Swiss New Year Adventure Tour
8 Exhilarating Days
- Longer stays with 6 nights in Interlaken
- Stay in authentic, character style hotels
- Genuinely inclusive, no additional on tour costs
- Guaranteed 'My Time'
- Designed for Australians & New Zealanders
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Small group size - now capped at 28!
Tour Overview
Ride on panoramic trains and funiculars up massive mountains, across ravines and snow laden valleys. Visit historic Bern and lakeside Thun, the ski resorts of Grindelwald, Mürren, Wengen and delightful Lauterbrunnen. Take stunning cable car rides over the Männlichen ridge and up the extraordinary Schilthorn mountain peak for a ‘007 James Bond’ lunch. Fly down a mountain on a zip line, experience a suspended cliff clinging walk, try snowshoeing, ice curling and watch the New Year’s Day fireworks explode and echo through the mighty,snowy peaks.
Highlights
- Celebrate New Year over 6 nights in Interlaken
- Spend 5 full days exploring the mighty mountains, towns, and villages of the Bernese Oberland
- Be there for the magnificent New Year’s Day fireworks show
- Ride on the Zentralbahn Panoramic train from Luzern to Interlaken
- Enjoy a New Year’s Eve Chinois Fondue dinner and Farewell dinner with a Swiss Folklore show
- Take the incredible funicular train up the Jungfraujoch, explore the ice palace, look down on the massive Aletsch Glacier
- Explore ancient Bern and lakeside Thun, visit Wengen, experience the fun of a snowshoe walk and try your hand at ice curling
- Take the cable car to Grütschalp then a scenic train along to the cliff top village of Murren
- Ride on a cable car to the exhilarating Schilthorn summit for a buffet lunch in the famous 007 revolving restaurant, enjoy the 007 Experience and follow the Skyline Thrill Walk around Birg Peak
- Ride on the new Männlichen Cable Car, visit Grindelwald, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and zoom down the mountain on the ‘First Flyer’ zip line.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Luzern, welcome drink and dinner
Your tour commences this evening in Luzern with a welcome drink and dinner.
Meals:
D
Hotel:
Hotel Wilden Mann
Day 2: Panoramic train ride to Interlaken
Your morning is at leisure in Luzern’s old town. Early afternoon we will board the Zentralbahn Panoramic train for an unforgettable journey deep into the Bernese Oberland, to Interlaken. Sitting beside large panoramic windows we pass crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls and cross over the magnificent Brünig mountain pass. After checking in to our hotel, we will enjoy an orientation walk through delightful Interlaken. Nestled between two lakes, and surrounded by soaring peaks, Interlaken makes a great base for our adventures over the next six nights.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 3: Jungfrau mountain ride and Aletsch Glacier
Let the adventure begin! Boarding a local train we climb high into the mountains to Kleine Scheidegg. Changing on to the Jungfrau Railway we travel into a tunnel which takes us through the inside of the north face of the Eiger, and up to the Jungfraujoch – the highest rail station in Europe. At 3,454 metres (11,332 ft) the views down onto the Aletsch Glacier are magnificent. You will find several restaurants, an Ice Palace and the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven display. You can also take a lift another 100 metres higher to the dramatic Sphinx lookout point. Your evening is at leisure in lively Interlaken.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 4: New Year’s Eve fondue, medieval Bern and Thun
Following the lakeside of Thunersee, we reach Bern, Switzerland’s capital city set on a spectacular bend above the River Aare, and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark. Here we have ‘My Time’ to explore the medieval cobblestoned streets with their sheltered arcaded shopping ways, and the famous ‘Bärengraben’ bear pits. In the afternoon we also stop to visit the pretty town of Thun. This evening join us as we celebrate with a traditional New Year’s Eve Chinoise Fondue dinner in our hotel.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 5: New Year’s Day, snow shoe walk, ice curling and fireworks!
A leisurely start. In the picturesque ski village of Wengen we don snow shoes and, splitting into smaller groups, we enjoy a guided snow shoe walk into the snow laden fields. Easy to do, this is a great mountain experience. Later, back in Wengen, we visit the ice-skating rink to try our hand at the fun sport of Ice Curling! This evening Interlaken is in festival mode, especially around the ice-skating rink. Make sure you watch the impressive New Year’s Day fireworks display. What a spectacle as fireworks explode against a backdrop of snowy mountains and the explosions echo through the Alps!
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 6: Mürren and the Schilthorn 007 Experience
Passing through the delightful village of Lauterbrunnen, flanked by 300 metres (1,000 ft) high, sheer cliffs, we take the cable car from Stechelberg up the rockface to the pretty village of Mürren. Here we take the incredible cable car up to the glass floored observation deck of the Birg restaurant. Around the entire peak is the Skyline Thrill Walk – a metal walkway suspended over a sheer drop below. Thrilling indeed! Then onwards and upwards by cable car to the Piz Gloria,a revolving restaurant set on top of the Schilthorn summit. With astonishing 360 degree views we have included a 007 buffet lunch. This was also the setting for the evil Blofeld’s secret mountain hideout in the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. There is a James Bond museum and the 007 toilets are …. memorable! Your evening is at leisure in Interlaken.
Meals:
B
L
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 7: Grindelwald, the First Flyer and a Zip Line ride
Another glorious day in the mountains. This time to the world-famous village of Grindelwald by train, and then by cable car up to the First lookout. Time for an incredible experience as we ‘harness up’ for an exhilarating zip line ‘flight’ down the mountain side. It is very easy and so much fun! Later, free time to explore the shops and cafés of this delightful ski resort, and perhaps take a ride on the Männlichen cable car. Tonight we celebrate with a farewell glass of schnapps before dinner in a local restaurant. Relax and soak up the atmosphere as you enjoy traditional Swiss fare and a Folklore show.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Interlaken
Day 8: Transfer To Zurich
This morning we will transfer you by coach to Zurich Airport and city centre. We recommend that you book flights or trains that depart Zurich after 2pm today.
Meals:
B
Incredible Value Inclusions
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All excursions, scenic drives, sightseeing and entrances as described
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Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager
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Travel by coach, scenic trains and cable cars as described
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7 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation
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Hotel porterage (1 suitcase pp)
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Welcome drink in Luzern
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12 Meals – Buffet breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L) and 4 evening dinners (D))
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A complimentary wine, beer or soft drink with all included dinners
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Tea and coffee with all included dinners
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Local guides as described
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Free WiFi available at most hotels
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End of tour tips to Tour Manager and Driver, tips for local guides
Your Hotels
Hotel Wilden Mann, Luzern - 1 Night
This charming 4 star hotel is conveniently located only 200 metres walk from the historic Chapel Bridge.
Hotel Interlaken, Interlaken - 6 Nights
Situated just a short walk into the heart of town, this 4 star hotel is located very close to Interlaken Ost station. Since most of our daily excursions will be by train, Hotel Interlaken makes the perfect base from which
to access the glorious mountains - fast!