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Switzerland

Splendors of Switzerland by Rail

Program No. 15879RJ
Discover museums, villages, waterways and culture as you explore the Swiss Alps by rail, winding through some of Europe's most iconic and photograph-worthy landscapes.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
16 days
Program Begins
Lucerne
Program Concludes
Zurich
Meals
33 ( 14B, 11L, 8D )
Activity Level
Switzerland’s rail network winds through 3,000 miles of meadows and mountains, making it the densest railroad system in the world. Travel classic routes through the Swiss Alps, ride along the famed Glacier Express route and experience the picturesque Swiss-Italian narrow gauge line. Hear German spoken in central Switzerland, Italian in Locarno and Romansh in St. Moritz as you compare the history and culture of these diverse areas.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Ascend Mount Rigi, the “Queen of the Mountains,” aboard Europe’s oldest cog railway.
  • Take a train to Zermatt and see Switzerland's most famous mountain, the Matterhorn.
  • Walk underneath the medieval arcades in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
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Esther Felder
Esther Felder was born in Basel, Switzerland. In school, she focused on music and history, and before entering the University of Basel, worked at the Roman site Augusta Raurica. She spent some of her undergraduate years at the University of Strasbourg, France. In 2010, she earned her Master’s, and in 2011 a high school teaching diploma. Since 2010, Esther has worked as a history and geography teacher in Basel. She loves studying other languages and has traveled throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
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Julie Guidotti
Julie Guidotti, a Minnesota native, made Ticino her home in 1990. She appreciates the unique combination of Italian lifestyle and language mixed with Swiss efficiency in this southern-most canton. An educational excursion leader since 2003, Julie knows the region’s history, culture, and cuisine. She loves to show visiting groups, journalists, and other explorers the varied areas of the canton and just how much culture, history and nature Ticino has to offer in a relatively compact area. She speaks English, German, and Italian as well as the local dialect that is still spoken in many of the villages.
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Peter W. Frey
Peter W. Frey was born and educated in Baden, Switzerland, spending a year as a foreign exchange student in the U.S. He studied history, sociology, and law at the Universities of Berne and Zurich, then joined the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. He worked as newscaster, anchorman, editor, foreign correspondent, radio news director, and producer. Peter now enjoys writing, volunteering for the International Amateur Radio Union, and studying 19th century Swiss emigration to the U.S. He has lectured for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
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Ursula Heckendorn
Ursula Heckendorn was born in 1982 and spent most of her life in Basel, Switzerland. After she attained her degree in social work, she worked as a social worker in Interlaken. Ursula has traveled extensively throughout Eastern Europe. Since 2011, Ursula has been living in Bucharest, Romania. She completed a master’s degree with a focus on Romanian risk groups and their support services, and for the last few years, she has been street worker with homeless people and families in Bucharest.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to three miles daily, sometimes on uneven, hilly terrain. Must carry your own luggage on and off trains. Elevations up to 7,690 feet.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (22 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Call 800-454-5768
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Assurance Plan

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Sustainable Travel

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