Swiss Christmas Markets, Mountains & the GoldenPass Express

Your tour commences this evening in cosmopolitan Zürich. For those arriving early make sure you walk across to the nearby railway station and visit the fabulous Christmas markets. One of the largest indoor Christmas Markets in Europe, they are famous for their massive, illuminated Christmas Tree. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner in our hotel. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

This morning we are joined by a local guide for a walking tour of this pretty, historical lakeside city.   Later we journey along the lake to the pretty little town of Einseideln with its enormous historic Abbey. The Cathedral is huge and so richly decorated inside, it is almost an assault on the senses. The Christmas Markets are beautifully set directly on the terraces of the cathedral, and they wind down through the old town. As far as Christmas Markets go these are arguably in the most striking setting. Returning to Zürich your evening is free to explore and visit Zürich’s numerous Christkindlimarkt - Christmas markets. Look out for the unique Singing Christmas Tree in Werdmühleplatz. On most evenings local choirs and school children perform Christmas Carols standing in tiers on a giant pyramid shaped Christmas Tree. Delightful.

Your day is totally free - ‘My Time’ - to explore this historical city with its numerous Christmas Markets, fabulous shopping and walkways beside the lake and along the River Limmat which cuts right through the old town. This is very much a walking city, and one that really comes alive in the run up to Christmas.

This morning we board our coach and journey north to near the German border. At Schaffhausen we stop to visit the mighty Rhine Falls. Using walkways that link a series of viewing platforms we get up close to Europe’s most powerful waterfall. They are not tall, but massive, and their roar, vibration and power is spectacular.  Later we continue to Basel where we stay the next 2 nights. Why Basel? Because this city boasts that they have ‘the best Christmas Markets in all Switzerland’.  Voted ‘Best Christmas market in Europe’ in 2021, they are beautifully set in Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, right in the centre of the city and at the heart of the festively decorated Old Town. A magnificent Christmas tree stands on Münsterplatz.  To make your stay perfect, our hotel is wonderfully located in the middle of the old town with its amazing Christmas markets. A really easy walk.  Dinner tonight is included in an historical local restaurant, a short walk from hotel. Called the Löwenzorn Restaurant the name translates as Angry Lion. Dating back hundreds of years, there is rich tradition here as for centuries this has been the gathering point for many of the city guilds. The upstairs dining rooms have magnificent parquetry.

This morning we are joined by a local guide for a walking tour through the lovely old city.  Basel sits on the Rhine River close to the country’s borders with France and Germany. Its medieval old town centers around Marktplatz, dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall. Its Gothic cathedral dates back even further to the 12^th century. Whilst you are here you should visit the "Läckerli Huus" to try the traditional Basel honey cake! Your afternoon and evening is at leisure. ‘My Time’ in arguably some of the very best series of Christmas Markets in Europe.

On our way to Montreux today we explore the medieval cobblestoned streets of Bern.  A UNESCO World Heritage landmark, this capital city is set on a spectacular bend above the River Aare. In addition to kilometres of sheltered arcaded shopping ways, an intriguing clock tower and the famous ‘Bärengraben’ bear pits, there are several sets of excellent Christmas markets scattered around the old town.

In the afternoon we continue to Montreux, on the exclusive Swiss Riviera, where we stay for the next 3 nights. Before we settle into our hotel we drive just outside of town and we have included entrance and a guided tour through the beautifully preserved Château de Chillon. Made famous in Byron’s poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’, this 13th century fortress juts out imposingly into Lake Geneva. We’ll visit the staterooms, the ramparts and, of course, the dungeons!

Your hotel is on the shores of Lake Geneva, near the heart of town, excellent for the relaxing day we have left free for you to enjoy and explore this gorgeous lakeside city of Montreux. ‘My Time’ to do as little or as much as you want to do. Situated along the eastern shores of Lake Geneva, known locally as Lac Leman, the enormous Christmas markets that stretch along the grand lakeside promenade and foreshore are fantastic. Along the foreshore, make sure you find the iconic statue of Freddie Mercury (who made his farewell home here) punching the sky.

First stop this morning will be in Charlie Chaplin’s hometown of Vevey. Make sure you walk along the lake foreshore to see the statue of the ‘little man with baggy pants’. We also visit Chaplin World in Ban Manor. Once Charlie’s home, it is now a museum dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, the legendary artist and man, that retraces the extraordinary life of this cinematographic genius. We will spend lunchtime in Geneva where you have time at leisure to explore Switzerland’s second largest city. On the beautiful foreshore of Lake Leman (Lake Geneva) you will see the city’s symbolic 140 metre high Jet d’Eau fountain. On our way home we follow the spectacular, vineyard covered, Lavaux wine road. The tiers of stone-terraces are UNESCO Heritage listed, and we stop at the Vinorama to enjoy a wine tasting of the local varieties.

An adventure today as we board the GoldenPass Express panoramic train which will take us across the Alps, past the chic ski resort of Gstaad and Château-d’Oex, and on to Interlaken. Our seats are pre-booked in the special panoramic carriages and the views throughout the journey are spectacular. (Your luggage will travel separately, making this an easy and relaxing day).  Nestled between two lakes, and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Interlaken makes a great place to enjoy lunchtime. In the afternoon we board our coach and drive along the length of Lake Brienz, past crystal-clear lakes and waterfalls and cross over the magnificent Brünig mountain pass on our way to Engelberg. Now it is time to go to our mountain hotel and the only way to get there is by catching the Titlis Xpress gondola. The amazing thing about the Trübsee Alpine Lodge is it is perched halfway up Mount Titlis at an altitude of 1,800 metres. There is no village there, just the lovely hotel set on a snowy ridge, surrounded by massive peaks in an extraordinary, peaceful environment. In the afternoons, as the day visitors leave the valley, an unparalleled stillness sets in, and the mountain becomes ‘ours’.  Time to visit the bar or go for a stroll through the snowy landscape beside the frozen perched lake, before settling in for dinner in the cozy, alpine restaurant. We stay here 3 nights.

The first highlight of your day will be catching the cable car up to the summit of Mt Titlis at 3,020 metres, where you have uninterrupted, 360-degree views of the dozens and dozens of the alpine peaks that surround you. At the top you will find 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 included lunch in one of the mountain restaurants.  We descend to our hotel which is set right beside the Trübsee snow park. Here you can go for walks in the snow, maybe go for a fun ride snow tubing down the hill or sit in the café and relax and watch the fun.  Later this afternoon we have included a snowshoe walk along the frozen lake. What an amazing day!

After taking the cable car down to Engelberg, we catch the train to spend the day in Luzern. On arrival we will enjoy an orientation walking tour of the old city with its covered wooden bridges before enjoying much of the day exploring at leisure. ‘My Time’ in an iconic Swiss lakeside town. Mid afternoon we return by train to Engelberg.
Tonight, back in our mountain retreat, we enjoy drinks on the bar terrace followed by a farewell dinner.

Catching the cable car back down to Engelberg we will transfer you by coach to Zürich with drop offs, sometime around midday in Zürich city and the airport.
We recommend you book flights and trains that depart Zürich after 3pm.