Swiss Mountains & Lakes

Day 1 – London to Cologne

A mid-morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels then onwards to Cologne where we have an overnight stay.

Day 2 – To Lausanne

Today we continue to Lausanne via Basle and Bern. From Basle onwards we will be travelling in First Class using our unlimited travel pass which is provided as part of the holiday. The afternoon is free to explore. Lausanne is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva and visits to Chateau Saint-Maire and the Cathedral are well worth it.

Day 3 – Mountain Railways

After breakfast we head to the small town of Agile where we ride the mountain railways up to Leysin and Les Diablerets. Our journey continues to Bex in the afternoon where we climb to the high mountain pass of Col-de-Bretaye that sits at about 1500m above sea level.

Day 4 – Les Pléades & Blonay-Chamby 

A short journey to Puidoux to ride the ‘Train des Vignes’ through the vineyards to Vevey before a ride on the spectacular Vevey to Les Pléades line. Climbing to the lofty heights of 1348m above sea level, on arrival in Les Pleiades you will be treated to breathtaking views of Lakes Neuchatel and Geneva. On our return we will disembark at Blonay so we can visit the Blonay-Chamby Museum Railway, home to one of the best continental collections of historic metre gauge railway stock. Return via paddle steamer on Lake Geneva.

Day 5 – Golden Panoramic Express

Departing Lausanne this morning we head to Montreaux where we change onto the Golden Panoramic Express and head to Interlaken for a 5-night stay. Enjoy an afternoon excursion riding the funicular up to Harder Kulm which delivers a birds-eye view of Interlaken and Lakes Brienz and Thun.

Day 6 – Brienzer Rothorn & Lake Brienz

This morning we take a short journey to Brienz to ride the Brienz Rothorn Bahn. This oil-fired steam cogwheel railway will take us to just below the peak of Brienzer Rothorn where the summit station is located at an elevation of 2,224m. Once we arrive back in Brienz, sit back and relax as we take a lake cruise across Lake Brienz back to Interlaken.

Day 7 – Jungfrau Region

Spend the day exploring the Jungfrau region and its impressive mountain railways and funiculars. We intend to visit Murren and Allmendhubel today before we return to Interlaken via Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald.

Day 8 – Zermatt & Gornergrat

A day trip to Zermatt to visit some of the most well known mountains in Switzerland. On arrival in Zermatt we will take the funicular railway up the Gornergrat reaching a height of 3100m above sea level. Throughout the journey we will have spectacular views of Switzerland’s most famous mountain – The Matterhorn – and once we reach the top you will be rewarded with panoramic views of glaciers and mountains as far as the eye can see!

Day 9 – Schynige Platte & Lake Thunersee

We travel to Wilderswil and make a return journey on the Schynige Platte Railway. The 7.3 kilometre cog route climbs up to an elevation of 1420m where we are treated to spectacular views of Lake Thun and Brienz. We return to Interlaken to take a return trip on a paddle steamer on lake Thunersee.

Day 10 – Lucerne

A journey over the scenic Brünig line takes us to Lucerne where we check in to our hotel for a 3 night stay. The afternoon is free for you to explore

Day 11 – Mount Rigi and Stoosbahn

We start today with a paddle steamer trip on Lake Lucerne to Vitznau, from here we journey to the summit of the famous Mount Rigi on Europe’s oldest rack railway followed by a ride on the world’s steepest funicular railway.

Day 12 – Stanserhorn & Mount Pilatus

Today’s excursion sees us traveling by rail to Stans where we travel to the Summit of the Stanserhorn on the historic funicular before we change onto the world’s first CabriO cable car (two floors with an open top deck!). We then make our way to the summit of the iconic Mount Pilatus on the world’s steepest rack railway before returning via cable car and trolleybus to Lucerne.

Day 13 – To Brussels

We leave Lucerne this morning and make our way to Brussels, travelling back via Basle and Frankfurt and arriving into Brussels at dinner time for a 1-night stay.

Day 14 – Homeward Bound

After breakfast we head to the station to take a mid- morning Eurostar service back to London.