THE GREAT
SWISS TRAIN TOUR

The only tour through Switzerland exclusively by trains

June 8 - June 22, 2008

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Depart USA for your transatlantic flight to Zurich to embark on one of our most favorite tours. The scenery is spectacular, the train rides exciting as you travel over and through Switzerland's most scenic mountains, the hotels are as good as it gets and the food and wine, and beer are delicious.

Day 2 - After arrival in Zürich you will be met by your Posh Journeys tour hosts who will whisk you to the train station underneath the terminal. After a short ride to Zürich Hauptbahnhof, we continue on to Lucerne where we transfer to a lake steamer for the cruise to our hotel in dreamy little Vitznau, a lake-side resort since the turn of the century. Here we are met by a luggage van to either ride or walk  to the pretty Hotel Floralpina where your room overlooks the lake.  Get settled, relax on the spectacular hotel terrace, or take a walk before we meet for a dinner of local cuisine which has been especially prepared for us by the chef.  D

Day 3 - Wake up to a grand view over Lake Lucerne.  Then head for breakfast, perhaps on the lakeside terrace if it is a sunny day. Afterwards we embark on an all day lake cruise amidst the splendid scenery of the Vierwaldstättersee, the Swiss name for Lake Lucerne, which translates to the lake of the four cantons.  The cruise will take you to Fluehelen on the southern end of the lake where the scenery is at its most spectacular. You leave the ship on the return voyage at Brunnen from where we take a bus to Schwyz, the town after which Switzerland was named and to pretty town of Einsiedeln with its famous thousand year old monastery. In the evening dinner is in an old Swiss country inn in Vitznau.  BD

Day 4  - After breakfast we return by lake steamer to Lucern from where we travel aboard the small Bruenig Meiringen railroad to Interlaken through postcard perfect alpine scenery. In Interlaken you will change to the Berner Oberalpbahn for the 40-minute ride to glacier village of Grindelwald where your will stay in a scenic alpine chalet where your room looks out to at the north face of the famous Eiger Mountain  which rises almost vertical above the village. There is time to explore the village before we meet for dinner at the chalet which has one of the best restaurants in Grindelwald. BD

Day 5 -  This morning we embark on a day trip to the Murren set on a sunny ledge a thousand feet above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.  In Muerren the views of the Jungfrau, the Moench and the Eiger Mountains are nothing short of spectacular. After Muerren we decsend by cable car into the valley where we visit the imposing Truemmelbach Falls, a massive water fall inside the mountain which is the drainage for the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau glaciers. Dinnerthis evening  is again at the chalet.  BL

Day 6 -  The day is free to pursue your own interests. Perhaps you may want to take an excursion to the Jungfrau Mountain, or take the train to Interlaken to take cruise Lake Thun on one of the Lake Steamers. Your Swiss Pass is valid on the lake steamers and for a discount on the Jungfrau train. Dinner is on your own this evening. B

Day 7 -  Today we return to Interlaken to travel through some of Switzerland's most spectacular scenery to Brig in the valley of the Rhone an on to Zermatt. After arriving in Zermatt we will be met by a electric hotel buggy - yes it is a buggy, there are no cars in Zermatt.  Luggage, and those not willing to take a short walk, are transported from the train station to the hotel by electric buggy. However, the walk to the Hotel Eden, our abode for three nights, is a short and scenic one, leading us through the center of the village of Zermatt. After getting settled at the hotel where the view from your balcony looks out at the Matterhorn, we meet for a dinner of Swiss Fondue, accompanied by the fresh, dry wines of the Valais.  BD

Day 8-  This morning we meet to take one of the mountain trams to the very foot of the Matterhorn, a spectacular outing which will take you in the midst of the the stupendous alpine glacier world.  Afterwards we pause lunch in a cozy mountain inn in Furi halfway down the mountain  where those inclined to do so can walk down the rest of the way through wildflower meadows and an ancient mountain village. The remainder of the day is on your own. BL

Day 9 - The day is free to do as you please. You might want to join us on an optional outing to the Sunegga, from where you have a spectacular view of the Matterhorn, the Weisshorn and the icy colossus of Monte Rosa.  Those into hiking can walk down through mountain meadows and tiny stone hamlets.  Or you may want to take the day to go shopping, or perhaps you want to just laze on your balcony amidst spectacular alpine scenery. In the evening we meet a dinner of Alpermakaroni, a Swiss specialty, accompanied by of Swiss musicians.   BD

Day 10 -  You may not want to leave Zermatt, but today we are boarding the Glacier Express to travel on a six hour journey through the Rhone Valley and over the Oberalp Pass to Chur. A dinner aboard is included. Chur is an ancient city, dating to Roman times. Here, the local language is Romansh, a dialect derived from Latin which is the fourth official language of Switzerland. We have not included a dinner this evening since it is our experience that, after dinner on the train, no one is ever hungry enough for another meal. Since our hotel in Chur is in the old center of the city, there are many sidewalk cafes and small restaurants to have a snack should you want one.  BL

Day 11 - After a leisurely breakfast you may want to explore Chur, go shopping, visit a museum or the baroque Bishops Palace which is set above the old city center in the midst of a vineyard. In the afternoon we take the Little train that could....which chugs through the streets of Chur and into the mountains to the resort of Arosa where you will find yourself in the midst of Heidiland. After our return in the evening a dinner of local fare is on the itinerary.  BD

Day 12 - Today an overnight excursion will take us to Tirano in Italy aboard the Bernina Express. This dramatic train ride over the 2000 meter high Bernina Pass is one of the most spectacular train journeys in Europe. Just pack an overnight bag and leave your luggage at the hotel. In Tirano the Albergo Bernina across from the tiny train station will be our abode for the night. The Albergo is a comfortable inn with a reputation for good food. After arrival and getting settled we will visit a nearby winery for a wine tasking  in a 500-year old former Dominican Convent.  In the evening a short stroll will take us in the old town to Angelo's, a local Osteria known for its exceptional northern Italian cuisine which is accompanied by the wines from the Tirano region.  BD

Day 13 - After breakfast join us to explore the old town of Tirano with its man 14th and 15th century palaces and town houses. At noon we meet for a big lunch of pasta, salad and wine before we re-board the Bernina Express for the return journey to Chur. The evening is then on your own.  BL

Day 14 - Today we leave Chur, boarding one of the intercity trains to travel the 1000-year old town of Rapperswil on Lake Zurich. Your hotel is in the old town and minutes from the lake.  After arrival an getting settled we will take you on a stroll through old Rapperswil and to its medieval castle which towers above the town. Dinner this evening will be at a unique local restaurant which for the past hundred years it has been frequented mostly by locals and justly famous for its delicious local fare. BD

Day 15 - After breakfast we are being transfer to the airport for your return flight to USA.

LAND TOUR COST:  $3290 per person double
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:  $410.00

INCLUDED: 13-nights first class hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, daily dinner or lunch as per itinerary, first class *15-day Swiss Train Pass, all transportation by lake steamer and mountain trams as per itinerary, all sightseeing as per itinerary, private transfers as per itinerary and the services of Posh Journeys. * The Swiss Pass can be extended if you would like to come early or stay longer.

NOT INCLUDED;  Air Fare, additional food, alcoholic drinks if  not part of an included meal, bottled water or soft drinks with meals - although we are making sure a carafe of ice water is always on the table - additional sightseeing and any item not mentioned in this itinerary. 

AIR FARE: Contact us for lowest applicable air fares.

POSH JOURNEYS
530 E. PATRIOT BLVD. #172
RENO NV. 89511
TEL. / FAX 775-852-5105
E-mail: contact@poshjourneys.com