SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Lucerne

Begin your holiday by flying to Zurich and immediately boarding 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.

Note: Alternatively you can travel by rail to Paris, via Basel to Lucerne.

Day 2: In Lucerne

Known as the ‘City of Lights’ because of an old legend, Lucerne is set on a crystal-clear lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and has a well preserved medieval Old Town (‘Altstadt’).

Enjoy its cosmopolitan atmosphere and rich historical significance, as you wander through its pretty streets lined with boutique shops and charming pavement cafés. You can enjoy lunch on Kornmarkt square, beside the colourful Pfistern Guildhall, on Hirschenplatz square or on Weinmarkt square, where Lucerne swore its federal oath with Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden.

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 ‘water spikes’ (weirs) and the water tower. You should also visit the beautiful 17th century Jesuit Church, which overlooks the lake and is topped by two droplet shaped domes.

Above the city is the Musegg Wall, a 14th century structure that once protected the city. Though the city now sprawls outside this wall, the nine defensive towers still remain - three of which are open to the public. If you venture out into the surrounding countryside, you can visit the Titlis Glacier.

To appreciate some Swiss art and culture, visit the prestigious KKL Luzern gallery, the Rosengart Collection of works by Picasso and Klee, the Wagner Museum in Tribschen or the Swiss Museum of Transport. Finish your day with a sumptuous dinner at your hotel, or in one of Lucerne’s many gourmet restaurants.

Day 3: Lucerne to Bernese Oberland

Today travel southwest from Lucerne into the Bernese Oberland. The train journey takes you along the western shore of Lake Lucerne, past Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern, and north around Lake Brienz.

Change trains at Interlaken, perhaps spending an hour admiring the stunning location of this town, then join the steeper cogwheel railway to Grindelwald or Wengen, where you stay for 2 nights.

Day 4: In Bernese Oberland

The charming chocolate-box villages of Grindelwald and Wengen are located at the base of the mighty Jungfrau - each in a different valley above Interlaken, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. With the Eiger and Mönch nearby, these villages are not only enveloped by phenomenal views, but have over 90 km of walking and hiking trails suitable for all abilities. They are connected by two cable cars, bus and train. You are therefore perfectly placed to enjoy the most iconic attractions of the Bernese Oberland, with its rustic wooden chalet houses.

Travel by funicular railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, to appreciate the stunning views. The Aletsch Glacier, the longest in Europe, is a spectacular sight. For hiking trails, take cable cars up to the Mönch and the Eiger, or simply follow the softer trails that lead out of Grindelwald. The picturesque Lake Fallboden makes for a relaxing afternoon or evening walk.

Day 5: Bernese Oberland to the Saanenland

Today board the train from Grindelwald back to Interlaken. Here you can choose to stop and spend a few hours enjoying this town’s remarkable location between two lakes, before boarding another train and travelling through the Simmental Valley to Zweisimmen, situated on the border of the French and German speaking regions and the gateway to the Saanenland.

In Zweisimmen you will board the Golden Pass train, with its distinctive golden carriages, for the remainder of your journey to Schönried and Gstaad, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 6: In Saanenland

Located on the border between the cantons of Bern and Vaud, the Saanenland marks the convergence of five individual valleys and is dotted with traditional Swiss farmhouses. 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. This includes traditional ‘fondue’. Gstaad Dairy (‘Molkerei’) will allow you to taste a selection of the over 3,000 cheeses produced here.

The region has hundreds of Alpine trails and paths, making it ideal for walkers and hikers of all abilities, with access by cable car to mountain tracks. If you are adventurous, take a trip up to Glacier 3000 from where, at over 4,000m, you can take in the views of 24 surrounding mountains.

In the evening retire to your hotel in Schönried or Gstaad for a gourmet dinner and a drink beside a cosy fireplace.

