BY RAIL
GRAND HEART OF SWITZERLAND MOUNTAINS RAIL TOUR
11 nights / 12 days From £ 2,620 per person
Lucerne
LAKE LUCERNE • BERNESE OBERLAND • SAANENLAND • GSTAAD • LAKE GENEVA • LAKE LUGANO • BERNINA PASS
This holiday includes travelling on three of Switzerland’ s most iconic railway journeys as you trace the pattern of mountains around Switzerland on this grand tour by train. Included overnight stays near the Matterhorn, the Suvretta Mountain, the Jungfrau, the Gornergrat, Monte Tamaro, Rigi Mountain, and the Wispile.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY ONE Arrive in Lucerne Arrive in Zurich by air or travel by rail via Paris and Basel to Lucerne, depending on time constraints and preferences. If flying into Zurich immediately board the train to Lucerne. This short train journey leaves you plenty of time to explore the city before retiring to your choice of luxury hotel.
DAY TWO 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. Walk along the bridge, taking in the views of the Reuss River, the so-called Water Spike, and the Water Tower. 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.
DAY THREE Lucerne to Bernese Oberland This touring itinerary takes you southwest from Lucerne into the Bernese Oberland. The train journey takes you along the western shore of Lake Lucerne, Lake Sarnen, Lake Lungern, and north around Lake Brienz. Change trains at Interlaken, perhaps spending an hour admiring the stunning location of this town and move on up the steeper cog railway to Grindelwald or Wengen, where you stay for 2 nights.
DAY FOUR In Bernese Oberland The enchanting chocolate box villages of Grindelwald and Wengen afford stunning views of the surroundings from your location at over 1,000m above sea level. Travel by funicular railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, to appreciate the stunning views. For hiking trails, take cable cars up to the Monch and the Eiger, or simply follow the softer trails that lead out of Grindelwald. Complete or begin your stay in Grindelwald with a self-guided stroll between the rustic wooden chalet houses.
DAY FIVE Bernese Oberland to Saanenland At lunchtime, board the train from Grindelwald back to Interlaken, on to Zweisimmen, and then to Schoenried or Gstaad along the first section of the GoldenPass Line. You stay in Saanenland for 2 nights.
DAY SIX 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 boutique shops and quaint cafes housed inside these iconic chalets are well worth a few hours of your time as they capture a great deal of Swiss authenticity. 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 SEVEN Saanenland to Montreux on the GoldenPass Line In the late morning, board one of the panoramic coaches of the GoldenPass Line for the two- hour journey from Schoenried to Montreux. At Les Avants, the train begins to wind its way down the hillside towards Montreux, where you will stay for one night on the banks of Lake Geneva. During your stay in Montreux, we recommend exploring the railway history of the area, taking the Vineyard Train( S31) through the Lavaux Terraced Vineyards between Vevey and Puixdoux-Chexbres.
DAY EIGHT Montreux to Zermatt Today you travel by train from Montreux to Zermatt. This train journey takes about two and a half hours, passing Chillon Castle, Martigny, and pausing at Visp while you change trains. As you enter Zermatt, the area’ s crowning glory will make itself apparent: the Matterhorn. Around it, over 400km of walking and hiking paths vein the landscape, allowing you to capture stunning panoramas of both Zermatt and the Matterhorn while uncovering more of the Alpine flora and fauna.
78 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk