Swiss Mountains Steam

Switzerland and steam trains - a delightful combination as we take you to the heart of this beautiful country, from shimmering blue lakes, past alpine meadows and high into heavenly skies by steam train. A superb tour, travelling on a magnificent railway system with a First Class pass, based at two of Switzerland’s most renowned hotels in the wonderfully romantic settings of Interlaken and Lake Lucerne.

DAY 1 Sit back and relax as we take you by high speed train from the hustle & bustle of a London morning to a leisurely evening meal at the 5 star Beau Rivage hotel in idyllic Interlaken. (D) DAY 2 A day of steam nostalgia in wonderful mountain scenery on the Brienz Rothorn Railway, Switzerland's oldest steam cog railway. It has climbed Rothorn Kulm (2244m) since 1892 at incredible gradients, through six tunnels on its tortuous route that produces the reward of a spectacular mountain panorama from the mountain summit across the Bernese Oberland. (B) DAY 3 Relax at leisure in Interlaken and enjoy the benefit of your First Class Swiss Travel Pass with a cruise on the upper decks of the lake steamers. Or explore the myriad of railways large and small that take you effortlessly through alpine meadows to mountain peaks. Your experienced Railtrail Tour Manager will happily advise you. (B) DAY 4 Travelling high into the mountains along part of the current Glacier Express route to Realp where we take a nostalgic steam hauled ride along the original route of the Glacier Express on the Furka cog railway to Gletsch in the Canton of Valais. Crossing bridges and viaducts, through tunnels and on past alpine meadows full of flowers. Marvel at the Rhone glacier as it comes into view between snow-covered mountain peaks. The adventurous trip over the Furka pass is a truly delightful journey. (B) DAY 5 Whilst your luggage is being transported ahead, we have one of the highlights of the holiday as we travel by steam train on the mainline over the Bruenig Pass to Giswil, the journey around which this tour has been devised as it only operates a handful of times each year. We then continue onto our next second tour base, the 5 star Waldstätterhof hotel stunningly located on the shores of Lake Lucerne at Brunnen. (B,D) DAY 6 A free day at leisure to use your First Class Swiss Pass to travel to a destination of your choice. We leave tonight free for you to dine at leisure in a restaurant of your choice. Your experienced tour manager will be only too pleased to advise you on both. (B) DAY 7 Our holiday concludes with one of the most amazing journeys in Switzerland as we travel by cog-wheel steam train up the Rigi Mountain, giving stunning panoramic vistas all over the Lake Lucerne Region. We then end our fabulous holiday with a sunset evening meal cruise aboard one of the historic steamers on Lake Lucerne. (B,D) DAY 8 After breakfast we return by high speed TGV to Paris and Eurostar to London arriving late afternoon. (B) Grand Hotel Beau Rivage, Interlaken This elegant 5 star hotel is located in a beautiful park. The Le Vieux Rivage piano bar gives an evening get-together a classical note. Spacious wellness area with sauna, massages and beauty department. Large indoor swimming pool with sun lawn. Seehotel Waldstätterhof, Brunnen This 5 star hotel has a tradition as a first-class hotel that goes back more than 130 years. Famous people from the world of the nobility, politics and culture such as Queen Victoria of England, Winston Churchill, and former US President George Bush have stayed here. The hotel is equipped to meet the latest standards without having lost its turn-of-the-century charm. Surrounded by a private park, the Seehotel Waldstätterhof has a uniquely tranquil and impressive location on the shores of Lake Lucerne with wonderful views of the Uri Alps.