Swiss Special

Welcome to Switzerland this morning. Upon arrival make your way to the hotel and check in. Relax and later in the afternoon you could either walk around the city or opt for the 40 min train ride covering the Chapel Bridge, the town square, the Lion Monument and much more, or visit the Swiss Museum of Transport which has been voted the most popular museum and theme park for the whole family in any weather. The rest of the evening is free for you to walk around the city. Later tonight we recommend you to enjoy the real Swiss Folklore at the Stadtkeller. Folk-Music, Yodeling, Alphornblowing, and Flagthrowing. This is a superb combination for excellent food, music and great fun in a historical place dating back to the 12th century. Overnight in Lucerne.

Today experience the assorted delights of Lucerne's landmark mountain Pilatus courtesy of the Golden Round Trip – a full day excursion involving a boat trip, the cogwheel railway, aerial cableway and panorama gondolas. Enjoy a cruise on Lake Lucerne upto to Alpnachstad, from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, take the world's steepest cogwheel railway winds up through lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers, past sparkling mountain streams and fascinating rock faces.

With its wide-ranging leisure and recreation amenities on Pilatus, it offers visitors from home and abroad "2132 possibilities above sea level". With Central Switzerland's largest suspension rope park and Switzerland's longest summer toboggan run, the Pilatus promises hours of enjoyment.

On the way back from Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg enjoy the 3.5-minute ride. The new aerial cableway «Dragon Ride» gives the impression of flying thanks to its spacious interior, cockpit-like design and large windows – a mountain experience that gets the adrenalin pumping. Then from Fräkmüntegg summit terminus climb aboard and enjoy magnificent views on the panorama gondola to Krienseregg.

You could spend some more time at the Krienseregg: a delightful recreational day out for all ages, it offers way-marked round walks, inviting picnic spots and the PILU®-Land adventure playground. The spacious terrace of the family-friendly restaurant is perfect for rest, relaxation and refreshment. PILU®-Land is where the friendly Pilatus-Bahnen dragon lives. It's divided into three thematic zones: Dragon Castle, Dragon Forest, and Dragon Land. Built using unsprayed timber from false acacia trees, the individual play elements have, to a large extent, been left as they were found. You can also experience the captivating moorland landscape and the plashing of mountain streams. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the forests and marshes and cast a historical eye over the area's ice-age past.

Later from Krienseregg take the gondola down to Kriens where a five-minute walk brings you to bus no. 1 for the trip back to Lucerne. Overnight in Lucerne. 

Today you visit the glacier paradise Titlis which is the jewel in Central Switzerland's crown and the only publicly accessible glacier in the area. You will feel on top of the world as you take in the spectacular panoramic views of snow-covered mountains and unspoiled Alpine landscapes. Take a train from Lucerne to Engelberg. Hop on the eight-seater cable car Titlis Xpress from Engelberg to Stand middle station. Then take the Titlis Rotair - The world's first revolving gondola transports you from the middle station at Stand up to the mountain station at 3,020 metres above sea level. The gondola revolves 360 degrees during the five-minute trip, treating you to idyllic panoramic views of steep rock faces, deep crevasses and distant snow-covered mountain peaks.

Explore the Glacier Cave which is a cool experience. The cave can be easily accessed via a corridor from the Titlis Rotair Cableways mountain station. The Glacier Cave is bathed in a dim turquoise-blue light. On the walls, millions of tiny ice crystals sparkle and glisten. This glacier cave forms the frosty heart of Titlis. The ice here was frozen long before prehistoric man discovered how to make fire using pyrite. The cave's 150-meter-long walkway branches out in several directions and descends 20 metres below the surface of the glacier. High up on Titlis, everyday life becomes a distant memory. At over 2,000 metres above sea level, this spectacular glacier mountain in Central Switzerland is a base for all kinds of outdoor Summer activities. You could choose to do Hiking, Mountain Biking, Scooter Bike, Knorrli Adventure Trail, Alpine Flower Trail, Boat Hire, Devil Bikes & Via Ferrata.

Titlis Cliff Walk - Europe's highest suspension bridge. Set your pulse racing! 3,041 metres above sea-level. 500 metres off the ground. 150 heart-pounding steps. The Titlis Cliff Walk is just one metre wide and 100 metres long. The views into the abyss below are breathtaking! This is what awaits you on the Titlis Cliff Walk, the spectacular suspension bridge high up on the summit. To cross the bridge, you'll need nerves as strong as the steel cables from which it hangs. On arriving at the summit, the route leads you through an underground tunnel and on to the viewing platform at the south wall window. The suspension bridge stretches from here to the Ice Flyer glacier chair lift station.

Ice Flyer - Be sure to cast your eyes down into the impressive glacier world below. The Ice Flyer chair lift sweeps you smoothly and safely over crisp, virgin snow fields and icy depths. Some of the crevasses are up to ten metres deep. The Ice Flyer will carry you from the mountain station to the Snow Park Up On The Glacier.

