweet aroma of fresh baked chocolate croissants drifting out of the corner patisserie. With the remainder of the day at your leisure, venture to the iconic monument of the Eifel Tower, erected in the 1880s as the gateway to the World’s Fair. The masterful architectural work stands more than 1,000 feet tall with open windows in the gourmet Restaurant le Jules Verne providing a panoramic view of the elegant city. A five-course tasting menu lets you settle into the French lifestyle to savor every bit of your food while you enjoy the glistening lights that spread across the cityscape.
What's Included:
Paris – Half-Day Guided Tour of Paris’s Indulgent Gastronomic Specialties
Paris – Delight in a Full Day Excursion to the Vineyards of Champagne
Beaune – Transfer to Beaune in Burgundy and Enjoy a Half-Day Tour
Beaune – Visit Local Cellars and Renowned Wineries on a Full Day Tour
Beaujolais – Venture to Beaujolais and Explore the Local Castle Grounds
Beaujolais – Full-Day Immersion in a Private Culinary Tour of Lyon
Lausanne – Travel into Switzerland at Lausanne for a Half-Day Tour
Lausanne – Discover the Chateau de Chillon and the Lavaux Wine Region
Lausanne – Indulge in the Culinary Secrets In and Around Gruyeres
Geneva – Transfer to Geneva for a Half-Day City and Epicurean Tour
Geneva – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in the sweet chocolates of the oldest neighborhood in Paris on a private tour of the city learning about the history of confections
- Stroll along a wine route meandering through the highest vineyards attitudinally in the world at the Lavaux wine region in Switzerland
- Explore countryside villages and hamlets leading you across the treasured vineyards of the Champagne region, including a tasting at Dom Perignon
- Experience the markets, sweet treats, and savory dishes of France’s culinary capital at Lyon
- Immerse yourself in the luxurious flavors of Gruyeres cheese and chocolate while visiting the local factories producing the Swiss delicacies
- Sip cherished Grand Cru wine in historical cave cellars around the Beaujolais region along the sensational wine route
- Visit a storybook-style castle located on an islet spreading from the shore of Lake Geneva
- Travel along the magnificent and charming Burgundy wine route, connecting enchanting medieval villages with historical winemakers’ homes
- Delight in a scenic cruise along Lake Geneva with superb dinner to accompany the unforgettable view
- Relax in the comforts of five-star properties across France and Switzerland, allowing you to experience grandeur in both luxury and flavor
Detailed Description
From the Eiffel Tower to the Lyon Cathedral, the Place de la Palud in Lausanne to the Art and History Museum in Geneva, France, and Switzerland have preserved the grandeur of their past and blend it with the wonder of their present. Your 12-day tour takes you on a culinary journey to highlight the ways in which the two countries utilize their celebrated histories to influence their cuisine in all of its glory, from appearance to taste. Your luxurious tour begins with your arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris as your private transfer escorts you to the heart of the city. Relax in the comforts of your hotel, or venture out into the treasured streets of Paris to enjoy the intoxicating aromas.
Your guide will meet you at the hotel to lead you on a half-day tour of the monuments and culinary delights of the city, including tastings at the chocolateries in St. Germain. Travel next to the Champagne region on the wine route to visit charming villages and delight in tastings across the hillsides, including a sampling at Dom Perignon. Continue to Reims, the site of the French monarchy’s coronations, before moving on to Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy region. Explore the city to see the medieval remnants around the streets.
Next, traverse the vineyards around Burgundy to sample the preferred wines of the region as you visit the medieval villages that rise out of the vineyards and the culinary offerings of Dijon. Make your way next to Beaujolais for a private tour of the vineyards, wine cellars, and ancient villages situated near your castle accommodations. The brilliance of Lyon’s gastronomy, along with the beauty of the city considered France’s culinary capital, comes to light during a private full-day tour. Travel into Switzerland to discover the majesty of hillside city of Lausanne with its views of Lake Geneva. Partake in a luxurious scenic dinner cruise for a unique view of the lake and its surroundings.
Wander next to the grounds of Chateau de Chillon to discover the often-overlooked vineyards of the Lavaux wine region. Relish the charms of the village of Gruyeres before following a master cheese-maker through the process of making cheese at the local factory. In the afternoon, the delicacies continue at the chocolate factory, where you learn the secrets of producing indulgent sweets. Transfer to Geneva for a half-day tour of the cosmopolitan city and its treasured restaurants. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the Geneva airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$6,600 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 2100 reviews
Zicasso's travel expert and his team were fantastic. They planned out all the details of our trip and the activities were set up through reputable and trustworthy third parties by him. I’d definitely use his team again.
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Our trip with Zicasso's tour company was beyond exceptional. The itinerary was exactly what we asked for and the activities included were perfect for our group. We gave the tour company the information on the type of trip we would like and everything was top-notch. The hotels were incredible and our driver was absolutely the best. He was extremely flexible, always on time, and his vehicle was impeccable.
We received communication throughout the planning process and whenever we asked a question, the response was very timely. After the initial planning phase, we received updates and information from our travel designer, who was wonderful. The company's attention to detail allowed us to relax and enjoy our vacation. We had no issues whatsoever at any time during the trip with reservations, tickets, and vouchers. He even noticed that one voucher for a particular day had the wrong guest's birth date and he contacted me, as well as the hotel, so they could print the correct voucher.
The question is not if we will plan another trip with them, it is when. Don't hesitate to book a trip. As we say in the south, this tour company is a well-oiled machine.
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We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.
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Our trip to Provence was fabulous. The three cities, Lyon, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence, gave us a real sense of the region. The food, wine, and tours were all magnificent. The hotels were lovely and centrally located.
The five days in Avignon gave us a sense of the city and history. All the guides were excellent and well informed. Our entire trip was well organized and the travel app which outlined our trip was “perfect." We were especially thankful for the drivers who were always on time.
We highly recommend our Zicasso travel expert and our travel company. We have never been disappointed with Zicasso.
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Our trip to France was wonderful! I felt listened to on what we wanted to do and see, and I felt Zicasso's travel expert did a great job planning nice things within our budget.
Throughout the trip, I was communicated with well, which involved changes to our train tickets. Every driver and tour guide who was set up showed up on time and helped make the trip feel at ease.
We loved the location of the hotel in Paris, but the quarters were too tight for our family. We couldn't even open our suitcases in the room unless we went one at a time. However, it had AC, which when you go at one of the hottest times of the year was a great gift. The hotel in London was magnificent. A home run!
I am deeply appreciative of all the work that went into making this trip one of the highlights of our lives. With that said, I did a ton of planning on this and sorting through where everything was located and what made sense. I could've used more direction on this part. Sometimes, I guess, you only learn by doing.
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With the help of Zicasso, my wife and I experienced a once-in-a-lifetime 17-day tour of the major cities in Switzerland and Austria. The trip was exactly what we wanted it to be.
We initially spoke with our travel expert before the trip and came up with a great plan and schedule. Then Zicasso made it all happen flawlessly. The trip enabled us to see and do everything we wanted to, while remaining relaxing. The accommodations were better than expected.
Zicasso always had knowledgeable staff available to answer a question anytime, They provided excellent information to keep us happy and healthy, and the personal tours and events were beyond what we had hoped they would be. It was as though we had friends and family in the travel industry. My wife and I will use them exclusively from this point forward. Six out of five stars!
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