A magnificent touring holiday that combines the legendary stunning scenery of Switzerland’s lakes and mountains together with a journey on one of the most beautiful railway lines in the world. The Bernina Express is the highest train route in the Alps, climbing to an altitude of 7400ft, amazingly without the help of cogwheels. Take your seats and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you ride past glaciers and rushing mountain streams, through galleries hewn into the sheer rock, through switch-back tunnels and over graceful viaducts including the famous circular viaduct at Brusio. We spend two nights in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, followed by four nights on the shores of Lake Lugano, one of the most impressive lakeside resorts in Europe.

ITINERARY

• Day One: Early departure to Folkestone for a journey through the Eurotunnel and on to our overnight hotel in the Champagne city of Reims.
• Day Two: We journey on into Switzerland and the resort of Davos, the highest and largest alpine resort in Europe. We check in to the Arabella Sheraton Hotel where we stay for the next two nights.
• Day Three: A day at leisure to relax and explore Davos, located right in the heart of the Alps and surrounded on all sides by wonderful scenery. Perhaps take a cable car ride into the mountains, local buses and cable cars are free of charge to visitors during the summer.
• Day Four: The highlight of the holiday –we travel to Chur and board the “Bernina Express” for a four hour train ride over the high Alps into Italy. On our journey we will reach an altitude of 7,400 ft. and travel through amazing tunnels and across spectacular viaducts that make this one of the world’s greatest train journeys. We arrive in the village of Tirano at lunchtime where our coach will be waiting, then continue to Lake Lugano for four nights at the Hotel de la Paix.
• Day Five: A day at leisure to explore Lugano with its magical blend of Swiss and Italian charm. Enjoy a stroll around the stylish shops, relax with a drink at a terrace café in the Piazza Grande and maybe take a cruise on the lake.
• Day Six: A full day excursion to the city of Milan, the capital of Lombardy and a thriving centre of art and fashion. Enjoy an included guided tour to see the main sights of this magnificent city such as the Gothic Cathedral, the church of Santa Maria, plus the famous La Scala Opera House. Free time follows for personal choice sightseeing.
• Day Seven: Today we cross into Italy and visit the lovely resort of Stresa on beautiful Lake Maggoire, an opportunity for a boat trip to the Borromean Islands or to take the cable car up to Monte Mattarone for some truly spectacular views.
• Day Eight: Sadly we say farewell and head back into France for another overnight stay in Reims.
• Day Nine: To Calais for a return Eurotunnel journey to Folkestone and home to North Wales.