The Best of Switzerland & the Bernina Express

Day 1

An early hours departure as we travel south to Dover and a morning ferry crossing to Calais, before heading south via Reims and Metz to our overnight hotel the Mercure at Saarbrucken. Time to relax before our evening meal in the hotel.

Day 2

After breakfast in the hotel our journey continues via Strasbourg and Colmar to the Swiss border at Basel and past Lake Zurich to our resort of Klosters and a 5 night stay at the Silvretta Park. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 3

A full day at leisure. Make use of your included Klosters/Davos card which offers free and discounted travel on local transport, perhaps take a trip on the Schatzalp Mountain Railway for lunch in the panoramic restaurant followed by a visit to the botanical gardens. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 4

Today we drive through the rugged romantic countryside to Bergün where we visit the Albula Railway Museum before embarking on a rail journey from Bergün to St Moritz. This journey takes us through a series of magnificent circular tunnels as the train descends along either side of the famous gorge. We have free time to explore this stylish resort that sits 1,856 metres above sea level, before returning to the hotel for Dinner.

Day 5

After breakfast we drive to Tiefencastel station to board the Bernina Express and embark on a one-way trip through the mountains to Tirano, Italy. We transverse dramatic viaducts and glide past rushing mountain streams and picture postcard villages as the train climbs up to the 2,253-metre-high Bernina Pass, the magnificence of which is hard to translate into words! Our coach will meet us in Tirano for our return trip by road to our hotel. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 6

Today we make the journey along the valley to the regional capital, Chur. We spend this morning exploring what is believed to be the oldest town in Switzerland, including its car-free old town. With three major churches and cathedrals, Chur has a fascinating history, we return to Klosters after lunch for some final time at leisure. Dinner in the hotel

Day 7

We leave our hosts at the Silvretta Park and make our way back to Saarbrucken and an overnight stay at the Mercure hotel. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 8

We leave after breakfast and head direct to Calais and an early afternoon sailing to Dover. From Dover we are homeward bound.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner