Switzerland By Train
Overview
Look past the silk-smooth chocolate and yodeling – contemporary Switzerland is all about epic journeys and sublime experiences. Switzerland's largest and wealthiest metropolis, Zurich, has emerged as one of central Europe's hippest destinations, with an artsy, post-industrial edge. Culturally vibrant, efficiently run and attractively set at the meeting of river and lake, Zürich is regularly recognized as one of the world's most livable cities. Much of the ancient center, with its winding lanes and tall church steeples, has been kept lovingly intact. Lucerne follows the recipe for a gorgeous Swiss city: a cobalt lake ringed by mythical mountains, add a well-preserved medieval town and a reputation for making beautiful music, then sprinkle with covered bridges, sunny plazas, candy-colored houses and waterfront promenades. Rearing above Lucerne from the southwest, Mt. Pilatus offers an above-the-treetops adventure, with 11 head-spinning trails from high-wire bridges to tree climbs. Mt Pilatus is fantastic for walking. Hikes include a steep, partially roped 2.8km scramble to the summit, affording views that stretch as far as the Black Forest on a clear day. Wandering through the picture-postcard Old Town, with its laid-back air, it's hard to believe that Bern (Berne in French) is the capital of Switzerland – but it is, and a Unesco World Heritage Site at that. In a nutshell, Bern seduces and surprises at every turn. Its museums are excellent, its bear park utterly unique, and its locals happy to switch from their famously inflected dialect to English – which all goes to show that there’s more to Bern than bureaucracy. Starting at ₹142,518 per person based on double occupancy.
Facilities
Rates includes:
- Round-trip airfare from JFK, EWR, BOS, and MIA.
- 2 nights of accommodations at Hotel Montana Zürich or similar in Zurich
- 2 nights of accommodations at Hotel Ambassador or similar in Lucerne
- 1 night of accommodations at Hotel Kreuz Bern or similar in Bern
- 1 night of accommodations at Hotel Helvetie or similar in Montreux (included with the deluxe option only)
- Daily breakfast
- Excursion to Mount Pilatus (non-guided)
- 90-minutes public guided tour through Bern’s Old Town Castle Chillon tour in Montreux with entrance fee and audio guide (included with the deluxe option only)
- Swiss Coupon Pass (2-for-1 dine-and-discover deals)
- Swiss Travel Pass - Advantages at a glance:
- Unlimited travel by rail, road and waterwayShow map of validity
- Free travel on most panorama routes
- Free travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities
- Free admission to more than 490 museums
- 50% discount off most mountain railways
Rates do not include
- City tax is not included and needs to be paid directly to the hotel
- Drinks are not included with meals
- Any expenses of personal nature such as tips, laundry, table drinks, telephone calls, etc.
- Optional Travel Insurance
- Any item not mentioned above
Remarks
- If hotels or airlines are not available at the time of reservation, alternative hotels at the same category or airlines could be used. Prices may differ.
- During trade fairs season and during Christmas and New Year’s Days, some hotels may require surcharges. The prices may increase.
- Ticket(s) must be issued and full payment must be received 90 days prior to departure
- Major credit cards accepted; credit card authorization required
- Change and cancellation penalties (₹20,970-₹50,332 per person) apply once ticketed; Triwalk Tours’ general cancellation policy applies
- Hotel upgrades, air upgrades, additional hotel nights, extensions to all other destinations, and add-on air fares from various US cities are available
Itinerary
Depart New York JFK, Newark, NJ, Boston and Miami via trans-Atlantic flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
Upon arrival at the airport, pick up travel documents which include the Swiss Travel Pass and train schedules. Then take train to Zurich HB (main station), then take the short walk to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Switzerland’s largest city. Zurich offers a unique mixture of attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, international fashion labels and Zurich designs, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland. Overnight in Zurich at Hotel Montana or similar.
Full day to explore the city on your own. You may take optional excursions.
The Best of Zurich city Tour public guided (2 hours 15 minutes) $50 per person.
Discover Zürich, the hub of business and cultural heart of Switzerland, consecutively awarded "city with the world's best quality of life", on this two-hour classic city tour. Sit back and relax on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach as your guide points out the highlights of this unique city.In the evening, take the train to Lucerne (1 hour direct train). Overnight in Lucerne at Hotel Ambassador or similar.
After breakfast, enjoy a spectacular journey to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Take the ferry across Lake Lucerne and then continue with the world‘s steepest railway to a height of around 7000 feet above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lucerne and central Switzerland. Return to hotel.
In the morning take some time to visit the charming city of Lucerne. Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture and snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Old Town is bordered on the north by 2855 feet long Musegg Wall, a 14-century rampart. The covered Chapel Bridge, built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.In the afternoon take train to Bern (1 hour direct train). Overnight in Bern at the Hotel Kreuz.
In the morning take a 90-minutes optional city tour ($35 per person additional).
On the public guided tour through Bern’s Old Town. you’ll learn more about the city‘s 800-year history. Come along and discover the Swiss capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site at its beautiful best. In the afternoon train back to Zurich (1 hour direct train). Overnight in Zurich at Hotel Montana or similar.
Transfer to airport by train and board your return flight to the US.
Day 1, - USA/Zurich
Depart New York JFK, Newark, NJ, Boston and Miami via trans-Atlantic flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
Upon arrival at the airport, pick up travel documents which include the Swiss Travel Pass and train schedules. Then take train to Zurich HB (main station), then take the short walk to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Switzerland’s largest city. Zurich offers a unique mixture of attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, international fashion labels and Zurich designs, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland. Overnight in Zurich at Hotel Montana or similar.
Half-day guided “Best of Zurich” city tour (2 hours 15 minutes). Discover Zürich, the hub of business and cultural heart of Switzerland, consecutively awarded "city with the world's best quality of life", on this two-hour classic city tour. Sit back and relax on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach as your guide points out the highlights of this unique city.In the evening, take the train to Lucerne (1 hour direct train). Overnight in Lucerne at Hotel Ambassador or similar.
After breakfast, enjoy a spectacular journey to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Take the ferry across Lake Lucerne and then continue with the world‘s steepest railway to a height of around 7000 feet above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lucerne and central Switzerland. Return to hotel.
In the morning take some time to visit the charming city of Lucerne. Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture and snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Old Town is bordered on the north by 2855 feet long Musegg Wall, a 14-century rampart. The covered Chapel Bridge, built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.In the afternoon take train to Bern (1 hour direct train). Overnight in Bern at the Hotel Kreuz.
In the morning take a 90-minutes optional city tour ($35 per person). On the public guided tour through Bern’s Old Town, you’ll learn more about the city‘s 800-year history. Come along and discover the Swiss capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site at its beautiful best. In the afternoon, take the train to Montreux (around 1 hour and 30 minutes with one change of train). Overnight in Montreux at Hotel Helvetie or similar.
In the morning visit Château Chillon in Montreux with entrance fee and audio guide included. Château Chillon is an architectural jewel located in the most beautiful setting imaginable on the shores of Lake Geneva, right at the foot of the Alps. This monument, with over 1'000 years of history, has always inspired artists and writers, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Victor Hugo and Lord Byron, from Delacroix to Courbet.Train ride to Zurich HB (around 2 hours and 40 minutes, with one change of trains).Overnight in Zurich at Hotel Montana or similar.
Transfer to airport by train and board your return flight to the US.
