First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

Your holiday begins by meeting the Tour Manager at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats on the way to the French capital, from where we continue by First Class rail to Basel.

On arrival in this Swiss city near the borders of France and Germany, we check in to our hotel. Nestled beside the Rhine River, Basel is known for its rich cultural heritage, boasting world-class museums and a beautiful Old Town.

This evening, we gather at a nearby restaurant to enjoy our first dinner together.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

Our journey continues after breakfast as we take the short walk to Basel station and board the First Class carriage of a train to Lucerne. With our luggage being transferred for us, we can unwind and soak up the increasingly dramatic scenery enroute to Lucerne.

After the train rolls in to Lucerne's lakeside station, we walk to the pier and catch a boat to our four-star hotel in Weggis. With a terrace and garden on the lakefront, we can enjoy panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the mountainous surroundings during our three-night stay.

There's time at leisure to either unwind or begin your explorations before dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we walk to the pier and board a boat along the shore to the next town, Vitznau, enjoying views of forest-covered hills rising from the lake's edge.

In Vitznau, we board Europe's first mountain railway for a scenic journey to the summit of Mount Rigi. This charming cogwheel railway has been operating since 1871 and offers beautiful views across to Mount Pilatus. Known as the 'Queen of the Mountains', there's free time at Rigi's summit to admire the panoramic vistas of Switzerland's alps and lakes before we make our way down the mountain to Goldau. A train journey along lakes Zug and Lucerne take us to the 'City of Lights', Lucerne.

You're at leisure here to uncover this picturesque town at your own pace, strolling the Old Town's cobbled streets to view its ornate churches and frescoed houses. One of the most striking landmarks is the 14th-century Kapellbrücke, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. You are free to return to Weggis on your own and can choose between dining independently in Lucerne or at our hotel.

• Breakfast

With your Swiss Half Fare Card providing 50% discounts on rail, boat and mountain railway journeys, you can discover Switzerland your own way after breakfast.

Weggis and Lucerne are perfectly placed at the heart of the country, so there are many options. From Alpnachstad, you could board the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe to marvel at breathtaking views from Mount Pilatus. Reaching a gradient of 48%, the half-hour ascent travels past alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to a land above the clouds. You could also ascend to the summit of the Stanserhorn via a historic funicular railway or the world's only CabriO aerial cableway. Further afield, Interlaken and the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley can be reached by train. Your journey here crosses the dramatic Brünig Pass before arriving in Meiringen - near the Reichenbach Falls, made famous in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Dining independently this evening, you can savour an authentic taste of Switzerland such as fondues, raclettes and röstis.

• Breakfast

A holiday highlight awaits after breakfast as we embark on a unique journey on the Gotthard Panorama Express, formerly called the William Tell Express and a hidden gem among Switzerland's alpine trains. First boarding a boat to the southern tip of Lake Lucerne, we can look for Rütli meadow, where the Swiss Confederation was founded, and enjoy sprawling views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains. Our train awaits as we dock in Flüelen.

In First Class seats with large picture windows and an onboard guide, we set off for a panoramic journey through the Alps with a front-row seat to spellbinding scenery. Along the route, watch for Wassen Church, which appears on different sides of the train as we weave around the village, and the famous Devil's Bridge. After journeying through the historic Gotthard Crest Tunnel, we reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.

Our destination is Lugano which, with its Mediterranean feel, is a marked contrast to the German-speaking area around Weggis. On arrival, a short journey takes us to our lakefront hotel, where we have dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Having travelled from the snow-capped Alps of central Switzerland to the palm trees of Lake Lugano yesterday, our focus turns to Italy today.

Travelling by rail from Lugano to Locarno, there's some time to explore this Italian-speaking Swiss town before we continue along the shore of Italy's longest lake. Bordered by mountains, Lake Maggiore winds past charming towns and villages that spill out of the valleys. Our destination is Stresa, a highly popular lakefront resort that retains its characteristic charm.

