Extraordinary Alpine Railways: Conquering Switzerland’s Jungfraujoch 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS — GROUP TRAVEL SUGGESTED ITINERARY — CAN BE CUSTOMIZED The genius of Swiss engineering allowed one of the most dazzling stretches of the Alps to INCLUSIONS become a natural playground for railway and outdoor enthusiasts alike. On this exciting 8- Accommodations: day itinerary you will explore one of Earth’s most beautiful regions by cog rail and zip line, Lucerne 1 night, on foot, with gondola lifts, using “trotti bikes” and on a remarkable, 102-year-old mountain Interlaken 4 nights, railway that will transport your group to Europe’s highest railway station on the iconic Bern 1 night, Zurich 1 Jungfraujoch. night Meals: Continental While half of this tour will have you breathing in the fresh mountain air in and around the breakfast daily. Lunch resort town of Interlaken, the rest of the time you will explore several of Switzerland’s and dinner as noted in most beautiful Old Towns on foot; including Zurich, Lucerne and Bern. It’s the adventure of itinerary a lifetime; in only 7 nights! Air-conditioned, private coaching DAY 1 ~ ARRIVAL TO which houses five original Marc Chagall English-speaking ZURICH – stained-glass windows. In addition to the assistants and guides Admission tickets and SIGHTSEEING - walking tour, your group will also have free sightseeing excursions LUCERNE time for lunch in Zurich before traveling as outlined in the Welcome to Switzerland! Upon arrival a south into the heart of Switzerland. Your itinerary local guide will meet your group in the destination is Lucerne, a medieval, spire- HIGHLIGHTS arrivals hall of Zurich Airport and topped town that looks straight out of a See the Aletsch, the accompany it by private coach to Zurich’s fairytale. While many traveling to Lucerne largest glacier in the city center. Located along the shores of base themselves there due to its proximity to Mount Pilatus and Rigi, the town has Alps and a UNESCO glimmering Lake Zurich and the banks of World Heritage Site plenty of natural and cultural attractions to the Limmat River, against a spectacular Zoom down the merit a visit in their own right. mountainous backdrop, you will soon see exhilarating First Flyer why Zurich is one of Europe’s most Upon arrival to the hotel in Lucerne, your zip line at 52 mph beautiful cities. group will check in and have time to relax through the Swiss countryside! before tonight’s traditional Swiss raclette While Zurich is the largest city in Enjoy a traditional Swiss meal. Before dinner, consider taking a Switzerland, a major transportation hub raclette dinner and a global financial center, the city’s stroll along the shores of gorgeous Lake Guided walking tours of origins are ancient. Today your group will Lucerne. Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Bern have a walking tour of Zurich along the DAY 2 ~ LUCERNE – Travel on the historic cobblestone lanes of its impressive Old INTERLAKEN Jungfrau Railway, a feat Town or “Altstadt” as it is called in German. After breakfast and check- of Swiss engineering, to During the tour you will see some of out, your group will set out the “Top of Europe” Zurich’s prettiest and most historic squares, on guided walking tour of Lucerne’s best medieval homes, quays and churches with sights including the iconic, wooden visits included inside the 11th-century Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), the Romanesque Cathedral (Grossmünster) and Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), the 12th- the 13th-century Fraumünster church, century St. Peter's Church, and the the town’s relaxing 35-acre Höheweg park, renaissance Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus). or take a boat cruise on Lake Thun or Lake After breaking for lunch, your sightseeing Brienz (note: the cruises do not operate in tour of Lucerne will pick back up with a visit the winter months). There are also to the Swiss Museum of Transport numerous water sports that can be (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz). Dedicated to all arranged on the lakes in the summertime. things related to transportation, this really is Should your group want to include the finest museum of its kind in Europe. sightseeing this afternoon, we recommend Inside you will see exhibitions showcasing visiting the town of Thun, located at the anything from steamboats to historic railway northwestern tip of Lake Thun, which is cars to flying machines! home to Schloss Thun. At approximately 900-years-old, this castle is a true At the conclusion of your guided tour, re- masterpiece of European medieval board your private coach and travel architecture, and today it houses an southwest to the Bernese Oberland, one of interesting history museum. the most visited Alpine regions in Switzerland. Your destination is