ITINERARY

Day One

Our 12-day journey begins with an 8 a.m. rendezvous in the lobby of  Hotel Edelweiss in Geneva, Switzerland. Our hosts will welcome you to board our coach to one of our favorite villages - Le Grand-Bornand - for sight-seeing and food shopping. This spectacular place has three obsessions: world-class sking, Reblochon cheese, and quality Alpine living. We’ll enjoy lunch featuring regional cuisine while overlooking the village, with the sound of cowbells ringing in the distance. Dine like a true local: al fresco with a 360 degree view!

After lunch, we visit our affineur friends at Paccard, world-class specialists aging regional cheese such as Tome des Bauges, Chevrotin, Abondance, Raclette, Manigodine, Beaufort, and Reblochon. The latter is a semi-soft, washed rind mountain cheese that can be traced to the 13th century. We’ll then travel south to the Château St. Philippe. This beautifully restored, 1,000-year-old castle will provide us with a perfect rural French experience for the next seven days. Settle in and enjoy a chef-prepared meal, fit for a king!

Day Two

After breakfast, join our hosts for a day of cooking, food photography, and wine & cheese education. Half the guests will join Chef Sylvain as they roll up their sleeves for a hands-on cooking demonstration. He’ll share one of his favorite recipes using classic cooking techniques and market ingredients The other group will spend time with our expert food & cheese educator and photographer, learning how to use their iPhone to take magazine-worthy food photos.

During the afternoon, guests switch classes and then indulge in their creations during lunch and dinner.

The evening’s grand event is hosted by our cheese and wine educators. In the castle’s private wine cellars, we will explore some of Savoie’s finest artisan wine and cheese, and the role of terroir on the local culinary history. In this elegant and candlelit atmosphere, guests will hone their palates and share a French party classic: a crusty mètre de pain (3-foot long baguette)! A light dinner will follow.

Day Three

After breakfast, guests will have free time to explore the château or take a short hike. It’s another day to celebrate the wines of Savoie! Just down the road at our favorite boutique winery, we’ll enjoy a tour and tasting with Nadège, daughter of fourth-generation owner, Philippe Grisard.

We’ll relax during a picnic lunch nestled under the château trees, followed by a game of snooker or a swim in the outdoor pool. We’ll wrap up the lovely day with cocktail hour and a chef-prepared dinner.

Day Four

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Chambéry’s acclaimed outdoor market, exploring the world of fine spices, fresh produce, and cheese. Here you’ll be introduced to the European way of food shopping, stumble into a boutique cheese shop, or perhaps buy a local gift. After a market lunch, we’ll have a tour and taste of at the world-renowned distillery of Dolin Vermouth.

Returning to the château, just in time for cocktail hour, a dry Martini might be in order before a Moroccan dinner which will allow the chefs to showcase their favorite spices of the day! Like an evening in Casablanca – relax and let the day melt away.

Day Five

Continue your culinary journey with another hands-on cooking experience with Chef Sylvain who is an accomplished chocolatier. Guests will experience a “Celebration of All Things Confectionery” as Chef Sylvain teaches you how to create one of his favorite French-style chocolates. You’ll also have the option of learning the art of entertaining with cheese as our experts help you select and make the perfect cheese board. Finish the day with a chef-prepared meal and a relaxing swim.                                     

Day Six

After breakfast, we’ll be guided to the top of the world to witness alpage Beaufort cheesemaking - an experience like no other! With cows in the high meadows overlooking Mt. Blanc as a backdrop, you’ll be mesmerized by the handcrafting of this renowned cheese up close. Enjoy lunch with the cheesemaker and his family before a trek down the mountain to experience rural France as it was a generation ago. Return to the château for an afternoon swim, a cocktail and a chef-prepared dinner!

Day Seven

After breakfast, hike the ruins of another ancient château, walk the vineyards, or relax with a good book as we enjoy our last day in Savoie.  It’s a celebration of all things Italian today- in honor of Savoie’s historic relationship with Piedmont and Val d’Aosta - just across the border. Enjoy an Italian cocktail poolside with Madame Fromage before a chef-prepared Italian dinner.

Day Eight

After breakfast, we leave the château and head north to the Jura region. On our way, we spend a leisurely day in one of the most beautiful places in Europe — Lake Annecy — and its namesake city.  We’ll enjoy lunch, a relaxing, scenic boat cruise around the lake, and shopping- a great day in this pedestrian-friendly city.

Midday, we continue on to the beautiful Jura countryside to experience the world of Comté, hand smoked charcuterie, and unique Jura wines. We’ll settle in at a chef-owned, boutique-style hotel Le Bon Accueil. A Michelin-star dinner is planned for us by the hotel and restaurant owner, Chef Marc Faivre. This lovely meal will feature regional dishes, seasonal ingredients, and a cheese cart!

Day Nine

After breakfast, the day begins with the perfect complement to Comté: hand-smoked charcuterie. We’ll visit one of our favorite local charcuterie producers, Maison Grésard, to observe first-hand how families have traditionally smoked these unique, high-quality meats for centuries.

We’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with classic “farm to table” dishes before we meet up with our friends at Fort St. Antoine to explore the “King” of French cheese: Comté. Fort St. Antoine —a famous military outpost at the end of the 19th-century – is now a “Comté Cathedral, home to over 100,000 wheels of the famed cheese. There, we meet a team of affineurs - experts in the art of aging cheese - to see how they work their magic on these beautiful 90- pound wheels. We’ll finish the tour with Marcel Petite’s finest cheese paired with unique regional wines such as the Vin d’Arbois.

We’ll finish our afternoon shopping for cow bells! Meet one of the last handmade cow bell producers as he demonstrates his ancient craft, a perfect authentic souvenir, and a tour highlight! Enjoy a free night on your own in a local restaurant or simply pair a bottle of local wine and regional food you may have picked up during your travels.

Day Ten

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will visit a Comté producer for an overview of how this cheese is made. We’ll travel to the neighboring town to for a tour and tasting of Absinthe at Armand Guy Distillery. After a relaxing lunch at a local Brasserie, we’ll shop and enjoy a fitting end to the day- an evening of Alpine specialties and lawn bowling at a small restaurant, La Petite Échelle.

Like many trekkers who pass through here, we plan to enjoy a traditional, hearty meal in the pastured mountains on the Swiss border. This rustic restaurant continues to operate with minimal electricity, but guests appreciate its simple charms, slower pace, and of course, the candlelit atmosphere.

Day Eleven

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the mountains of Switzerland and a true alpage experience! We will visit Étivaz cheesemaker Blaise Chablaix and observe how he makes cheese the traditional way: in the mountains, in a copper kettle over a wood fire. We'll make our way around the hillside for lunch in the historic village of Gruyère. After a little shopping or a visit to the museum & château, we’ll head to the Geneva airport hotel to be available for flights the next day.

Day Twelve

Guests will have a convenient airport hotel stay and breakfast before saying au revoir.

 Tour Price Includes:

Lodging for 11 nights, 11 breakfasts, 8 noon meals, 9 evening meals, and alcoholic beverages served with meals, classes, and events. All transportation during the tour, all classes and/or day tours provided by local hosts, cheese educators, and chefs.

Tour Price Does Not Include:
Round trip airfare to and from Geneva, hotel accommodations before or after the tour, and any personal shopping, additional food, and beverage during walking tours and free time.

Please note that transportation to the Hotel Edelweiss is also the guest’s responsibility on arrival. From Geneva International Airport, guests may take a taxi (7.3 kilometers, ~17 minutes) for approximately 50 Swiss francs or a quick, one-stop train ride and a 10-15 minute walk from the station to the hotel, train tickets are reasonably priced. If interested, you may purchase one at the airport or online via this link: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html.

Disclosure We highly recommend that our travelers arrive one or two days prior to the start of the trip to get acclimated and take advantage of our recommended touring, shopping, and restaurant options in the Geneva area.

To the best of our ability, this itinerary is final. However, if due to unexpected extreme changes in weather, or an emergency with our hosts, Cheese Journeys reserves the right to substitute an event if needed. During the tour, you have the option of declining a particular excursion or tour, but please note that we are unable to make refunds for any missed meals, classes, or events. Please see Terms and Conditions for additional details.