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The William Tell Express
Dijon - Lucerne - Locarno - Cologne This Swiss holiday has the added attraction of a distinct Italian Accent! From lovely Lucerne and Interlaken, we move to Locarno, where the language is Italian, the food Mediterranean and the Centovalli - 'hundred valleys' - railway trip, one of the highlights of your holiday.
Programme:
| Day 1: | London to Dijon We depart London St. Pancras by Eurostar for Paris, with a meal served on board, and then cross Paris by Coach to join the high-speed TGV service for Dijon for one night at the Mercure Dijon Clémenceau, close to the centre. |
| Day 2: | Through France to Switzerland From Dijon, we travel by TGV to Switzerland. The efficient Swiss rail network then takes us on a pleasant journey to the historic city gof Lucerne. Our hotel for four nights is the Hotel Seeburg. |
| Day 3: | Day at Leisure in Lucerne You are free to explore Lucerne at your leisure. Take a stroll through the cobbled streets and picturesque squares of this pretty city, past ornate churches, medieval buildings with painted facades and the famous Kapellbrücke covered bridge. Enjoy a relaxing steamer cruise or visit the fascinating Swiss Transport Museum. |
| Day 4: | Mountains and Lakes Today's excursion by train, ship and Eruope's first mountain railway is timed to connect as onyl the Swiss know how! We begin by train to Flüelen, where we board a steamer for a relaxing cruise on the waters of Lake Lucerne. Lunch is included in the First Class saloon. Our day concludes as we enjoy magnificent views during a journey on the historic Mount Rigi Railway. |
| Day 5: | The Bernese Oberland We travel by mountin railway over the Brünig pass to Interlaken, with dazzling views of shimmering lakes and soaring mountain peaks along the way. Your options here are endless and include a visit to the Alpine Gardens along the Schynige Platte Tramway or circular cruise of one of the lakes. You could make the ultimate mountain railway journey to the highest station in Europe, Jungfraujoch, at over 11'000ft (3'353m). |
| Day 6: | The William Tell Express We leave Lucerne by train and skirt the lake before climbing the Gotthard pass. Horseshoe tunnels, galleries and bridges all testify to the engineering masterpiece. After passing through the tunnel, we emerge in Ticino to the exotic scenery of the Italian-speaking area of southern Switzerland. We continue to Locarno, an old town full of character, on the northern shores of Lake Maggiore. |
| Day 7: | Day at leisure in Locarno Locarno enjoys an exceptionally mild climate and plenty of sunshine, and is a pleasure to explore. It has a picturesque Old Town and beautiful subtropical gardens filled with palm trees and exotic flowers, lakeside promenades and great shopping. |
| Day 8: | Stresa and the Centovalli Railway Today we cruise along the lake, stopping at small villages and islands before arriving in the Italian town Stresa, noted for its wide promenades adn beautiful gardens. From Stresa we travel by train to Domodossola for a journey on the Centovalli Railway, probably the highlight of any visit to Ticino. This Narrow-guage line winds its way across 'a hundred valleys' along remore hillsides, over high bridges and past sleepy villages on its way to Locarno. |
| Day 9: | By Train to Germany Our Journey continues through Germany and along the Rhine Gorge, with its wealth of fairytale castles nestling amongst extensive vineyards. We arrive in Cologne for an overnight stay at the Hotel Euro Garden close to the station, the Rhine and the city's magnificent Gothic Cathedral. |
| Day 10: | Brussels and London Our mid-afternoon departure to Brussels connects with the Eurostar to London. We are served a meal on-board before our arrival into St. Pancras. |
The Hotels:
The Hotel Seeburg in Lucerne and the Belvedere Hotel in Locarno are both high quality 4-star hotels , located close to their respective lakes and surrounding mountain vistas. Rooms are decorated to a high standard and equipped with modern amenities. In Lucerne all rooms include a balcony with stunning views of the lake. In Locarno you have the option of upgrading to a room with a balcony, and all rooms have fantastic views of the lake.
Departures:
Set dates between 01 May – 25 September 2008
| Departure Date |
Price 10 days |
| 1, 8 May |
1,395
|
| 15, 22, 29 May |
1,425
|
| 19, 26 June |
1,425
|
| 3, 17 July |
1,395
|
| 14, 28 August |
1,395
|
| 4,11,18,25 September |
1,425
|
- Prices in £ per person based on 2 adults sharing.
Price Includes:
- First class rail and coach travel as per programme (Leisure Select service on Eurostar Journeys with meals and drinks)
- 9 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast each day
- 7 dinners
- Swiss Travel Pass - a two person pass
- All excursions as per itinerary
- All transfers
- Services of your Tour Manager
Supplements:
- Single room supplement: £275 for the duration (including the cost of an individual Swiss Travel Pass)
- Upgrade to twin room with balcony at the Belvedere Hotel in Locarno: £100 per room for 3 nights (not available for single occupancy)
This holiday is operated by our partner Great Rail Journeys
