Ffestiniog Travel

Tuesday 10 September to Tuesday 24 September 2013

Unescorted options also available

This classic tour is a firm favourite with us and gives ample opportunity to showcase truly wonderful Alpine scenery.

Day 1   London to Switzerland

Depart on Eurostar mid morning from London St Pancras to Paris, then onwards by TGV to Basle, where we have an overnight stay.

Day 2    Meiringen

From Basle we will be travelling in first class using our unlimited travel pass, which is provided as part of the holiday. We leave after breakfast and by changing trains in Interlaken we reach Meiringen for a 3-night stay. 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 head into the Alpine region dominated by the 3 peaks of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch. Alternatively, as your travel pass can be used on postbuses also, why not take the breathtaking Four-Passes Postbus roundtrip excursion. During this excursion you will cross the Grimsel, Nufenen, Gotthard and Susten Passes and there will be time for photo stops and refreshments en route. 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   To Graubünden

Time to leave the stunning peaks of the Bernese Oberland behind. We first of all travel north on the metre gauge Brunig line into central Switzerland and Lucerne. Changing trains here on to the main line we travel east to Chur, which is the oldest city in Switzerland. We stay for 4 nights in this charming historical city and our hotel is in the traffic free area of the old town.

Day 6   Explore

Being the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network what better way to explore than taking one of their charming red trains into the surrounding area. You can visit Arosa, Davos and Klosters all of which are within easy reach. Our excursion booklet has lots of options and there will be an optional excursion each day.

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 panoramic windows of your first class coach give you a wide vista and the many spirals and tunnels make this a wonderful day out.

Day 8   Further 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! There will be an optional excursion offered by your tour leader.

Day 9   Glacier Express

Leaving Chur mid-morning we travel on the Glacier Express, one of Switzerland’s most scenic journeys. Sit back and enjoy the stunning scenery as the train makes its way via the Oberalp Pass, where the summit of the line is reached at 2033 metres (6670ft) and the Furka tunnel to emerge into the Rhône valley at Brig. We stay here for 3 nights.

Day 10   Exploring from Brig

You can very easily take the train to Zermatt, the traffic free resort nestling at the foot of the Matterhorn, one of the country’s most famous landmarks. Our excursion list gives lots of options and your tour leader will be more than happy to advise and to offer an optional excursion.

Day 11   Furka Steam

Today we have a full day excursion. We start by taking the local train from Brig to Realp to join the Furka Bergstrecke. Operated by steam this rack line uses the original track bed of the Glacier Express route. We take a full return trip to Oberwald and later return to Brig by local train.

Day 12   To Lake Geneva

By the end of the day we will be on the shores of Lake Geneva but to get there we travel a slightly circuitous route. From Brig we first travel north to Spiez, where we change trains to Zweisimmen. From Zweisimmen we travel the Golden Panoramic route which will give us wonderful views of the lake as we descend into Montreux for our 3-night stay.

Days 13 and 14   Leisure Time

Our excursion list has several ideas to offer from here and there will be an escorted optional excursion available each day.

Day 15   To London

We take a local train to Geneva, then the morning, direct TGV service to Paris. We make a connection with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving late afternoon.