Day 7: Saanenland to Montreux, on the Golden Pass Line

This morning board the Golden Pass Line for the two hour journey to Montreux. After passing through Gstaad, the train crosses the border into Vaud, stopping first in Rougemont and then Chateau-d’Oex. Here the mountains are dotted with quaint chalets, small churches and castles - an image that is very typical of the Pays-d’Enhaut district. The villages you will pass all retain their own individual architectural character, emerging out of plumes of evergreen trees.

In Rossiniere and Montbovon you can view the translucent turquoise waters that run in rivers crossed by ancient wooden bridges. At Les Avants, the train begins to wind its way down the hillside and steep vineyards that line the slopes towards the lakeside at 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 by taking one of its local trains - the Vineyard Train (S31) through the Lavaux terraced vineyards between Vevey and Puidoux-Chexbres; the cogwheel railway travels through the meadows and up the mountain of Rochers-de-Naye, with excellent views over Lake Geneva (you can sometimes see the iconic Jet d’Eau water fountain); or the Chocolate Train to the Maison Cailler chocolate factory and museum.

Day 8: 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 and Martigny.

At Visp you change trains for the narrow gauge, single track railway to the mountain resort of Zermatt, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 9: In Zermatt

Under the imposing stare of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a charming Alpine resort immersed in Switzerland’s most sublime landscapes. It is best known for its winter sports and a haven for elite sports visitors and the glamorous. The town centre is car free, so retains a real sense of peace and serenity, without sacrificing its sophisticated, exclusive feel. A peaceful village in the summer months, it is a wonderful place for food lovers, with many gourmet restaurants serving typical Swiss cuisine. Quaint boutique shops are found within the chalet houses in the village centre.

The icy Matterhorn is Zermatt’s main attraction. You can hike or take the cable car up to view the glacier from Europe’s highest viewing platform. The Matterhorn Museum on the slopes of the mountain is divided into 14 huts that mimic the style of the original mountain villages.

You can also enjoy the sights from the smaller railways. Gornergratbahn, the world’s highest open air cog railway, takes you up from Zermatt to Gornergrat at 3,100m, from where you can walk to the Gorner Glacier and view the peaks of 38 surrounding mountains. The village of Gornergrat holds a great deal of historic significance, with a parish church containing intriguing murals, a collection of very old timber houses, a cemetery that is the final resting place of many mountaineers and the Alpine Museum.

Also consider visiting the famous Hornlihutte, where climbers have stayed for decades before advancing up the sides of the Matterhorn via the Hornli Ridge, the Zmutt Ridge, or through the north wall. To learn more of the intriguing history of the area you can visit the Zermatlantis Matterhorn Museum, an archaeological site that has been faithfully recreated.

Day 10: Zermatt to Lugano, on the Glacier Express

Today board one of the distinctive carriages of the Glacier Express to Andermatt, where you will change trains on your way to Lugano.

This short stretch of the Glacier Express line takes you first to the peaceful and enchanting village of St Niklaus, punctuated by alpine chalets, rustic houses with peaked roofs, and a smattering of golden and green trees. Next pass through Brig, where you can hope to glimpse Stockalper Castle, the largest 17th century private building in Switzerland and the emblem of Upper Valais. Enjoy views of the onion domes, monastery and Old Town.

Continue on through Fiesch and through the Furka Tunnel, part of the Furka Steam Railway that links Realp to Oberwald. This 2 hour stretch weaves its way through vast mountainside panoramas, passing wooden chalets, ice caves near the Rhone Glacier, wonky houses with moss-covered roofs and light stone walls, and the quaint river and bridge of Oberwald itself.

Your next stop will be in Andermatt, nestled in the indomitable Gotthard Pass, initially avoided by the Romans but conquered when the Scholenen Ravine, an important north-south connection, was established. Zigzagging roads are dug into and supported above the craggy rocks, overlooking flat agricultural plains and clusters of white houses.

At Andermatt change trains, heading south into the province of Ticino through the single main valley. Watch as your surroundings gradually become more Mediterranean and the climate becomes warmer. Trickling waterfalls spill out of the mountainsides and sparsely populated villages spread across flat valley floors. Pass through Bellinzona, the most Italianate town in Switzerland and home to three of Switzerland’s best preserved medieval castles. Lake Maggiore is visible in the distance, as you continue further south past Monte Tamaro towards Lake Lugano.

