After arriving in Paris, check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest or explore your surroundings. Your Paris Visite pass becomes valid from the first use. Activate it when it's convenient for your schedule. The entire day is billed towards the duration time so it's best to activate the pass early in the day (NOTE: the Metro operates from 5:30am to about 1:00am). The pass for Zones 1-3 includes travel within central Paris including stops near all major tourist sites however, it does NOT include entrance fees. For dinner, your options are unlimited, whether it's an haute cuisine restaurant or a simple bistro. While canvassing the city, look at the menus posted, and if you find something appealing, have your hotel make a reservation for you. Not only do the French prefer that, more importantly it guarantees you a table.

(Accommodations, Paris)

After a breakfast, you'll be picked up at your hotel at 8:30 for your small group city tour and cruise. The bus will accommodate a maximum of 8 passengers to ensure a more personal tour. You'll tour both sides of the Seine passing all the major sites including the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre. In addition, there will be 15-20 minute photo stops at the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. Crossing over on the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, the tour finishes with a visit to the village of Montmartre on the right bank. Another 20 minute stop will be made to stroll around Sacre Coeur Basilica and the Place du Tertre, where the now famous Modernist artists and painters used to display their works. After the city tour, the Driver/Guide will take you to the Les Bateaux Mouches dock to board a boat for the one hour cruise on the River Seine. There will be English commentary on the historical and architectural sites along the river banks. The tour will end at the cruise dock next to the Pont de l`Alma. There is easy access to the Metro and RER for additional sightseeing, or for the return to your hotel.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Paris)

Today is free for independent exploring. Take advantage of your CityGuide and the Visite Pass to experience all that Paris has to offer. You can shop on Boulevard Haussman in Galeries Lafayette or Printemps with real Belle Epoque grandeur, or cross over the chic Left Bank with their numerous boutiques. Spend time in a couple of smaller art museums; the Orangerie in the Tuileries and Musee d'Orsay on the other side of the river. For history lovers, there's Invalides, the military museum holding the tomb of Napoleon, and the Pantheon. Some of France's best-known authors and scientists are interred in this former church including Voltaire, Curie, Braille, and Alexandre Dumas. If you prefer an "outdoor museum", Père Lachaise Cemetery sits in the 20th arrondisement in the northeast area of Paris. Some of their more famous residents include Chopin, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and of course, Jim Morrison of The Doors. Versailles is also an option and one can take the RER C line (a separate ticket). Some of the RER stations to board are Invalides, Musee d'Orsay, and Champ de Mars.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Paris)

After breakfast, time to leave the cosmopolitan and celebrated capital and head to Zürich. You'll depart from Gare de l'Est station on the TGV Lyria in 1st class for the 5 hour ride to the largest city in Switzerland, known for its artworks, shopping and scenery. Zürich is consistently rated one of the top cities in the world for wealth, livability and quality of life. After checking into your hotel, relax or head out to explore the city with your 72 Hour ZürichCard. It's the ideal ticket for culture lovers and urban explorers who would like to transform their short stay into a journey of discovery at a minimum of cost. This card provides unlimited 2nd class travel on all forms of public transportation in the city of Zürich and surrounding region, free or reduced admission to the majority of Zürich's museums, and 10 to 20% discount in various local stores.

(Breakfast, Paris; Accommodations, Zürich)

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide at the designated departure point for a shared Zürich & Surroundings Tour. Discover why Zürich is frequently awarded "city with best quality of life" and learn about Switzerland's business and cultural center while listening to your multilingual guide pointing out the highlights of this unique town. You will see the shopping and business centrer; Bahnhofstrasse, the Limmatquai with its medieval Old Town, and the Lindenhof, where the brave women of Zürich saved the city from the invaders. Later, view the biggest clock-face of Europe on St. Peter`s church, the Guild-Houses, Lake Zürich, the University quarters, the gorgeous mansions of the Zürichberg, and finally Fraumunster Church with its world-famous Chagall-Windows with detailed explanations. The tour ends in the Old Town and provides the perfect gateway to have lunch in this area. A plethora of choices including German, Italian, Mediterranean, Vegetarian and Vegan as well. Afterwards, continue to explore independently or return to your hotel to relax.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Zürich)

Today is free for exploring the city and the surrounding area. The Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum), the biggest in Switzerland, is by far the most visited, with a permanent exhibition on the History of Switzerland. The Kunsthaus gallery offers works by Monet, Fuseli and Dada. Two of the more famous churches to view are the Gothic Fraumunster church and the Romanesque Grossmunster, two of the city's most important landmarks. If you wish to leave the city, cross Lake Zürich by ferry and ride a cable car to Felsenegg with stunning views of the town, the lake, and the snow-capped Alps. If the weather is nice, take a 1-hour cruise on Lake Zürich or wander around the Niederdorf district in the Old Town, where the many of the car-free streets are full of antiques and trendy boutiques. And top off your day with a stop at the Sprüngli Cafe for chocolates. In the evening, what better way to end your stay than enjoying a typical fondue dinner at a local restaurant.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Zürich)

After breakfast, travel to the airport or rail station by taxi for your return home or on to your next Avanti Destination!

(Breakfast, Zürich)