Switzerland/France
Bern to Lake Geneva: A Swiss & French Walking Adventure for Women
Program No. 24916RJ
Exercise your mind and your body on this active adventure exclusively for women through the history and landscapes of Switzerland and France.
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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
12 days
11 nights
21 meals
10B 6L 5D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Via Berna, Aarberg
Bern
6
The Science of Electricity
Montreux
7
Alp Summit, Rochers-de-Naye
Montreux
8
Vineyards & Wines of Lavaux
Montreux
9
Evien-les-Bains, Annecy
Annecy
10
Semnoz, Animal Park
Annecy
At a Glance
The majestic landscapes and rich heritage of Switzerland and France are yours to explore on this hiking adventure alongside other Road Scholar women. Learning on your feet is the name of the game as your strolls take you through cities and charming villages, like Bern and Annecy, as well as along hiking trails that will give you breathtaking views of the Alps. Engage in women-centric studies as you learn from local experts about the roles of women in religion and politics, including the Huguenots who fled religious prosecution and the path to women’s right to vote in Switzerland. Look forward to time to rest and recuperate as well — your paths will lead you to the Lavaux region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with lush vineyards bordering the shores of Lake Geneva.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking 1-5 miles daily; trails and dirt roads are well-marked and generally gently undulating with some rocky sections and mild ascents and descents. Sturdy walking/hiking shoes are required. Elevations up to 6,700 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Board a cog-railway and ride to the summit of Rochers-de-Naye, a mountain offering jaw-dropping views of the surrounding Alps and a chance to visit an alpine garden.
- Explore the Lake Geneva region, including the French town of Évian-les-Bains, known for its resorts, spas and healing waters.
- Learn alongside other Road Scholar women about Swiss and French women and their roles in history, politics and religion as you walk in their steps through cities and villages.
General Notes
This is a special women’s only learning adventure.
Suggested Reading List
(29 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Bern to Lake Geneva: A Swiss & French Walking Adventure for Women
Program Number: 24916
Scrambles Amongst the Alps: In the Years 1860-69
Edward Whymper's classic account of Victorian-era mountaineering captures the geography, beauty and allure of the Alps.
Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe
Bryson deploys his famously cranky humor in this romp through European capitals. He’s great fun to read and insightful on quirks of character.
La Place de la Concorde Suisse
McPhee deploys his usual insight and wonderful prose on the phenomenon of the Swiss army, presenting an irreverent portrait of Switzerland and the Swiss mindset.
Heidi
The beloved tale of a little girl who is sent to live with her curmudgeonly grandfather in a remote Alpine village. This handsome hardback edition retains the quaint prose and buoyant disposition of Johanna Spyri's 1880 original.
Eyewitness Guide Switzerland
A compact, thoroughly illustrated guide, featuring over 900 photographs, good maps, and plenty of information on hiking in the Swiss Alps, natural and tourist attractions and the history and arts of Switzerland.
Killing Dragons, The Conquest of the Alps
Fleming spins lively tales of man against nature in this entertaining history of the eccentrics, adventurers and publicity-hounds who sought to conquer the Alps, including Whymper and his first ascent of the Matterhorn 150 years ago.
The Confessions
This memoir documents the author’s experiences as a young man living in Geneva and his lifelong love affair with a woman 12 years his senior. Depicting a life of adventure, persecution, paranoia, and brilliant achievement, it is a landmark work by one of the greatest thinkers of the Enlightenment, which was a direct influence upon the works of Proust, Goethe and Tolstoy among others.
The Gilded Chalet, Off-Piste in Literary Switzerland
In this amusing guide, a grand tour of literary Switzerland, Rooney profiles 200 years of outstanding works and their strong Swiss influences. He argues that the land of luxury hotels, fresh air and fresh milk deserves wide renown as a literary hub.
Switzerland Map
A colorful, shaded relief map of Switzerland at a scale of 1:400,000.
50 Amazing Swiss Women: True Stories You Should Know About
This book celebrates the diverse accomplishments, struggles, and strengths of Swiss women. One-page biographies give readers a glimpse into the lives of fifty Swiss women – both historical and contemporary – who inspire and intrigue.
