Switzerland Adventure Trip: August 21-30, 2020
Updated: May 13
LLLL = Live Like a Local in Locarno (for a week!)
Southern Switzerland is known for its sunny climate, even palm trees! Locarno is our home base for the week. This village was founded in the 12th century. The old town's Castello Visconteo houses the Museo Civico, which showcases Roman antiquities. The 15th-century Santuario della Madonna del Sasso, an art-filled pilgrimage site, overlooks the city and is a major landmark of the village.
All of my adventure trips are created for beginning and intermediate abilities.
More info below and
more info here: https://www.liveandthrive.com/event-details/switzerland-adventure-trip-2
ITINERARY
Day 1, August 21, Friday
Fly to Zurich, Switzerland
Day 2, August 22, Saturday
10:30 AM: (local time) Arrive in Zurich
In the Zurich Airport we'll buy food/snacks for the Swiss Train ride to Locarno, a very scenic 2 1/2 hour experience!
At this time you also receive your Swiss Travel Pass once we gather in the Zurich Airport.
Afternoon: Arrive in Locarno, walk a comfortable 10 minutes to our Swiss Villa. Address: 2 via Sociale, Minusio, Muralto.
5:30 PM: Dinner at Ristorante Centrale
Evening: Free time, relax, join us on an easy, 5-minute walk down to Lake Maggiore around sunset, eat gelato on a park bench and mingle with other Europeans who also share a passion with this beautiful, warm region.
Day 3, August 23, Sunday - Lugano
Picnic in the park at Lake Lugano. Enjoy a more relaxed, sight-seeing day, plenty of walking but no hiking. Some may attend a one-hour, morning church service in Lugano at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints while the rest of the group will be guided to explore the area around Lake Lugano. We'll be together again within 2 hours.
Highlights: - Lugano, Lago Lugano, Monte San Giorgio,
Brusino to Serpiano via cable car, Lake Lugano, Paradiso, Gandria, Northern Italy via ferry, Morcote (voted the most beautiful village in Switzerland), Swiss Miniature, Monte San Salvatore, Melide, Best Gelato in Lugano
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and sack lunch)
8 AM - 5 PM: A full day spent in the Lugano area
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Some may choose to linger longer in Lugano or head back to Locarno! Either way you'll be guided back home to get a good nights rest for a big day on Monday.
Day 4, August 24, Monday
Hiking, walking, tram ride, chair lift, sight-seeing, picnic on top of an Alp
Highlights: Locarno, Lago Maggiore, Madonna del Sasso, Cardada, Cimetta. Best Gelateria in Locarno - Vera Gelateria, Minusio, Muralto, Ascona
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and sack lunch)
8 AM - 5 PM: This day is spent in, and around and above Locarno.
8 AM: Option: Get acquainted with Migros, our favorite local grocery store just 5 minutes away.
9 - 9:30 AM: Locarno Visitors Center, hike up to Maddona del Sasso, a 35-minute walk up a cobblestone stairway OR skip the hike and ride the Funicular.
After exploring this area, we'll take a 10-minute tram ride higher up the mountain to Cardada.
After exploring this area we'll take our final ride on a chairlift to Cimetta (chi-metta),and receive a bird's eye view onto many landmarks below including Lake Maggiore and many surrounding Alps!
Relax with a picnic lunch at this area, after a short, 5 minute walk up the mountain and watch paragliders fly by in this exciting area of the Southern Swiss Alps, Canton of Ticino. This is a very popular paragliding area.
OPTIONS: 1) Descend by hiking 2.5 hours on a well beaten path down to Orselina, then Muralto (where we live) OR 2) take the tram, chairlift and funicular back down to Locarno. Do what feels right for you! We'll be there for you, regardless of your option.
5 PM: Back home to our villa, relax, soak your feet in Epsom Salt
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Eat gelato on a park bench as you look over Lake Maggiore.
Day 5, August 25, Tuesday
Hiking below glaciers, exploring, walking, tram ride, sight-seeing
Highlights: Vallemaggia, Bignasco, S Carlo Val Bavona, Robiei Hiking Trail, Basodino, hiking around the Base of Basodino Glacier
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and sack lunch)
7:30 AM - 5 PM: Vallemaggia area. A stunning hiking destination with rivers, pristine alpine lakes, glaciers, wildflowers, small mountain villages, majestic Alps and valleys below.
5 PM: Back home to our villa
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Free time, relax, join us on an easy, 5-minute walk down to Lake Maggiore around sunset, eat gelato on a park bench and mingle with other Europeans who also love this warm region.
Day 6, August 26, Wednesday
Hiking along the clean, clear-blue Verzasca River, walking, exploring, sight-seeing, waterfalls
Highlights: Valle Verzasca, Gordola, Tenero, Sonogno, Corippo, Lavertezzo, Ponte dei Salti, see the famous James Bond Bungee Jump at the Verzasca Dam, Cascata La Froda
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and a sack lunch)
7:30 AM - 5 PM: Valle Verzasca
5 PM: Back home to our villa
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Free time, relax, join us on an easy, 5-minute walk down to Lake Maggiore around sunset, eat gelato on a park bench and mingle with other Europeans who also love this warm region.
