This full-day pre-tour takes participants to Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most iconic lakeside cities. The programme combines a scenic journey on Lake Lucerne with a visit to the Swiss Museum of Transport, Switzerland’s leading museum dedicated to mobility, transport, energy and communication.

Depending on the 2027 timetable, the lake journey is planned on one of Lake Lucerne’s historic paddle steamers or scheduled passenger boats. The cruise itself becomes part of the Swiss mobility experience and offers a beautiful view of Lucerne, the lake and the surrounding mountains.

At the Swiss Museum of Transport, participants will discover interactive exhibitions covering rail, road, air, space, navigation, cableways, tourism, energy and media. It is one of the best places in Switzerland to experience the country’s long-standing connection with mobility, innovation and public transport.

This full-day pre-tour leads participants to the medieval town of Gruyères, where Swiss heritage, culture and imagination meet.

The visit includes Gruyères Castle, a historic landmark overlooking the region and offering a journey through centuries of art, history and legends. Participants will also have time to experience the unique atmosphere of the old town of Gruyères, famous for its picture-perfect setting and its connection to Swiss cheese culture.

The tour continues with a visit to the HR Giger Museum, dedicated to the Swiss artist whose visionary work became internationally famous through Alien. The museum presents Giger’s distinctive biomechanical universe and offers a striking contrast to the medieval charm of Gruyères.

This pre-tour brings together two very different sides of Switzerland: tradition, cheese and castle history on the one hand — and dark, surreal science fiction art on the other.

This half-day pre-tour takes participants to Biel/Bienne, a city closely connected with Swiss watchmaking.

The visit focuses on the Cité du Temps, home to the Omega Museum and Planet Swatch. Together, they present two complementary perspectives on Swiss watchmaking: precision, heritage and innovation on the one hand, and colour, design and popular culture on the other.

At the Omega Museum, participants will discover the history of one of Switzerland’s most famous watch brands, including highlights from sports timekeeping, space exploration and iconic watch design. Planet Swatch offers a more playful and creative view of time, with a colourful collection of Swatch watches and interactive displays.

This half-day tour is a compact but fascinating introduction to Swiss watchmaking culture — in the heart of one of Switzerland’s most important watchmaking cities.