Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Castles and Flowers May 23-31, 2009

Day 5: Interlaken - Zermatt- Matterhorn - Interlaken

A Swiss breakfast buffet is included each morning, and our stay in Interlaken features fresh products from our host's organic dairy farm.

Today we travel on part of the Glacier Express route, passing by dense forests, peaceful valleys, church steeples, and covered bridges. There will be crystal clear mountain streams, snow-covered peaks, and vistas that change with each bend of the track. We'll even pass by a huge mountain rock slide as we get closer to Zermatt (the charming town at the base of the Matterhorn).

Zermatt and Matterhorn

Zermatt's air is fresh and brisk, the scenery beautiful, the village quiet and peaceful. This resort village is surprisingly quiet since most traffic is discouraged and only battery-operated vehicles are allowed (with few exceptions). Just off the main street you will find romantic cobblestone lanes and sun-weathered barns that add to Zermatt's rustic charm. Many buildings here are hundreds of years old.

The (optional) 43 minute train ride up to the Gornergrat takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps; with wide open views of stunning mountain peaks. The Matterhorn and the beautiful Monte Rosa massif are but two of the highlights that can be seen from the open air patio or the observatory.

For a walk through time, visit the early years of life in Switzerland at the underground (5-star) Zermatterhoff museum.

As the evening shadows frame this mountain paradise, pick up some sandwiches, breads, cheeses, meats, salads and snacks for a fun picnic style dinner, as we all share tastes of what we brought for dinner aboard the train. A very special surprise awaits you on the trip back to Interlaken!

Day 6: Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn, Private rail journey to Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen

Today is another highlight of our tour, as our first rail adventure begins!! Picture post card scenery, spectacular flower gardens and window boxes, surround us all day long, as we make our way up to Lauterbrunnen, known as the Waterfall Valley. We transfer to the new tram, up the vertical side of the mountain to Grutsch Alp, where we transfer to a cog rail.

The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains are so close you could almost reach out and touch them. Our train ride to Mürren, perched high on the ledge of the mountain, takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Switzerland!

Mürren, one of the world's great ski villages, is home to the tram that will take us up to the Schilthorn. From this vantage point, you can see over 200 peaks of the snow covered Alps, from the Black Forest of Germany, to Mount Blanc in France. Time for photos and enjoy a light lunch (on own) in the revolving restaurant. This is the round building that was blown up in the James Bond movie, "In Her Majesty's Secret Service".

Beautiful gardens at Gruyeres Castle

On our descent from the Schilthorn, we will transfer to a gondola and begin our descent down the vertical side of the mountain, to Stechleberg, were we board a bus and travel through the Lauterbrunnen Valley, back to the rail station.

Returning back to Lauterbrunnen, we travel to Wengen, another famous ski resort area, where we begin another awesome rail adventure, not offered by many tours. We travel by private rail lines to Kleine Scheidegg, at the foot of the North Wall of the Eiger. This is where Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy starred in the movie "The Eiger Sanction."

This is a favorite stop by tour members, as we sit at long tables with blue and white gingham tablecloths, on the stone patio, as we marvel at the awesome Eiger North Wall, while enjoying real sauerkraut "n" wieners, rosti or whole potatoes, cooked outdoors in huge woks, or one of several scrumptious apple desserts with warm vanilla sauce! Be sure and pick out a souvenir in the gift shop, and yes..that's a real teepee across the rail tracks!!

Once again, we board the private rail line, as we return to Wengen, where we have some free time to explore this magical village, take pictures of magnificent scenery, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at one of the outdoor cafes. Evening shadows begin to fall as we make our way back down to Interlaken.

Your day is not over by any means yet!! Join me on a super night of fun!! We will have a contest where we all give a try at blowing the Alpen Horn!! Bob was so inspired by my groups last October, he bought some new horns!! During the contest, we will be dipping sliced pieces of fruit and bread into our Chocolate Fondue's!!! You will be proud to show the pictures of this night to all your friends back home.

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