Swiss Express

5 Day Tour

05 Days – Swiss Express (Code:SWEX)

Tour Highlights

  • Mt Titlis with entrance
  • Rhine Falls The largest plain waterfalls in Europe
  • Zurich City Tour Free time to explore
  • Lucerne City Tour view the Lion Monument & Chapel Bridge
  • Interlaken Free time to explore & shop

Price Includes

  • Return transportation by deluxe AC coach from Nationwide pick up points
  • Return channel crossing via Eurotunnel or Ferry
  • 3 nights accommodation in a 3/4* hotels with breakfast
  • 3 Indian dinners
  • Entrances and sightseeing as mentioned in Tour Highlights
  • All tips and service charges
  • Premium service of a Star Tours’ Representative
  • ABTA Legal Protection

Hotels

  • 2 nights at H+ Hotel & Spa Engelberg or similar
  • 1 night at 7Hotels & Fitness Strasbourg or similar

The Star Difference

  • Excursion to Mt. Titlis included in your price
  • Tips and service charges included
  • ABTA Protection

Additional Excursions

Excursions Adult Child
(6- 15 years)
Mt. Jungfrau 145 GBP
170 Euros
170 CHF
85 GBP
100 Euros
100 CHF
Ice Flyer 12 Euros 6 Euros
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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

London – Calais – Overnight Drive (Distance: 850 Kms – Overnight)


Today evening join up with your coach and depart towards Dover or Folkestone for your crossing to Calais; you will require your passports at hand as we will cross the UK and French immigration, as well as security. The crossing on the ferry will last approx. 90 Minutes; 40 minutes if the crossing is from the Euro Tunnel train.

Once we are in mainland Europe, we make our way directly towards Switzerland. We will be crossing through France, Belgium and possibly Luxembourg whilst we make our way towards Switzerland.

We will be covering quite a distance tonight and be driving throughout the night. We highly recommend you carry any essentials you require with you in person including a small wash bag with key toiletries.

Day 2

Rhine Falls – Central Switzerland (Distance: 250 Kms)


In the morning we will stop to freshen up at services after the overnight drive, you can purchase your own breakfast from the services.

We continue our journey heading through the Black Forest region of Germany and into Schaffhausen a city in north-eastern Switzerland on the river Rhine, next to the German border. On arrival why not take the time to admire the prime tourist attraction of the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest open-plain waterfalls. You have the time to enjoy a quick trip to the centre of falls on the erosion resistant rock or simply bide the short time we have here admiring the beauty from the banks of the River Rhine with the Wörth Castle in the backdrop.

We continue our journey from the Rhine falls toward Central Switzerland. We have our Indian meal either at the restaurant or the hotel before we settle in for our two nights at the hotel. We anticipate to be at the Hotel by 18:00 today, so you may have some time to freshen up in your rooms before we make our way for dinner.
D

Day 3

Central Switzerland – Interlaken (Mt Jungfrau) – Central Switzerland (Distance: 180 Kms)


We have an early breakfast today and head out on the coach towards Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen.

Today spend time in Interlaken, a small town nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The Höheweg is Interlaken’s main street which runs between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost Railway Stations, spend the time shopping away for souvenirs along the high street or simply admire the rich views of the Bernese Alps. Why not wander through the Kursaal Garden, where you can see a 350 Kg statue of the renowned Indian filmmaker, the late Yash Chopra.

For those of you not doing the Mt Jungfrau optional, you will have the full day in Interlaken. We recommend that you have activities or a day plan as Interlaken is a small town, so without any activities or day plan, you may find that there is little to do unless you explore the activities on offer.

Today you also have the opportunity to take an optional tour that your tour rep will present to you. You can choose to do Mt Jungfrau, which is located in the Lauterbrunnen valley. You will still have some time in Interlaken if you choose to do these optional tours.

If you choose the Mt Jungfrau optional you will head towards Lauterbrunnen Valley, the deepest U-shaped valley in the world with either side rising a sheer 1000 meters. We have a jaw-dropping train journey on a cogwheel that takes us up to the top of Mt. Jungfrau at 3454 meters above sea level. At the top, have free time to explore the Ice Palace to view life-sized ice sculptures carved from the Glacier, visit the Sphinx observation tower for spectacular views of the Aletsch glacier and surrounding peaks, often said you could see as far as Italy on a clear day. Then spend your remaining time buying souvenirs and chocolates before we meet up at our meeting point at the top and making your way back down.

