Day 5: Mürren, Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindlewald
Today is one of the highlights of our tour, as our first rail adventure begins!! Picture post card scenery, spectacular flower gardens and window boxes, surround us all day long, as we make our way up to Lauterbrunnen, known as the Waterfall Valley. We transfer to a funicular, up the vertical side of the mountain to Grutsch Alp, where we transfer to a cog rail. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains are so close you could almost reach out and touch them. Our train ride to Mürren, perched high on the ledge of the mountain, takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Switzerland! Mürren, one of the world's great ski villages, is home to the tram that will take us up to the Schilthorn. From this vantage point, you can see over 200 peaks of the snow covered Alps, from the Black Forest of Germany, to Mount Blanc in France. Time for photos and enjoy lunch (on own) in the revolving restaurant. This is the round building that was blown up in the James Bond movie, "In Her Majesty's Secret Service". Returning back to Lauterbrunnen, we travel to Wengen, another famous ski resort area, where we begin another awesome rail adventure, not offered by many tours. We travel by private rail lines to Kleine Scheidegg, at the foot of the North Wall of the Eiger. This is where Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy stared in the movie "The Eiger Sanction." This is a favorite stop by tour members, as we sit at long tables with blue and white gingham tablecloths, on the stone patio, as we marvel at the awesome Eiger North Wall, while enjoying real sauerkraut "n" wieners, rosti or whole potatoes, cooked outdoors in huge woks, or one of several scrumptious apple desserts with warm vanilla sauce! Be sure and pick out a souvenir in the gift shop, and yes..that's a real teepee across the rail tracks!! Once again, we board the private rail line, as we continue through this breathtaking area, making our way to another world famous village high in the mountains, Grindlewald. Free time to explore this quaint village. Maybe stop in one of the stores that offers a truffles tour, and see these tasty candies made fresh. Grindlewald, is yet another setting for one of the James Bond movies, "Golden Eye". Your time is free once we reach Grindelwald. Have dinner while there, or upon our return through the valleys back to Interlaken, enjoy dinner at one of the many eating establishments in town. Relax in the lounge with a nightcap or cup of coffee. The coffee in Switzerland, is extremely good, and is often one of the products purchased to take home to enjoy after your tour. Day 6: Schynige Platte's Alpine Gardens, Lake Cruise, Geissbach Falls, Brienz, Rothorn
As the first of only a few botanical gardens in the Alps, Schynige Platte is truly exceptional, showing plants as they would be found in their natural environments. This famous botanical attraction comprises some 500 different flowering plants and ferns grouped in 15 groups of near -natural locations. From mid-June until late September, the Alpine Garden is an ever changing blaze of colours. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on a modern motor ship or one of the renovated stately steamers, enjoy lunch (on own) while gliding across some of the most beautiful water imaginable. Lake Brienz is often said to be the cleanest lake in Switzerland. Shortly before reaching our next destination, our ship pulls up to Geissbach Falls, to unload and pick up passengers. Huge amounts of water rage through the wildly romantic Giessbach Valley and fall over 500m and 14 waterfalls to spill into the green-blue waters of the Lake of Brienz. As we leave the dock area, have your camera ready to snap pictures of these marvelous falls spilling into the lake. Brienz, our final destination today, is famous the world over for woodworking shops and unique gifts to suit everyone. You have free time in Brienz, to look in the many souvenir and wood shops for beautiful hand made items, such as jewelery boxes, music boxes and carvings beyond description. Check out the lace shops while strolling the streets of this lakeside village. Spend some time walking along the lake promenade. For those who want to experience one of the most unusual train trips in Switzerland, join me on the (optional) trip up the Rothorn. These cute train cars are often pushed and pulled by a 100-year old steam engine!! There are not enough words to describe what all you will see on this trip to the summit. You will think you have transcended into a different world!! I get more comments on all the beautiful pictures tour members make on this journey, than any other. Your day is not over by any means yet!! Join me on a super night of fun!! We will have dinner (on own) at Bebbis, where I have arrangements made for you to enjoy a special meal. We will have a beef filet, fries, potatoes and bread, and their house salad is the best, at a very special price for my groups!! We will be eating on wooden tables, in this quaint, rustic Swiss restaurant, while Bob and his crew run around in cow pants and skirts, singing and laughing with everyone. After dinner, a very, very special treat!! We will have a contest where we all give a try at blowing the Alpen Horn!! Bob was so inspired by my group last October, that he bought some new horns!! After, or during the contest, we will be dipping sliced pieces of fruit and bread into our Chocolate Fondue's!!! You will be proud to show the pictures of this night to all your friends back home.