Christmas & New Year in Switzerland
Holiday Highlights
- First class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel whilst in Switzerland - no expensive excursions
- Reserved seats in first class on Glacier and Bernina Express trains
- Leisure time in Interlaken, Chur and Lausanne
- Evening meals included
- Daily escorted optional excursions
- Opportunity to witness Burning of the Cathedral at New Year
- 15 days from £3,530pp
Tour Dates:
Tuesday 21 December 2021 to Tuesday 4 January 2022
This popular, annual visit to Switzerland over the festive season is a firm favourite and guarantees a sociable ‘White Christmas’ with fellow travellers. Enjoy first class travel on the wonderful Bernina and Glacier Express trains through snow-capped mountains and explore independently during our stays in Interlaken, Chur and Lausanne or join daily optional escorted excursions organised by your tour leader.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Train to Aachen
We take a lunchtime Eurostar from London St. Pancras direct to Brussels where we connect to a high speed train to Aachen. Our hotel for this evening is located a short walk away and dinner here is included.
Day 2 – To Interlaken
By train from Aachen to Interlaken along the classic Rhine route. From Basle all our travel in Switzerland is in first class using the Swiss Travel Pass and we have time here to move to first class seats within the same train. We stay at the Hotel Metropole for 5 nights on a half board basis including a special meal on Christmas Eve which is when Switzerland celebrates.
Days 3 to 6 – Time to Explore
Free days based in Interlaken with your first class Swiss Travel Pass. This ticket covers trains, lake steamers, trams and post buses so there is something for everyone. Your experienced tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion each day. We will supply, prior to the holiday, a comprehensive excursion list to give you some suggestions to consider.
Day 7 – By Train to Chur
We take the train from Interlaken to Chur, via Olten and Zürich. On arrival in Chur our luggage will be taken to the hotel while you enjoy an optional excursion to Arosa in the afternoon. We arrive at the hotel late afternoon where we have a 3-night stay on a half board basis.
Day 8 – Bernina Express
Today we offer a full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano and return on the fabulous Bernina Express route with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000m.
Day 9 – Explore Independently or Join Excursion
Free day based in Chur with your Swiss Travel Pass. Again there will be an optional escorted excursion offered by the tour leader.
Day 10 – Glacier Express
We board the world famous Glacier Express for the scenic journey from Chur to Brig before continuing to Lausanne for a 4-night stay on a half board basis.
Days 11 to 13 – Lausanne & New Year’s Eve
Free days based in Lausanne with an optional escorted excursion each day. Since 1904, on New Year’s Eve, the inhabitants of Lausanne meet together on the Cathedral’s Esplanade in a friendly atmosphere with champagne, mulled wine, tea and apple juice for the Burning of the Cathedral celebration.
Day 14 – To Cologne
Leaving Lausanne after breakfast we travel to Basle and make a connection with the ICE service to Cologne for an overnight stay and dinner in a local restaurant (included).
Day 15 – Homeward Bound
Morning departure on an ICE service to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar to London.
Tour Route
Selected Hotels
Ibis Aachen Marschiertor, Aachen
Metropole Hotel, Interlaken
Hotel Freieck, Chur
Hôtel Mirabeau, Lausanne
Ibis am Dom. Cologne
Please note - hotels can be subject to change
Price Includes
- Standard class travel to and from Switzerland
- First class Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams
- Supplements and reserved seats in first class on Glacier and Bernina Express trains
- Optional escorted excursions
- Accommodation in good quality hotels on a half board basis
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour
Price per person
| Escorted holiday: | £3.530 |
| Single room supplement: | £535 |
| Deposit for this holiday: | £100 |
