Bern Small Group Day Trip from Zurich Including Cheese Tasting
Description
Discover the delights of Bern and the surrounding countryside on a day trip from Zurich. Enjoy the rural charms of the lush, mountainous Swiss landscape. Stop at the Kambly Experience to see how Switzerland’s finest biscuits are made. Take a guided tour around the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Bern Old Town, and learn about the art of making Emmental cheese during a visit to a show dairy, which will include a cheese tasting. Numbers limited to 16 people, ensuring a small-group experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Depart Zurich (Sihlquai Bus Station) by comfortable minivan and journey into the idyllic countryside. As you travel, listen to your guide share information about the region.
Pass through Entlebuch Valley, a beautiful and scenic area that was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its moorlands and rich Alpine flora and fauna.
Cross over into Trubschachen in the Upper Emmental Valley, which is noted for its lush green landscapes, clear streams, and snow-capped mountains. Stop at the Kambly Experience, home to Switzerland’s premier biscuit producer. Discover how the sweet treats are made and taste several different biscuit varieties.
Continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bern, the medieval capital of Switzerland. With pretty, red-roofed buildings and cobbled streets, Bern is considered by many to be Switzerland’s most attractive city. Explore Bern’s ancient Old Town with your guide and discover picturesque local landmarks including the 328-foot (100-meter) spire of Bern Minster. Discover top city attractions such as the imposing parliament building and the clock tower, and enjoy beautiful views over the Aare River. Afterward, enjoy a little free time in Bern to eat lunch (own expense) or shop for souvenirs.
Then it’s back to the bus for another drive into the heart of the Emmental, a patchwork of green pastures dotted with an occasional farmhouse. Visit an Emmental show dairy to learn more about the region’s famous cheese. Peer into the production hall and discover how Emmentaler AOP is made. At the end of your tour, sample some of the deliciously nutty cheese. Continue to a nearby dairy farm for a photo stop before returning to Zurich to enjoy the spectacular view of the green alpine pastures of the Emmental to the triple peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau on a clear day.
After an exciting day, your tour guide will bring you back to Zurich, where your tour started in the morning.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not suitable for infants under 6 years, exceptions only on request.
Reviews(58)
I hired the tour because it was with guided visit. It happened that right at the first stop the guide left us for bring, (me and my wife), and simply disappeared. We did the tour on our own without the proper historical explanations of the place (to which I contract). With a group of just 6 people that could never have happened. Total disrespect and sloppiness of the guide. Here is my indignation.
The guide was great. The cookie company and cheese company products were not what anyone should eat. On the list of killer, habit forming things that should not be eaten. Full of sugar, carbohydrates, highly processed grain, saturated fat and cholesterol. The views from the bus were great. Bern was great except for the bear habitat. Would have been nice if there was time for lunch in Bern. Great photo opportunities in Bern.
Honestly, I was a little disappointed in this trip. I think it was not suited to my interests. If you are extremely interested in Switzerland history & facts, prefer cars over trains, or have mobility issues I would recommend it. However, my sister and I are very active and did not like how much time we spent in the car. We would’ve preferred taking public transport and walking more at each of the stops. Additionally, our guide was a BIG talker. Which can be great if you are super interested in all things Switzerland. However, when he rambled for the entire trip it was hard to retain anything. I feel like he was filibustering on the topic of Switzerland. I prefer tour guides that tell you the highlights and try to make it entertaining. Unfortunately we both kept falling asleep. Despite this, the things we did were super fun! The highlights being the Kambly biscuit factory, Bern walking tour, and the Emmental cheese factory. However, we had extremely limited time at each stop. Kambly had 60 different items to sample, a cafe, and a shop but we only had 45 minutes. With Bern we had a tight 2 hours, mind you this was without any lunch time allotted. I think I would’ve preferred to spend an entire day in Bern! It was beautiful! We did a few photo stops which were pretty but my sister and I had just done an amazing hike with views, we had already gotten a look into the classic Swiss landscape. But like I said, if you have limited mobility or endurance, it would work for you. Overall it was an okay experience, but I would consider the points I made above to make your decision. Maybe it will be right for you! But it was not for us.
