5 days January itinerary Switzerland and rail pass

Hi, due to some last minute changes to our travel plan, we will be flying in from London to Switzerland on 28 Dec and out from Switzerland to Barcelona on 1 Jan 2016.

As this is our first time travelling to Switzerland, we need some advice on itinerary and transportation as am quite overwhelmed with all the information. We will be travelling with our parents (aged 60+), thus, would prefer a good mix of sightseeing and winter activities for our itinerary, not too pack as am worried it will be too tiring for them.

Have drafted the below itinerary and would appreciate any feedback:

28 Dec 2015 Flight to Zurich Airport. Train from airport to Lucerne

29 Dec 2015 Travel from Lucerne to Mount Titlis

30 Dec 2015 1/2 day trip from Lucerne to Berns. Train to Interlaken.

31 Dec 2015 Trip to Jungfraujoch. Night Train to Zurich.

1 Jan 2015 Flight from Zurich Airport to Barcelona

Appreciate your advice on the following too:

a) Are public transportation available on New Year and New Year Eve? The operating hours as am not sure what time we should start and end our day.

b) Opening hours for shops / places of interest in Switzerland?

c) Are we able to do dog-sledge (guided) in any of the location as my parents have indicated interest in this activity? If not, can you help advise the location and proposed itinerary?

d) Does it makes sense for us to take the scenic train ride e.g. Glacier / Bernina?

e) What type of rail pass should we opt for? And can help provide detailed information on point to point connections?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Regards,Este

Hi Este,

a) Public transport is available. For detailed schedules you can check the timetable.

b) Places of interest (museums, cable cars) are typically open 6 or 7 days a week during the day, but you'd better check the website of those places. There are links on all our attraction pages (click 'What to do' in the main menu). As for shops/supermarkets, please see here.

c) Dog sledding is not really common in Switzerland. There are a few places where you can do it if the snow conditions are right, but it takes quite some time, also to get there. You don't seem to have time for it in your plans. Here are a few links:

• www.myswissalps.com/activities/winter/snow
• www.erlebniswelt.ch/ho me/
• www.outivity.ch/teamev ents/huskyplausch-halber-tag
• www.jurabernois.ch/en/ leisure-activities/fun.594/dog sledding.3451.html
• www.huskypower.ch/spar enmoos.html

d) Those two trains are not near the towns you intend to visit. You could include part of the Golden Pass line.

e) A Swiss Half Fare Card would fit your current plan. How to pick the best pass is explained here.

Hi Arno, thanks for the detailed information!

I will skip the dog sledging as the location is too far.

May I know:

a) if there are any chocolate making workshops / sledge activities that are suitable for elderly?

b) the recommended duration for trip from Lucern to Mt Titlis; Interlaken to Jungfraujoch? The recommended timing to start the trip?

c) For Swiss half fare card, do I purchase the tickets online or over the counter at the train station? Is it possible to do advance purchase? Is it applicable for trips to and from airport?

Thank you!

Regards, Esther

Hi Esther,

a) Please see www.funkychocolateclub .ch/en/workshops, for example. There's also a chocolate tour in the Swiss Museum of Transport, but it's not a workshop. Sledging is suitable for all ages if you take it slow. You best ask the local tourist agency for the options, as it is weather (snow) dependent. There are certainly options on Mount Rigi (see www.rigi.ch/Adventures /Sport-en/Sledging) and in the Jungfrau region.

b) They each take half to a full day. Please see our pages www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis and www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch.

c) You'd normally buy them before you board the train, either from the machine or the counter. This applies to all trips. Please see here for where to buy the Swiss Half Fare Card itself. You need one for each adult.