There are few things that beat a great travel adventure. How about an adventure where you get to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime intimate curated grand mountain/rail adventure where everything is planned for carefree enjoyment? That’s an apt description of a Swiss vacation, where the trains always run on time, where you always have great views, your luggage transfers are taken care of and there’s cheese, chocolate and wine. You can take advantage of GetAway Travel’s artfully crafted trip, or our advisors can help you with your own adventure. Here’s a closer look at parts of GetAway’s planned trip and what you might expect if our advisors plan a trip for you.

Welcome to Switzerland

 Zurich is your landing spot and on to Lucerne. With your handy Swiss travel pass, this is the first of several train rides. And get the idea of a chugging, stinky, closed up train with narrow windows right out of your head. The Swiss take their rail trips seriously, beautifully appointed cars with huge windows, WiFi, cushy seats, food service in some and dining cars with bars.

After free time in Lucerne, it’s time to take a scenic train ride to Rigi Kulm.  Dubbed the Queen of the Mountains, it is nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. You get 360° views of the Alps and France AND Germany! The Swiss lowlands are also visible and beautiful and so are the 13 lakes surrounding the area.

Back to Lucerne for the night and then board the Interlaken Express which is arguably the most scenic rail traveling you will ever experience. We’re talking postcard perfect landscape, quaint Alpine villages and dramatic mountain views.

There’s time to unwind in Interlaken. The center town area has great shops with souvenirs, as well as cheese and chocolates. This is a paragliding hot spot. If that’s not your jam, go to Hohematte Park and watch those who may be a bit more adventurous.

On to “the Top of Europe”

 The Jungfraujoch cogwheel train takes you past picturesque villages and then you begin ascending to the highest railway station in Europe.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore the Ice Palace, check out the fabulous views from the observation deck and then try some fondue at one of the many restaurants at the summit.

One more night in Interlaken and then on to Montreux on the GoldenPass Express. No worries about your luggage, it is making its way to Montreux.

Montreux is one of Switzerland’s ultimate resort towns. Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, with a spectacular backdrop of the Alps, you can’t help but admire the palm trees (yes, really — palm trees) exclusive boutiques and the Belle Époque architecture.

This architectural style is known for its elaborate detailing, lavish materials, intricate craftsmanship and delicate layering of architectural elements.

The lakeside promenade, or Quais de Montreux, is a quarter mile of lovely flower-lined walking paths and sculptures.

You’ll tour the Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is one of the most visited historic buildings in Switzerland. A former residence and toll station of the Counts of Savoy, it was inhabited for nearly four centuries during the Middle Ages. Enjoy the wonderful artwork, interesting subterranean vaults and the meticulously maintained courtyards.

Time for chocolate, cheese and wine

 Take a scenic ride through the vineyards and stunning countryside to get to the Gruyère region. La Maison du Gruyère is a traditional cheese dairy. Learn all about the process and try samples of six month, nine month and one-year aged Gruyère. Have some more fondue for lunch at one of the cute restaurants and then its on to the Maison Cailler Chocolate factory.

Founded in the early 1800s, Cailler came into its own in the chocolate world in the early 1900s. It merged with Nèstle in the 1920s. You get a from bean to bar tour and then — samples! Yep, your reward for paying attention during the chocolate lesson is trying six or seven different kinds of chocolate.

And its back to Montreux to decompress and perhaps let the belt out a space or two.

Sleep late, enjoy a leisurely morning and then we are off for a rail journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lavaux vineyards. The 800 hectares of grapes have been tended here going back to the 11th century. The grapes are sun-ripened with the light that reflects off Lake Geneva and further warmed by the heat held by the stone walls.

You get a tour and then samples accompanied by a charcuterie array of regional cheeses and cured meats.

Rest at the hotel in the evening and then on to Zermatt. Enjoy your carefree and car-free time checking out the local boutiques and cafés. Since you are at the base of the majestic Matterhorn, take some time to learn its history as well as some mountaineering lore at the Matterhorn Museum. We set out to the Gornergrat summit the next morning. The Gornergrat Railway will take us through the mountains with stunning views of the Matterhorn and neighboring peaks. We get back to relax in Zermatt.

On to St. Moritz and Tirano

 The eight-hour trip on the Glacier Express to St. Moritz takes us through some unforgettable scenery in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

Lunch is a fabulous three-course meal punctuated by dramatic gorge views and travels through a tunnel or two. Actually, we will cross 291 bridges, go through 91 tunnels and climb the Oberalp Pass which is 6,500 feet above sea level.

We spend an evening and a day in St. Moritz. Enjoy the luxury shops downtown in the city nicknamed the “Town of the Rich.” Take a cable car or funicular to the top of Piz Corvatsch. This mountain peak in the Bernini range is 3,300 feet above sea level and on one side are panoramic views of Lake Sils and Lake Champfer with the mountains in the background. On the other side is the glaciers.

In the morning we take the Bernini Express to Tirano Italy. Get ready for a spectacular rail journey punctuated by impressive viaducts and glaciers.

There’s time in Tirano to check out Santuario della Madonna Tirano. This Renaissance style basilica was built in 1505 after there were reports the Virgin Mary appeared here. Enjoy the richly decorated frescoes, carved wooden choir stalls, stained glass windows and a 16th century organ reputedly the finest in Northern Italy.

There are a number of gorgeous palaces open to the public and don’t pass up a meal in Tirano.

It is the culinary hub for the Valtellina region. Try Pizzoccheri, buckwheat pasta with cabbage, potatoes, butter and cheese or Chisciöi, crispy buckwheat fritters made with nutty, milky Casera cheese.

Winding down to St. Moritz

 We are back to St. Moritz the next day and on to Zurich. But, before we get to Zurich, we stop at Lindt, the Mecca of chocolate lovers. Visit the modern museum, take the chocolate tour, with plenty of snacking and learn all about all things Swiss chocolate.

You can make chocolate bars with a Lindt master chocolatier, be impressed by the 30-foot high chocolate fountain and shop in the world’s largest chocolate shop.

Face it, you don’t need all those clothes, fill your luggage with chocolates! And we’re ready to go home.

If this relaxing, rail focused venture interests you, GetAway Travel can accommodate you. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel