BY RAIL
BY RAIL TO THE VALAIS
7 nights / 8 days From £ 1,740 per person
The Matterhorn
VALAIS • ZERMATT
Travel by train and stay in Zermatt in the Swiss Valais region for seven nights. A region of stunning contrasts, Valais is simultaneously home to Switzerland’ s most famous mountain, the Matterhorn, which dominates the mountain resort of Zermatt where you stay, and vast plains of flourishing vineyards in the south.
DAY ONE London to Zermatt Travel from London to Zermatt by rail on your first day; or fly into Geneva and travel the rest of the journey by rail. The Eurostar leaves about 07.00 hrs for Paris, where you change to a TGV train headed to Lausanne. Here, change trains to travel along Lake Geneva to Visp in Valais. Finally, change for a direct train, narrow gauge and single track, to your destination, Zermatt, arriving in the early evening.
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN In Zermatt Spend seven nights enjoying the highlights of the Valais, making the most of your eight-day rail pass to explore the mountains, the glaciers, and the hidden towns and villages. Under the imposing stare of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a charming Alpine resort immersed in Switzerland’ s most stoic and sublime landscape. At over 1,600m above sea level, Zermatt offers excellent access to Valais’ 8000km of hiking and walking paths. The town centre is car-free, so retains a real sense of peace and serenity, without sacrificing its sophisticated, exclusive feel. Nature lovers will also find themselves at home here, with exceptional examples of Alpine flora, fauna, and panoramas in abundance. Places of interest from Zermatt: the Matterhorn, Zermatt’ s iconic mountain, hike or take the cable car up to visit the glacier; Matterhorn Museum on the slopes of the Matterhorn, divided into 14 huts that mimic the style of the original mountain villages; Gornergratbahn is a cogwheel railway that takes you up to Gornergrat at 3100m from where you can walk to the Gorner Glacier and take in the views across 38 mountains; Schwarzsee – the Black Lake is a small expanse of water not far from Zermatt that offers sublime views- it is accessible via cable car, and the Glacier Paradise Cable Car which takes you up to Europe’ s highest viewing platform.
What’ s included
• Rail travel London to Switzerland via Paris in standard class return
• 8-day Swiss rail pass
• 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at the Romantik Hotel Julen, Zermatt
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 Swiss Francs 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
• Transfers in Paris if required
• Travel by air from UK to Switzerland
PRICES
Prices from £ 1,740 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel.
Supplements
• Standard premier / first class £ 420 per person
Holiday code CHBR16
DAY EIGHT Zermatt to London On your eighth day, board a morning train from Zermatt back to Visp and Lausanne. Take the TGV back to Paris to meet the Eurostar here and cross the Channel, arriving in London in the early evening.
70 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk