How you can experience three of the world's best trains in one trip
The inimitable romance of rail journeys has long held a special place in the collective imagination. Trains somehow encapsulate a bygone, golden era of travel that's both glamorous and more environmentally friendly than the planes that fill the skies.
Perhaps it's the fact that trains can glide through endless tableaux of incredible scenery, offering ever-changing views while we remain stationary in motion – ideally in some opulently comfortable carriage with vast windows to gaze out of.
While all that might seem a world away from packed commuter routes or stuffy tubes, it turns out that there are still some unbelievably beautiful rail routes that can be taken right here in Europe.
And three of the very best snake through some particularly dramatic scenery in the Swiss Alps and across the border with northern Italy – the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express and the Centovalli Railway, all of which you can board with Country Living's eight-day tour of the Italian lakes and Swiss Alps.
REDISCOVER THE ROMANCE OF RAIL JOURNEYS WITH CL
This trip takes place in early autumn, one of the best times to visit, when the green of summer turns to vibrant burnt orange and golden brown and the temperatures are perfectly mild for walking.
This unforgettable journey begins in Brig, before travelling through the Mattertal Valley to the legendary town of Zermatt, where you'll find Swiss Alpine charm aplenty. There will also be the chance to see the iconic peak of the Matterhorn, before you move on to Lake Maggiore, where you'll soak up 'Grand Tour' charm and visit Isola Bella with its dazzling Baroque palazzo.
After a stop in Montreux, on the sun-dappled shores of Lake Geneva, it will be time to board the Glacier Express on day five of the trip. On this four-hour journey, you'll wind through impossibly beautiful scenery, including soaring mountains, vast waterfalls, river-filled ravines and forest-clad hillsides.
The route passes through the Upper Rhine Gorge (also known as the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'), which is only accessible by rail, and climbs up to 6,700 feet at the legendary Oberalp Pass. Taking all this in from the comfort of a famous train carriage is truly a dream come true, especially because at the end of it you'll arrive in Chur then head on to Klosters, the British Royal family's favourite ski resort.
EXPLORE THE SWISS ALPS WITH CL
On day seven of the tour, it's time for another historic train journey: the Bernina Express. This one, along with its surrounding countryside, are so scenic that they've been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You'll soon see why as you ride to Tirano, just across the Italian border through more than 50 tunnels and across nearly 200 bridges, passing glamorous St Moritz and reaching Ospizio Bernina, which, at 7,400 feet, is Europe's highest through station. The views over the snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes will be remembered for a lifetime.
And, as if that were not enough to tempt railway lovers and all kinds of other travellers, there's also the chance to board the Centovalli Railway. During this journey, you'll see chestnut forests full of life, waterfalls cascading down dramatic cliffs and quaint villages full of authentic charm.
You Might Also Like
