2012 Guided Spring Train Tours - May 19-27 and May 26-June 03 (both tours almost sold out) (Continued)

Here are the next few days on the guided springtime train tour through the magnificent Alps of Switzerland, or you may want to review the previous few days.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

The Matterhorn, above Zermatt

Today's journey takes us through beautiful mountain scenery, as we travel along a portion of the Glacier Express route, passing by dense forests, peaceful valleys, church steeples, and covered bridges.

There will be crystal clear mountain streams, snow covered peaks, and vistas that change with each bend of the track. We'll even pass a mountain rock slide as we get closer to Zermatt (the charming town at the base of the Matterhorn).

Zermatt's air is fresh and brisk, the scenery beautiful, the village quiet and peaceful. Just off the main street you will find romantic cobblestone lanes and sun weathered barns, that add to Zermatt's rustic charm. Many buildings here are hundreds of years old.

The (optional) 43 minute train ride up to the Gornergrat takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps; with wide open views of stunning mountain peaks. The Matterhorn and the beautiful Monte Rosa massif are but two of the highlights that can be seen from the open air patio or the observatory.

One of Zermatt's many restaurants

For a walk through time, visit the early years of life in Switzerland at the underground 5-star Zermatterhoff museum, free entrance with your rail pass.

Pick up some sandwiches, breads, cheeses, meats, salads and snacks for a fun picnic style dinner, as we all share tastes of what we bought for dinner aboard the train. Don't forget to buy some of the local wines.

Lucerne, Old Swiss House, Free Afternoon to explore

Bidding the Bernese Oberland goodbye, we travel along another portion of the Golden Pass Scenic Route to the story book town of Lucerne (Luzern), our home the next 2 nights.

The Des Alpes is located on the River Reuss, on the edge of the Old Town. Lucerne's cobble stone streets are a welcome sight to anyone with a love for Old World charm. Lucerne was settled around the monastery of Saint Leodegar in the 8th century.

Water Tower on the Kapellbrücke

The Reuss is a swift flowing river running through Lucerne, crossed by two medieval bridges: the fourteenth century Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) and the fifteenth century Mill Bridge (Spreuerbrücke).

The Water Tower, which was built circa 1300 as part of the heavily fortified and largely intact city wall, has been everything from a treasury to a torture chamber. Some claim the Water Tower is the most photographed monument in Switzerland, and is right outside our hotel along the river.

After check in, we walk through Old Town on our way to admire the spectacular Lion Monument. I hope you will join me for an (optional) lunch at the world-famous Old Swiss House for a memory of a lifetime! What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary and our tour. My favorite is the Wiener Schnitzel, the house speciality, serving around 1,200 a month! Look under "cuisine" on their web site.

Please read about the history of this magnificent home. After lunch we will be treated to a private tour upstairs, of their magnificent home by Phillip or Hanny herself! The antiques, stained glass windows, pewter and china are outstanding. All the wood in the entire home is hand carved! Her Grandfather's porcelain heating stove is one of only 4 stoves in Europe, that have been honored to be on a postal stamp in Switzerland.

After lunch, your time in Lucerne is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

A new attraction worth seeing is the new IMAX^® presentation of The Alps located at the Swiss Transport Museum, and entrance is covered on your swiss pass.

Lion Monument, Luzern

Walking is the best way to see the sights found in this remarkable city with its remnants of the ancient crenelated wall and towers that used to protect the city. The train station and the bus stops are only a couple of minutes from our hotel. Your rail pass covers your passage on any of the lake steamers and the bus system.

Other notable structures include the Hofkirche (8th century cathedral), the Town Hall (built 1601-06), Am Rhyn House (1617), the Mariahilf Church (1676-81), the Richard Wagner Museum, and the Picasso museum.

Shopping in Lucerne is exciting, from small treasure filled stores to 3 big department stores and everything in between. You can find Swiss watches, Swiss candy, clothing, and a myriad of gifts to take home. It is easy to spend the whole day shopping in the Old Town area. Shopping tip: the stores and banks close Mon. - Fri from 12 noon until 2PM, then open until 7PM so. Stores close at 4PM on Saturday.

Any of the following are great possibilities:

Evening Para sailer in Moonlight

• Shop 'til you drop
• Visit museums, churches, old architectural wonders
• Have lunch or dinner at the Stadtkellar and see the folklore show
• Try your luck at the beautiful Casino along the lake
• Explore the old walls that protected the city centuries ago
• Take a cruise on the lake, stopping in some of the lakeside villages
• Take a trip to one of the surrounding mountain summits, Mt. Rigi, Mt. Pilatus, or Mt. Titlis
• Relax on a park bench along the lake shore walk
• Or you could even take out one of the swan paddle boats

You can play in the snow on Mt. Titlis, located in Engleberg, about 45 minutes away, and is a wonderful excursion with breathtaking vistas, or check out the Abbey and cheese dairy.

The trip up Mt. Pilatus is awesome! You can go up by cable cars and a tram for a thrill of a lifetime. Explore the top of Pilatus then head down via the world's steepest cogwheel train, then back to Lucerne on a regular train. I highly recommend this outing while in Lucerne. Don't forget your camera!

