I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to experience the Bernina Express and Lake Garda for a few days with Fred Holidays. I travelled across Europe by rail stopping in Chur and Lake Garda and finishing with a flight back to Bristol. It was an amazing experience, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. I was very lucky with the weather and was able to take in the breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps and Italian lakes.
Day one started with an early morning in St Pancras to catch the Eurostar to Paris. Once on board I was able to relax and enjoy pastries and coffee for breakfast from the buffet car. Upon arrival in Paris there was a transfer waiting to take us from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon to catch the next train. You could do this using the metro, however it was nice to have someone waiting at the station and give us a quick glimpse of the streets of Paris as we travelled between stations. The next train journey was from Paris to Zurich. This was a longer journey however the seats were comfortable and there was plenty of space to get up and walk between the carriages to stretch your legs. You could also order hot and cold sandwiches and drinks to pick up from the cafe car. The final leg of day one was a quick hop between Zurich and Chur. My hotel for the night was the Hotel Stern Chur. It was a small traditional Swiss hotel with friendly staff, delicious food in the restaurant and comfortable rooms.
Day 2 was definitely the highlight of the trip with a journey on the Bernina Express. This famous red train operates from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy with large panoramic windows, travelling across the UNESCO-listed Bernina railway and showcasing the gorgeous alpine scenery. It is approximately a 4-hour journey from start to finish with food and drink available to purchase on board. I was lucky enough to travel in first class where the seats were more spacious. There are a number of landmarks along the way that they make announcements for such as the Landwasser Viaduct, Brusio Spiral Viaduct, Palü Glacier as well as the many lakes and valleys. The train also passes through 55 tunnels to help with gaining and losing altitude. The journey started with green valleys and snow-topped mountains in the
background but as the train climbed higher into the Alps, the scenery changed to frozen waterfalls and glaciers, thick snow on the ground and people skiing down the mountains. There is a viewpoint called Alp Grum where the train stopped for 10 minutes to allow passengers to get off and take photos of the dramatic scenery at one of the highest points.
After the Bernina Express journey ended in Tirano, I continued on to Lake Garda where I stayed for the next two nights. I stayed at the Park Hotel in Desenzano del Garda, which is a lovely modern hotel on the lakefront.
Desenzano is beautiful and typically Italian with small streets, cafes, churches, an old harbour and a castle with views across the lake. I also took a boat trip over to Sirmione which is another similar resort town further around the lake where I took a walk around the town, had some lunch in front of the castle, and visited the ruins of a Roman villa. Many of the resorts around the lake are easily accessible by boat for only a few euros, which is perfect for taking day trips. I also indulged in some delicious Italian cuisine including pizza, pasta, breads, gelato and wine! I would love to go back to Lake Garda in the summer/autumn when the weather is better, and I can fully appreciate its beauty and sit out by the water in many of the independent cafes and restaurants.
In summary, for anyone considering the Bernina Express you should definitely go! The scenery is breathtaking, and I saw more than I thought I would from the tracks. I would definitely recommend doing it in March or April when the tops of the mountains are still covered in snow, but you can also see the green grass and blue lakes down in the villages. I was also pleasantly surprised by how easy the train travel was from London, meaning for anyone who doesn't want to or is unable to fly, there are so many destinations accessible by train.
I can tailor make an itinerary like this to suit your needs so please reach out to me at Miles Morgan Travel Portishead. Phone: 01275 774 454 Email: [email protected]
