Christmas and New Year in the
Swiss and Italian Alps

Make it a Christmas and New Year to remember as you spend the holiday in a genuine Winter Wonderland, surrounded by the snow-capped Swiss Alps and enchanting Italian lakes.

• The tour includes a 15-Day Swiss Pass rail rover in First Class as well the extra journey on the world famous mountain railway to the Gornergrat, where you will see glaciers, the Matterhorn and unrivalled high altitude landscapes.
• Celebrate Christmas Day in style with a festive steamboat cruise with a refined 4-course dinner on Lake Lucerne. Additional paddle steamer cruises on Lake Thun and Lake Geneva are possible with the Swiss Pass.
• Make the most of your First Class Swiss Pass on 6 free days of the tour for individual discovery of the countless mountain railways, such as the Golden Pass, Glacier Express route and many more.
• Enjoy the best of Northern Italy during a trip on the iconic Centovalli narrow gauge railway through 100 valleys from Domodossola to Locarno, then relax in the Italianate towns of the Swiss Ticino.
• This tour is running on a half-board basis, with breakfast and dinner included every day at your centrally located, quality hotels in the mountainous towns of Brig and Lugano, thus providing excellent value and ideal comfort.
  

Sunday 22nd December
London to Brig by high speed rail
You travel from London to Brig via Paris on Eurostar and TGV services. On arrival you check in to the 3-star Hotel Victoria, located directly across the street from the railway station. A welcome dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (D)

Monday 23rd December
Along the Glacier Express route to Zermatt, Gornergrat rack railway and Matterhorn
Your tour starts with a real highlight as you take the scenic narrow gauge railway to Zermatt, following along the route of the famed Glacier Express. Then you transfer to the Gornergrat Railway, ascending to 3089 metres. It’s Europe’s second highest railway, eclipsed only by the Jungfrau. From this high Alpine summit, enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers and a front view of the Matterhorn. After refreshments at Gornergrat you can descend back down to Zermatt, with ample time to explore the car-free village centre that is lined by typical Swiss chalets. This initial group excursion will allow you to get familiar with the Swiss railway system, giving you useful insights on how to best use your Swiss Pass for individual trips on successive days. In the afternoon, there is still free time for individual discovery, before dinner back at the hotel in Brig. (B D)

Tuesday 24th December
Freedom of Switzerland with your First Class Swiss Travel Pass
Today is the third day of validity for your 15-Day First Class rail rover. This allows you to travel anywhere in Switzerland on the extensive network of standard gauge and narrow-gauge railways, and includes travel on buses, trams, ferries and some mountain railways. The choice of where to go is yours, with highlights ranging from world-famous panoramic railways to ‘best kept secrets’ in the hinterland. Discover for yourself why Switzerland is so much fun to explore by public transport, with frequent, clockwork connections and easy, seamless interchange at all stations. Your Tour Manager will be happy to advise you about attractive options and specific connections. (B D)

Wednesday 25th December
Festive Lake Lucerne steamboat cruise with Christmas lunch
For Christmas Day, the memorable highlight is a gala cruise on the vintage 1901 paddle steamer ‘Uri’. A festive 4-course Christmas meal will be served to you in the ornate Belle Epoque salon of the ship, as you cruise over stunning Lake Lucerne with Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi in full view. Watch the big steam engine push the bright red paddle wheels, as the steamer gently glides over the water. After the cruise, you’ll have free time in Lucerne to explore this elegant city. Then you could use your Swiss Pass to travel back to Bern and Brig on a different railway route than in the morning, either travelling through the Emmental or over the Brünig Pass. In the evening, a light dinner will be served at the hotel. (B L D)

Thursday 26th, Friday 27th December, Saturday 28th December
Freedom of Switzerland with First Class Swiss Travel Pass
For the next three days you have total freedom to discover all that Switzerland has to offer. Aside from attractions like the nearby Bernese Oberland or Lake Geneva, you can explore the less-famous railway lines in the serene Gruyere region or make a side-step to Chamonix, France on the Mont Blanc Express, all offering iconic ‘little trains’, towering viaducts and mountain views. Excursions over the Oberalp Pass to the Rhaetian Railway are also possible. Each night, dinner is served at the hotel in Brig. (B D)

Sunday 29th December
Mountain magnificence in the Bernese Oberland
Today you may join your Tour Manager for a guided excursion to the world famous Bernese Oberland. After arriving to Interlaken by SBB service, you can explore the countless ‘Little Trains’ of the region and travel by scenic train to such famed mountain villages as Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren, where you will be rewarded with the most amazing views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. In case you would like to follow in the footsteps of James Bond, you can make the optional excursion to the summit of Mount Schilthorn, the filming location of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. (B D)

Monday 30th December
Journey on the Centovalli Railway in Northern Italy, Lake Maggiore in Locarno; Arrive in Lugano
The time has come to venture further south to Italy as well as Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. While your luggage is directly forwarded by SBB’s excellent transfer service from hotel to hotel, you take a direct EuroCity train along the legendary Simplon Railway south to Italy. You change trains in Domodossola and then take the stunning Centovalli narrow gauge railway past 100 valleys and over numerous towering viaducts to Locarno. Once in Locarno you make a group visit to the Madonna Del Sasso Funicular, for spectacular views from this Italianate Basilica high above Locarno. You then take an SBB train to nearby Lugano, here you check-in to your centrally located hotel, where you will stay for the next three nights. On arrival, dinner is served in the hotel restaurant. (B D)

Tuesday 31st December and Wednesday 1st January
Railways and Funiculars of Ticino; along the Gotthard Railway and Swiss Riviera in Locarno and Lugano
The mountain railways of Ticino are particularly exciting, as are the lakeside cities of Locarno and Lugano with their Mediterranean flair. For all railway enthusiasts, the busy border station of Chiasso is also a must. You are free to travel the length of breath of the Ticino railway network for the next two days, including the Gotthard summit route with its winding horseshoe curves, the Ponte Tresa narrow gauge railway or the main line along Lake Lugano towards Italy. You could even make good use of the 57 km long Gotthard base tunnel and make an easy day-trip to the Mount Rigi rack railway at Arth-Goldau. On both evenings you have dinner at the hotel in Lugano. On New Year’s, complimentary drinks are included with your dinner to celebrate the New Year. (B D)

Thursday 2nd January
Return to London
After your exhilarating Christmas holiday you return to London via Paris by TGV and Eurostar services. (B)