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The Glacier ExpressOne of the world's great rail journeys
Nights: 7
Starting point: You begin in the Engadine with two nights in Zuoz where you are warmly welcomed by the Arquint family to the Posthotel Engiadina, a hotel of Grand Tour style and elegance. Day 1: We suggest a fine walk to a hidden mountain lake above Zuoz, but, if your stay falls on one of the days that the hotel provides a minibus service into the Swiss National Park, we recommend that you explore this instead, keeping your eyes peeled for chamois and golden eagles. Accommodation: Posthotel Engiadina (as above) Day 2: The highlights of the holiday comes when you board the Glacier Express for one of the most awe-inspiring legs of its journey. The train rises alongside the fast-flowing Rhine to the Oberalp Pass, and because it features ‘panoramic’ coaches as standard, you can enjoy the splendid mountain scenery to the full. Your destination, reached after an hour on a local train, is Blitzingen. Accommodation: The award-winning Hotel Castle in Blitzingen is situated on the slopes of the idyllic Goms Valley with panoramic views. Walking in this quiet valley is extensive and your host Peter Gschwendtner, a keen walker and mountain guide, will be happy to advise of the best routes. Day 3: There are myriad walking options here. You can walk down the Binntal, a peaceful valley full of flowers and small farms, that leads to the Italian border. Accommodation: Hotel Castle (as above) Day 4: For some stunning views, why not take the lifts up the Eggishorn and walk along a path overlooking the Aletsch Glacier? Accommodation: Hotel Castle (as above) Day 5: To reach your last hotel, in Zermatt, you have two options. You can either travel on a normal train (included) or, if you would prefer to benefit from the much larger windows of the Glacier Express trains, you can upgrade locally (your host, Peter, will be happy to help you arrange this). However you choose to arrive, Zermatt makes a fitting place to end your holiday. Relax in this romantic location in the atmospheric, traffic-free village at the foot of the impressive Matterhorn. Here, you are in the heart of the High Alps, surrounded by the Matterhorn and 29 other peaks over 4,000 metres. Accommodation: The elegant Hotel la Ginabelle4-star hotel is elegant and full of charm, offering an intimate restaurant, a new spa complex and an attractive garden Day 6: Enjoy one last, memorable walk on the slopes above the village, marvelling at the unmistakable profile of the Matterhorn. Accommodation: Hotel la Ginabelle (as above) Recommendations for extra nights: all three hotels make excellent choices for extra nights, with plenty of walking opportunities from each village. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. You can also read our website travel diary for a personal account of the holiday.
Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: arrival Zurich; departure Geneva 2008 extra night prices
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The magnificent snow-covered Alps are a majestic sight in winter, and even more so on a bright summer’s day when the wide green valleys are carpeted with lush pasture and colourful wild flowers. Towering above the peaceful meadows, dotted with small picturesque villages and isolated traditional farms, the awe-inspiring mountain scenery is both spellbinding and breathtaking. The views from the train’s panoramic windows are mesmerising and unforgettable; the walks from the charming hotels exhilarating and truly splendid.