Free day in Lucerne, or Basel, or Zurich, or ...?

Wake up to the thrill of seeing the banks of the river right outside our hotel, lined with street merchants selling flowers, cheese, veggies and gifts, and inside the Old Town, we often find other types of local vendors selling their wares. After breakfast the day is free to explore on your own.

Local Vendor's Market

Zurich is only an hour's train ride from Lucerne. Zurich's museums, theatres, centuries old churches and marvelous architecture are truly remarkable feats of ages long ago.

Explore the nooks and crannies of this quaint Old Town. The place to shop is Zurich's world famous Bahnhofstrassee, one of the most expensive streets in the world, where you will find famous exclusive designer shops lining both sides of the promenade.

Switzerland's Edelweiss

Lake Lucerne, also known as the Vierwaldstättersee or "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons," with mountains on all sides and forests coming down to the shore in many places, may be the most beautiful lake in Switzerland.

It is very easy to take the train to Basel, only an hour from Lucerne. See the centuries old Munster Church where knights of old are entombed, or spend part of the day going to the Rhine Falls near Schaufhausen, where massive amounts of water crash over the falls.

From Basel, take a bus/tram to the border and walk into France or Germany. Ask at the Basel train station which bus numbers to take to the borders, then walk across the border, spend a little time, then walk back across the border to Switzerland, get your passport stamped, and back to Basel!

Zurich Kloten Airport

We check out early this morning for our last train ride to Kloten Airport for our return flights to the USA. Once we are air borne, relax and reflect upon your adventures on this journey of a lifetime to Switzerland. A part of your heart will always remain with this magnificent country.

What's Included and Prices

Make this year's vacation the journey of a lifetime!
(Book early before balcony rooms sell out!)

Some side trips are optional so that you can tailor the trip to your interests and financial preferences. Prices follow:

• Tour guide(s) with decades of experience
• Fly-Rail Luggage Service into Switzerland
  • You are eligible for Fly Rail Service, if your flight arrives at the Zurich airport no later than 0830, on Sunday, at the beginning of your tour only
  • After check in for your flight to Zurich, next time you see your luggage, will be at our hotel in the evening, eliminating luggage hassles on arrival in Switzerland
• 8-day Unlimited 2nd Class Swiss Rail Pass
  • covers almost 14,000 miles of railroads, lake steamers, funiculars, and postal bus, street cars and entrance to over 400 museums
  • Optional 1st class Swiss Pass upgrade, with more comfortable seating and quieter surroundings is highly recommended
• Welcome dinner our first night
  • a sumptuous chef prepared meal
• Cozy Chalet Hotel in Interlaken for 5 nights
  • Breakfast buffet each morning, featuring ham and cheese, various cereals, juices, croissants, fresh breads, jams and honey, hot chocolate and tea
  • Balcony rooms in the main building having views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, will have an additional supplement as long as they are available, starting 2013. Most rooms have fantastic alpine views also
  • Most rooms with balcony/terrace in the guest house also have fantastic mountain views
  • Elevator, Sauna and Whirlpool, enjoy a night cap in the warm cozy lounge with fireplace, bicycles
  • private updated bathrooms, with showers/bath, and hair dryers
  • Inroom safes, TV, radio, direct dial phones, inroom WLAN
  • luggage service to hotel afternoon of our arrival
  • luggage delivered to/from your room on check-in and check-out

  • luggage service to station and fast bags service to Lucerne
  • The hotel features a great restaurant, a favorite among the locals
• Seat Reservations and ticket aboard the private rail journey
• lunch (not included) at Kleine Scheidegg, at the base of The North Face of Eiger
• post bus to Stechleberg
• Cable car travel to the famous ski resort of Murren
  • tram up to the Piz Gloria rotating restaurant at the Schilthorn summit is optional
• Entrance to Gruyeres Castle, stables, and flower gardens
  • Gruyeres Cheese Factory (tour optional) if train schedule permits
• Oberhofen Castle and flower gardens on Lake Thun, optional on free day
• Alpine Gardens on the Schynige Platte (optional) aprox. 30chf round trip supplement from Wilderswill
• Brienz Rothorn excursion is optional
• Adventures over parts of the Glacier Express and Golden Pass Scenic Rail Routes
• Seat reservations aboard a panoramic rail car, with a bullet nose large windowed caboose
• 2 nights at the historic Hotel Des Alpes in Lucerne
  • Private bathrooms with shower and hair dryer, telephones, SAT-TV, mini bar
  • Breakfast Saturday (and Sunday if flight times permits)
  • Luggage service to the hotel, and to your room in Lucerne
  • Locals vendor market, outside our hotel and festivals in Old Town area
  • The hotel restaurant offers room service, and has an outdoor cafe along the river
• Visit to the world-famous Lion Monument
• Join me for lunch and a private viewing of the home upstairs on Friday, at the world famous Old Swiss House and enjoy a meal to remember for a lifetime! (optional and highly recommended)