Swiss Steam Safari
July 22-30, 2007
Join us for a relaxing holiday from London to the fascinating Swiss steam railways. Many of the steam trains do not run regularly so they have been specially chartered for our tour to create a Swiss Festival of steam in outstanding natural scenery. This is a tour not to be missed!
Sunday - Farewell to London Waterloo
We meet at London Waterloo station before boarding the 09:09 Eurostar to Paris. We enjoy lunch at our first class seats before arriving at Paris Gare du Nord. From here, we have a short coach transfer to Paris Gare de l’Est where we join our train for Basel. We stay for two nights at a four-star hotel in Basel. (L D)
Monday - Steam on the Jura Railway
We travel by scheduled train from Basel to Glovelier. Here we join the narrow gauge Chemin de Fer de Jura Railway. An ex Portuguese Mallett locomotive will be waiting to take us on an exhilarating run to La Chaux de Fonds, returning mid afternoon. We return to our hotel in Basel. (B D)
Tuesday - Steam Tram in Berne and Steam Charter to Schynige Platte
After breakfast we travel by Intercity train to Berne. In Berne we have chartered a steam tram for a two-hour tour of the Berne tramway system. We continue our journey by main line train to Interlaken. On arrival we change to a narrow gauge train on the Bernese Oberland Railway for the short journey to Wilderswil. We join our special steam charter train on the Schynige Platte Bahn and steam up the 800mm gauge rack railway to the summit at Schynige Platte. We return to Wilderswil and Interlaken where we check into the four-star Krebs Hotel. (B D)
Wednesday - Steam over the Brunig Pass
Today we have a steam trip over the Brunig Pass. We steam out of Interlaken alongside Lake Brienz to Meiringen where we change to a rack fitted steam locomotive for the long climb over the Brunig Pass as far as Giswill. We return back over the Brunig Pass to Interlaken steam hauled. We again stay overnight in Interlaken. (B L D)
Thursday - The Furka Bahn Steam Railway and Brienz Rothorn Bahn
We depart our hotel by coach to Realp where we join our train on the Furka rack steam railway, part of the original Glacier Express route. This is possibly the most exhilarating steam ride in Switzerland. It is a two-hour climb up towards the Rhone Glacier at Gletsch. We return by coach to Brienz where there is time for lunch before we join a special vintage train hauled by a steam locomotive up the superb Brienz Rothorn Bahn to Rothorn Kulm. We return back to Interlaken by train. The evening is free to try one of the many restaurants in Interlaken for dinner. We stay overnight in Interlaken. (B)
Friday - Steam over the Rack to Zermatt
We depart Interlaken by service train via Spiez and the Lotschberg Pass to Brig. On arrival at Brig we cross to the metre gauge platforms, where our special steam hauled train will be waiting with HG 2/3 “Breithorn” and three vintage coaches for our journey to Zermatt, an exhilarating ride with a sandwich lunch and a drink is provided on the train. If you wish there will be time for a late afternoon trip (at your own expense) on the Gornergrat Bahn with magnificent views over the Matterhorn. (B L D)
Saturday - “The Glacier Express”
We join the Glacier Express at Zermatt station and settle down in first class for a relaxing ride through some of the most fantastic scenery Switzerland has to offer. Enjoy lunch served at your seat in the first class saloons on our journey to Chur. We stay overnight in Chur. (B L D)
Sunday - Steam to Davos and Filisur
We join our special steam hauled charter train for a spectacular journey through the mountains. Our locomotive will be a Rhaetian Railway 2-8-0 to travel up to Klosters (of royal fame) and through more stunning scenery to Davos, a mountain resort, with a funicular railway. Lunch is included at the station hotel during our two-hour break. We continue our circular steam tour before arriving back in Chur around 17:30. We stay in Chur again this evening. (B L D)
Monday - Return to London
We have a morning departure from Chur to Basel where we change trains. We board the midday train to Paris Gare de l’Est via Mulhouse and Belford. On arrival at Paris it is just a short transfer to Paris Gare du Nord where we board an early evening Eurostar to London Waterloo. Dinner will be served at your seat on the train. (B D)There is a flight option to travel by train from Chur direct to Zurich airport. On arrival we board a midday flight to London Heathrow.
Price per person: £1365 (US $2,730)*
Single Supplement: £195 (US $390)**Rates provided in U.S. dollars are estimated using a 1£=$2 rate. U.S. dollar rate is subject to fluctuate based on the value of the dollar when final payment is made.
Price includes:• 8 nights’ accommodation with breakfast and 7 dinners in 3 and 4-Star hotels
• One lunch and one dinner with wine on Eurostar
• Glacier Express with lunch
• All rail travel including all steam trains mentioned in the itinerary
• Luggage transfer between most hotels in Switzerland
• The services of a Tour Manager Meals included each day are shown as
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = DinnerDeposit required: $200 per person
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Click here for complete tour terms and conditions.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
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