Golden Eagle Swiss Rail Spectacular III

This morning, join the Prestige Continental Express private train in Basel SBB Station.

Once on board, enjoy lunch as the train departs for the Swiss city of Landquart, where we change to the narrow gauge Rhaetian Railway (RhB) and the Glacier & Bernina Pullman Express for the journey up to the exclusive alpine resort of St. Moritz.

Our travels will take us through the Albula Pass between Filisur and St. Moritz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today our three-coach train will be hauled by the historic 108-year-old RhB electric locomotive Nr 353.

Overnight at Badrutt’s Palace.

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

Travel along Switzerland’s famous Bernina Line to Tirano, Italy. From St. Moritz, travel in the Glacier & Bernina Pullman Express cars hauled by a unique and historic Bernina ‘Crocodil’ electric locomotive Nr 182, built 1915.

During the final 11 miles (17 km) of the journey, cross the incredible spiral stone viaduct at Brusio. Once in Tirano, spend time enjoying the Valtellina Valley. Visit the Triacco Winery where you will have lunch, before retracing your steps by bus back to St. Moritz.

Tonight, enjoy a traditional Swiss dinner near to the Morteratsch Glacier.

Overnight at Badrutt’s Palace.

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

This morning, depart St. Moritz for Andermatt on the Glacier & Bernina Pullman Express. Once again, enjoy the hospitality of the RhB’s historic Pullman train — today hauled by RhB ‘Crocodil’ Nr 414 or 415, built 1929.

Travel by train through the Rheinschlucht Gorge, very close to the source of the Rhine River, and across the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt, a stepping-stone for the Furka Pass.

After checking in to the exclusive five-star Chedi Andermatt hotel, guests can either take advantage of the hotel’s extensive Spa & Wellness facilities, or take a tour by bus along the Gotthard Pass to visit the huge Sasso Da Pigna Fortress that guarded it from 1943 onwards. Closed in 1998, it re-opened as the Gotthard Museum Sasso in 2012.

Tonight, have dinner in the town of Andermatt.

Overnight at Hotel Chedi, Andermatt

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

Today, cross one of the most beautiful mountain passes in the world, the Furka Pass. The Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke (Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway) is a largely volunteer-operated heritage railway that operates a partially rack- and pinion-operated line across the Furka Pass, which peaks at 7,086 feet (2,160 m) above sea level.

The Furka Dampfbahn has been gradually brought back into service using original equipment and is now restored to its former glory. The 100-year-old steam locomotive will take us 2,405 ft (740 m) to the summit. We then descend under the Rhône glacier to Gletsch for lunch at the Hotel Castle Blitzingen, Niederwald. Mid-afternoon, join the modern Glacier Express (First Class) to Zermatt, home of the Matterhorn.

Overnight at Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

This morning in Zermatt is at your own leisure to enjoy time for walking through this delightful alpine village.

This afternoon, take an exciting journey on the Gornergrat Railway on the Glacier Pullman Express attached to a Rack electric train. We travel to a height of 10,285 feet (3,135 m) for the most incredible view of the Matterhorn. The Gornergrat is located between the Gornergletscher and Findelgletscher and offers a view of more than twenty peaks over 13,123 feet (4,000 m).

A raclette dinner will be served at the Al Bosco Restaurant, Riffelalp Resort, at 7,290 feet (2,222 m) before returning to Zermatt.

Overnight at Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt

Meal Arrangements: B, D

Start the day descending from Zermatt on the panoramic cars of the regular Glacier Express before re-joining the steam-hauled Prestige Continental Express in Brig. From Brig, take lunch during your journey over the Lötschberg Pass before arriving into Bern. Enjoy a three-hour tour of the city, including one hour by historic steam tram.

From Bern, continue under steam haulage on board the Prestige Continental Express to Interlaken. From Interlaken, take a short bus journey to the hotel in the alpine resort of Grindelwald, where we will be based for the next five nights.

Overnight at Hotel Bergwelt, Grindelwald

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

Today, join a private steam train on the Ballenberg Dampfbahn to Meiringen and Innertkirchen.

From here there is the choice to walk a little over a mile (2 km) through the spectacular Aareschlucht Gorge, followed by a trip by funicular to Reichenbach Falls, made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle as the spot where he killed off both Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. After, visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen before re-joining your steam train that will return you to Interlaken.

A second group has a more leisurely day by going straight from Innertkirchen to Reichenbach Falls, then visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum and enjoying some free time in Meiringen before returning to the train back to Interlaken.

Overnight at Hotel Bergwelt, Grindelwald

Meal Arrangements: B

Today offers a morning at leisure where you can enjoy facilities of the hotel or wander around the quaint side streets of Grindelwald with time for souvenir shopping.

In the late afternoon,  depart by bus to Wilderswil before transferring to a special steam charter train on the picturesque Schynige-Platte Bahn Rack Railway where we will visit the Botanical Alpine Garden.

Overnight at Hotel Bergwelt, Grindelwald

Meal Arrangements: B, D

Today, enjoy riding the spectacularly modern Eiger Express tri-cable gondola which ascends to the Eigergletscher Station in just 15 minutes.

Next, transfer to the ‘Jungfraubahn’ and its distinctive red and yellow carriages, which takes us to the summit of Jungfraujoch, known as the Top of Europe, sitting at a height of 11,332 feet (3,454 meters) above sea level, making this the highest railway station in Europe. There will be time upon reaching the top of the mountain, weather permitting, to visit the Glacier Plateau viewpoint, Sphinx Observation Deck, and Ice Palace.

Take the Jungfraubahn back down to Kleine Scheidegg for a late lunch before returning down the mountain to Grindelwald.

Overnight at Hotel Bergwelt, Grindelwald

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

This morning, enjoy a ride on the nostalgic Brienzer-Rothorn Steam Rack Railway. The town of Brienz has been known for centuries for its wood carving, as well as the stepping-stone for the Brienzer-Rothorn Bahn. At 7,360 feet (2,243 m), it’s the fourth-highest railway in Switzerland.

Following lunch by the lake, cruise from Brienz back to Interlaken on the 1914-vintage paddle steamer, SS Lötschberg.

Overnight at Hotel Bergwelt, Grindelwald

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

Today we depart on the Prestige Continental Express from Interlaken over the spectacular Gotthard Pass with its many spiral loops, bridges and tunnels over into Chiasso, located close to the Italian border.

From here we make the short transfer to Lake Maggiore in Italy where we will enjoy a boat cruise this afternoon before having enjoying dinner this evening.

Overnight in Lake Maggiore, hotel to be advised.

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

This morning, depart Chiasso on the Prestige Continental Express for Lucerne, changing to a narrow-gauge train for the short journey to Alpnachstad.

From here, travel on the Pilatus Bahn, which is the steepest rack railway in the world, with a maximum gradient of 48%. It will take about 30 minutes to reach the peak at Pilatus Kulm, passing alpine meadows and striking rock formations on its route.

Return down the mountain and enjoy a farewell gala dinner in the opulent Prestige Continental Express dining cars as we make our way back to Zurich Flughafen Station. On arrival, walk to the hotel, which is connected to the Airport Terminal.

Overnight in Zurich, Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport or in Basel.

Note: Guests wishing to continue to Basel can do so. Accommodation will be in the GAIA Hotel near the Basel SBB station.

Meal Arrangements: B, L, D

After breakfast, free time until you meet your departing flight from the adjacent terminal or your train connection from the station beneath the terminal.

Meal Arrangements: B