First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

Your vacation begins as you land in Zürich, where you make your way independently to the airport's rail station and use your open train ticket to travel to your four-star hotel in the city's Alstetten District.

If you have time to spare after checking in to the hotel, you're welcome to spend it sightseeing. You might like to visit the city center and the Niederdorf, part of Zürich's medieval Old Town, or sample Swiss cuisine in one of the local restaurants before settling in for the night. You can look forward to meeting the Tour Manager and your fellow travelers tomorrow night in Stansstad, ready for the thrilling journey ahead. Overnight Zürich.

Your journey continues after breakfast as you make your way to the station, where you board your train to Lucerne, traveling in First Class. With your luggage being transferred for you, you can unwind and soak up the increasingly dramatic scenery.

From Lucerne, continue to the lakeside village of Stansstad, where you can check in to the four-star hotel. With an elegant terrace on the lakefront, you can enjoy panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the mountainous surroundings during your three-night stay. You're free to spend the afternoon relaxing in the hotel or exploring this picturesque corner of Switzerland.

In the evening, you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travelers before enjoying dinner at the hotel. Overnight Stansstad.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we walk to the pier and board a boat to Vitznau, via Lucerne, enjoying views of forest-covered hills rising from the lake's edge.

In Vitznau, we board Europe's first mountain railway for a scenic journey to the summit of Mount Rigi. This charming cogwheel railway has been operating since 1871 and offers beautiful views across to Mount Pilatus. Known as the "Queen of the Mountains", there's free time at Rigi's summit to admire the panoramic vistas of Switzerland's Alps and lakes before we make our way down the mountain to Goldau. A train journey along lakes Zug and Lucerne take us to the "City of Lights," Lucerne.

You're welcome to uncover this picturesque town at your own pace, strolling the Old Town's cobbled streets to view its ornate churches and frescoed houses. One of the most striking landmarks is the 14th-century Kapellbrücke, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. You are free to return to Stansstad on your own and can choose between dining independently in Lucerne or at our hotel. Overnight Stansstad.

• Breakfast

With your Swiss Half Fare Card providing 50% discounts on rail, boat and mountain railway journeys, you can discover Switzerland your own way after breakfast.

Lake Lucerne is perfectly placed at the heart of the country, so there are many options. From Alpnachstad, you could board the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe to marvel at breathtaking views from Mount Pilatus. Reaching a gradient of 48%, the half-hour ascent travels past alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to a land above the clouds. You could also ascend to the summit of the Stanserhorn via a historic funicular railway or the world's only CabriO aerial cableway. Further afield, Interlaken and the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley can be reached by train. Your journey here crosses the dramatic Brünig Pass before arriving in Meiringen - near the Reichenbach Falls, made famous in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Dining independently this evening, you can try one of Switzerland's traditional dishes, like fondues, raclettes or röstis. Overnight Stansstad.

• Breakfast

Today brings one of your vacation's highlights after breakfast as we embark on a unique journey on the Gotthard Panorama Express, formerly called the William Tell Express and a hidden gem among Switzerland's alpine trains. First boarding a boat to the southern tip of Lake Lucerne, we can look for Rütli meadow, where the Swiss Confederation was founded, and enjoy sprawling views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains. Our train awaits as we dock in Flüelen.

In First Class seats with large picture windows and an onboard guide, we set off for a panoramic journey through the Alps with a front-row seat to spellbinding scenery. Along the route, watch for Wassen Church, which appears on different sides of the train as we weave around the village, and the famous Devil's Bridge. After journeying through the historic Gotthard Crest Tunnel, we reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.

Our destination is Lugano which, with its Mediterranean feel, is a marked contrast to the German-speaking area around Lucerne. On arrival, a short journey takes us to our lakefront hotel, where we have dinner this evening. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Having traveled from the snow-capped Alps of central Switzerland to the palm trees of Lake Lugano yesterday, our focus turns to Italy today.

