Marilyn Foster: Three scenic trains highlight Switzerland tour

One of the most scenic countries in the world is Switzerland. The mountains, the alpine lakes, the quaint villages, the scenic trains, all add up to quite the visual travel experience that will have you reaching for your camera almost every few minutes.

The Chamber chose to feature the new Collette Tour of Switzerland because of all the train buffs in our area, although these trains are not the trains of yesteryear. They are the trains of today capable of traveling up mountains, around major bends, and sometimes even going from one size track to another.

The featured trains are the panoramic Golden Pass Train between Gstaad and Montreux; the Glacier Express Train from Zermatt to St. Moritz that includes a three-course lunch aboard; and the Bernina Pass train between St. Moritz and Tirana, Italy. We promise you will spend a lot of time enjoying time on a train on this trip.

The commonality between all trains is the outside panoramic view of the Swiss countryside, but that’s where the commonality ends. The Golden Pass Express is the world’s first train that can change height and wheel gauge and jump tracks to allow riders to remain in their comfortable seats instead of changing trains. And, no more having to jump up or down from the cars to the platform. The train can raise or lower to meet the platform making it easier for the mobility challenged. This is the newest of the trains you will experience launched in late 2022.

The Glacier Express train has been around since 1930 and is the slower but mighty train allowing a visitor to take in every inch of scenery through the Swiss Alps. It’s a seven-hour journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz and you’ll love every minute as you relax over lunch and a glass of wine while enjoying your traveling companions.

Your final train, the iconic red Bernina Express Train, travels between St. Moritz and Tirano, Italy. It is such a special train that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage experience in 2008. What makes this train so special is that it makes a 360-degreee turn on the nine-arch spiral viaduct in Brusio that opened in 1908 and today is termed an engineering masterpiece.

This unique trip is perfectly suited to those who love romantic towns and good food. And rail travel has always been thought of as romantic as well. Most stops feature two-night stays. You’ll fly from Reno to Zurich and then the adventure begins. There will be some motorcoach travel, but it’s the trains that are the feature. This is a seven-night tour featuring 11 meals. And, as with all Collette Tours, you can go early or stay longer. Surprisingly, in today’s travel world, this is a well-priced tour.

View the complete tour on the Chamber’s Travel Club page at https://carsoncitychamber.com/spotlight/details/chamber_travel_club or stop by the office at 1900 S. Carson St. to pick up a brochure. I just know this trip is going to sell-out.

Already been to Switzerland? There are some other trips you may enjoy. For the adventuresome, Egypt and Jordan is on our list, as is Iceland. A bit more tame are the tours planned to Southern Italy and Sicily as well as Spain and Portugal and Scotland and Ireland. The Memorials of World War II is just about sold out and is perfect for the World War II historian wanting to experience the journey our soldiers took starting in London and ending in the battlefields of France.

Prefer to stay in your own wonderful U.S.A.? The Southern Charm trip taking in Charleston, Savannah, Jekyll Island is one you won’t want to miss as you learn about the Civil War and the shot heard around the world at the sea fort of Ft. Sumter that officially began the war on April 12, 1861.

America’s Cowboy Country will have you returning home full of Americana pride as you visit the best of western national parks to include Yellowstone and salute the flag at Mt. Rushmore.

If you haven’t seen the Badlands in South Dakota, you will have missed the incredible scenery in our own country in a state one doesn’t think of often. I always advise, travel while you still can! So much of the world awaits and we’re not getting any younger.

Marilyn Foster is 94 and has traveled extensively and regrets she can’t just jump on a plane anymore but encourages all to do so.