50th Anniversary Celebration Tour to the Rhätischebahn

ITINERARY

Day 1 – To Cologne

Depart on a morning Eurostar service in Standard Premier Class from London St Pancras to Brussels. A light meal will be served on board. We make an onward connection in First Class seats to Cologne for an overnight stay at a 4-star hotel in the old city. Welcome dinner included tonight.

Day 2 – To Chur

We travel in First Class from Cologne to Chur taking the old route along the scenic Rhine Valley with its fairytale villages and castles between Cologne and Mainz. Continuing via Basle, we stay in Chur for 4 nights.

Day 3 – Bernina Express

Enjoy a full day’s spectacular excursion on a return trip from Chur to Tirano, across the border in Italy, on the Bernina Express, climbing across Europe’s highest railway Alpine pass at a height of over 2000m. The spirals and tunnels of the Albula section, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, views of glaciers on the Bernina Pass and the spiral viaduct at Brusio near the end of the line make this a day not to be missed. Reserved seats both ways in First Class. Time is allowed in Tirano for lunch and a chance to look around the old town.

Day 4 – Rhaetian Railway (RhB) Steam Charter

After the short journey to Landquart on a scheduled train, we depart on board our private steam hauled charter made up of one of the RhB’s steam locos, the historic 1st class car A1102, 2nd class car B2060 and the legendary ‘Rhätia-Stübli’ standing bar. ;We will journey via the scenic Prättigau Valley and Klosters to the lines highest point at 1,625m before descending to Davos Platz and returning to Landquart via the same route. With its many horseshoe curves, panoramic views and steep gradients this journey will be spectacular. Photographic opportunities will be available and a packed lunch will be included.

Day 5 – Landquart Works

Today we have a guided behind the scenes tour of the RhB workshops at Landquart. Here you will find a totally up-to-date facility capable of dealing not only with the day to day maintenance of both modern and historic equipment but also major overhauls and complete rebuilds. The RhB may be a narrow gauge line but, in terms of operation and engineering, it thinks very big indeed. The rest of the day is free to explore further with your InterRail Pass. This evening we will have a celebratory dinner (included) at a local restaurant.

Day 6 – Glacier Express

One of Switzerland’s most scenic rail journeys, delivering the best views through its panoramic windows. So sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery as we travel along the Upper Rhine Valley through its amazing limestone gorge, over the Oberalp Pass, through the Furka Tunnel and down the Rhône Valley to Brig for a1-night stay.

Day 7 – To Cologne

We depart Brig and make our way via Basle to Cologne where we have an overnight stay, once again in the old city.

Day 8 – Homeward Bound

From Cologne we will make a connection in Brussels with Eurostar and arrive back into London St Pancras early afternoon. Travel in Standard Premier Class from Brussels with a light meal served on board.