Grand Tour of Switzerland

Day 1 London - Zurich - Lucerne Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to Zurich. On arrival, we enjoy the impressive scenery as we journey to Lucerne. We stay at the Hotel Astoria (4T) for the next two nights. A walking tour of the charming city, set beside the gorgeous lake with spectacular mountain backdrops, will include the medieval Chapel Bridge, decorated with paintings that depict the city’s story. We enjoy dinner this evening at a local folklore show. Day 2 Stanserhorn After a leisurely breakfast, we take a train to Stans where we board a funicular carriage for the climb up to the Stanserhorn. From the top of Mount Stanserhorn, you can appreciate views over three countries, ten lakes and countless mountain peaks. After time and lunch at leisure in this incredible setting, we return to Stans and board a train to Hergiswil and visit the factory where glass is manually shaped and blown into unique, contemporary pieces. We return to Lucerne by boat, across the beautiful lake, for an evening at leisure. Day 3 Lucerne - Locarno After breakfast we board a paddle steamer to sail the length of Lake Lucerne, skewed by the Alps which become even more impressive as we head south. At Flüelen, we meet the train to continue our panoramic journey on the William Tell Express route, twisting up steep inclines through wonderful mountain scenery and the Gotthard tunnel, before descending past Lake Maggiore to Locarno. On arrival, we transfer to the Belvedere Hotel (4T), where we take dinner this evening. Day 4 Locarno Today is entirely yours to enjoy Locarno at your own pace. Known as the town with the warmest climate in Switzerland, it is almost unsurprising that it has been a popular holiday destination since the Roman Empire. Visit 15th century Castello Visconteo and you will see an exhibition of Roman and Bronze Age artefacts. Situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore, you may like to take a gentle walk along the idyllic shores or take a more ambitious walk up to the sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, an important place of pilgrimage set amongst magnificent scenery, sitting above the town. Day 5 Locarno - Brig - Zermatt After breakfast we take a scenic train journey to Brig via the Italian town of Domodossola and the stunning Simplon Pass with its record breaking tunnel, over 12 miles long. We have some free time to explore the wonderful city of Brig, with the large Stockalper Palace and its historic old quarter of aristocratic town houses. Later, our train journey continues to Zermatt, where we transfer to the Parkhotel Beau Site Zermatt (4T) for dinner and a two night stay. Day 6 Gornergrat Today we take an included excursion to Gornergrat. Our day starts by travelling on Europe’s highest cogwheel train over dramatic bridges, past rocky ravines and through gorgeous forests, to the summit of the Gornergrat, at 3,089m above sea level. Once at the top, we have free time to take in the magnificent views over the jagged Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains, a breathtaking place to take lunch! Later, we return to the cogwheel train to make the beautiful journey back past mountain lakes to Zermatt, in time for dinner at the hotel. Day 7 Zermatt - Montreux Another day of wonderful scenery awaits after breakfast. We take a leisurely route, by train, to Montreux via Brig and Spiez, to appreciate glorious views as the track navigates the natural bends and inclines of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Region of Jungfrau-Aletsch. En route we cross the Kander viaduct, pass the beautiful mountain Lake Oeschinen, and enjoy views over the spectacular Lötschen Valley. The last part of the journey, from Zweisimmen, is possibly the most spectacular, where the line is at its narrowest and the view over Lake Geneva is remarkable. On arrival, we transfer to the centrally located and appropriately named Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4T). Day 8 Montreux Enjoy a full day at leisure in Montreux, a city surrounded by vineyards, Lake Geneva and snow-covered mountains. Our hotel overlooks the flower-lined promenade which stretches along the shore of Lake Geneva. Follow the pretty route south and you will come across a statue of Freddie Mercury, just one of the world-famous individuals who have lived here. Two miles further along the shoreline, majestically projecting into the water from a rocky island, is Chillon Castle. This grand 12th century toll station, from where the Counts of Savoy controlled the waters, is worth visiting for the formal great halls, the bedroom preserved in its original, subdued Bernese style, and underground rooms which inspired Lord Byron to write ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’. Day 9 Montreux - Geneva - London We transfer by train to Geneva Airport for a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport. On arrival you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.