Asterix in Switzerland
This entry in the Asterix series of comic books features excellent drawings of the Swiss Alpine landscape.
Daisy Miller
A classic story of a young American woman’s innocent flirtation and its misinterpretation by a sophisticated European man, set in Lac Leman and Chillon. This is James’ first fictional work to gain mass popularity and one of his great American female portraits.
The Alps, A Human History from Hannibal to Heidi and Beyond
In an entertaining narrative, O'Shea drives, hikes and climbs through 500 miles of the Alps while musing on the historic personalities who braved the forbidding range, including Napoleon, Hitler and James Bond. A thoughtful introduction to the Alps.
Europe, A True Book
Part of the True Book series, this illustrated, readable volume geared toward ages 9 to 12 introduces children to the geography and diverse cultures of Europe.
The Landscape of Swiss Wine: A wine-lover’s tour of Switzerland
The Landscape of Swiss Wine introduces readers to Switzerland’s wines and the extraordinary landscapes that give rise to them. Sue Style explores how vine cultivation has shaped the landscape down the centuries and introduces the reader to Switzerland’s best winemakers.
The Huguenot Chronicles Trilogy
Historical fiction series set amidst the opulence of Louis XVI’s France, a story of defiance and faith unfolds. A family torn apart. A king with an iron fist. Will their love, faith and loyalty be strong enough to help them survive war, persecution and cruel separation?
Festivals & Traditions in Switzerland
This book takes you on a very special journey through Switzerland to experience the traditional festivals and customs celebrated in all seasons. Some are happy and colorful; others are wild and scary. You’ll be surprised. And you’ll laugh. And you just might be a little frightened, too. Are you ready?
Hotel du Lac
Funny, stylish and spellbinding, Brookner's novel tracks the story of a romance novelist seeking evasive peace and quiet at the luxurious Hotel du Lac in Switzerland. Winner of the Man Booker Prize.
Voting Day
On a cold, damp Sunday in February of 1959, the men of Switzerland decide whether to grant women the right to vote. But what about Swiss women on that day? A compelling story of four unforgettable characters whose paths are connected on this voting day by the fate of a ten-year-old foster child.
Cuisines of the Alps
Subtitled “Recipes, Drinks, and Lore from France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia,” this colorful tour of the region’s rustic cuisine offers more than 140 recipes, a section on regional wines and historical information.
Emily Explains the Swiss: An Outsider’s Inside Look From Apero to Zurich
Emily has been in Switzerland for 12 years and has taken the whole integration thing a bit too far. She uses Aromat, knows how to play the alphorn, and has even come in 13th place in a Jass tournament. Her entertaining videos about her experiences in Switzerland have been viewed more than ten million times on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Now she is finally sharing her knowledge in print.
Birds of Europe
Featuring 3,500 glorious paintings by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, the second edition of this exquisite guide features updated text and maps.
Coming Out Swiss: In Search of Heidi, Chocolate and My Other Life
Part memoir, part history, part travelogue, Anne Hermann’s passionate celebration of what it means to be Swiss intertwines personal revelation with cultural fact.
The Apple and the Arrow
Families will enjoy this spirited retelling of the famous legend of William Tell and his 12-year-old son, Walter, which won the 1952 Newbery Medal.
Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition
The Norton Critical Edition of Frankenstein features the original 1818 text, and expansive preface, annotations, maps, illustrations and supporting sections with selected criticism. With new analysis on the novel’s many film adaptations.
Culture Smart! Switzerland
A concise, no-nonsense guide to Switzerland's customs, etiquette and culture.
The Walk
In this classic novella by the Swiss modernist, freshly translated, Walser writes that "it is on walks that the lore of nature and the lore of the country are revealed, charming and graceful, to the sense and eyes of the observant walker."
Wild Flowers of Britain & Nothern Europe
A colorful field guide featuring commonly encountered species of the fields and gardens of Europe.
Swiss Watching, Inside Europe's Landlocked Island
An international bestseller. Diccon Bewees, a neutral Brit, covers cheese, chocolate, William Tell, bureaucracy and banks, all with humor and thorough research. His cultural portrait of the one-of-a-kind nation includes tips on local customs, greetings and etiquette. Second edition.
