Rhätischebahn Explorer
Holiday Highlights
- Albula Railway Museum
- Return trip on Bernina Express
- 3 course meal on the Gourmino Dining car
- Rhine Gorge Experience train
- Crocodile heritage train
- 5-day Graubünden Ticket
- 7 days from £1,785pp
Tour Dates:
Wednesday 24 May to Tuesday 30 May 2023
A week’s holiday devoted entirely to exploring Switzerland’s famous Rhätischebahn in the mountainous canton of Graubünden.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Fly to Switzerland
We start our tour by taking a lunchtime flight from London Heathrow to Zürich with an onward rail connection to Chur. Our hotel for the next 6 nights is centrally located in Chur where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2 – Rhätischebahn at Leisure
We find our feet on the narrow gauge lines of the Rhätischebahn this morning by exploring some of the Albula line with its twists, turns and double back curves. In the afternoon we visit the Albula Railway Museum located at Bergün station where we learn about the history of the Albula railway, have a go at driving a Crocodile on the driving simulator and see the line in miniature at the model railway.
Day 3 – Bernina Express
A full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano in first class reserved seats on the Bernina Express route. With its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000mthis journey is breathtaking.
Day 4 – Vereina Tunnel, Scuol-Tarasp & Gourmino Dining
We take a morning train through the car transporting Vereina tunnel to Scuol-Tarasp, the most easterly station in Switzerland before heading back via Zernez and Bever to St. Moritz. After a brief break we board the afternoon Gourmino dining train back to Chur and enjoy a three course meal.
Day 5 – Rhine Gorge Experience & Arosa
After a leisurely breakfast we board the Rhine Gorge Experience train featuring open air carriages for an unobstructed view of the gorge. This train travels to Ilanz where we journey through the untamed Rhine Gorge, along the turquoise-green waters of the Rhine, past rock walls known as 'ruinas' rising up to 350m high. We return to Chur, where after a break for lunch, we travel up the Arosabahn to the resort town of Arosa before returning at leisure to Chur.
Day 6 – Swiss Crocodiles
This morning we make our way to Davos where we find the unlikeliest of creatures awaiting us, a Crocodile! One of these metal beasts, named as such because of their long “noses” at each end, reminiscent of the snout of a crocodile, will haul us onboard a heritage train to Filisur and back in time for a lunch break in Davos. This afternoon is free to explore further or, if you’re feeling energetic, take a hike to the Landwasser viaduct and photograph the afternoon trains passing.
Day 7 – Homeward Bound
Morning train back to Zürich Airport where we board an afternoon flight back to London.
Selected Hotels
Hotel Freieck, Chur
Please note - hotels can be subject to change
Price Includes
- Economy flights from Heathrow to Zürich
- Standard class rail travel from Zurich to Chur
- First class 5-day Graubünden ticket for unlimited travel in the region
- Excursions as described
- 3 course meal on the Gourmino Dining car
- Accommodation in good quality hotel on a bed and breakfast basis
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour
Price per person
Escorted holiday: | £1,785 |
Single room supplement: | £300 |
Deposit for this holiday: | £200 |