Traveling by rail from Lugano to Locarno, there's some time to explore this Italian-speaking Swiss town before we continue along the shore of Italy's longest lake. Bordered by mountains, Lake Maggiore winds past charming towns and villages that spill out of the valleys. Our destination is Stresa, a highly popular lakefront resort that retains its characteristic charm.

This afternoon, we sail to the Borromean Islands and uncover a floral haven around the Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella and a quaint fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori. Afterwards, there's free time in Stresa to explore at leisure. Strolling along its picturesque alleys or the elegant promenade reward visitors with medieval buildings, opulent villas, public gardens and museums. Later, we return by coach from Stresa to Lugano, where your evening is free to dine independently. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast

Exploring the southern reaches of Switzerland today, we board a train after breakfast and head to Capolago. From here, we hop on to a historic cogwheel train to ascend Monte Generoso, climbing more than 5,500 feet on the 40-minute journey.

The striking blue and red carriages take us through verdant valleys to the top of Monte Generoso. At the summit, we are greeted by breathtaking views of lakes Lugano and Como, and the Alps separating Switzerland from Italy. On a clear day, it's even possible to see both Milan and the Matterhorn from this superb vantage point. There's free time to soak up the panoramas on a walk or at the restaurant inside the "Stone Flower" designed by architect Mario Botta.

Returning by rail to Lugano, the rest of the day is at leisure. You could stroll amid the expansive grounds of Parco Ciani or wander the warren of Italianate streets of the Old Town. Ticinese cuisine is a blend of Italian and Swiss, and a specialty is polenta, but seafood, pastas and pizzas are readily available in many restaurants. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast

Traveling by coach after breakfast, we head into Italy for another highlight of our journey as we explore one of its most famous lakes. We sail across Lake Como to Bellagio, where there's time to wander its beautiful streets or unwind by the harbor, watching the bobbing boats and admiring the picture-perfect backdrops. Bellagio is one of northern Italy's most loved towns and you can find neoclassical villas, manicured gardens and historic churches, as well as appetizing eateries and relaxing terraces.

Continuing our waterborne exploration, we sail over to Villa Balbianello, a fairytale home built in the 12th century that looks out across Lake Como. On a guided tour, we explore the two residential buildings and the church, uncovering its exquisite interiors and well-kept gardens.

From here, we cross the lake by boat to the elegant resort of Tremezzo, where you have free time to explore before we return by coach to our hotel in Lugano, where we have dinner. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Lugano after breakfast, we travel by First Class train to Milan, arriving just before lunchtime.

There's time to grab a bite to eat before we embark on a guided tour of this popular and fascinating city. Known as the 'fashion capital of the world', Milan is a city of ornate architecture and elegant squares, with boutiques lining the streets around Via Monte Napoleone. The Piazza del Duomo has been the heartbeat of Milan since the 14th century, but many of the current façades were influenced by the 19th-century designs of architect Giuseppe Mengoni. These beautiful buildings gather round the Gothic cathedral, one of the largest church buildings in the world, which boasts eye-catching spires and religious sculptures.

Another of Milan's iconic locations is the famed Teatro alla Scala, one of the most prestigious opera houses. Dating from 1778, this grand neoclassical building has hosted luminaries such as Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev. After checking in to our central hotel, we head out this evening to a local restaurant for our final dinner together. Overnight Milan.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From the majestic mountains of the Swiss Alps to the elegance of Italy's lakes, this incredible trip has revealed the breathtaking beauty of two beloved countries. Exploring the German-speaking part of Switzerland around Lucerne, we sailed across Lake Lucerne and enjoyed panoramic views from Mount Rigi. An iconic rail journey on the Gotthard Panoramic Express took us south to Switzerland's Italian-speaking region of Ticino. Here, we savored a trip on the historic Monte Generoso Mountain Railway and uncovered the idyllic charms of lakes Maggiore and Como, before spending the night in Milan.

After breakfast, you're welcome to make your way home independently or continue exploring Italy at your own pace.

• Breakfast