All kinds of fun snow activities await you all year round at the Glacier Park. Whiz down the snow toy run on one of our fun balancers, snake gliss or minibobs and let our magic carpet conveyor belt whisk you quickly and easily back to the top. Snowtubing is the ultimate alternative sledding experience which will see you skimming the glistening snow as you hurtle down the piste on a rubber tyre. You can choose whether to sit or lie, and whether to set off facing forwards or backwards. You’re sure to spin full circle several times before reaching the end of this bumpy yet exhilarating ride. The specially designed run will keep you safely on track.

Immerse yourself in the sweet world of chocolate at the Chocolate Shop which is located on the 3rd floor of the Titlis mountain station. Choose your favourite from over 300 different varieties or create your own personal chocolate package. The chocolate is from LINDT, MAESTRANI und SCHÖNENBERGER.

Have your photo taken with your sweetheart or your friends in traditional Swiss costume.

Have your photo taken in traditional Swiss costume at the Photo Studio on Titlis. They have a vast array of shirts and trousers, dresses and bodices, as well as bonnets and hats from various regions of Switzerland. They also have some great costumes for kids. The photographer will then take your photo with Mount Titlis in the background. Your photo will be ready in just three minutes – an unforgettable memory of your trip to Titlis. What's more, the photo studio on Titlis is the highest photo studio in the world. A number of celebrities have also had their photo taken here.

Enjoy a pizza at the highest Pizzeria in the world and much more. The ice flier is a big hit with the family.

With loads to do at the peak, more than half a day is a must. Return back to Lucerne later in the afternoon or early evening and spend the rest of the time at any of the restaurants dotting the city or just walking along the lake. Overnight in Lucerne.

Wake up this morning following which its time to take the train to Interlaken. On arrival into Interlaken make your way to the Hotel & check in. Later in the evening make your way to the Harder Kulm - Interlaken’s local mountain. The journey from Interlaken to the Harder Kulm, takes ten minutes by cable car. The trip up the mountain in the funicular is quite spectacular. The Art Nouveau-style Panorama Restaurant looks like a small castle with its turrets, restaurants and halls. The cosy terrace is a meeting point for locals and the ideal viewing platform for tourists from near and far, and it is located 1,322 metres above sea level. Folklore evenings are held regularly on the Harder Kulm. Treat yourself to tasty Swiss food or kick back with the special "Ice Beer". There's fun at the playground for children. There is a new observation deck at Harder Kulm. The observation deck offers visitors a unique view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains as well as the lakes of Thun and Brienz. The Two Lakes Bridge is west of the Restaurant Harder Kulm. A steel structure supports the large platform. In the centre, visitors can look down below through a glass surface. Overnight in Interlaken.

After breakfast this morning it’s time for your excursion to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. The starting point of your journey is Interlaken Ost. There you will catch the Bernese Oberland Railway. Your journey along the Lütschein takes you to Grindelwald. Stop at Grindelwald to enjoy the Fun Package First which offers a whole lot of attractions. Fun and thrills for the whole family! Firstly, the cable car heads up from Grindelwald to First. From there, you speed rapidly along 800 metres of steel cable to 50 metres above the ground at a speed of up to 84 kilometres per hour with the First Flyer towards Schreckfeld. After the thrills, you are spoiled for choice. Either you take the next gondola cable car (included in the price), or indulge in a leisurely hike to Bort station. Once there, put on your helmet, grab a scooter and you're off to Grindelwald. Enjoy the New Top attraction First Cliff Walk by Tissot: an unforgettable experience with panoramic views.

Later from Grindelwald the Wengernalp Railway will take you to Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Jungfraujoch with a view of the Eiger North Face. The final train is the Jungfrau Railway. It starts from Kleine Scheidegg and takes you directly to the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe at 3454 mts, the highest railway station of Europe. Breathtaking views of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch - Glacier – 22kms longest ice-stream in the Alps. 100% snow & ice guaranteed 365 days a year!

Get panoramic views over the borders of Switzerland on the Sphinx vantage terrace – 3571 m. Tour on the history & construction of the Jungfrau Railway at the Alpine Sensation. See the impressive ice sculptures, 30 metres under the surface of glacier at the Ice Palace. Enjoy the fun Snow activities like the summer skiing & snowboarding, sledge & zip line & also have a unique shopping experience at Top of Europe. Dive into the fascinating world of chocolate. Visit the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven at 3,454 metres above sea level offering selection of Lindt’s finest chocolate. Enjoy a hot meal in one of the 5 restaurants there.

In the late afternoon take the train back to Interlaken and the rest of the evening is free for you to either walk around town, shop at Bucherer or any of the shops there else depending on the day of the week, you could also enjoy a Dinner cruise on the lake. For those who would like to gamble away, the famous Casino Kursaal awaits you. Overnight in Interlaken.

Wake up to breakfast this morning following which its time to make a trip to Schilthorn. Take a regional train from Interlaken OST to Lauterbrunnen, from where a postbus takes you to the bottom station of the Schilthorn aerial cableway in Stechelberg. The aerial cableway to Mürren departs every 30 minutes. It takes you just 32 minutes by Cable car to reach the summit of the 2970 m high Schilthorn.

