From Appenzell to Lugano: Gentle Hiking Through Switzerland

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 7, 2025

Meet the group at Hotel Löwen Appenzell in Appenzell

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 6:00 p.m. Orientation; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: Traveling from Zurich Airport to Appenzell requires the use of two trains and the trip will take up to 2 hours total. Please contact Rail Europe for assistance with schedules (www.sbb.ch). You may purchase tickets at the SBB counter at the airport. Total cost is approximately CHF 34 - 40. Once in Appenzell, it is a three minute walk to the hotel. Taxis are available; taxi fare from the Zurich Airport to Appenzell will cost approximately CHF 450 - 500. To book a taxi, please visit www.7x7.ch/en/home.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Local transportation from the airport, instructions are supplied in final program packet.

Your trip ends on: Saturday, October 18, 2025 in Lugano at Hotel Walter au Lac

End of Trip: 10:00 a.m. after breakfast; 10:30 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: A taxi from the Walter au Lac Lugano to the Milan airport will cost approximately CHF 140 - 250. Traveling from Lugano to Milan by train will take up to 2 hours and cost approximately CHF 23 - 27. The train station can be reached in the following ways: Ten minute walk directly to train station. Four minute walk to the funicular station, then two minutes by funicular for a cost of about CHF 2. Ten minute taxi ride from hotel to train station will cost about CHF 15 - 25.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Transfers for Independent Travelers Road Scholar no longer offers complimentary transfers to participants with “Program Only” status. However, BOTH THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TRANSFERS on this program are an exception to that policy due to the complicated nature of the transfers. If you are arriving early, departing later, or booked your own air, there is a possibility to reserve a seat on the group arrival and/or departure transfers. Reservations for the transfers can be made by contacting rseuropeprograms@roadscholar.org no later than 30 DAYS prior to the program start date. Please note that we will not have a final transfer schedule until 7 weeks prior to the program start date, and it will be available in the final information packet. As long as your flights fit the parameters below, we will be able to confirm your ability to join a transfer if you reach out prior to that time, but no other details will be available. You MUST include your program number and date in the subject line of your request. If you arranged air on your own, please include your flight information, arrival/departure date, and whether you want to join the arrival, departure, or both transfers in your request. Transfer schedules are based on the times of arrival/departure for Road Scholar booked flights and will vary from departure to departure. IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOUR ABILITY TO JOIN A TRANSFER, YOUR ARRIVAL FLIGHT MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 12:00 P.M., AND YOUR DEPARTURE FLIGHT MUST DEPART NO EARLIER THAN 12:00 P.M. We cannot guarantee transfers for flights arriving/departing outside of these times. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404.