Rail Nirvana - A Once in a Lifetime Swiss Rail Spectacular

Rail Nirvana - A Once in a Lifetime Swiss Rail Spectacular
This is an unmissable rail fest for anyone who appreciates the remarkable engineering feats of Switzerland’s railways. The unique 10-day tour will offer the opportunity to witness the country’s breathtaking landscapes in style from the comfort of a selection of exquisite trains including the Orient-Express-style Prestige Continental Express and the Glacier and Bernina Pullman Express. Passengers will spend their days being hauled by historic locomotives and marvelling at vantage points including the Furka Pass, the Gornergrat and the Jungfraujoch, while nights will be spent in luxury hotel accommodation.

The rail cruise begins in Zurich (or Basel) where the Prestige Continental Express will be waiting to welcome guests aboard. On arrival in Chur, switch on to the only original narrow gauge luxury train in Europe, the Glacier & Bernina Pullman Express, to be hauled by a 100-year-old electronic locomotive to St Moritz. From here, travel into Italy to Tirano on the famous Bernina Line – where, for part of the journey, the train will be pulled by the unique Bernina ‘Crocodil’ – for lunch at the Triacco Winery. Over the next few days guests will weave through the Rheinschlucht Gorge and across the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt; take the modern Glacier Express to Zermatt; and ride on the Gornergrat Railway for incredible views of the Matterhorn. A special highlight is a trip on the partially rack and pinion-operated Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway to cross one of the most beautiful mountain passes in the world, the Furka Pass. The historic steam locomotive takes an hour to climb to the summit, where a Swiss BBQ lunch of Bratwürste will be waiting.

Rejoin the Prestige Continental Express in Brig to ascend over the Lötschberg Pass and into Interlaken; then journey to the top of Europe on the Jungfrau rack railway from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch. Next up is the Brienzer-Rothorn steam rack railway, the fourth highest railway in Switzerland, which climbs above Lake Brienz to the summit of Brienzer Rothorn. Then trade rails for water to cruise on an historic paddle steamer back to Interlaken and step aboard a classical paddlewheeler on Lake Lucerne. The finale to the tour is a steam journey up Mount Rigi before descending to Art-Goldau, where the Prestige Continental Express will be waiting to take guests on a spectacular evening run up to the St Gotthard Pass tunnel. During this run to the summit and back, a farewell gala dinner will be served.

Price: from $15,995pp sharing, including 9 nights’ luxury hotel B&B accommodation (2 in St Moritz, 1 in Andermatt, 2 in Zermatt, 3 in Interlaken and 1 in Zurich), all train travel (starting in Zurich or Basel and finishing in Zurich), 8 lunches, 6 dinners, drinks, tour manager, guided off-train excursions and porterage. Departs 18 June 2015.

For further information contact Golden Eagle Luxury Trains (+44 (0)161 928 9410, goldeneagleluxurytrains.com).