Ffestiniog Travel

Wednesday 12 June to Friday 21 June 2013

Sample some of the best that Switzerland has to offer. Plenty of free time is allowed to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Day 1   London to Switzerland

Depart on Eurostar mid-morning from London St Pancras to Paris, then onwards by TGV to Geneva, where we change to a regional service for the short journey to Nyon for an overnight stay.

Day 2   Interlaken – Gateway to the Bernese Oberland

From Nyon our unlimited travel pass, which is provided as part of the holiday, enables us to travel in first class on the trains. Departing Nyon after breakfast and changing trains at Lausanne and Bern we reach Interlaken at lunchtime. We stay for 3 nights in this city which is situated on a small area of land between the lakes of Brienz and Thun. It is an ideal centre from which to explore the area and you will be given a list of suggested excursions which can be taken using your travel pass.

Days 3 and 4   Leisure Time

Your chance to discover the Alpine region dominated by the 3 peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch. Alternatively, as your travel pass can be used on boats also, why not take a relaxing cruise on one of the lakes. Your experienced tour leader will be available to offer an optional escorted excursion each day, but if you prefer to be independent they will be more than happy to assist with planning and timings.

Day 5   The Glacier Express

Leaving the mountains of the Bernese Oberland behind, we now travel south to Brig where we pick up the Glacier Express, the slowest express train in the world! The huge windows of the train carriage afford fabulous views as we make our way over the Oberalp Pass and towards the canton of Graubünden. We leave the train at Chur, the charming cantonal capital. Our hotel is in the pedestrianised ‘old town’ quarter and we stay for 4 nights.

Day 6   Leisure Time

A free day to explore the region using your travel pass. Chur is the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway and your travel pass can be used on the network to visit the nearby resorts of Klosters, Davos and Arosa. Your experienced tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion.

Day 7   Bernina Express

A full day excursion from Chur to Tirano in northern Italy. This route is the only North-South Alpine rail crossing and the summit of the line lies at an altitude of 2253 metres (7391ft). The numerous spiral tunnels and viaducts make this a memorable journey indeed.

Day 8   Leisure Time

Today you are at leisure to explore the city of Chur with its cobbled streets and 13th Century cathedral or to use the Rhaetian Railway network one last time!

Day 9   To Neuchâtel

This morning we take the main line service westwards to Zürich, then on to Neuchâtel, close to the border with France. We stay here for just one night but having arrived at lunchtime you have a chance to explore in the afternoon.

Day 10   To London

Taking the early morning direct TGV service to Paris we make a connection with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving late afternoon.