This is a payable optional, so please speak your tour rep if you have any concerns regarding the optional.

After a jam-packed day in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, we make our way back for our Indian meal and hotel. With a day full of memories get in a good night sleep for another adventurous day tomorrow.
B,D

Day 4

Mt Titlis – Lucerne – Zurich City – Strasbourg Region (Distance: 350 Kms)


After breakfast today we ascend 10,000ft to the summit of Mt. Titlis. We take a small cable car or funicular depending on the time of the year before we take the world’s first revolving cable car, the Titlis Rotair. The Rotair makes one full revolution whilst we ascend to the top of Mt Titlis giving you a 360-degree view of the Uri Alps. Once we reach the top you can not only enjoy the breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding Swiss landscapes, but you will have ample time to take pictures in traditional Swiss outfits, buy souvenirs and walk the highest Cliff Walk, a suspended pedestrian bridge along the cliff of Mount Titlis 3,000 m above sea level, it is believed to be the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe (subject to operation). Spend the morning playing in the snow and visit the ice caves.

On Mt Titlis, you can also enjoy the optional Ice Flyer (subject to operation). The Ice Flyer chairlift sweeps you smoothly and safely over crisp, virgin snowfields and icy depths. Some of the crevasses are up to twenty metres deep. Only on Mt Titlis can you expect such a fantastic glacier experience, and don’t forget to smile as you can purchase a perfect souvenir of your picture from the photo studio shop.

We make our way down in the early afternoon, and board our coach and make our way down from Engelberg to the beautiful city of Luzern (Lucerne).

In Lucerne spend the time admiring Lake Luzern, the fourth largest lake in Switzerland, with Mt Pilatus, Mt Rigi and the Swiss Alps in the background, or take a wonderful walk around the Old Town and shop to your heart content in the pretty cobbled streets with top high street fashion names. Don’t forget to walk and view the Chapel Bridge also known as Kapellbrücke, the famous 204 meters long wooden covered bridge originally built in 1333, regarded as the oldest covered bridge in Europe. We later visit the Lion Monument, or the Lion of Lucerne, a rock relief, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. The carving has often been heralded as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world”.

We then drive heading North towards the commercial capital of Zurich. On arrival in Zurich spend the one-hour free time that your tour representative gives you in the city centre to discover Zurich city by foot, with the main highlights including – The Fraumünster Church, renowned for its stunning stained-glass windows created by Chagall. The Grossmunster evangelical protestant church in the mediaeval old town, or simply admire the beautiful lake of Zurich. The free-time given to you to check out a snapshot of Zurich city centre.

We board back onto the coach after another fun filled day heading for our evening Indian meal and hotel located in Strasbourg.
B,D

Day 5

Strasbourg Region – Calais – London (Distance: 850 Kms)


Today morning we depart very early from the Hotel, depending on the location we may be given a packed breakfast. We then check out of the hotel and depart towards Calais for your crossing to Dover or Folkestone.

We will be covering quite a distance today to reach London, so ensure you carry your key essentials and devices for your entertainment for the journey.

The journey back we say goodbye to friends we have made along the way as we drop off those getting off on the route.
Once we reach Calais, we cross over back into Dover or Folkestone depending on our crossing schedule for the tour on the day. We continue our journey towards Wembley and dropping passengers off at their respective drop-offs.

We arrive back at Wembley late in the evening.
B

Important Notes
On occasions, due to large events, traffic, logistics and availability of reservations, it may be necessary to change the above itinerary. However, all aspects of the itinerary will be covered.

This tour involves overnight travel on a coach.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner Book Now

Other Information

DEPARTURE DATES ADULT/CHILD from CHILD (2-11 YRS) from
Apr – 17, 23 $820.00 $680.00
May – 01, 23 $820.00 $680.00
Jun – 25 $820.00 $680.00
Jul – 09, 18, 25 $820.00 $680.00
Aug – 01, 06, 15, 21, 27 $820.00 $680.00
Sep – 03 $780.00 $640.00
Oct – 24 $780.00 $640.00
Nov – 12 $780.00 $640.00
Dec – 24 $780.00 $640.00


Price per person based on 2/3 adults sharing a room

Child 2 – 11 years must share a room with 2/3 adults

Infants 0 – 23 months price is from $345 for a seat in coach only

Max occupancy per room is 3 person (excluding infants)

$90 reduction will apply for 2nd child without a bed

Single supplement will be an additional $245

Discover general information about our tours by clicking here . Additionally, should you have any questions, our Frequently Asked Questions page may already contain the answers to your questions.

Country Capital Currency Visa Required Time Zone Electricity Country Code
Switzerland Berne CHF (Euro accepted at many places*) Schengen UTC + 1 230V,50Hz +41


*Change will be given back in local currency

Ice Flyer – The Ice Flyer chairlift sweeps you smoothly and safely over crisp, virgin snowfields and icy depths. Some of the crevasses are up to twenty metres deep. Only on Mt Titlis can you expect such a fantastic glacier experience.

Mt Jungfrau We have a jaw-dropping train journey on a cogwheel that takes us up to the top of Mt. Jungfrau at 3454 meters above sea level. At the top, have free time to explore the Ice Palace to view life-sized ice sculptures carved from the Glacier, visit the Sphinx observation tower for spectacular views of the Aletsch glacier and surrounding peaks.

In most of Western Europe, the currency you will require will be Euros. When travelling to Switzerland, you will need Swiss Francs (CHF). It is possible to purchase items in Euros whilst in Switzerland (selected establishments) however it should be noted that the change will be given back in CHF.

Passengers should exchange any spending money for their holiday before they actually travel. Whilst on tour it is very inconvenient and not all places you will visit will have ATM machines or accept credit/debit cards.

We also advise our passengers to keep some change in coins on them whilst on tour as using toilets in many parts of Europe is not free.

USD, GBP or travellers’ cheques are not widely accepted at locations in this tour.

An important point to note whilst on a touring holiday is that some long journeys are unavoidable especially when travelling from city to city.

It is advisable for passengers to carry necessities that they may need for the day such as water, dry snacks, cameras etc. with them in their hand luggage.

For this tour, it should be noted that the travel times are extensive on this tour.

Please see a summary of the distances you will be covering below:

From To Distance in kms(Approx) Travelling Time(Approx)
Wembley Dover 159 2hrs 30mins
Calais Rhine falls 800 10hrs 15mins Overnight Journey
Rhine falls Engelberg 144 2hrs
Engelberg Interlaken 86 1hr 20mins
Interlaken Grindelwald (Jungfraujoch) 20 30mins
Engelberg Lucerne 35 45mins
Lucerne Zurich 52 1hr 10mins
Zurich Strasbourg 223 3hrs
Strasbourg Calais 621 7hrs 15mins
Above is for indication purposes only

Breakfast will be provided at the hotels. The breakfast is usually in a separate dining area of the hotel and is usually a continental breakfast, which will consist of tea, coffee, bread, cereals, fruit and yoghurt.

Passengers can choose from different diets, including vegetarian, Jain or non-vegetarian (Halal will not always be available) meals. Passengers should advise the tour representative of their preferred diet on day one. The meals are pre-set buffet, and a choice of menu is not available. Meals will be provided with tap water only.

Lunches are not provided on this tour, where there is a possibility of stopping at a service station the choice for vegetarians may be limited. We highly recommend if you have specific dietary requirements then you should make arrangements to carry your own food for lunch.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office click on the link below to get Country specific details

For a full list of the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office click here

UK Residents USA Residents
France France
Germany Germany
Switzerland Switzerland


Not all hotels on this tour will have air-conditioning so you should carry a small portable fan with you especially during the summer months.

Please also note that not all hotels provide a kettle so if hot water is required for warming milk etc. in the hotel then it is advisable to carry a bottle warmer / kettle as well as a thermos flask. Passengers may also want to carry a small travel iron and hairdryer etc., as many hotel rooms may not have these facilities.

Some hotels in Europe, especially Germany, Switzerland, Austria & Italy will provide two single beds put together as a Double occupancy room, as this sort of configuration allows the hotel to use a room for multi-use, we do contract with such hotels, and you should be prepared for such eventualities.

If you use services such as the phone or minibar or pay TV whilst in your room, you will have to pay the hotel directly when you check out; these services are not included in your tour cost.

The maximum occupancy per room on this tour is 3 person(s).

General

Particular attention should be paid to the baggage allowance for this tour; this can be found on our general information page. Excess baggage may not be allowed on the coach.

The WC facilities on the coach will be restricted on this tour.

Please note this tour contains overnight drive on the coach.

High Altitude

You should only make trips to high altitudes if you feel healthy. The following recommendations apply:

Advanced age is no barrier to high altitude. For blood pressure patients who are well controlled with medication, the altitude is not a concern. Asthmatics can travel to high altitudes without any problems. High-altitude air is less polluted with particles that can cause an asthma attack. Epileptics who are well controlled with medication should be able to negotiate the altitude.

Pregnant women: There may be a certain risk for pregnancy even without pre-existing diseases over 2500-3000 metres. Caution is therefore advised if in doubt, please consult your doctor in advance.

Infants: Short-term stays at the mountain tops are unproblematic. Infants and young children are often unable to equalise pressure during descent and are therefore increasingly at risk of ear irritation. Regular swallowing (drinking, sucking on a bottle) during the descent can prevent the occurrence of irritation.

Because children can chill faster than adults, always pay attention to sufficient protection from the cold at high altitude. Sunglasses and a good sunscreen are necessary on the glaciers!

High altitude visits not recommended for:

Lung and heart patients who are already short of breath while at rest or when climbing stairs are advised not to stay at high altitude. Patients with angina pectoris or severely impaired performance with heart enlargement and heart failure should not visit high altitude. Coronary artery disease (angina pectoris) and heart enlargement with medical therapy should not visit high altitude. Patients with a pronounced risk profile for cardiovascular disease (smoker + high blood pressure + diabetes + high blood fats + overweight + occasional chest pain) should consult the doctor before visiting high altitude.

Do not stay at high altitude after having striated muscles or a stroke.

Passengers should arrive at their pick-up point no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Your pick-up point, address and time will be stated on your invoice. If you have selected a pick-up time outside of Wembley, Southall or East Ham then you will be confirmed your pick-up time.

Return journeys from the continent are scheduled to arrive at Dover or Folkestone between 19.00hrs and 20.00hrs approximately. We will then proceed to the original pick-up points in London (arrival time between 22.30hrs and 00.30hrs+1)

The below pick-up points are the only ones available:

Wembley

East Ham

Maidstone

Folkestone

Calais (subject to availability)

Dover (subject to availability)

Rhine Falls

Visa Details & Document Required Embassy to Apply Reason Port of Entry/Exit
Applying from UK (Click Here) French Max Stay Calais, France/Calais, France
Applying from India (Click Here) Swiss Max Stay Calais, France/Calais, France


A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals. Except for EU nationals holding a passport or national ID card which is valid for the duration of stay.

If you hold an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladesh Passport, you will need to obtain Schengen Visa prior to travelling. Many nationalities do not require Schengen visas, such as British, EU and American nationals. Should you need further clarification, please contact us.

Weather in much of Western Europe tends to be the same as England and is very unpredictable. Regardless of the time of the year, it is advisable to carry an umbrella.

Temperatures vary from place to place, and it is a good idea to check online for average temperatures for the destination(s) being visited depending on the time of the year.

On a multi-destination tour, it is likely passengers will travel through various weather fronts; whilst in Switzerland, during excursions to mountain tops passengers may experience temperatures between 0 °c and 2 °c whilst at the same time experience temperatures of over 30 °c whilst they are in France.

Passengers can be well prepared by ensuring they are carrying appropriate clothing, footwear and accessories. Passengers should also be aware that during the winter months most of the sightseeing will be in the dark as, in Europe, the day becomes dark very early during winter. Passengers should consult with Star Tours at the time of booking if they are unsure.

We will accept lightweight manual wheelchairs for travel, subject to them being capable of being stowed in the luggage hold of the coach. It is also essential that a family member is also on tour to push their wheelchair. Star Tour’s will also request hotels for suitably equipped rooms; however, this is only on a request basis and cannot be guaranteed. It should be noted Mt Titlis and Mt Jungfrau is not fully accessible for a wheelchair user. Luzern will have cobbled streets, which may not be suitable for wheelchairs.

The trains and platforms at Trummelbach Waterfalls will not be fully accessible for those on wheelchairs.

In most of Europe, the use of child seats in coaches is mandatory for children under the age of 12 or who are shorter than 150 cm. Children under 7 years old or less than 125 cm tall must use a child seat with a harness or a restraint system. Children between 7 and 12 years old or between 125 and 150 cm tall must use a booster seat or a seat cushion. It is the responsibility of the child’s parent or guardian to provide the appropriate child seat for their child.

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