Ffestiniog Travel

Tuesday 7 February to Thursday 16 February 2012

Majestic mountains, breathtakingly beautiful Alpine scenery and World Famous UNESCO ‘Rhaetian Railway’ journeys – a winter wonderland.

Day 1   To Strasbourg

Departing London by Eurostar we change at Paris for our onward journey to Strasbourg by TGV. Here we have our first overnight stay.

Day 2   To Graubünden

Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland is our next destination and home for four nights. A relaxing rail journey via Basle takes us to the charming, historical and cultural capital of the Swiss Graubünden region. Nestled within the Grisons mountains, Chur is ideally placed to explore the many neighbouring resorts such as Klosters, Arosa or Davos, which you can do in comfort and style with your first class Rail Pass. Your pass entitles you not only to unlimited rail travel but also to travel on buses, trams and boats and whilst in Switzerland all our rail travel is first class.

Day 3   Leisure time

A relaxing day to explore this delightful city and the picturesque surrounding area. Your experienced tour leader will be more than happy to expand on the full list of local excursions which we will have provided prior to your holiday. Chur is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway, a network of routes passing through amazing mountain scenery. Your first class Swiss Rail Pass can be used on the full line.

Day 4   Crossing the Alps on the Bernina Express

Today our spectacular excursion is a return trip from Chur to Tirano in Northern Italy on the Bernina Express, climbing across Europe’s highest railway Alpine pass at altitudes exceeding 2100 metres (7000 feet). The spirals and tunnels, including a spiral viaduct are awe inspiring.

Day 5   Leisure time

Today you are at leisure to further explore the delights of ‘The Rhaetian Railway' line and the city of Chur.

Day 6   The Glacier Express

Our next destination and home for 3 nights is the lakeside town of Lucerne which is in a beautiful location surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery. We arrive after a journey from Chur on the Glacier Express as far as Andermatt where we change trains for Göschenen and onwards to Lucerne. The town has much to offer with cruises on the lake operating throughout winter or nearby cable car journeys offering panoramic views of spectacular Alpine scenery. Spanning the river Reuss you will find one of Lucerne’s most famous landmarks and one of Europe’s oldest wooden bridges, the covered Kapellbrücke -Chapel Bridge (lovingly restored to its original state after a fire).

Days 7 and 8   Leisure time

Two full days to relax and explore this amazing town and region with the use of your Rail Pass and knowledgeable recommendations from your tour leader. The Swiss Museum of Transport and Communication is well worth a visit or perhaps a day trip to a mountain top restaurant by cable car.

Day 9   To Basle

Leaving Lucerne after breakfast we travel indirectly to Basle enjoying the journey by rail and appreciating the spectacular views. We first embark on the metre gauge Brünig line which links the gentle landscape of the lake at Lucerne with the mountains of the Bernese Oberland and Interlaken. From Interlaken we then take the main line, via Spiez to Basle, arriving early afternoon, leaving us time to relax in this beautiful city.

Day 10   Farewell to Switzerland

Taking a morning train to Paris we connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving mid-afternoon.

All photos courtesy of http://www.MySwitzerland.com/