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Scenic Switzerland by Rail
9 DAYS from Ł1164

This holiday has departures available between: 1st May 2009 to 25th Sep 2009
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Enjoy wonderful views of awesome, unspoilt alpine beauty on this unforgettable rail journey around the heart of Switzerland.

Included Highlights

Lucerne Visit
Golden Pass Train
Interlaken Visit
Lausanne Visit
Montreux Visit
Zermatt Visit
Gornergrat Train
Glacier Express
St Moritz Visit
Bernina Express
Klosters Visit
Zurich Visit

Your Price Includes

Flights: UK - Zurich - UK
Accommodation on tour in twin room with private facilities
Meals on tour 8 breakfasts (B) and 3 dinners (D)
Daytime train journeys in a 1st class carriage
Professional tour director on tour
Porterage at hotels and train stations during tour (for one suitcase per person)
Note: You will be required to carry/guard your own hand luggage throughout the tour and will be responsible for it
Transfers between overseas airport, train stations and hotels
All local and airport taxes/service charges
Single share option no supplement to pay

Holiday Itinerary

DAY 1: UK - Zurich.
Fly to Zurich where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for one night. (D)

DAY 2: Zurich - Lucerne.
Today, take the train from Zurich to Lucerne. Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most idyllic medieval cities, surrounded by a beautiful lake and nestling amidst snow-capped Alps. The rest of the day is at leisure, to discover the delights of this charming city. You can also choose to get to know the town by taking one of our optional excursions. (B)

DAY 3: Lucerne - Golden Pass train to Lausanne.
Leave Lucerne this morning via the Golden Pass Panoramic train. Beginning in Lucerne, cross the Brunig Pass en-route to Interlaken. Enjoy a stop in Interlaken for time at leisure. Afterwards, rejoin the Golden Pass train which continues its scenic journey to Lausanne, where you will spend the night. (B)

DAY 4: Lausanne - Montreux - Zermatt.
This morning depart for the delightful Swiss mountain resort of Zermatt. En-route to Zermatt, stop in the town of Montreux on the 'Swiss Riviera' of lake Geneva for time at leisure. Alternatively, an optional excursion to Chillon is available with the opportunity to enjoy its castle, with the aid of a local guide. Spend two nights in Zermatt. (B, D)

DAY 5: Zermatt. Included Gornergrat excursion.
Today, enjoy an included visit to the famous Gornergrat, travelling onboard Europe's highest rack-railway. The rest of the day will be spent in Zermatt - there is a variety of interesting shops, cafés, bars and narrow streets for you to explore at your leisure. (B)

DAY 6: Zermatt - Glacier Express to St Moritz.
The train journey today aboard the spectacular Glacier Express is certain to be one of the highlights of the tour. The train will take you on an unforgettable journey as it makes its way through the unspoilt natural beauty of the Alps on its direct route from Zermatt to the world famous mountain resort of St Moritz. Arrive in St Moritz in the early evening where you will stay for two nights. (B, D)

DAY 7: St Moritz - Bernina Express - St Moritz.
Today, take the Bernina Express train for one of Europe's most spectacular and breath-taking train rides. Travel the short distance by coach from St Moritz to Pontresina where you will board the Bernina Express. Your train journey takes you across the lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to Tirano in the Italian Valtellina, witnessing an array of beautiful mountain streams, glaciers and alpine scenery along the way. Disembark the Bernina Express back in Pontresina and return to St Moritz by coach. (B)

DAY 8: St Moritz - Klosters - Zurich.
Today, journey by train from St Moritz to Zurich. During this journey, there is a possibility that the 45 minute stretch from Samedan to Saiglains may be in a 2nd class carriage. Enjoy a stop en-route in the town of Klosters for time at leisure before reaching Zurich for one night. (B)

DAY 9: Zurich - UK.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)

Note: This tour visits areas with high altitudes (max elevation 10,272 feet) and may therefore be unsuitable for those with pre-existing heart/respiratory conditions.
Please also note that our holidays featuring rail travel are not suitable for people with walking difficulties or significant health problems.

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Accommodation on Tour

Zurich: Novotel City West (4*); Lucerne: Schiller (4*); Lausanne: Alpha Palmiers (4*); Zermatt: Walliserhof (4*); St Moritz: Baeren (4*); Zurich: Novotel City West (4*).

VISA REQUIREMENTS

A visa is required for entry into Switzerland and Italy, for all NON-UK residents. This must be obtained prior to departure.

Trains

  • The Glacier Express train
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    Glacier Express

    The Glacier Express, which runs from Zermatt to St Moritz in Switzerland, is one of the greatest train journeys in the world. It is not an 'express' in the sense of being a high-speed train but because the train travels over several different railroad lines; reputedly it is the slowest 'express' in the world. The entire line is metre gauge and large portions of it use a rack and pinion system.

  • Golden Pass travels through stunning landscapes
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    Golden Pass

    This attractive rail route connects central Switzerland with Lake Geneva. Departing from historic Lucerne, the train crosses the Brünig Pass taking you past flower-bedecked age-old chalets on its journey to Interlaken. The Golden Pass Line continues towards Gstaad, a favourite playground for the rich and famous before finally arriving in Lausanne, close to shimmering Lake Geneva.

  • The Bernina Express
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    Bernina Express

    The Bernina Express offers breath-taking vistas from its beautiful panoramic cars. Ride over graceful viaducts, through galleries hewn into the sheer rock, through switch-back tunnels, alongside rushing mountain streams, glaciers and even an alpine garden. Technical buffs will enjoy knowing that the train climbs up to the 2253 metres high Bernina Pass without the help of a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

  • Gornergrat rack-railway, near the Matterhorn
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    Gornergrat

    Gornergrat, above Zermatt, is Switzerland's highest open-air train station. The Gornergrat Bahn electric railway opened for business in 1898, hauling tourists from Zermatt to a scenic overlook 9.4 kilometres (5.9 miles) away.