Day 8 - Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne
Watch the immense history and breathtaking landscapes of
Switzerland unfold as you travel from Lugano to Lucerne on the
legendary Gotthard Panorama Express. Keep your eyes peeled and
your camera ready; the amazing sights begin almost immediately.
Leaving Lugano, there are vineyards, colorful resort villages,
castles, and beautiful Lake Maggiore. The train continues through
spiral loops and the 9-mile-long Gotthard tunnel before emerging in
a more traditional alpine atmosphere. Moving into the Reuss River
Valley, watch as the landscape narrows between the mountains.
The Gotthard Panorama Express follows the river, through
the lovely town of Amsteg and into pristine mountain meadows on
tracks which are truly a marvel of engineering, given the
landscape.
In Flüelen, disembark the train, and prepare for the final leg
of your journey, a cruise on Lake Lucerne aboard an authentic
paddle steamer. Forested cliffs frame Lake Lucerne, and in the
background, the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps add another
dimension of beauty. You will see harbors and colorful buildings as
the boat passes lakeside towns, and after a leisurely journey, you
arrive in Lucerne. Make your way to the hotel upon docking, then
enjoy an evening to explore the city's gastronomic delights or to
take in the sights of historical architecture bathed in the evening
light. Overnight Lucerne.
Includes