Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy

Your journey begins in the air, with anticipation for the days ahead. You’re heading toward Europe’s alpine heart, where mountain landscapes define daily life and borders blur between France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy. Ahead lies a journey grounded in tradition and the rhythms of the Alps.

Say bonjour to Chamonix, a legendary mountain town set beneath Mont Blanc. As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing through the afternoon. The time is yours to wander Chamonix’s walkable streets, where cafés, outfitters, and historic buildings reflect generations of alpine life. As evening approaches, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail party and toast the journey ahead.

This morning, travel to Annecy, a lakeside town where water routes once carried goods, ideas, and people. Walk the medieval center with a local guide, tracing canals, bridges, and long-standing neighborhoods. Free time follows to browse markets, stroll along the lake, or settle into a café. By afternoon, return to Chamonix. This evening, gather over a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Experience the landscape surrounding Mont Blanc in the way that speaks to you. It’s your choice! Ascend by cable car to the Aiguille du Midi,* rising to over 12,600 feet (3841 meters),** where you stand eye-to-eye with Mont Blanc and take in views stretching across the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps -OR- ride aboard the historic Tramway du Mont Blanc,*** a rack railway that steadily climbs through alpine forests and open mountain scenery. Later, return to the valley and slow the pace with a gentle walk through the forests around Chamonix, sharing the crisp air and quiet moments of the mountains with your fellow travelers.