Itinerary - 5 Night Holiday by Rail

Day 1

London to Basel

Take the Eurostar from London to Paris and transfer to the Gare de Lyon for your onward direct service to Basel. This TGV service now travels a faster route, arriving into Basel in just over 3 hours.

On arrival in Basel, check in at the Swissotel Le Plaza Basel for an overnight stay.

Spanning three national borders, Basel is a truly cosmopolitan city. As well as an annual art festival and a wealth of galleries, the city offers almost forty museums and twenty-five theatres, among them the Fondation Beyer and the renowned Stadtcasino concert hall. You can also choose from a wide range of restaurants and bars as well as some great shopping.

Day 2

Basel to Meiringen

Spend another morning in Basel, before catching the train to Meiringen via Lucerne. With your Swiss Pass you have the flexibility to break your journey wherever you would like. Why not stop in Lucerne for some lunch and a look around? The route from Lucerne to Meiringen goes along the famous Golden Pass line, crossing flower-filled meadows in the shadow of distant Alpine peaks.

On arrival in Meiringen, check in at the Parkhotel du Sauvage for a 2 night stay.

The pretty village of Meiringen is a base for skiers during the winter and walkers during the summer. Famous for its connections with Sherlock Holmes, who met his fictional end at the top of the Reichenbach Falls, there is a museum here dedicated to the detective.

Day 3

Meiringen

Spend a full day exploring Meiringen and the surrounding area with your Swiss pass. Take a lovely old funicular railway up to the base of the Reichenbach Falls for spectacular views, especially during the spring when the falls are at their most powerful, fuelled with snowmelt from the glaciers further upstream.

Visit the stunning Lake Brienz, one of the cleanest lakes in Switzerland, which can be accessed by rail. Or take a bus to the spectacular Aare Gorge, around 2 kilometres out of town which is beautifully floodlight during summer nights.

Day 4

Meiringen to Interlaken

This morning, continue along the Golden Pass route to Interlaken (a half hour journey) and on arrival, check in at the Hotel du Nord where you will stay for 2 nights.

One of the oldest and most popular resorts in Switzerland, Interlaken provides an excellent base for exploring the beauty of the surrounding area. Located between two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the town also offers fantastic views of the magnificent Jungfrau, Mönsch and Eiger Mountains.

Day 5

Interlaken

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Interlaken. Why not make use of your pass to explore the Bernese Oberland?

Walk through the stunning scenery around Lauterbrunnen or take a train to Mürren and then the Schilthorn Cablecar up to the Schilthorn peak at 2970 kilometres above sea-level where you can enjoy spectacular views from the Piz Gloria summit restaurant.

Day 6

Interlaken to London

After another morning in Interlaken, take the train back to Basel for your return TGV service to Paris Gare de Lyon. Enjoy dinner in Paris or connect directly onto your Eurostar service back to London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford.