Matterhorn at Zermatt Lake Lucerne
DAY SEVEN In Lucerne An essential visit on any stay in Lucerne is the Chapel Bridge, the city’ s main landmark and the most photographed monument in Switzerland. Enjoy lunch in a pavement café on the Kornmarkt Square, beside the colourful Pfistern Guildhall, the Hirschenplatz Square, or the Weinmarkt Square, where Lucerne swore its federal oath with Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden. To see some exemplary Swiss culture, visit the prestigious KKL Luzern gallery, the Rosengart Collection of works by Picasso and Klee, the Wagner Museum in Tribschen, and the Swiss Museum of Transport.
DAY EIGHT Lucerne to Saanenland on the GoldenPass Line The first part of your next journey takes you to Interlaken via the Brunig Pass. Here, you can choose to stop off and spend a few hours enjoying the town’ s remarkable location before boarding another train to Zweisimmen via the Simmental, where you catch the GoldenPass Line for the remainder of the journey to the Saanenland. The distinctive golden carriages of the GoldenPass Line take you from Zweisimmen, the gateway of the Saanenland, to Schoenried and Gstaad where you stay for two nights.
DAY NINE In Saanenland On the border between the cantons of Bern and Vaud, the Saanenland marks the surreal convergence of five individual valleys. Schoenried itself sits on slightly higher ground than its famous neighbour, Gstaad. The area is known for its delicious Alpine dairy products, which are served in many of the gourmet restaurants that line Gstaad’ s main promenade. Adventurous visitors will want to take a trip up to Glacier 3000 to take in the views of 24 of the surrounding mountains that measure above 4000m.
DAY TEN Saanenland to Geneva on the GoldenPass Line Board the GoldenPass Line for the two-hour journey from Schoenried to Montreux. After passing through Gstaad, the GoldenPass Line crosses the border
into Vaud, stopping first in Rougemont, and then Chateau-d’ Oex. At Les Avants, the train begins to wind its way down the hillside and steep vineyards that line the slopes towards Montreux on the lakeside, where you change trains for Geneva airport and your return flight. If you intend to travel home by train, we recommend spending an extra night in Geneva to break up the journey.
Hotel Julen in Zermatt
Hotel Castello Seeschloss
What’ s included
• Scheduled flights from the UK to Geneva return OR rail travel from London to Switzerland return via Paris( first class can be booked at a supplement)
• 8-day Swiss rail flexi pass( first class can be booked at a supplement)
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Superior room at the Hotel Angleterre et Residence, Lausanne
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Romantik Hotel Julen, Zermatt
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Romantik Hotel Castello Seeschloss, Ascona
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel Wilden Mann, Lucerne
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard“ Rellerli” doubel room at the Hotel Alpenrose, Schoenried in Saanenland
• 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 Swiss Francs 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
• Transfers in Switzerland station to hotel unless offered by your hotel
PRICES
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel From £ 2,490
Supplements
• Standard premier / first class £ 270 per person
Holiday code CHBR09
To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk 77