Arrive in Lugano in the afternoon and, if possible, take the funicular railway from Cassarate to the summit of Monte Bre. Alternatively simply sit back and enjoy the Mediterranean feel of the waterside in this colourful city.

Day 11: Lugano to St Moritz, on the Bernina Express coach and train

Depart from Lugano at around 10 am today on the Bernina Express coach, which will take you by bus to Tirano in Italy, arriving three hours later. You will pass beautiful Lake Como and picturesque villages of northern Italy along the way.

In Tirano you will have an hour to enjoy its charming combination of Italian architecture and Alpine backdrop. You can visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tirano on the quiet central square, or seek out other historic monuments and paintings dotted around the town.

Then board the Bernina Express train, with its distinctive red carriages, tall angular windows and comfortable airy interiors, for the scenic 2 hour journey to St Moritz. After passing orchards and vineyards, ascend under the unique Brusio Viaduct, which has a novel way of negotiating the changing altitudes. The track spirals back on itself, allowing you plenty of time to take in the views, before coming along the mountainside and passing over the viaduct under which you have just ascended. Once over the Swiss border, the train will stop in Le Prese, a small village captured in a bubble of peace and quiet. The journey then takes you to regal Poschiavo, a town surrounded by deep green vegetation, with a serene lake on one side.

From here, move on to perhaps the most unique stop on the Bernina Express route: Alp Grum. This restaurant is the only restaurant that is exclusively accessed by rail. As a result, the dining experience is equally exclusive, with unrivalled views of the Val Poschiavo all the way to the Bergamo Alps. If you wish to dine here, this is best done on a day trip specially for this purpose.

The Bernina Express now begins its ascent to the highest point on the Rhaetian Railway, reaching 2,253m above sea level at Ospizio Bernina, your next stop. This secluded station is a beautiful sight, with soft light stone walls and distinctive red shutters on its windows. During the winter months, the building is often cloaked in a blanket of snow.

Before arriving in St Moritz, you will pass two of the most famous sights on this railway: the Montebello Curve and the Morteratsch Glacier. With a minimum radius of 45m, and turning a total of 180 degrees, the curve is one of the most photographed sections of the track and allows you plenty of time to appreciate views of the glacier. Less than 10 km from St Moritz is Pontresina. It sits on a sloping mountainside terrace at the entrance to the Val Bernina, which adds to the village’s quaint majesty.

You will then arrive in St Moritz, a chic ski resort situated in the south-east of Switzerland, in the stunning Engadine Valley. At 1,822m above sea level, it is easy to see why St Moritz is famous for its winter sports, but this altitude gives you access to breathtaking vantage points and high altitude rocky pathways. It also has three sublime lakes and a modern town centre, with Via Serlas as the main shopping street. With a population of only just over 5,000 people, St Moritz has retained its authentic Swiss character and peaceful atmosphere.

You can use your time here to reach the best viewing points of the Suvretta Mountain by cable car or visit Lake Sils, Lake St Moritz or windy Lake Silvaplana. The neighbouring mountains, including the Piz Corvatsch, Chantarella and Corviglia, can all be explored by rail.

Day 12: St Moritz to Zurich, via Chur, and flight home

Depart from St Moritz this morning for Zurich, travelling via Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland. This route takes you past the famous bobsleigh Cresta Run in Celerina, the Albula Railway Museum in Bergun, the towering Landwasser Viaduct in the Domleschg region, the popular resort of Davos, the stone bridges and ochre houses of Tiefencastel and the sublime Ruinaulta canyon. On arrival in Chur, change to a direct train to Zurich, which will takes just over an hour - skirting around Lake Walen and Lake Zurich.

If you are planning to travel home by train, we suggest spending an extra night in Zurich to break your journey.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes flights from London and second class rail travel, with supplement for first class of about £650 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.