Alsace & Northern Switzerland
Trip Highlights:
- Visit some of the most picturesque areas of Alsace and the Alps
- Enjoy discovering some lesser visited cities en-route
- See the best views in Switzerland in Interlaken - with no need for a car
- Experience year-round winter wonderland at the top of the Junfraujoch
- Stay at an eco certified, family friendly lodge in Interlaken - making this adventure great for kids
- See how the alps change from East to West, as you travel across Switzerland
- Book additional activities to delve beyond the surface in each location
Trip Overview:
You’d be hard pressed to find a more perfect destination for rail travel than Switzerland. Turquoise lakes, fairytale towns, towering peaks iced with a smattering of snow… and the most impressive engineering feats of the last 200 years to connect them all up by rail.
This trip combines a quick stop in Alsace with all the best things about Switzerland and its surrounding regions. There’s ample opportunity to explore quaint towns and spectacular nature as you hop across the Northern half of the alps.
Start your journey with a couple of nights in Strasbourg, the quaint and charming capital of the Alsace region, before continuing onwards to Lucerne for a quick but worthhile pitstop - Lucerne arguably wins the prize for the most picturesque city in Switzerland. Perched on the edge of its namesake lake and enveloped by mountains on all sides, it’s the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine and a balmy sunset.
3 nights in Interlaken gives you a great opportunity to get right into the heart of the alps. A pretty town at the heart of the alps nestled among snowy peaks and (unsurprisingly) between lakes, the unique thing about Interlaken is its narrow gauge railway which takes visitors all the way up to the cliffs and waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen.
After 5 days in German speaking Switzerland, it’s time to head Westwards into the French speaking region as you begin your return journey. Lausanne is a serene lake-side town with a large student population that offers plenty to keep you entertained for your overnight stay. Finally, hop back on board for your speedy return leg to Paris and the UK. Leaving Lausanne mid-morning, you’ll be back in London by the evening.
Day 1: London to Strasbourg
Day 1-3: Strasbourg
Enjoy a full day here. Taking cultural morsels from both France and Germany, Strasbourg is the place to stroll along Medieval streets, gorge on delicious sausage-based delights and quaff fragrant wine from the surrounding vineyards
Day 3: Strasbourg to Lucerne
Travel onwards to your first stop in Switzerland - the majestic, medieval town of Lucerne. Ringed by mountains and sitting besides a beautiful lake, there's no better introduction to this country.
Day 4: Lucerne to Interlaken
Leave Lucerne behind and travel onwards to the heart of the Alps, at Interlaken.
Day 4-7: Interlaken
Interlaken is your base for 3 days exploring the majestic central Alps. Take the train up to one of the nearby resort towns, from where you can make use of the huge network of cable cars taking you to stunning villages such as Murren and Grindelwald - or venture right the way up to the Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch. In winter it's the perfect opportunity to dip a toe in skiing, have fun sledging at the mountain-top snow park, or try out snow-shoeing. In Summer, cable cars and hikes offer incredible views of the surrounding valleys and peaks - capped with snow year-round.
Day 7: Interlaken to Lausanne
A short hop to Lausanne awaits as you cross the border into French-speaking Switzerland. Enjoy the lake-side beaches if you’re in need of some more relaxation - or head to the variety of museums and monuments to top up on culture before heading home-wards.
Day 8: Lausanne to London
A mid-morning start sees you back in London in time for dinner. Travelling onwards to other parts of the UK? Talk to us about breaking up the journey home.
Start your journey from the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras, or from your nearest train station.
- Pack lightly if possible - you'll need to carry or store your luggage while transferring.
- Bring good, comfortable boots or shoes for walking.
- The climate in Alsace and Switzerland is varied, particularly from low to high ground. In valleys, you can expect warm summers and cold winters, with rainfall and storms common all year round. High ground can be very cold and there is likely to be snow all year round, so bring appropriate shoes and clothing. Check the forecast ahead and pack accordingly.
Trip Notes:
- This experience is well suited towards families, and we are happy to suggest activities that would suit younger children
- If you are disabled and/or a wheelchair user and you would like to book, please contact us and we can discuss how to make the trip work for you.
- All rail transport from London
- All accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Optional extras: activities to book
- Food and drinks are not included unless mentioned
- Local purchases, souvenirs and other personal items are not included
- Tips and gratuity for your guides (optional)
- Additional public transport and taxis
- Travel insurance (you need to purchase your own travel insurance)
- Hotel check-ins from 3pm onwards
You will need to change trains at various points in this journey, including changing station in Paris (a short walk or metro ride). Please ensure that you are prepared for this aspect of the journey which involves steps and short walks with your luggage between platforms. If you are disabled or have mobility limitations please ensure you let us know at the time of booking so that we can adapt the route and/or arrange station assistance.
During this trip you’ll be visiting very popular destinations - cities like Lucerne are on many people’s bucket lists. We are happy to help you explore them responsibly, with the awareness that our visits do have consequences. To minimise your footprint on the city and its citizens, we’d love to encourage travellers to visit off-peak, or during shoulder season, and to explore less-visited areas of the city if you can. Check out our guide to being a responsible traveller here for more suggestions.
Booking:
- 20% deposit payable at the time of booking
- Remaining balance payable 6 weeks before travel
Cancellation:
- Reschedule your trip free of charge up to 14 days before you travel
- Cancel your trip free of charge up to 6 weeks before you travel
