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Enjoy Christmas with a difference amidst the lakes and mountains of Switzerland. Marvel at the stunning winter scenes offered by the Goldenpass Line, the route of the Glacier Express and the Rigi Mountain Railway. Soar up Mount Titlis and relax on Lake Lucerne's shore at the 4 star Seehotel Pilatus, whose leisure facilities open out onto a fantastic panorama of lake and mountain scenery.
View Dates & Book8 days from £1975
DEPARTS
Sunday 22 December 2024
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Experience the Rigi Railway, Europe’s first mountain railway
Enjoy a breathtaking ride on the Titlis Rotair Cable Car, the world’s first revolving gondola
Take the Voralpen Express to the pilgrimage site of Einsiedeln
Discover the wonderfully scenic Goldenpass Line rail journey to Interlaken and Grindelwald
Spend a day on the route of the Glacier Express
Relax on Lake Lucerne’s steamers
Make the most of your Local Transport Pass – offering the chance to explore Lucerne on your free day
Also included in your Tour Fare:
7 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Local Transport Pass
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
DAY 1
Relax as we let the European train system transport us from the bustle of early morning London to Lucerne, then by local train to lakeside Hergiswil by Lake Lucerne and the Seehotel Pilatus, where a welcome evening meal awaits at our hotel.
DDAY 2
The first of our spectacular excursions features one of Switzerland's most scenic railways, the Golden Pass Line from Lucerne through classic alpine scenery high over the Brünig Pass to Interlaken. Here we climb up to the pretty Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald, nestled at the foot of the Eiger's north face. Enjoy some free time here before we retrace our tracks to Hergiswil.
B, DDAY 3
Christmas Eve
The Snow Express train leaves the shores of Lake Lucerne, heading into the Engelberg Valley through delightful villages nestling at the foot of increasingly steep and lofty mountains. From Engelberg we ascend Mount Titlis on the world's first revolving gondola - the 'Titlis Rotair'. The gondola rotates a full 360 degrees during its ascent, providing breathtakingly beautiful panoramas as you soar to the mountain station at an altitude of over 3,000 metres above sea level.
DAY 4
Christmas Day
A Christmas Day with a difference! After breakfast we head out on the Schölenen Railway line south towards the Gotthard and onwards to Oberalppass. We then experience a taste of the Glacier Express route from Oberalppass, the highest point on the line, through to Andermatt. After free time in this beautiful Swiss mountain village, we return to Hergiswil to enjoy our Christmas dinner, with wine.
DAY 5
Boxing Day
Blow those cobwebs away on Boxing Day on Europe's first mountain railway! The Rigi Railway, has been transporting visitors from all over the world to the top of the 'Queen of the Mountains' since 1871. The Rigi was the preferred destination of writers and heads of state during the 'Belle Epoque' era between 1884 and 1914. Mark Twain, Tolstoy and Goethe all enthused about the beautiful vi iews and even Queen Victoria wrote that, "We are amused!" Enjoy the 'Queen of the Mountains' for yourself on a mountain adventure.
DAY 6
Our excursion today on the Voralpen Express departs Lake Lucerne, passing Lake Zug, before beginning its ascent through snowbound Rothenthurm High Moor en route to Einsiedeln, whose monastery is Switzerland's most significant baroque building and most visited pilgrimage site.
B, DDAY 7
A day at leisure in Hergiswil allows you the opportunity to relax and unwind by lovely Lake Lucerne and maybe take full advantage of the hotel's leisure facilities. Alternatively, you can use your local transport pass to visit Lucerne itself by steamer, with its famous Chapel Bridge and Transport Museum.
B, DDAY 8
We return by train across Switzerland to Paris, changing stations for our Eurostar journey to London.
BB=Breakfast, D=Dinner
HOTEL
Seehotel Pilatus, Hergiswil
This hotel stands directly at the lakeshore on lovely Lake Lucerne in the village of Hergiswil, just a short train journey from Lucerne itself, surrounded by majestic mountain views. The hotel was bought as a humble guest house in 1911 by ancestors of the Fuchs family, who still own and run the Seehotel. There have been many changes since 1911 and, whilst providing a relaxing base in a great location for all our excursions, the hotel also features a host of leisure facilities including a large indoor pool, jacuzzi, saunas, sun deck, and lakeside terrace.
FARES
| From London St Pancras International: |
|
| Standard Class rail travel to/from Switzerland, including Standard Eurostar | £1975 |
| Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar return | £200 |
| First Class rail travel to/from Switzerland, including Standard Premier Eurostar | £2310 |
| Join & Leave at Hergiswil | £1499 |
| Single Traveller Supplement | £180 |
7 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Eurostar and rail travel to and from Switzerland in the class of your choice
Local Transport Pass
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
GUARANTEED FARE
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Tour Base | Tour Base (Join & Leave at Hotel) |
| London St Pancras Int | London St Pancras Int (LNE) |
| From Price | Book Now | Call Back | Telephone | Favourites |
|---|
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