Switzerland's 2012 Spring Train Tours May 19-27 and May 26-June 03 (space limited on both tours)

Here are your first few days of the springtime guided rail/train tours through the magnificent Alps of Switzerland: or you may want to see what all is included and prices.

Arrival Day in Switzerland

Beautiful views like this await you in Switzerland

 

As is true of all of Switzerland, it is hard to find the appropriate words to describe this magnificent country. Switzerland will forever remain a life long memory for you to treasure and share.

Our adventures gives us a look into the real culture and heritage of Switzerland, and her people. We will travel on many types of trains, boats, busses and trams and cableways. While traveling through the many valleys and summits of this Alpine country, we will see magnificent flowers, gardens, farms, snow covered peaks, aqua colored, snow melt lakes, and green alpine meadows with the famous Swiss cows with their melodious bells, grazing peacefully.

We will see where James Bond and Clint Eastwood movies were filmed, world famous ski regions and where the races are held. We will see Old-World cities where we can shop for Switzerland's candy, watches, cheese, and enjoy sumptuous bakery items.

During our first train ride to the Bernese Oberland area, known as one of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland, we will pass many medieval towns, castles, and lakeside villages with mountains coming right down to the shores, before arriving in Interlaken, our home for the next 5 nights.

Our Home Base of Interlaken

Lake Brienz, near Interlaken

On the short walk to our hotel we pass over the beautiful Aare River. Don't be surprised if we see a cow parade this time of year. The balance of the afternoon is free, and you may want to explore Interlaken in a horse drawn carriage, shop, try your luck at the casino, or walk in the park.

The main building of our chalet style hotel goes back two centuries, resulting in a stately farmhouse built in the years 1862/63, and is only 5-10 walking minutes away from the West railway station, the city center and the Thunersee boat landing-stage.

In front of the main building, with its magnificent views of the famous alpine trio of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, you can walk through the manicured maze of greenery with beatufiul rose bushes everywhere. You will be greeted by Lizzie, the red Swiss cow!! The hotel has a warm, cozy lounge, a whirlpool and sauna, WLAN and bicycles.

Your welcome dinner (included) is at a chef owned restaurant that is top rated with Trip Advisor, which is also a locals favorite with its old world charm and great food. The staff will spoil you with world famous Swiss hospitality.

Swiss Riviera, Gruyere Castle and Golden Pass Scenic Route

Castle of Gruyeres

Swiss cuisine is rated among the highest in the world. Each morning, enjoy your included breakfast buffet, featuring various cereals, juices, coffee/tee, cold milk and hot chocolate, fresh baked breads, croissants, ham and cheese, butter, jams and honey.

This morning we travel to Lausanne, Lake Geneva, and Montreux along the Swiss Riviera, near the French border. Have your cameras ready, the scenery of Lake Geneva is breathtaking. Passing Vevey, the region Charlie Chaplin called home for many years until his death, we will see the home of the Nestle Candy Company and American Red Cross, before arriving in Montreux, where we change trains. Next, we climb above the vineyards as the morning sun brings life to the hillside villas with their red tile roofs and the lake below.

One of todays highlights will be the walled fortress of Gruyeres, known world wide for its cheese. Perhaps join me for lunch at a restaurant built in the 16th century.

This afternoon you can shop, or explore the inside of the Castle (included), and admire the churches and flower gardens. Or have a drink in the Geiger Bar, with surroundings that puts you in mind of the movie, The Alien!

Panorama Rail Car

Across from the bar is the Geiger Museum where you can see the monster created by Geiger for the movie, The Alien. The actual monster is encased in glass along with the academy award.

After Gruyeres, there is a quick visit to the cheese factory and gift shop, if the train schedules allow.

We board a special reserved panoramic rail car with a glass bullet nose caboose, passing Gstaad and Chateau d'Oex, as evening shadows touch the Alpine peaks of the Saanen Valley as we travel along a portion of the Golden Pass Scenic Route.