Day 7, August 27, Thursday
Easy hiking, waterfalls, walking, exploring several small old Swiss communities, sight-seeing
Highlights: Vallemaggia, Cascata di Foroglio, Bignasco, S Carlo Val Bavona
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and a sack lunch)
7:30 AM - 5 PM: Vallemaggia area
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Free time, alone time, relax, Lake Maggiore around sunset, eat gelato on the grass.
Day 8, August 28, Friday
Walking, sight-seeing, exploring, hiking
Highlights: Bellinzona, 3 Castles
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and a sack lunch)
8 AM - 1 PM: Bellinzona area
Afternoon - Any final local activity you want to revisit before we leave
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Free time, relax, try a new flavor of Gelato each night!
Day 9, August 29, Saturday
20 hours in Bern, Switzerland area, explore, hike, walk, shop, etc.
Highlights:
Bernese Highlands, Panoramabrücke Sigriswil, Bern, Thun
6:30 - 7:30 AM: Prepare for the day, (prepare your own breakfast and a sack lunch)
8 AM - 5 PM: Travel to Bern, Switzerland (another scenic 3 hour 8 min. train)
Spend the day in this gorgeous northern region
5 - 6 PM: Dinner
Evening: Free time, relax, explore, etc.
Day 10, August 30, Sunday
8 AM: Travel by train to Zurich (1 1/2 hr ride)
1:40 PM: Departure from Zurich
Thank you in advance for traveling with us to one of our favorite countries in the world and the homeland of my ancestors!
Why do I love Switzerland so much?
This land speaks to me in a very personal way because I am a true mountain woman and have a lot of Swiss blood running through my veins. Each time I come back to Switzerland it's so welcoming, invigorating and memorable.
Activities include:
Living like a local in Europe
Getting a taste of the Swiss-Italian culture
Hiking/Trekking
Walking
e-biking
Photography
Exploring
Cooking lessons
Sightseeing
Shopping
Eating, sampling
People watching
Stretching and yoga near the shore of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano
Enjoying a snack or gelato at Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano AND on top of an Alp, high above the villages below.
Visiting historical sites and religious sanctuaries
Meeting kind, caring Europeans of all ages and walks of life.
Daily Routine:
6:30 - 8 AM
Prepare your own breakfast and sack lunch (It’s wise to always prepare enough food to carry in your backpack during the day. You’ll always have something healthy to eat on a train, bus, boat or a hike. We also carry water with us at all times. When we are near a village you may stop and buy something if you like.)
8:15 AM - 5 PM
Out and about all day. Plan on walking a lot. It will require moderate physical ability since Switzerland is not a flat country. Lots of walking up and down.
5 - 7 PM
Meals eaten on our 2 story deck overlooking the city, it’s more intimate, all you can eat, healthy eating, the way you like it, no cigarette smoke. You are not required to eat with the group every night. There are plenty of option: on the deck outside, in our dining room, an intimate picnic by the lake shore, etc.
Brief meeting held each evening after dinner to review the next day’s activities and help prepare everyone for the morrow. This is also a time we can discuss other options if anyone wants to opt out of the planned activities and have a free day for themselves. That is always an option and acceptable.
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Free time - Enjoy private time alone as often as you like. This is also a great time to soak your body in Epsom Salt to relax any sore muscles. If you do this make sure you bring your own Epsom Salt since it’s really expensive to buy and hard to find in Switzerland!
Modes of Transportation provided:
Train
Boat
e-Bike
Chair lift
Cable Car
Tram ride
Bus
Funicular
Foot
Plane (you’ll buy your own airfare)
From the Locarno train station... (which is just 10 minutes from our Villa):
Monte San Salvatore, Paradiso near Lugano - 90 minute train ride (train/bus)
Madonna del Sasso - 30 minutes (hiking) or 10 minute funicular ride
Cimetta - (chair lift after hiking and walking around Cardada)
Cardada, Switzerland - (after Madonna del Sasso we’ll walk across the street and take a Tram up to Cardada. It feels like you are taking a tram ride up to Hidden Peak at Snowbird to 11,000 ft. but you are not. Elevation in Locarno is only 656 feet above sea level compared to SLC at 4226 ft.)
Orselina, Switzerland - 32 minutes (walking, hiking) or 10 minutes (bus)
Italy from Lugano - 1 hour by boat (includes stops along the way)
Lake Lugano, Switzerland - 65 min (train)
Ascona, Switzerland - 15 minute (bus)
Lake Maggiore, Switzerland - 5 minute (walk)
Valle Verzasca, Switzerland - 35 minutes (bus)
Zurich, Switzerland - 2 hours 8 minutes (train)
Milan, Italy - 2 hour 20 minutes (train)
*Lugano, Switzerland - 65 minutes (train)
Gandria - 90 minutes by train & boat
Tenero - 5 minutes by train
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