Ffestiniog Travel

Wednesday 21 December 2011 to Tuesday 3 January 2012

Magical wintry scenes offer a wonderful atmosphere in which to celebrate the festive season. Enjoy the journey in convivial company or relish the freedom that the Swiss Pass offers and explore this country’s winter wonderland.

Day 1   Paris and Strasbourg

We depart on Eurostar mid-morning from St Pancras to Paris, then onwards by TGV to Strasbourg for an overnight stay. Standard class travel with reserved seats.

Day 2   Switzerland Beckons

Morning departure from Strasbourg, and, travelling via Offenburg, we enter Switzerland at Basle. From Basle all our rail travel in Switzerland will be in first class using the unlimited travel pass provided. We continue to Interlaken Ost where we have a bus transfer to Wilderswil. We stay at the Hotel Bären for 7 nights on half board including a Christmas Eve buffet party. The hotel is a firm favourite and has welcomed our guests for many years.

Days 3 to 8   Bernese Oberland Magic

Free days based in Wilderswil with your first class Swiss Pass. There is ample choice for every taste as the pass covers travel on trains, post buses, trams and even boats if you head to Lake Lucerne. Your tour leader will be on hand to lead an optional excursion every day. However, if you have ideas of your own, he will be only too happy to help. Our only commitment during this time is to be back in time for dinner each evening, especially on Christmas Eve when the hotel hosts a party for guests and staff.

Day 9   Cross Country

This morning we have a bus to take us back to Interlaken Ost station where we board the GoldenPass Panoramic service to Lucerne. Leaving behind the spectacular mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland we continue with the Voralpen Express to Romanshorn for 4 nights on b&b basis. We will also have dinner in the hotel on New Year’s Eve by way of celebration.

Days 10 to 12   Romanshorn

Free days based in Romanshorn with your Swiss Pass. As with Wilderswil your tour leader will lead an optional excursion each day but you are free to do as you wish. Do remember to get back in time for dinner on 31 Dec.

Day 13   Goodbye to Switzerland

Today you have a choice! You will all have your own tickets between Basle and Mulhouse. You can leave the hotel after breakfast, with your tour leader, and transfer via Zürich and Basle to Mulhouse, arriving by midday. There will then be time in Mulhouse for a visit to the SNCF rail museum. The alternative is to make the most use of your Swiss Pass by staying as long as you wish before crossing the border to Mulhouse. The decision is yours. Overnight stay in Mulhouse.

Day 14   Home via Paris

An early train from Mulhouse to Paris, connecting with Eurostar to St Pancras, will give an arrival back into London no later than 1600. Standard class travel with reserved seats.