Christmas & New Year in Switzerland

Day 1 – To Cologne

Lunchtime Eurostar from London to St Pancras to Brussels, then Thalys to Cologne for an overnight stay.

Day 2 – Interlaken

We travel via the classic Rhine route from Cologne on a direct train to Interlaken. We stay at the Hotel City Oberland for 4-nights. As well as breakfast each morning dinner is included each evening.

Days 3 to 5 – At Leisure to Explore

Free days based in Interlaken which is located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and affords magnificent views of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch mountains. Your Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, trams and postbuses so there is something for everyone. Your experienced tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion each day. Prior to the holiday we will supply a comprehensive excursion list to give you some suggestions to consider.

Day 6 – To Lausanne

Leisurely half-day journey to Lausanne, arriving early afternoon and where we stay for 3-nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Lausanne has a charming medieval ‘old town’ and sits on the shores of Lake Geneva. You will enjoy wandering through its small alleyways with its many cafes and boutiques.

Days 7 & 8 – Free Days or Escorted Excursions

Free days based in Lausanne with your Swiss Travel Pass. Again there will be an optional escorted excursion offered each day and destinations may include Montreux (for Chillon Castle), Gruyere and the French resort of Evian les Bains, located on the French shore of Lake Geneva.

Day 9 – On to Chur

Travel along the Rhone Valley to Brig where we continue along the scenic Glacier Express route to Chur for a 4-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city with a charming pedestrianised ‘Old Town’ and is ideally located for travelling on the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network, including the Bernina and Glacier Express routes.

Day 10 – Bernina Express

Today we offer a full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano travelling on the stunning Bernina Express route with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000m – an unforgettable rail journey.

Days 11 & 12 – Rhaetian Railways

Free days to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the Rhaetian Railways network which boasts some of the most spectacular railway routes in the world, a marvel of railway engineering that winds its way through the Graubünden mountains thanks to man-made structures, viaducts and helical tunnels. There will be an optional escorted excursion offered each day. We have arranged a 3-course dinner on New Year’s Eve (included in the cost of the holiday).

Day 13 – Return to Cologne

Leaving Chur after a leisurely breakfast we travel to Basle and connect with the ICE service on the high speed line to Cologne for an overnight stay.

Day 14 – Return Home

Morning departure on an ICE service to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar to London.