Dear Bellina, Thank you very much for joining our small group tour to Bern and for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to read that the tour did not align perfectly with your hiking preferences and that you were hoping for a more active experience. Please note that Bern is over an hour and a half away by highway from Zurich. To make the journey more scenic and entertaining, we make part of the journey though a countryside route. While public transportation could definitely be an option, all the different stops would be missed. The time allocated at each stop is carefully planned to ensure that all activities can be included within the tour duration. Extending time at specific locations like Bern, would impact the schedule and limit the opportunity to experience the other unique aspects of the tour. We are surprised to read that you found the amount of information overwhelming, especially as we had received positive feedback from other passengers on the same tour. Please note that small group tours are specifically designed for people that want more in-depth information and a variety of activities, rather than spending extended time in one place. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the Kambly biscuit factory, the Bern walking tour, and the Emmental cheese factory. These highlights are designed to offer a diverse experience of Switzerland. We would be happy to welcome you on a different tour in your next visit and thank you again for your feedback, we hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Switzerland. Best regards Magdalena from Best of Switzerland Tours
Having read great reviews of this tour I booked in and was very happy to find out they were all correct! Our tour guide Gallus was extremely friendly and had great knowledge to share during our journey to Bern. Our first main stop at the Kambly factory was like heaven for anyone that likes biscuits (thankfully I do), and the unlimited tastings and free drink went down a treat as we got our day started. After our next coach ride via a "Bio"/organic zone of farming land (with very interesting info on its creation), we arrived in Bern where we got to see the famous Bear Park and had a quick tour through the old town before having some free time for lunch. After this we made a beeline to Emmental where we enjoyed a very fun tour of the Emmentaler factory (with plenty of cheese to taste), got a few magnificent photos of the surrounds, and got to see a family run farm complete with cows etc. Although the tour takes up an entire day, it was worth it to get a crash course on Bern and Switzerland's most famous cheese. This was the second of two tours with Best of Switzerland Tours, and based on both I will be back next time I'm in the country to see more of the amazing Swiss landscape and enjoy the delicious food on offer.
It was an amazing day, made even better because Patrick was wonderful and added so much to the tour. Bern was lovely and the drive through the rolling hills was nice as well.
Bear pits - big Healthy bears. Great driver and tour guide. Small Group tour is a plus. Kambly stop was fun and sampling of treats generous. Tasty.
Best of Switzerland Tours is very well organized. I wish we had seen the cheese making happening instead of a cute animated experience. We went in the PM, maybe be at the farm/factory in the AM? Bern was a beautiful city to visit and the cookie factory was fun!
Dear Donna_M, Thank you very much for joining our small group tour to the picturesque city of Bern and taking the time to share this feedback with us. Due to logistical reasons, we plan the visit to the Emmentaler Farm in the afternoon. We regret to hear that by the time you arrived, the cheese makers had already left. To still provide the visitors with an insightful experience, they offer an interactive and animated presentation that highlights the key steps and craftsmanship involved in the cheese-making process. While we understand that this may not fully substitute for witnessing the live production, we strive to make the best of the situation and provide an engaging learning opportunity for our visitors. We appreciate your input and will evaluate the feasibility of adjusting our schedule to enhance the chances of observing the cheese makers in action. On a positive note, we're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Bern and had a fun time at the cookie factory. We hope you had an unforgettable stay in Switzerland and look forward to welcoming you on tour on your next visit to our country. Best regards, Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
Going to the Kambly cookie factory and cookie shop…a “do-it-yourself” try before you buy…was a lot of fun. The only problem was having the willpower to resist sampling more than a few cookies! 🍪 The cheese tasting at Emmentaler Farm, not so much fun. As a former teacher of young children, I can tell you that the program was geared for an 8 year old and was less than entertaining to me, my husband, and the couple with us. Emmentaler needs to revamp their program and consider who their target audience is. Perhaps if the cheese was being made early in the day, Taste of Switzerland could change the order of the contents of the trip by visiting the farm early and watching the process of the cheese being made. As far as the visit to Bern went, it is a nice town, but not the picturesque-ness of Lucerne. If you choose to go, skip the tour with the guide and meander around on your own. I honestly have to say that I would not recommend this trip. Viator Switzerland has many more trip selections that are unbelievably wonderful.
Dear Michele_J, Thank you very much for providing this feedback on your recent small group tour to the beautiful city of Bern. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the visit to the Kambly cookie factory and cookie shop! The Emmentaler farm attracts a broad and diverse audience with children being the primary visitors. For this reason, an interactive and animated presentation is provided to showcase the essential steps and craftsmanship of the cheese-making process, aiming to meet the preferences of all guests. We'll explore the possibility of adjusting the itinerary to enable guests to observe the cheese-making process earlier in the day. We truly regret to hear that the picturesque city of Bern fell short of expectations. As the capital of Switzerland, Bern stands as an attractive destination that captivates the hearts of many visitors with its unique charm and historical significance. One can enjoy the beauty of the well-preserved architecture of the UNESCO-listed old town, marvel at the iconic Zytologge clock tower, and visit the Federal Palace and the Bear Park, among others. Bern is a living canvas of Switzerland's past, where historic landmarks seamlessly merge with contemporary life. We hope that you still keep fond memories from your stay in Switzerland and that you give us a second chance on your next visit to this wonderful country. Best regards, Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
We enjoyed going through Bern, cheese factory, biscuits tasting. Very interesting story about life of Albert Einstein in Bern, etc.
The historic city is beautiful and deserves to be seen, as well as the river that crosses the city and its churches. Perhaps, for those staying in Zurich, the journey will be too long for what will be seen but, even so, we recommend it.
