Hi Harry -
<<"would it be possible that you guys tell me your thoughts on this package?">>
I know nothing about tours...I have done it myself in Switzerland since 1980. I enjoy the process, and Switzerland makes it easy for tourists.
Perhaps others can jump in.
That said, the contents look good, it has a lot of mountains, which certainly fall within your definition of scenery, it is longer than you said you wanted to spend, and the cost seems to me to be not unreasonable for transport and hotels, which usually include breakfast in Switzerland.
With your chosen time limits, it matches the times I would allocate to the two chosen towns...Luzern and somewhere in the Jungfrau region, such as Interlaken. Interlaken, per se, is a better transfer point than tourist destination. I'd stay at Grindelwald or Wengen, if I were doing that trip. But, as note below, if th weather is bad, Interlaken is closer to contingencies, with good train connections to the rest of Switzerland.
Arno and Annika are the experts on the rail passes, and can comment on what the Swiss Travel Pass Combi would cost, and what it covers. Not sure the travel pass combi matches your number of days exactly, but that probably does not matter.
www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpassflex/pric e
Also, they probably know a lot more about relative cost vs. do it yourself, and may know about that specific tour.
As far as i can tel, the tour does not include a guide. Forgive me if i don't understand that point.
If it is true, you could do the same trip on your own, by buying the appropriate rail pass, and picking hotels from the information available on this website. The cost of the package vs. do it yourself may well be worth the convenience for you, but you'll find that English works well, and that you can get around easily on the superb train system.
Items to consider-
1.- Late October has a break point in travel facilities in the high Alps. You plan to have a few days in the Jungfrau region. A trip to the Jungfrau region is mentioned. That is expensive, even with any kind of discounted travel with any of various rail travel passes. Is it included in the cost? Or, do you have to buy the discounted ticket for that in addition?
After October 23, the cable way to scenic heights stop running until mid December, when the ski season starts. Early October still has good hiking at higher altitudes, but winter is coming in fast. The cograil train to Jungfraujoch runs all year, and will not be crowded in late October. Many hotels are shut for autumn break...maintenance, repairs, vacations. Many are still open, however.
2.- Weather -
You have a few days in Interlaken. That is a good base if the weather does not cooperate at high altitude. The mountains around and up to the top of the Jungfrau are stunningly beautiful, if you can see them. If you can't, you have paid a lot to look at the inside of one or more clouds. The weather changes frequently, and it comes in layers with different altitudes.
Local sources can keep you informed; you may want to switch days around, and perhaps, skip the trip to Gstaad, At that time of year, the hotels are not usually full, and if you are on your own, you would very likely be able to switch dates. If the tour has fixed dates for hotel reservations, you might have no flexibility.
Sunset will be at around 6 Pm or 5PM in late October with the change to Winter time on the 30th.
dateandtime.info/citys unrisesunset.php?id=2660253
Slowpoke
