Great Rail Journeys of Switzerland: The Bernina Express and Ticino

We enjoy a mountain excursion to Schatzalp which we ascend by means of a funicular railway from Davos. Here we will visit the Alpinum Schatzalp, home to 3,500 plant species and flower varieties from the world’s high mountain regions with glorious views over the valley below. In the afternoon we return to Davos, where the rest of the day is free to explore this chic resort, famous as host of the annual World Economic Forum.

Today we check out of the hotel and transfer to Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton in the south of Switzerland. Our highly scenic journey through the Swiss Engadin Alps involves a combination of bus, regional train and the Bernina Express, which uses special panoramic coaches with enlarged windows. We will break our journey in Tirano, so for a brief time we will be in Italy before re-entering Switzerland and continuing to our hotel in Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino canton.

We discover Bellinzona, home to three of the best preserved medieval castles in Switzerland and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We begin with a guided tour of the city with a local guide before visiting one of the three castles, the Castelgrande. The remainder of the day is at leisure, with the option of visiting the other two castles, Montebello and Sasso Corbara. We will be issued with a Ticino Card which allows free access to the castles, other tourist attractions and free public transport.

After breakfast this morning we take a 20-minute train ride to Lugano, a bustling yet pleasant town on the shore of the lake of the same name, and known as one of the warmest places in Switzerland with a sub-tropical micro-climate. After some free time we transfer by private boat from Lugano-Paradiso across the lake to Grotto Descanso where we will learn how to make a traditional risotto before consuming the fruits of our labours for lunch, with an apero and wine included. In the afternoon we return by boat to Lugano-Paradiso and take the funicular railway to the top of the Monte San Salvatore which affords lovely views over Lake Lugano. Returning to Lugano we have free time to explore the town. Recommended are visits to Ciani Park on the shore of the lake, or Tassino Park, an English-style rose garden in a sun-drenched position. We return by train to Bellinzona.

This morning is at leisure with an opportunity to make further use of our Ticino Cards. Recommended is a visit to the Villa dei Cedri, home to the Municipal Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art. In the afternoon we take the train to Locarno, which lies at the north-eastern tip of Lake. After some time to explore we transfer by coach to the nearby charming town of Ascona. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant back in Bellinzona.

Today we transfer to Milan airport for our return flight to London.