Last month Rayburn Tours’ very own Laura and Julie were lucky enough to spend a few days in stunning Switzerland.
The pair were tasked with familiarising themselves with the area, checking out the accommodation options and taking part in some of the adrenaline filled excursions on offer, all to ensure we offer you the very best experiences on your tour.
Follow Laura and Julie’s adventure in their own words…
Day 1
After a short flight from Gatwick to Geneva, we embarked on a beautiful scenic drive across the north side of the stunning Lake Geneva, after a pit stop for lunch on the lake, we arrived in Leysin and checked into our rooms.
We spent the afternoon on a private tour to Leysin with Jean-Claude, the hotel manager, who showed us around the fantastic facilitates that Leysin has to offer. This encompassed TWO fantastic sport centres, a cable car to the top of the mountains and some outstanding views. Following this, we inspected some of the hotel options in Leysin and finished with a visit to one of the resort swimming pools.
And finally… time for dinner! What a busy day!
Day 2
After a quick breakfast we headed to Parc Aventure in Aigle, a 30 minute drive from Leysin. With 11 trails, 2 zip lines and free fall zones, all varying in degrees of difficulty, this is the perfect place for groups looking for excitement – our GOPRO Footage shows you much fun we had!
We next met with the head of Leysin Tourism to learn a bit more about how Leysin has been developed with groups in mind, to create a perfect youth touring destination. Within Leysin (a fully functional ski resort throughout the winter), there are plenty of activities available, which negate the need to board a coach and travel for several hours each day – you can simply wake up in the morning, walk out of your hotel, and be faced with a whole host of exciting activities!
In the afternoon we visited the nearby Aquaparc – boasting 11 themed water slides, a lazy river and outdoor beach area open all summer, this is an ideal excursion to chill out midweek in between your sporting fixtures!
On the way back we paid a quick visit to Vevey, a small town located next to the lake. With plenty of Pizzerias and Ice Cream Shops, as well as pedestrianised streets for shopping, this would make a great place to visit and relax.
We headed back to Leysin for some much needed rest!
Day 3
Today took us on an adventure further into the mountains to the neighbouring town of Chateaux D’Oeux today. First up was Rivieres Aventures, a fully licensed water sports centre hosting a range of on and off water activities, including River Rafting, Canoeing, Kayaking and more. After some deliberation, we decided to give River Rafting a go – filled with fun and adrenaline, rafting really is a must for our sport itineraries!
On our to Leysin this afternoon, we decided to take a cable car up to the mountain top to see what was on offer! Aside from the spectacular views through the mountain ranges and over Lake Geneva, there are a whole host of walking routes back down the mountain to the village (approx. 2 hour walk), you also have the option of renting mountain bikes and dirt scooters from the rental shops in the village and riding back down to the base. This would make a great afternoon excursion for any groups looking for some outdoor adventure.
We spent our final evening in Leysin with a lovely meal at the Alpine Classic Hotel.
Day 4
After a final delicious breakfast at our hotel, we packed our bags and began making our way back around the lake to Geneva, via Lausanne, the home of the Olympic Museum. The Olympic museum offers guided tours, tailored to various specialised subject areas that are involved within the Olympics (Sport, Media, and Geography etc.). Coupled with the interactive features around the museum, ensuring students are all engaged in the learning that the museum has to offer, this would be an ideal excursion for a tour.
After making full use of the rent free tablets that the museum provides, it was time to depart for Geneva Airport for our return to the UK.
Switzerland was a great adventure and an extremely exciting destination that we cannot wait to add to our Sports Tours portfolio very soon!