the resort DAY 4 ~ town of Interlaken, which will serve as your JUNGFRAUJOCH – base for the next four nights. Lovely TOP OF EUROPE Interlaken takes its name from its location After breakfast in the hotel, between the transparent, blue waters of your group will set out on the railway Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. A mecca for adventure of a lifetime! Today you will adventure sports enthusiasts, while there journey to over 11,300 feet above sea level you are likely to see fellow tourists skiing, to Europe’s highest railway station, located mountain hiking, hang gliding, canyoning, atop the extraordinary Jungfraujoch. A paragliding or sailing. However, most true feat of Swiss engineering, the Jungfrau visitors travel to Interlaken to tackle the Railway began construction on its route to mighty Jungfraujoch, which your group will the Jungfraujoch in 1896. It was do in two days’ time. inaugurated in 1912, 102 years ago. The After checking in to the hotel in Interlaken, building of the railway made it possible to enjoy an evening at leisure. explore and enjoy the immense beauty of this Alpine region. DAY 3 ~ INTERLAKEN WALKING TOUR – FREE Despite the construction of the railway, this DAY is one of the least disturbed areas in the Alps. It is also home to the Aletsch, which After breakfast in the hotel, a is the largest glacier in the Alps; in area, local guide will take your group on a relaxing, length and depth. The beauty of the Eiger, walking tour of Interlaken. (This could be Mönch and Jungfrau mountains and their done with horse carriages if your group is surrounding valleys is indescribable. All of interested). Interlaken is small and very easy these reasons have led the area to be to get around. As part of the tour you will named an official UNESCO World Heritage also visit a local chocolatier to see how Natural Site. chocolate, one of Switzerland’s best exports, is produced. From the hotel your group will walk to the Interlaken Railway Station and then travel At the conclusion of your morning tour, the to the Lauterbrunnen Valley by cog rail. rest of the day is free for you to enjoy From there you will change chains and Interlaken. You can shop, relax, check out ascend to the station at Kleine Scheidegg, Enjoy fantastic views of the Eiger, Mönch which offers spectacular views of the Eiger and Jungfrau mountains as well as Lake Wall, the Mönch, and the Jungfrau. In Brienz, Lake Thun and the Lütschinen river Kleine Scheidegg your group will board the valley. While there your group will have historic Jungfraubahn railway that will take lunch in a restaurant and then visit the you to the Jungfraujoch, stopping briefly at Alpine Botanical Garden, which boasts over the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations. Once 600 species of plants. you reach the top, prepare yourself for Your group will return to the hotel in magnificent views of the Alps’ largest Interlaken by late afternoon and have time glacier. Your group will visit the beautiful to relax and freshen up before tonight’s Ice Palace as well as the Sphinx Observation traditional Swiss folklore dinner show. Hall before having lunch in a restaurant. DAY 6 ~ INTERLAKEN - The descent will take you from the GRINDELWALD Jungfraujoch back to the station at Kleine ACTIVITIES - BERN Scheidegg, then on to the popular ski resort After breakfast and check- of Grindelwald and finally back to out, your group will set out on another Interlaken. Should your group be morning of fresh mountain air and magical interested, it could consider taking the scenery beginning with a train ride from historic Eiger Ambassador Express Interlaken to the resort town of (complete with coffee, tea and digestif) on Grindelwald. You will then board a 6-seater the return journey. As parts of the Eiger gondola lift and travel over three very Ambassador Express made the first journey panoramic miles to the station of First. up to the Jungfraujoch in 1912, taking this Located 7,100 feet above sea level, this area historic train is a dream come true for train is both a hiking paradise (it has over 60 miles enthusiasts! of summer hiking trails) and a winter Once returning to Interlaken in the early wonderland (75 miles of ski slopes). evening, you are free as nothing has been There are many outdoor activities to do in scheduled for tonight. the First region, but today your group will DAY 5 ~ INTERLAKEN - take the thrilling First Flyer from First to SCHYNIGE PLATTE Schreckfeld. This zip line is like nothing else After breakfast in the hotel, you will see in the Alps. Strap into your prepare yourself for another harness, hold on and travel 2,600 feet at 52 day of incredible Alpine scenery beginning miles per hour! (Note: your decent on the with a short train ride from Interlaken to First Flyer will be stopped by a spring the resort of Wilderswil.