Switzerland Flowers and Castles Rail Tour May 21 - 29, 2011

Castles & Flowers of the Alpine regions of Switzerland

Traveling through the Alps of Switzerland by rail

is the best way to see places and sights motor vehicles can not travel through, such as traffic-free mountain villages like Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, or traveling to high mountain summits, where mountains like the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Enjoy an unusual dinner while watching climbers on the North Face of the Eiger, and watch the special trains disappear into the Eiger on the way to the Jungfraujoch.

The Matterhorn from Zermatt

Visit a candy factory, and enjoy the "all you can eat" samples, shop in famous Old-World cities, cruise across aqua colored snow-melt lakes, experience fantastic cuisine, try your skill blowing the alpen horns while enjoying a chocolate fondue! You will be mezmerized by the meadows ablaze with vibrant wild flowers, and gardens with flowers and veggies beyond your imagination!

Switzerland's Spring Castles and Flowers Rail Tour

Switzerland's meadows come alive in Spring with thousands of beautiful flowers and gardens beyond imagination. Her lakes of azure will take your breath, her green parks beckon you to come play and walk in the grass with bare feet.

Switzerland's Alpine resort village of Interlaken is our home base for the first 5 nights of this exciting Swiss Alps rail tour. Join me each day as we travel by train through this pristine country of lakes and mountains in the heart of Europe. This tour lets you enjoy the fun and savings of being with a group or going out on your own for a few hours or the whole day. You decide each and every day!

Explore Mürren and the Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg at the North face of the Eiger, Lake Brienz and the awesome ride up the Rothorn, the magnificent Berner Oberland regions of Interlaken, Grindlewald and the waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen, castles along the lakes, or explore the capitol of Bern.

The Oberhoven Castle Gardens

One adventure takes us to the Montreux region, and the Swiss Riviera, where we begin our journey through vineyards and villas around the Lake Geneva region. We will stop for lunch and some shoping in one of the quaint local villages. Passing the village and castle of Gruyeres, we head to the Cailler Nestle Candy Factory, for our guided tour and best of all, the tasting of all of the candies they make!

A stop at the cheese factory tour if the train schedules permitt this afternoon. This evening, a real treat as we travel through unforgettable scenery as the evening shadows fall on the valleys and mountains, as we pass world-famous villages like Gstaad, as we head back to Interlaken.

Lucerne is a marvelous city and so easy to explore. Visit the Lion Monument, shop in Old Town, walk along the lake, try your luck at the casino and on Saturday morning the locals set up their farmer's market outside our hotel, up and down the river. Visit Mt. Pilatus for an awesome adventure, or ride on the lake steamers, which are also covered on your rail pass. Zurich is only an hour train ride away, Basel is also an hour away, from Basel you can visit France or Germany.

Make this year's vacation the journey of a lifetime!

(BOOK EARLY BEFORE BALCONY ROOMS SELL OUT!)

• 8-day Unlimited Swiss Rail Pass (2nd Class)
  • covers almost 14,000 miles of railroads, lake steamers, funiculars, postal bus routes
  • Orientation to Switzerland on our first rail adventure to Interlaken
  • 1st class Swiss Pass upgrade available for $127 PP (highly recommended and subject to change for 2011)
• Cozy Chalet Hotel in Interlaken for 5 nights
  • Welcome Dinner our first night, Breakfast buffet each morning
  • spectacular Alpine views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau
  • Balcony rooms on first reserved basis, private facilities, hair dryer, TV, clock, cozy down bedding
  • lounge/gathering room with fireplace, telephone room, self-service launderette, TV/Reading room
  • luggage service to/from hotel/train station
  • The Arcobaleno Restaurant, a favorite restaurant of the locals of Interlaken
• Private tour of an organic dairy farm with wine and cheese (weather and cows permitting)
• Post card perfect scenery all day as we make our way to the world-famous Schilthorn (optional), where we can see over 200 peaks of the Alps from France to the Black Forest in Germany
• spectacular adventure over part of the Glacier Express as we travel to Zermatt
• Seat Reservations aboard the private rail journey to Kleine Scheidegg
  • enjoy kraut 'n wieners, and scrumptious apple desserts with warm vanilla sauce
  • Seat Reservations on our continued private Railway from Kleine Scheidegg to the ski resort of Grindelwald
• See the villas and vineyards along Lake Geneva as we head toward Montreux, then Gruyeres
  • Gruyeres Cheese Factory tour, if train schedule permits
  • Chocolate Factory tour with tasting, time to buy chocolates at factory prices
  • Seat reservations aboard our panoramic rail car, with a glass, bullet-nose caboose
  • Spectacular scenery as evening shadows fall along the Golden Pass Route, passing Gstaad and Zweissemen
• fascinating adventure up the Brienz Rothorn (optional) aboard the 100+ year old steam engine open air trains
• Historic Hotel Des Alpes in Lucerne for 2 nights with daily breakfast
  • included visit to the world-famous Lion Monument
  • a day and a half free time in Lucerne, time for river boats, museums, shopping
  • luggage service to the hotel from rail station and to your room
  • located on the River Ruess, next to Lake Lucerne, and the traffic free pedestrian area
  • on the edge of the picturesque Old Town's cobble stoned streets shopping area
  • private bathrooms with shower and hair dryer
  • telephones, SAT-TV, in-room minibar and safe, room service
  • terrace restaurant next to the River Ruess, indoor restaurant and lounge
  • Saturday morning Vendor's Market along the river outside your hotel, selling veggies, cheese and flowers etc
  • Join me for lunch on Friday at the world famous Old Swiss House for a meal to remember for a lifetime! (optional)
• Fly-Rail Luggage Service into Switzerland, eliminates luggage hassles!