The Big Five versus The Stoosbahn

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then onwards to Hergiswil and our base for seven nights, the Seehotel Pilatus, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Stans where we take an exciting journey up the Stanserhorn starting with a nostalgic trip on the timber carriages of the funicular railway before continuing on the unique CabriO cable car. The world's first double-decker aerial cable car, the CabriO has no roof on the top deck offering fantastic panoramic views alongside insights into the remarkable engineering. On return to the hotel, we enjoy our evening meal together.

DAY 3

Today, we enjoy the drama and thrills of the famous Pilatus Railway! This amazing round trip provides the best of mountain railways as we ride the steepest cogwheel railway in the world through woods and tunnels, along alpine meadows, and rocky outcrops to the top of this rugged pre-Alpine peak. After free time at the summit, we enjoy breathtaking views on the aerial cable car and the panorama gondola as we travel to Lucerne, Switzerland's prettiest city.

DAY 4

Today, we spend the day at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore at your own pace. You may wish to make use of the hotel's spa facilities, visit Lucerne, or join our Tour Manager on a visit to the Stoosbahn, the world's steepest funicular railway. The distinctive barrel-shaped carriages combat a height difference of 744 metres over 1.7km of track, with a maximum gradient of 110%.

DAY 5

After breakfast, we travel to Stanstad and take a short bus journey up to Bürgenstock where we enjoy the fresh mountain air on a walk to the Hammetschwand Lift, the highest outdoor lift in Europe. For over 100 years the lift has taken passengers up 153m providing stunning views of Lake Lucerne and we enjoy these views from the panoramic terrace at the summit before making the return journey.

DAY 6

Today, a fantastic experience awaits us as we ascend Mount Titlis on the world's first revolving cable car - the 'Titlis Rotair'. The cable car completes one full 360° rotation during its ascent providing breathtakingly beautiful panoramas as we soar to the mountain station at an altitude of just under 3,000 metres above sea level.

Day 7

After breakfast today, we will experience the historic Rigi Railway, Europe's first mountain railway transporting visitors from all over the world to the top of the 'Queen of the Mountains' since 1871. The Rigi's unique location and panoramic views made it a famous destination for writers and heads of state during the 'Belle Époque' era, and even Queen Victoria journeyed to the peak.

DAY 8

We bid farewell to Hergiswil and to Switzerland, returning by rail to Paris, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner