Mountain excursion with cheese and chocolate

Join this premium small group tour to the idyllic region of Eastern Switzerland and discover the secrets behind Switzerland's famous cheese and chocolate! Trace the path of raw milk from grazing cows on lush meadows to the production at the Appenzeller dairy show and a boutique chocolate manufacture. Take in fascinating mountain views on an aerial cable car ride to the top of Hoher Kasten and learn about local customs on a guided stroll through the charming village of Appenzell, where old traditions are still alive.Set out on a scenic drive along the beautiful Lake Zürich via the City of Rapperswil with its medieval castle to the gently rolling hills of the Appenzellerland with photo stops en route. Discover a typically Swiss farm and taste a glass of fresh cow milk before heading to an enchanting herb garden of a natural cosmetics manufacturer. Find out how natural Swiss milk and herbs are turned into Switzerland's tangiest cheese at the Appenzeller show dairy in Stein Am Rhein. Marvel at the imposing cellar storing up to 12,500 wheels of cheese and try to guess the top secret ingredients of the world-famous Appenzeller cheese during a cheese tasting. Board the aerial cable car up to Hoher Kasten at 1,794 m a.s.l. and relish a splendid 360 degree panorama view over the majestic Alpstein massiv, the Rhine Valley, Lake Constance, the Pincipality of Lichtenstein and Austria. Enjoy a regional lunch at the spectacular revolving restaurant (meals or drinks not included) before descending to the valley. Follow your tour guide on a walk through the quaint village of Appenzell and learn about the ancient traditions and customs of this region while browsing local specialty shops in the pedestrian zone with its decoratively painted wooden facades. Visit a boutique chocolate manufacture and follow the Maître Chocolatier's explanation of the artisan craft of chocolate making before indulging your senses during a chocolate tasting. Enjoy some time at leisure before heading back to Zürich with a bag full of Swiss delicacies collected at the visited attractions throughout the day.