Marvel at the majesty of the Swiss Alps, glacier valleys, turquoise lakes, and mighty waterfalls as we explore the picturesque villages in the awe-inspiring region of Jungfrau via cog railways, cable cars, and boats.
Renowned for its postcard-perfect views of snow-capped mountains, nostalgic timber homes, and hotels dating back to the Belle Époque period, the enchanting village of Wengen is our home for six nights. There are no cars, only pristine meadows, forests, and mountains surrounding the town. The tranquility of the place allows you to enjoy the fairy-tale landscapes even more. None other than J.R.R. Tolkien most likely used the towns of Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Grindelwald as inspiration for his Middle Earth.
June 17-25, 2025
Package Includes:
Round-trip airfare from Raleigh/Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Seven nights’ hotel accommodations
- Twelve meals: seven breakfasts and five dinners
- Wine and beer reception
- All sightseeing and admissions per itinerary
- Deluxe motor coach transportation
- Professional tour guide and driver
- Our State host
- Baggage handling and hotel transfers
- Six nights in Wengen
- One night in Zurich
- International air departure taxes/fuel
Accommodations:
- Six nights in Wengen: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn
- One night in Zurich: Dorint or Hilton Hotel
Itinerary Highlights:
- Berner Oberland Rail Pass
- Swiss Rail excursions and transportation — trains, cogs, cable cars, boats, and buses
- Bern
- Interlaken
- Grindelwald
- Gimmelwald
- Mürren
- Lake Brienz cruise
- Wood-carving school
- Meiringen
- Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola
- Cableway
- Trümmelbach Falls
- Lucerne city tour with Chapel Bridge
- Aare River Gorge
- Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge
- Six nights in Wengen
- One night in Zurich
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart from U.S.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Today, board your overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2: Arrive in Zurich • Bern • Wengen
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Upon arrival in Zurich, Switzerland, meet your Premier World Discovery tour director. Travel to Bern, the beautiful capital city of Switzerland, featuring cobblestone streets under medieval arches, making it one of Europe’s most picturesque cities and registered as a UNESCO historic site. See the Rose Garden, one of the most beautiful parks in Bern, offering an unrivaled view over the rooftops of the historic Old Town. Also see the impressive Zytglogge (Glockenspiel), a landmark medieval tower built in the early 13th century that has served the city as guard tower, prison, and clock tower. Later, travel up into the massive Swiss Alps and arrive in Lauterbrunnen, with its towering cliffs. Say goodbye to the motor coach for a few days as you begin using your included Berner Oberland Regional Rail Pass, which gives access to rail, cable car, bus, and boat. Travel by cog railway up to the enchanting alpine village of Wengen, your home for the next six nights. Wengen is a picturesque, small village in the Jungfrau region and could represent the Swiss Alps on a postcard as it features no cars, mountains all around, green meadows, and forests surrounding the village. Tonight, enjoy a wine and beer reception followed by a welcome dinner with your fellow Our State travelers.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 3: Trümmelback Falls • Gimmelwald • Mürren
Thursday, June 19, 2025
This morning, board the cog railway for an excursion to the glacier-carved Lauterbrunnen Valley. Board a Postbus to Trümmelbach Falls, a series of ten glacier-fed waterfalls inside the mountain made accessible by a tunnel-funicular built in 1913. Go inside the mountain and see how the falls have carved incredible caves. Next, take the cable car up to Gimmelwald, a small, traffic-free village in the Bernese Oberland. Then continue to Mürren to enjoy some time at leisure in this car-free village noted for hiking paths surrounded by bell-ringing cows, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Ride the funicular up to Allmendhubel (altitude 6,200 feet) for the view, or take the Schilthorn Cable Car up to the summit of Piz Gloria (additional cost, altitude 9,700 feet). The panoramic revolving restaurant at the summit was featured in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Later, return to Wengen, where dinner with your fellow travelers is included this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 4: Wilderswil • Lake Brienz Cruise • Rothorn Steam Train
Friday, June 20, 2025
