Highlights of Switzerland in Autumn 12

engine and once again is genuinely steampowered. You have the benefit of a private charter cruise on Spiez, including light lunch refreshments, as you sail via Oberhofen to the namesake town of Spiez. You return by steamer to Thun in the early afternoon and then are free to make the most of your first day of travel validity on the Swiss Pass, by exploring more of the famed mountain railways in the Bernese Oberland. You could venture to Zweisimmen and Lenk and then take the Golden Pass route to Montreux, or travel up to Grindelwald. The choice is yours! After you reconvene with the group in the evening in Brig, another dinner is served at the hotel. (B L D)

Sunday 16th October Glacier Express route to Zermatt; Gornergrat Railway; the Matterhorn After breakfast you board another MGB service train for the journey from Brig via Visp to Zermatt. Nominally this is the final section of the Glacier Express route.This scenic railway line winds through rocky valleys and over steep inclines to reach Zermatt. Here you transfer to the Gornergrat rack railway, ascending to 3089 metres above sea level. It’s Europe’s second highest railway, eclipsed only by the Jungfrau. From this high Alpine plateau, enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers and a fabulous front perspective of the Matterhorn. After refreshments at Gornergrat you can film the passing trains in their characteristic chocolate-brown livery, before riding back down to Zermatt. You’ll have some time to look around car-free Zermatt, with its rows of wooden chalets and stone churches. Then you board another panoramic narrow gauge train for the return journey on the Glacier Express route to Brig. (B D)

Monday 17th October Simplon Railway, Centovalli Railway, Madonna del Sasso funicular, Gotthard Railway and Schöllenen Gorge Railway Today is another signature day of the tour and the relaxed itinerary really packs in a ‘highlight reel’ sequence of stunning panoramic trains. You first travel on the world famous Simplon Railway through the Simplon Tunnel from Brig to Domodossola, thus making an exciting visit to Northern Italy. From there you board onto the connecting narrow gauge train with its large panoramic windows for a wondrous journey through the Italian Vigezzo Valley to the Swiss border. At the border station Camedo a vintage 1960s heritage train is waiting for you as a private charter formation, to take you through the Swiss Centovalli Region to Locarno. In Locarno you step outside of the station to take the local funicular past rows of Mediterranean palm trees to the gorgeous Madonna del Sasso basilica, perched on a plateau high above the city and the expansive Lake Maggiore. After free time for refreshments and maybe a visit to Locarno’s beautiful piazza, you continue on the brand-new‘Treno Gottardo’ panoramic train via Bellinzona, Biasca and Airolo on the original Gotthard summit route from 1882 to Göschenen. Experience this major European north-south railway as the train spirals along horseshoe curves. After reaching Göschenen on the north side of the Gotthard summit tunnel, you continue on the steeply graded Schöllenen Gorge Railway to Andermatt. This line is mainly cut through cragged cliffs and steep rocks. At the resort town of Andermatt, you board another MGB service for a journey along the Glacier Express route and the Goms Valley back to Brig, thus completing an amazing circular journey through two countries and three different Swiss Cantons. (B D)

Tuesday 18th October Day of individual discovery of your First Class Swiss Travel Pass, optional visit to Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Today you can make the most of your First Class Swiss Travel Pass and all the exciting freedom and flexibility that this popular ticket affords. In Brig, you are ideally situated to easily reach and explore more exciting mountain railways. Among the many options that you have, you could travel to Lake Geneva and ride on the large paddle steamers there or take the mountain railways high above the Swiss Riviera towns of Montreux and Vevey. Alternatively, venture to Bex or Aigle and ride on 2, 3 or all 4 of the spectacular narrow gauge railways there, to destinations such as Leysin, Les Diablerets, Champery and Villars. A truly iconic journey is the train trip from Martigny on the steeply graded Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix in France. There are many other attractive options and your Tour Manager will be pleased to advise you and assist you with timetable connections. In the evening you rejoin your fellow travellers for a final tour dinner at the hotel in Brig. (B D)

Wednesday 19th October Return to London You return to London by way of Geneva and Paris on SBB, TGV and Eurostar trains. (B)

Tour Summary

Tour price £2195 Single supplement £195 Ground only £1825 (Brig – Brig)

Price includes:

• First Class rail travel from London to

Switzerland and back (seats are reserved in standard premier carriages on Eurostar services) • 6 nights half board at Hotel Victoria in Brig, including breakfast and dinner each night • 2 lunches • A 4-Day Swiss Travel Pass rail rover in First Class • All rail, tram and boat trips as detailed in the itinerary • All escorted visits as detailed in the itinerary • All seat reservations and transfers (except on free days) • The services of a tour manager

All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

October 2022

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Autumn in Venice and Northern Italy

Thursday 3rd November to Thursday 10th November 2022

Seek out the sunshine of southern Europe and embark on a glorious late autumn holiday to Italy’s Adriatic coast. • Enjoy a week in Venice and Northern Italy when the temperatures are not so hot, the autumn colours are at their peak and the tourist numbers are significantly reduced. • With just one base for the entire holiday, conveniently located near the Venezia Mestre railway station, one of the major railway junctions in Northern Italy, you are only a few minutes from the world-famous Venetian Lagoon. • Experience magical Venice by day and night with the freedom and flexibility of a 7-Day public transport rover that covers all iconic Vaporetto boats, plus the local tramway, monorail and other ferries. • Take advantage of your included Interrail ticket for flexible travel on the attractive Italian railway network for 6 different days and go sightseeing or ‘track-bashing’ wherever you like. Visit historic cities like Verona, Ferrara or Udine, or explore the nearby Dolomites and Alpine railway lines. • With organized visits to Padua and Trieste also included, this relaxed holiday represents fantastic value for money, letting you discover the diverse attractions of north-eastern Italy at your own pace.

Thursday 3rd November Arrive in Venice and at leisure along the canals After a direct morning flight from London Gatwick to Venice, you have a short onward transfer from Marco Polo airport to your comfortable centrally located hotel, close to the Venezia Mestre railway station. This is one of the major junction stations in Northern Italy and it’s just 5 mins from here by frequent, loco-hauled service train to the Venezia Santa Lucia station on the lagoon. At Mestre station, you can also access Venice’s two separate tram lines. After checking into your hotel and having a welcome Italian lunch, you take the Trenitalia train across the causeway to the lagoon. Stepping out of the station you can then explore Venice on foot or by the iconic and fun Vaporetto ferry boat. You’ll also be issued with a 7-day public transport pass valid on all Vaporetto services, plus the local tramway, monorail and other ferries and buses. You are then free to explore such famous landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and San Marco individually, to truly experience the vibe and ambiance of this globally unique destination. (L)

Friday 4th November At leisure in Venice and first day of Interrail validity One afternoon in Venice is hardly enough and today you’ll have more time and opportunity to continue your exploration of Venice and all its magnificent attractions. Additionally, you might use this time to ‘bash’ all of the local Vaporetto lines and travel over the entire tramway network. Today is also the first day of validity for your Interrail Pass, allowing you to venture further afield for cultural sightseeing or more railway-based discovery. (B)

Saturday 5th November Tramways and culture in Padua It only takes 14 mins by Intercity train from Mestre to the beautiful and world-famous city of Padua (Padova in Italian) and this gorgeous city is your destination this morning. You’ll first get to see the city from the vantage point of its single tramway line, before alighting in the historic city centre with its arcaded streets, grand squares and impressive palaces and churches. Padova is everything you would expect from an antique Italian city, replete with Roman remains and glorious basilicas. After a welcome