BY RAIL
LAKE COMO THROUGH THE ALPS ON THE BERNINA EXPRESS BY RAIL TOUR
6 nights / 7 days From £ 2,525 per person
Lake Como
ZURICH • CHUR • BERNINA EXPRESS • LAKE COMO
This rail holiday to Lake Como takes a leisurely route through Switzerland with overnight stops in Zurich and Chur before you board one of Switzerland’ s most iconic trains, the Bernina Express, for the four-hour journey to Tirano in Italy. You then have four nights on Lake Como.
DAY ONE London to Zurich Start your holiday by taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord at about 7am, before changing to the high-speed TGV service from Paris Gare de Lyon, arriving into Zurich at about 4.30pm. Spend one night in Zurich. DAY TWO Zurich to Chur Spend this morning sightseeing in Zurich. We recommend taking the train to Chur in the afternoon giving you some time to investigate the twisting streets, historic buildings and pedestrianised old town of Switzerland’ s oldest city. DAY THREE Chur to Bellagio including the Bernina Express Depart on the Bernina Express at 8.30am for the stunning four-hour journey through the Alps to Tirano. The Bernina Express later takes you around the Montebello Curve, which prolongs the breath-taking views of the Morteratsch Glacier. From here, gain altitude until you reach the highest point on the Rhaetian Railway at Ospizio Bernina at 2253m above sea level. The Bernina Express then takes you past the grand houses of Poschiavo, across a spiralling viaduct to Tirano in northern Italy. You will have time for lunch in one of the restaurants and cafes near the station. Then, continue by train to Lake Como, arriving late afternoon in Lecco before being taken by private car to your hotel in Bellagio. DAYS FOUR TO SIX Lake Como You have three days on the outstandingly beautiful Lake Como. The enchanting village of Bellagio is full of quaint cafes and boutiques. Two pretty resorts on the lake and the starting points for many excellent walks up into the hills behind the lake are Cadenabbia and its neighbour, Menaggio. The largest town on the lake is Como. Como is an attractive cathedral town, made up of cobbled streets and chic cafes of the old town and the newer industrial area famous for its fine silk production. DAY SEVEN By train from Milan to London Today there is an early departure from your hotel by private car to reach Milan Porta Garibaldi for the direct day-time service to Paris Gare de Lyon. Change to the Gare du Nord for a Eurostar that reaches London in the early evening.
What’ s included
• Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar
• Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express, second-class included
• Private transfers from Lecco station to hotel, and from hotel to Milan station
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel St Gotthard, Zurich
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Romantik Hotel Stern, Chur
• 4 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Deluxe lake view room at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
What’ s not included
• Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
• Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
• Transfers in Paris
PRICES
Prices from £ 2,525 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel.
Supplements
• Standard premier / first class £ 300 per person
Holiday code ITBR05
40 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk