Winter Glacier Express

Itinerary:

Friday
Depart Leyland at 10.30hrs for our journey to Newcastle to board the overnight DFDS ferry to Amsterdam with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Once onboard enjoy dinner, entertainment and shopping before retiring to your cabin.

Saturday
Arrive in Amsterdam refreshed, enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking the ferry. Re-join the coach to continue our journey to our overnight hotel in Germany. Arrive to a warm welcome with fresh fruit juice while your case is taken to your room.

Sunday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast, continue our journey from Germany into France before heading into Switzerland with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Arrive at the Hotel Kristall-Saphir set amid breathtaking mountain scenery. Arrive to a warm Swiss welcome with tes/coffee while your case is taken to your room.

Monday
Our excursion today takes us to Taesch to board a shuttle train for the short scenic journey to Zermatt where we have free time to explore the pedestrianised town, with its chic shops, leading to the Matterhorn Museum. Perhaps visit the museum that provides a wonderful insight into the history of both the mountain and the village itself, an excellent introduction to the area. Perhaps experience the Matterhorn first-hand by boarding the train to the summit of the Gornergrat at over 3,000 metres above sea level.

Tuesday
After breakfast, we depart our hotel and travel through the valley to Brig to board the magnificent Glacier Express for our 5.5-hour 1st class journey on the slowest express train in the world! Journey through snow-capped mountains of Switzerland into Austria to enjoy stunning views of glaciers, sparkling streams and waterfalls through large panoramic windows as we make our way to Chur, where our coach (and luggage!) will meet us this afternoon to transfer us to the Vienna House by Wyndham, our Austrian home for the next 3 nights.

Wednesday
Enjoy free time to relax and enjoy the resort today, we have included a guided walking tour for you today of our host city Dornbirn , a lively city with plenty of green spaces, attractive shops and many sights. The largest city in Vorarlberg has an architecturally attractive square with building styles spanning almost 4 centuries. Enjoy specialities of the region in pretty cafes and bars, enjoy browsing shops that showcase the creativity of local entrepreneurs and craftspeople.

Thursday
Today we visit the baroque monastery complex of St Gallen, a magnificent Swiss cultural heritage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site with guided 1.5hr tour included. Its jaw-dropping library is one of the oldest and richest in the world. St. Gallen is the splendid culmination of a thousand-year-old monastic culture. Following your tour perhaps relax at the Kloster Monastery Bistro, a little gem in the heart of the Abbey District or explore the old town and Abbey District at your own pace.


Friday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast and bid farewell to our Austrian hosts, from Austria continue into the Principality of Liechtenstein with a coffee stop in Vaduz. Re-join the coach to continue our journey into Switzerland along the shores of Lake Zurich, continue through Switzerland and France with a suitable lunch stop en-route, back to our overnight hotel in Saarbrucken. Arrive to a warm welcome with fruit juice on arrival while you case is taken to your room.

Saturday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast as we journey back to Amsterdam to board the late afternoon ferry to Newcastle with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Once onboard enjoy dinner, entertainment and shopping before retiring to your cabin.

Sunday
Arrive in Newcastle refreshed, enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking the ferry. Re-join the coach to continue our journey home.

Important passenger notes:
We advise that you take an overnight bag for the ferry, please ensure you have any medication and essentials with you including your passport/travel documents.
This tour does require a certain level of fitness and mobility to be able to enjoy the holiday to the full, the tour includes guided walking tours, and you will also need to be able to transfer on and off ferries and trains independently.
As this tour crosses several country borders we advise if you are taking cash, you will need Euro's and Swiss Francs. Most places will accept debit/credit cards, please check with your bank before travelling any fees you may incur.