Your first stop is the car free village of Murren where we recommend you get off, enjoy a cup of coffee and then proceed up to the peak.

You may stop at Brig on the way to Schilthorn. Birg: enjoys pride of place on the rock massif, 1000 m above Mürren. The Skyline Walk platform is an extension of the existing Birg Terrace. The mainly steel and glass structure has a steel grillage walkway, and its angular shape connects seamlessly with the exposed Birg Station and the irregular cliff formations of the surrounding landscape.  Its transparent nature allows the Skyline Walk to award unimpeded sights of the entire mountain panorama as well as heady views into the depths.

Once up at the peak enjoy the spectacular view from our big terrace of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (UNESCO World Heritage) and on more than 200 other summits from the Skyline View Platform

360°-Restaurant Piz Gloria – This is a perfect place to have your brunch before and after your mountain experience. The restaurant with table service rotates around its own axis in 45 minutes, gliding past more than 200 mountain peaks. It offers a wide range of dishes from snacks to regional specialties.

Bond World 007 - Visit the interactive BOND exhibition at the summit, showing scenes from the movie as well as general background information. It gives many filming-related details and a look at the original screenplay. From James throwing his hat skilfully onto the coat hook in Miss Moneypenny’s office to the exhilarating bobsleigh ride. Thrilling BOND moments also beckon in the helicopter simulator in the original chassis of a decommissioned Air Glaciers Alouette III. The 40-seat in-house cinema shows clips of the movie, in alternation with a panorama video show revealing fascinating insights and views of the Alpine world surrounding the Schilthorn.

The world‘s first 007 Walk Of Fame honours the stars in front of and behind the cameras during the filming of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Other celebrities from the world of James Bond 007 will also find their place on the Schilthorn. Impressions from these celebrities is live on forever: An information board will include their photo, their signature and their handprint in steel as well as a personal message. It will also describe the importance of the film to their career and their memories from their time on the Schilthorn. The panels form the 007 WALK OF FAME on the Schilthorn summit, a unique tribute to the legendary James Bond films.

Savour the sunset at 2‘970 metres altitude, accompanied by views of more than 200 Alpine peaks and the Swiss Skyline! An enchanting summer experience.

Later in the evening it’s time to return back to Interlaken but a strong recommendation is a stop at the Trummelbach Falls en route. Overnight in Interlaken.

Post breakfast check out and make your way to the station to take your train to Zurich *you have an option to proceed to the baggage deposit counter to send your bags to Zurich train station from Interlaken -  cost is 20 CHF per bag per way as we recommend you to do the Rhine falls.  For this you board your train from Interlaken via Bern to Zurich and then board the train to Schaffhausen. Schaffhausen is located 32 miles (52 km) north of Zurich (approx 50 mins). Schaffhausen’s biggest claim to fame may be as the gateway to the Rhine falls. Schaffhausen to the Rhine falls is around 15 mins by public transport which is free on your Swiss Pass. Europe’s biggest waterfall, the Rhine falls measure 75 feet (23 m) high and 490 feet (150 m) wide. A dramatic series of falls unlike those in the more mountainous areas, they are one of the most popular sights in all of Switzerland. It is best to see them in the early summer, when the falls are fed by the melting mountain snows. Information: [Trains from Zurich to Schaffhausen and back is leaves every one hour]

When you are back to Zurich, make your way to the hotel and check in.  Later in the evening we recommend you take a walk along the Lake, shop at the many malls and stores dotting the promenade or take a half day trip to the Alpamare water park that is open till late. Alpamare is Europe's largest indoor water park offering everything from thrilling slides to soothing thermal springs, saunas and a solarium. Train from Zurich to Pfäffikon/SZ is 30mins and then in 15 minutes on foot or take the bus to the park.

The other places to visit which we recommend especially for families:

• Zurich Zoo - Amur tigers, penguins and gorillas are just some of the over 360 different animal species that whisk zoo visitors away to an exotic world.
• Knie's Children's Zoo - Knie’s Children's Zoo in Rapperwil belongs to Switzerland’s tradition-steeped Knie Circus, and is a popular meeting place for people and animals: ton-heavy Asian elephants, inquisitive African miniature goats, quick-to-learn South American sea lions and agile squirrel monkeys all guarantee a wealth of fascinating experiences.
• Felsenegg - At 800 meters with a stunning view over the city of Zürich, lake Zürich and the snowcapped Alps. Far away from the stress and hectic city life – yet only a stone throw away from the busy Zürich city Centre. The only restaurant in Zürich with it's own cable car.
• The Atzmännig Rope Park offers fun and thrills in lofty height. Eight routes (Parcours) with various levels of difficulty require dexterity and coordination. The Atzmännig Rope Adventure Park offers an adrenaline rush for all the family at a lofty height.
• Overnight in Zurich.

Your Swiss holiday comes to an end today as you pack, check out of your hotel and make your way to the airport.