ALPINE ADVENTURES OF SWITZERLAND

In Zürich, we check into the Hotel Schweizerhof Zürich. Settle in and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening, we gather for dinner at La Soupière, our hotel’s elegant restaurant.

See the sights of Zürich this morning. Follow the Limmat River, past medieval buildings populating narrow lanes. Our walking fuels an appetite and we retreat to one of Zürich’s many restaurants for lunch. Afterwards, take the afternoon on your own schedule. Perhaps stroll down the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world’s most extravagant shopping streets. Or wander the city’s delightful waterfront. Tonight, get to know Zürich even better, as you choose where to dine.

Today, we take the road in a south-easterly direction to the spa town of Bad Ragaz. Here, we board a local bus to Tamina Gorge for an enthralling guided walk to see the source of the warm thermal waters which have made Bad Ragaz world famous. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we travel further south to St Moritz. We check into our home for two nights, the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, where we stay in Grand Deluxe Rooms.

We travel south to the small town of Poschiavo today. Here, we board the Bernina Express for our return trip to St Moritz. Travelling through the region of Graubünden, we pass pine forests populating mountainsides, and snow-covered peaks set against blue skies. Upon arriving back in St Moritz, we pause for lunch, taking time to absorb the breathtaking setting we have found ourselves in. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, before we reconvene to board a funicular to the summit of Muottas Muragl. Here, we dine high above the Engadin Valley this evening.

A short walk brings us to the station, where we board the celebrated Glacier Express. This legendary train journey sees us winding our way along hillsides, through tunnels, and across the vertiginous Landwasser Viaduct. Lunch is served on board the train and we arrive in Zermatt just after 5pm. Close to the station, we find our distinctive residence, Resort La Ginabelle. We dine within our hotel’s restaurant this evening, enjoying panoramic mountain views, including an outlook onto the Matterhorn itself. 

This morning, we set out on a walking tour of Zermatt’s car-free village. At the Matterhorn Museum, we enjoy an immersive experience, while discovering the stories of early explorers and tourism pioneers. At the nearby mountaineers’ cemetery, we are met with a stark reminder of the potential perils of alpine mountaineering. We then climb aboard a cogwheel train for our journey to Gornergrat. Our elevation increases gradually as we wind our way around the mountain and pass behind small villages, the rocky ridge of Gornergrat always in sight. On arrival at the summit, sublime views of the Matterhorn are ours. From here, the option to hike the short distance to Riffelsee is also available. On arrival, you will be presented with the iconic image of the Matterhorn, reflected in the lake’s waters. Afterwards, we make our return to Zermatt by train, before enjoying a wealth of dining options. 

A brief train journey delivers us to Täsch this morning. From here, we join the road to Lake Geneva, arriving in Montreux in time for lunch. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon to wander the promenade and further absorb the extraordinary alpine aspects of the region. Our accommodation is the majestic Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, which has been welcoming guests here since 1906. We have the pleasure of enjoying its exemplary hospitality over the course of the next two nights. Our hotel hosts us for dinner this evening. 

Aboard a boat, we hug the coast for a short distance before arriving at Chillon Castle. The celebrated Swiss fortress holds a rich and fascinating history. Learn about the castle’s wine cellar, as well as its former prison, while navigating its chambers and underground passages during a guided tour. Following lunch, we return to our hotel by boat and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Choose where to dine this evening, from Montreux’s abundance of quality restaurants.