Swiss Grandeur featuring the Glacier Express

Your tour commences this evening in Milan. Dinner tonight is included, but first enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

This morning, we drive to the town of Como and follow the shore of the lake to Tremezzo, where we visit the striking Villa Carlotta. This wonderful Villa is set in 70,000 square metres of romantic Italianate Gardens and faces across Lake Como to the Bellagio peninsula. The classic gardens boast fountains and pergolas and in springtime is famous for its rhododendrons and azaleas. Later we board our private boat and enjoy a cruise on Lake Como, past a number of striking lakeside villas, to delightful Bellagio. This beautiful town is situated at the tip of the peninsula separating the lake’s two southern arms, with the Alps visible across the lake to the north. It’s time to relax in this delightful town which boasts peaceful villas and gardens nestled by the lakeside, elegant shops and walkways plus stylish al fresco dining at its very best. Later we continue to lakeside Lugano, in Switzerland where we stay the next two nights. 

Lugano sits in the Italian speaking Ticino region of Switzerland, and boasts Mediterranean-style squares and arcades, lakeside parks and flower gardens and the pastel-coloured main square of Piazza della Riforma is a delight to explore. After a leisurely start we have included a ‘food & wine’ guided walking tour through the historical city centre of Lugano, during which we will make several stops to enjoy various specialities from Ticino, including a delicious white Merlot. More than a tasting tour, the walk is a real traveling menu! Your afternoon and evening is completely free – ‘My Time’ in this beautiful, Swiss lakeside town.

Skirting the northern shores of Como, our path takes us along an Alpine valley to Tirano where we have time to enjoy lunch before boarding the famous Bernina Express to St Moritz. This is one of Europe’s classic scenic train rides, and our seats are in the panoramic carriages. As the train winds its way up over the Brusio Circular Viaduct we head into the mountains past the three lakes of Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco. Mountains now soar either side and at the Montebello curve we have striking views of the Bernina massif, and the Morteratsch glacier. Mid afternoon we arrive at the chic ski resort town of St Moritz where we stay two nights. 

In the morning, your Tour Manager will accompany you on a brief orientation walking tour of the town, and then most of the day is yours to explore St Moritz. Want to be active? Maybe catch a train or cable car up to a mountain restaurant for lunch?
In the afternoon we enjoy a delightful horse and carriage ride around the St Moritz lakeside and into the forest. Your evening is at leisure.

Along today’s train route from St Moritz to Chur, we cross the famous, 65-metre-high Landwasser Viaduct, the signature structure of the Rhaetian Railway and a UNESCO World Heritage site. A marvel of engineering, the complete Glacier Express and the Bernina Express route from Tirano to Chur, upon which we will travel over during this tour, passes through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges!  Lunchtime will be enjoyed exploring Switzerland’s oldest town, Chur. The centre of this medieval gem is car free, and the perfectly narrow cobbled streets and squares are a delight to walk around. In the afternoon we will catch the train up to the Alpine resort town of Arosa.   This hour-long ride will captivate you as it clings to rock faces, and spans tumbling streams to end up in the high Alpine meadows. Arosa, where we will stay the next three nights, sits in a pretty valley and wraps its way around two lovely lakes.

For our mountain adventure today we catch the local bus to the end of the valley where we board a cable car that will glide slowly upwards, over the meadows to the Hörnlihütte, set high on a ridged peak. Here there is a charming, older style restaurant, with an exceptional outside dining terrace, and huge views. The food up here is exceptional, and we have included a Swiss rosti style lunch. (The restaurant toilets are a must see, with full glass panoramic window and binoculars for the views!) The rest of your day is free.

Every mountain peak has its own unique view and individual style and character, and the 2,653m Weisshorn is no exception. Ascended by a two-stage cable car, it is the highest peak in the Arosa region, and the 360-degree views across 400 mountain peaks are breathtaking.  At the summit is a restaurant in a large, modern, futuristic style building.
Later we will descend to the middle station and a short walk away we will visit the Arosa Bärenland, a sanctuary for rescued mountain bears. You now have choices on how you get back to Arosa. Either take the cable car back down or enjoy a gentle walk via Prätschli and amble through the Red Squirrel trail just above town.

This morning back in Chur, we board the famous Glacier Express train which takes us along the ‘Valais’ through Switzerland’s finest mountain scenery. Ranked as one of the world’s top train trips, you will be seated in 1st class panoramic carriages as we cross Switzerland and follow the route high above the broad ‘Valais’ below. A 2-course lunch is included onboard.  After stopping to take in the incredible scenery on the 2033 metre Oberalp Pass, we arrive in Andermatt where we stay the next two nights.
The picturesque village of Andermatt is an Alpine gem that offers authentic Swiss charm and a storybook mountain landscape. Andermatt's historic landmarks include century-old houses, chapels, and cultural sites that paint a vivid picture of the village's rich heritage and traditions.

We take the Gütsch-Express cable car to Gütsch at 2376m, passing the Nätschen middle station on the way.  Experience the breath-taking views over the picturesque valley and of the surrounding Swiss Alps.  Once up at the peak maybe stay a while and enjoy lunch in one of the two gourmet restaurants situated on the peak.  The rest of your day and evening are at leisure, ‘My Time’ to explore the charming mountain village of Andermatt with its historic old town.

After a leisurely start, we continue by train to the lovely lakeside town of Luzern.  After checking in to our hotel, a local guide will accompany you on a short walking tour to orientate you with the quaint old town and the famous Chapel and Mill wooden bridges which cross the river.
We stay here for the next three nights right in the heart of town.  

Today we visit nearby Mt Titlis for yet another, but different mountain adventure. Soaring high we ride on the innovative Titlis Rotair – the first rotating aerial cable car in the world - up to the summit of Mt Titlis at 3,020 metres. As you ride higher and higher the cable car gently rotates, giving you uninterrupted, 360-degree views of the dozens and dozens of the alpine peaks that surround you. At the top you will find restaurants and cafes, a man-made glacier grotto you can walk through, and Europe's highest cliff top suspension bridge walk. Set 500 metres above an abyss the 150 steps across to the viewing platform will be memorable! Not so sure? Then just take photos of it! We have also included a Swiss Rosti specialty lunch in the Panoramic Restaurant. What an amazing day!

We have included a cruise down the length of the beautiful lake to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock where we board a short, but steep funicular railway that takes us up to the 500-metre high, exclusive Bürgenstock Resort, which stretches along a spectacular 1 km long mountain ridge overlooking Lake Lucerne. The rest of your day is ‘My Time’ back in beautiful, lakeside Luzern. There is so much to see and do exploring its historic twin wooden covered bridges, the famous ‘Dying Lion Monument’ and relaxing lakeside cafes and restaurants. 

Arriving in Zurich, we are met by a local guide for a walking tour through the old town. Zurich is set beside a pretty lake, but the main attraction is lovely old town which lines the shores of the River Limmat.  Your afternoon will be free, and the shopping here is excellent. Tonight, we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner.

Sadly, your grand Swiss adventure tour is completed after breakfast in our hotel.