Day 1: London to Interlaken
We travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International to Paris, then continue to Basel. Here we board our train to Interlaken and our hotel for four nights, the Hotel Carlton-Europe.
Day 2: Interlaken
We have a free day today providing the opportunity for you to use your Swiss Travel Pass which offers free rail and bus travel across Switzerland. Interlaken is a vibrant resort in a magnificent setting, lying between the Lakes Thun and Brienz with the famous peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and the Jungfrau towering high above. The renowned Höheweg avenue is lined with chic boutiques, cafés and hotels from the Victorian era, and is a pleasure to explore.
Day 3: Golden Pass to Montreux
We travel to Montreux today on a journey along the famous Golden Pass.We travel via Zweisimmen, then through the Gruyères valley and Gstaad before zigzagging down into the mountains behind Montreux. We later return via Lausanne then Bern, Switzerland's picturesque capital, where we stop for a short time before continuing to Interlaken.
Day 4: Zermatt and the Matterhorn
The popular ski resort of Zermatt is the destination of today's included rail excursion. It's retained all the charm of a Swiss mountain village, and horse-drawn carriages and sleighs abound in this car-free town. The world-famous Matterhorn dominates the skyline high above.
Day 5: Interlaken via Brünig to Lucerne
We leave Interlaken this morning and head for Lucerne along the north bank of Lake Brienz to Meiringen, where the train reverses and climbs up to the Brünig Mountain Pass. The track is so steep in places that a rack system has to assist the train.We descend from the pass, arriving in Lucerne and check in to our hotel, the Hotel Central, for two nights.
Day 6: Lucerne
Our day is free in Lucerne, a delightful town, thanks to its attractive lakeside setting, beautiful historic buildings and variety of shops. The famous Chapel Bridge is the oldest preserved wooden bridge in Europe which, along with the octagonal Water Tower, formed part of the inner city fortifications. Other must-see sights include the famous Lion Monument and the Jesuit and Franciscan churches, fine examples of Baroque and Gothic architecture. Lucerne is home to many interesting museums, including the Swiss Museum of Transport, the most comprehensive museum of its genre in Europe.
Day 7: Lucerne to London
We depart Lucerne by train to Basel, then via Strasbourg to Paris and onward by Eurostar to
St Pancras International.
Your hotels
Our base in Interlaken is the 3* Hotel Carlton-Europe, close to the station and ten minutes' walk to the town centre. The hotel boasts three restaurants, a bar, lounge area and lift. All rooms are en suite with cable television, telephone, hairdryer, safe, tea/coffee-making facilities and WiFi access (payable locally).
In Lucerne, we stay at the modern, newly renovated 4* Hotel Central, located near the station and lake in a quiet side street. The hotel has a lounge/bar, restaurant and lift. All 50 comfortable en suite rooms have a hairdryer, cable television, telephone, minibar, safe and internet access (payable locally).
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