This afternoon, we sail to the Borromean Islands and uncover a floral haven around the Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella and a quaint fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori. Afterwards, there's free time in Stresa to explore at leisure. Strolling along its picturesque alleys or the elegant promenade reward visitors with medieval buildings, opulent villas, public gardens and museums. Later, we return by coach from Stresa to Lugano, where your evening is free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

Exploring the southern reaches of Switzerland today, we board a train after breakfast and head to Capolago. From here, we hop on to a historic cogwheel train to ascend Monte Generoso, climbing more than 5,500 feet on the 40-minute journey.

The striking blue and red carriages take us through verdant valleys to the top of Monte Generoso. At the summit, we are greeted by breathtaking views of lakes Lugano and Como, and the Alps separating Switzerland from Italy. On a clear day, it's even possible to see both Milan and the Matterhorn from this superb vantage point. There's free time to soak up the panoramas on a walk or at the restaurant inside the 'Stone Flower' designed by architect Mario Botta.

Returning by rail to Lugano, the rest of the day is at leisure. You could stroll amid the expansive grounds of Parco Ciani or wander the warren of Italianate streets of the Old Town. Ticinese cuisine is a blend of Italian and Swiss, and a speciality is polenta, but seafood, pastas and pizzas are readily available in many restaurants.

• Breakfast

Travelling by coach after breakfast, we head into Italy for another highlight of our journey as we explore one of its most famous lakes.

Our first destination is Villa Balbianello, a fairytale home built in the 12th-century that looks out across Lake Como. On a guided tour, we explore the two residential buildings and the church, uncovering its exquisite interiors and well-kept gardens. From here, we cross the lake by boat to Bellagio, where there's time to wander its beautiful streets or unwind by the harbour, watching the bobbing boats and admiring the picture-perfect backdrops. Bellagio is one of northern Italy's most loved towns and you can find neoclassical villas, manicured gardens and historic churches, as well as appetising eateries and relaxing terraces.

Continuing our waterborne exploration, we sail over to Menaggio for free time to uncover this small village at leisure. You could soak up the views from the lakefront piazza or during a stroll along the promenade. This evening, we return by coach to our hotel in Lugano, where we have dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Lugano after breakfast, we travel by First Class train to Milan, arriving just before lunchtime.

There's time to grab a bite to eat before we embark on a guided tour of this popular and fascinating city. Known as the 'fashion capital of the world', Milan is a city of ornate architecture and elegant squares, with boutiques lining the streets around Via Monte Napoleone. The Piazza del Duomo has been the heartbeat of Milan since the 14th-century, but many of the current façades were influenced by the 19th-century designs of architect Giuseppe Mengoni. These beautiful buildings gather round the Gothic cathedral, one of the largest church buildings in the world and boasting eye-catching spires and religious sculptures.

Another of Milan's iconic locations is the famed Teatro alla Scala, one of the most prestigious opera houses. Dating from 1778, this grand neoclassical building has hosted luminaries, including Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev. After checking in to our central hotel, we head out this evening to a local restaurant for our final dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From the majestic mountains of the Swiss Alps to the elegance of Italy's lakes, this incredible holiday has revealed the breathtaking beauty of two beloved countries. Exploring the German-speaking part of Switzerland around Lucerne, we sailed across Lake Lucerne and enjoyed panoramic views from Mount Rigi. An iconic rail journey on the Gotthard Panoramic Express took us south to Switzerland's Italian-speaking region of Ticino. Here, we savoured a trip on the historic Monte Generoso Mountain Railway and uncovered the idyllic charms of lakes Maggiore and Como, before spending the night in Milan.

With an early start today, we head to Milan train station to begin our journey home, travelling by First Class rail to Paris, from where we connect to the Eurostar service. As we head back to the UK, we are served a light meal in our Plus class seats before arriving at London St Pancras, where your holiday comes to an end.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal