We meet at our Departure Office in London St Pancras before
boarding the Eurostar to Paris. We transfer to Strasbourg where we
spend the night.
Includes
Dinner
Days 2-3 – Interlaken and Wengen
We have a relaxed morning, giving you some free time to explore
the delights of Strasbourg. You may like to visit the city's Old
Town. Dominated by the spectacular Notre Dame Cathedral with its
famous astronomical clock, this church has remained unchanged since
the Middle Ages. Petite France, located on the Grande Île, is the
ancient heart of the city and is well worth a visit. Here you can
take a short boat ride through this World Heritage site, taking in
the pretty medieval timbered houses and Baroque sandstone buildings
that line the river's banks. This afternoon we head back to the
railway station and connect with our train into Switzerland. We
travel first to Basel then onwards to Interlaken where we briefly
join the Bernese Oberland Railway and start to climb up into the
majestic Swiss mountains. We arrive into peaceful Wengen this
evening, a traffic-free mountain resort with breathtaking views of
the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Day 3 is Christmas Eve and you are free to
explore Wengen and the surrounding areas at your own pace this
morning. This afternoon you might like to partake in a snowshoe
walk, strolling through the marvellous landscape on this
specialised footwear before returning to the hotel for Gluhwein and
gingerbread.
Includes
Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - The Schilthorn on Christmas Day
Today is Christmas Day, and we continue our journey into the
dramatic Swiss landscape with an excursion by cable car to the
summit of the Schilthorn. We travel firstly by train to
Lauterbrunnen, changing for our onwards service to delightful
Mürren, before joining the cable car for our ascent to the summit.
The views are truly unparalleled and on a clear day we are able to
admire a magnificent vista. You have some free time here to
appreciate our stunning surroundings. Why not visit the fantastic
revolving restaurant and enjoy a 360 degree panorama of the Eiger,
Mönch and Jungfrau mountains as you sample a delicious, traditional
Swiss menu and maybe a martini, shaken not stirred? The restaurant
is named Piz Gloria in honour of the James Bond film, 'On Her
Majesty's Secret Service' that was filmed here, and there are many
007 references to spot in the building and out on the mountain.
On our descent, there is the opportunity to stop at Stechlberg
to visit the mighty Trümmelbach Falls. Nestled deep into the
canyon, the falls have carved a path for themselves through the
hillside making this a waterfall with a difference. Trümmelbach
boasts Europe's largest subterranean waterfalls, and the only
glacial waterfalls accessible underground by lift, galleries,
tunnels, paths and platforms. A monument to nature itself and its
thunderous power, these waterfalls resemble a scene from an
adventure film, and the roaring sound of white water crashing
against ancient rock is not soon to be forgotten.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Free Day in Wengen
Today is free to spend explore your surroundings using your
included Swiss Travel Card for 50% fares. Perhaps journey up to the
Schynige Platte. Alternatively, you could take a ride on the
Brienz-Rothorn railway, one of the steepest in Switzerland and
powered almost entirely by steam engines.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - The Jungfrau Express
Today is unquestionably the highlight of our visit to the
Bernese Oberland region as we travel on the Jungfrau Railway to the
Jungfraujoch - the highest railway station in Europe. The famous
narrow-gauge line was completed in 1912 and is now celebrated as a
major feat of engineering. Finally, the train arrives at
Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe'. With free time at the summit
station, you have plenty of time to explore the Ice Palace and its
incredible ice sculptures. You can also spend time on the Sphinx
Terrace, enjoying superb views onto the UNESCO-listed Aletsch
Glacier. We descend back down to Wengen passing picturesque
villages and traditionally swiss cabins.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Days 7-8 – Wengen and London
Day 7 is another free day in Wengen, before a
final meal this evening. After breakfast, on Day 8
we depart Wengen, travelling by rail via Interlaken, Basel and
Paris, where we connect with the Eurostar service back to London St
Pancras.
