Both these two tours sound great. Any recommendations? I notice that the "Best of Switzerland in 12 Days" is filling up faster than the other tour. Is that because it is better? Also, we are hoping for late August or early September...is that a good time?
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8876 posts
They are both great. I’ve done Best of Switzerland and I loved the chance to experience the different areas of Switzerland. However, I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14716 posts
I've done the GAS tour but not the Switzerland tour. I loved the GAS tour but I also wanted to see the sights in Germany and Austria. I very much enjoyed the 3 nights in Muerren but if you want more hiking in Switzerland you might want to go with Best of Switzerland.
I would not guess that either is better than the other...just different.
I went the end of August 2016 and it was a heat wave in Germany. Literally 97F to start with. I personally would go in September but I'm not very heat tolerant!
Posted by
Southern Oregon
627 posts
Totally recommend that you take the Germany, Austria Switzerland tour before concentrating on just Switzerland. The GAS tour is full of different kinds of experiences and varied scenery. Then if you fall in love with Switzerland (like most of us) you can go back and take the Swiss tour and really delve into it.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5597 posts
I vote for the Switzerland tour. We did it pre-COVID and it was fantastic! Many tour members had gone on several RS tours previously and thought the Switzerland tour was the best. Once you fall in love with this beautiful country, you just won't want to leave. I've been back two more times since the original RS Swiss tour. And - I'm going back again!
Posted by
Southern Oregon
682 posts
I would recommend the GAS tour because it would be harder to visit all of stops on that tour on your own.
I have only been on the GAS tour, which has a 3 night stay in Mürren, but have returned to Mürren a couple of times on my own. Switzerland, with its efficient train system is easy to tour independently.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5597 posts
Carol, you do have a good point, regarding it being easier to tour Switzerland on your own, because of its friendly and efficient public transportation system.
Safe travels to all!
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7797 posts
We’ve been in Switzerland in August and also in September and had wonderful weather for hiking both times.
We have taken the GAS tour but not the Best of Switzerland. One item I will mention is that there is less transportation time on the Best of Switzerland tour.
Our favorite locations on the GAS tour were the Lauterbrunnen area in Switzerland, all of the locations in Austria and seeing the Black Forest region in Germany.
Posted by
14 posts
We've traveled through Southern Germany/Bavaria and northern Austria on our own previously, and recently returned from the 12-day Switzerland Tour (our first group tour/RST). All of these areas are lovely and fairly accessible (Switzerland perhaps most so), but here's one vote for the Swiss Tour! For a relatively small country, Switzerland has amazingly varied culture/scenery, and we learned a great deal about each region as we traveled through. Our tour departed Sep. 18, and it proved very well-timed; the summer heat wave had been punishing it seems, particularly since fewer hotels have air conditioning in the EU. While we did see some rain, we had many glorious days and enjoyed the more 'relaxed' shoulder season in what I imagine could be some otherwise busier destinations. We found the Swiss tour stops well-balanced for a reasonably full overview of the country. Not to slight Bavaria/Austria, as we certainly could have seen/learned more in those areas (such a beautiful region!), but I'd give the nod to Switzerland for dramatic/bucolic/charming scenery. You really couldn't go wrong here!