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2018 Tour code: 18MBS
Itinerary
Meet at Rail Discoveries' dedicated Departure Office at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris. Continue by train via Geneva to Leysin, a beautiful traditional Swiss mountain resort. Le Grand Chalet hotel is your base for six nights.
Visit the beautiful wine village of Aigle today, nestled in the heart of the valley behind Lake Geneva. Your time is free to explore this historic town. You may like to visit the impressive château here, a medieval castle that houses a Vine and Wine Museum, dedicated to recording the history of production in this picturesque area. With sections of the castle dating back to the 12th century, this fortress has served under various guises over the centuries since, including time as a government building, prison, poor house and court.
Enjoy an excursion to Château de Chillon and Montreux on Lake Geneva today. The Château de Chillon rises dramatically from the waters of Lake Geneva against a backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery. The 13th century Gothic château is built on a rocky island on the edge of Lake Geneva, connected to the shore by a wooden drawbridge. It is considered to be one of Europe's best-preserved medieval castles. The fortified château was where the famous Swiss patriot, political activist and historian François Bonivard was imprisoned and held in chains for four years. His incarceration inspired Lord Byron to compose his famous poem 'The Prisoners of Chillon'. The Château de Chillon is now uninhabited and is preserved as a museum, with guided tours available throughout the day.
After time at the château, travel by train to Montreux, where you are at leisure to explore. The town of Montreux stands in a beautiful, sheltered bay on the shores of stunning Lake Geneva, with the snow-capped peaks of the Alps rising up in the distance. The town enjoys an unusually mild climate and is known for the Mediterranean plants that are found there, including palm trees and cypress trees that line promenades and streets throughout Montreux.
Famous former residents of Montreux include Freddie Mercury; a statue of Mercury, the lead singer from iconic rock band Queen, can be found here. A long, flower-lined promenade runs along the lakefront of Montreux and links the town with neighbouring Vevey. The promenade extends as far as the famous Château de Chillon and creates an ideal walking route.
Please Note: For departure 18MBS04 Day 3 and Day 4 have swapped around.
Journey on the Mont Blanc Express, riding the length of this scenic line across the French border to Chamonix, today. The route meanders through rows of vineyards before crossing the border into France. Passing over the charming landscape of the Rhone Valley, the train then begins its ascent higher into the mountains. Using a rack-andpinion mechanism, the Mont Blanc Express climbs past snow-capped mountains and deep valleys, before reaching the Trient Gorge. Crossing a series of bridges over the valleys below, the Mont Blanc Express enters the Chamonix Valley. Culminating in the spectacular sights of glistening glaciers and the majestic Mont Blanc, this is truly a holiday highlight.
You are at leisure to explore on Day 5. Why not visit Les Diablerets? Typically Swiss, this unspoilt village in the Vaudoise Alps is crowned by the glorious Diablerets Glacier.
Today you will discover the striking resort of Zermatt. The compact town of Zermatt in the Valais region of southern Switzerland sits in the shadow of the country's most iconic mountain: the Matterhorn. In fact the town is almost entirely surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, including Switzerland's highest peak, Monte Rosa. For this reason Zermatt is a haven for skiers, climbers, mountaineers and hikers but, thanks to a law prohibiting petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles the town is mercifully free of traffic noise - any vehicles are electrically powered - and air pollution.
A settlement beneath the Matterhorn has existed since at least the thirteenth-century, but it wasn't until the successful conquest of the mountain by British climbers in 1865 that Zermatt began to find international popularity as a tourist destination.
Admire the scenery as you travel by rail, crossing countless bridges and tunnels on the ascent by cogwheel railway.
Today you bid farewell to the scenic landscapes of Switzerland. After breakfast, take the train to Paris, travelling via Geneva. Here, join the Eurostar service to London, where your tour concludes on arrival.
