Switzerland

2 tours from £2,500^pp

Stretching just 135 miles from north to south and 220 miles from east to west, Switzerland’s canvas may be small but it packs a stunningly beautiful landscape. A sweeping arc on the Franco-Swiss border, the densely-forested Jura Mountains hide myriad lakes, caves and chasms. To the south, the soaring, snow-capped peaks of the glacier-carved Alps tower over deep alpine lakes, charming mountain villages and beautiful green pastures. Cutting a swathe through the heart of the country, Mittelland is decorated with glittering blue lakes lined with picturesque towns and lakeside hamlets. Nowhere is more picture-postcard perfect than the Swiss capital Bern.

Switzerland can claim the honour of being the source of two of Europe’s major rivers. Rising in the Alps, the River Rhône is a mountain river until it reaches Lake Geneva where it leaves Switzerland on its journey south to the Mediterranean Sea. Originating in a small, idyllic mountain lake called the Tomasee, the River Rhine starts its life as a very modest mountain stream. It grows in force until reaching Lake Constance from where it continues to the beautiful city of Basel. This Swiss gem has a unique mix or architectural styles courtesy of its close proximity to French and German neighbours. The city is a highlight of a river cruise on the Rhine, which flows through a further five countries on its way to the North Sea.