Dinner tonight (not included) is a real treat in one of the locals favorite restaurants.

Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn, and Murren

Today is full of picture post card scenery so have your camera ready!

Schilthorn, above Mürren

Our destinations today have been featured in the James Bond movies, Golden Eye, and In Her Majesty's Secret Service, and in Clint Eastwood's The Eiger Sanction.

Our morning starts in one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, the famous ski resort of Grindlewald, also known as the Glacier Valley.

Next is a private rail journey to Kleine Scheidegg, nestled at the base of the North Face of the Eiger. Enjoy lunch on the stone patio, featuring kraut 'n wieners, new potatoes, the Swiss national dish of rosti, and lots of homemade apple desserts and almond croissants with the most delicious warm vanilla sauce.

Next is Lauterbrunnen, the Waterfall Valley, Murren, and the world's first rotating restaurant, the Piz Gloria, at the summit of the 9,748 foot Schilthorn. This is the most exclusive viewpoint of the alps where, on a clear day, you can see over 200 peaks of the Alps, from France to the Black Forest of Germany. The Schilthorn is also the starting point of the longest downhill race in the world, the Inferno Ski Race.

Lauterbrunnen, the Waterfall Valley

Situated in splendid isolation, Murren is perched on the edge of a plateau overhanging the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with a panorama of peaks such as the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau, Gletscherhorn, and more than a half dozen other headliners.

The scenery from Murren to Grutschalp is among the world's most dazzling, with forests of evergreens, beautiful alpine meadows, and the Alps so close you can almost touch them.

Dinner (not included) tonight is at a great local favorite and one of mine as well, and is rated highly by Trip Advisor. Great Italian food and wines! I highly recommend the lasagna and green salad!

Brienz Rothorn, Oberhofen Castle, Alpine Gardens, lake excursions, free day

Oberhofen's Flower Garden

This morning sleep in a bit later, or have a relaxed breakfast. The day is yours to explore the Bernese Oberland region, or ride the rails to new places!

Visit the capitol of Bern and shop under the arcaded sidewalks for great gifts and fashions, visit the new Bear Garden, admire the beautiful architecture of the buildings and churches, or perhaps shop in the flea market squares. Make a stop in Thun, a medieval village with most unusual streets and shops, or tour the castle, then take one of ships on Lake Thun back into Interlaken.

For an exciting adventure, go Para gliding with an instructor, high above Interlaken. The instructor does all the work, while you take in the scenery, the thrill of the adventure, while taking fantastic pictures, they will even make a video of your flight!

There is much to see and do around Interlaken, like Oberhofen Castle on Lake Thun, with authentic period furnishings and china, suits of armor and weaponry, musical instruments, beautiful flower gardens and Park.

The impressive keep of the former fortress of Oberhofen was likely built in the early 13th Century. In the 14th Century it belonged to the Habsburgs. From 1652 to 1798, the castle became a bailiwick and was extended and converted into a castle. In 1801, it became a private property again.

Rothorns' 100+year old steam engine

Attached to the castle is a 6 acre park with a beautiful garden that showcases a variety of historic elements.

For an unforgettable experience, visit the Alpine Gardens on the Schynige Platte, thousands of flowers and plants, check out the Lowa shoe center where you can rent shoes for the day, visit the Teddy Bear Museum and have lunch up there. It is an awesome scenery train ride up and back!

Take a journey on a 100+ year old steam engine to the 2350-metre summit of the Brienz Rothorn for a most unusual adventure. The Brienz Line has been hissing, puffing and huffing its way to the summit since 1892.

The steam engine covers the 1678-metres above sea level in just one hour. The 7.6 kilometer ride passes through romantic meadows and forest, cuts through high rock faces and travels over gently sloping then steep Alpine pastures.

Have dinner (not included) somewhere new or make a return to your favorite place we have visited this week! Is there more? Oh yes, much more!