Today begins with a visit to Wilderswil to board the vintage cog railway up to Schynige Platte for incredible views of the surrounding mountain peaks (altitude 6,800 feet). Later, take in the scenery as you cruise across the turquoise blue waters of Lake Brienz. Then ride the Brienzer Rothorn Steam Train to the heights of the Rothorn through alpine meadows and the sound of Swiss cow bells to experience more views of the impressive Alps. Later return to Wengen and enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 5: Day at Leisure • Optional Tour to Zermatt
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Today, enjoy free time in Wengen to shop, hike, and explore with your travel pass. Maybe join an optional day trip to the famous car-free ski resort village of Zermatt, situated at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn, one of the world’s most famous mountain peaks. Enjoy time at leisure to explore Zermatt on your own. Perhaps peruse the luxury boutiques and shops or enjoy a meal in a ski lodge. Maybe ride up the cogwheel railway to the Gornergrat (additional cost; weather permitting; 9,500 feet), offering incredible views of the Matterhorn and 29 of the highest peaks in Europe. Return to Wengen after a long but rewarding day and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 6: Optional Jungfraujoch Mountain Rail Excursion • Grindelwald
Sunday, June 22, 2025
This morning is at leisure to relax or join the half-day optional Jungfraujoch Mountain Rail, where the highest railway station in Europe is located (11,300 feet). This afternoon, travel via cog railway to enjoy the included visit to the resort village of Grindelwald to explore, shop, or visit a local café. Later, continue to “Summit in First” via the Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway, Europe’s longest cable car, to an altitude of 7,600 feet. Return to Wengen for an evening at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 7: Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge • Are River Gorge • Meiringen
Monday, June 23, 2025
Today, travel by cog train along the sheer walls of the Swiss Alps back to nearby Grindelwald. Then board a famed yellow Postbus and travel through the most remote portions of Switzerland for exploration of the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge and the amazing 600-foot deep Aare River Gorge, carved over thousands of years by the Aare River. Later, travel to the village of Meiringen known for being the home of the tasty meringue and the site of Sherlock Holmes’s final case. Enjoy some time on your own to visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum and try a meringue at a café. This afternoon, ride the panoramic Express Train along Lake Brienz to Interlaken, then the cog train up to your hotel in Wengen. Later, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hotel Silberhorn or Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen
Day 8: Brienze • Lucerne
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
This morning, descend on the now familiar cog railway and board your motor coach for the first time in days. Visit one of the most scenic local resident streets in Europe, the Brunngasse in Brienz, which will include a visit to a local wood-carving shop. Then travel over Brünig Pass to Lucerne, situated in the geographical heart of Switzerland and poetically described by Alexandre Dumas as “a pearl in the world’s most beautiful oyster.” Enjoy a Lucerne walking tour, featuring the famous Lion’s Monument, the historic wooden Chapel Bridge, and a walk along the shores of beautiful Lake Lucerne. Continue to Zurich and check in to your hotel for your final night. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Dorint or Hilton Hotel in Zurich
Day 9: Departure
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Transfer to the Zurich airport for your flight home, filled with wonderful memories of your Alpine Swiss Villages & Rails tour.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Rates:
Regular rate: $5,699 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single rate: $6,574
Make your final payment by check prior to the final payment due date and receive a booking discount of $100 per person.
For Reservations & More Information:
Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com
Tour Activity Level 4 & Altitude:
Please note, this exciting program is active with daily walking, train rides, and other modes of transportation like cable cars, boats, motorcoaches & buses. Program may not be appropriate for wheelchair or other mobility aids. The village of Wengen sits at an altitude of 4,200 ft. Max elevation of included sightseeing is 7,600 ft. Optional excursions are weather permitting and feature high altitudes up to 11,300 ft. (Jungfraujoch). Please check with your doctor if altitude is a potential health concern if considering the optional sightseeing. Order of days is subject to change due to weather and other scheduling.
For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.