Via natural wonders
to ancient gems
LONDON – ZURICH – BERNINA PASS – LAKE COMO – BOLOGNA – MATERA - FLIGHT HOME
All long stretches of this vacation are in great comfort in premium first class
One of the world’s most spectacular railways takes you to two nights at Lake Como
One of the most enchanting, fascinating and ancient towns in all of Europe
Via the Alps and Lake Como
- to Southern Italy -
Film makers love stunning locations, so the latest James Bond movie opens in Matera. For the opening scene, they constructed a fake tunnel to make it seem as if Bond arrives in his Aston Martin having just turned off  a scenic Mediterranean coastal road.  Because  film makers also know that the journey is as important as the destination.
And so it is with our rail vacation to Matera: You arrive at this ancient Southern Italian town via stunning Alpine passes and the picturesque Lake Como. Because we believe in combining breathtaking locations with spectacular journeys, too.Â
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Matera is a complex of cave dwellings on the edge of a gorge that have housed humans since the Paleolithic era, although never in as much comfort as today when many of the caves have been turned into unique restaurants, artisan shops, and four- and five-star boutique hotels. Â The dozens of primitive rock churches with their beautiful frescoes still look much like they did 1000 years ago.
A rail adventure through the Alps and Italy
Your journey to this magical and mesmerizing town is an adventure in its own right: Lunch in a classic 1930s dining car as you travel on the world-famous Bernina railway. A night in a mountain hotel on a narrow ridge overlooking a vast glacier. Relaxation at the pool in an elegant hotel in the most charming small town on the shore of Lake Como.
Travel in Europe’s three finest premium first classes
Much of your journey to Southern Italy in in premium first class: You start your adventure with a cocktail in the exclusive Eurostar Premier lounge at King’s Cross St Pancras, continue with lunch and wine as you travel under the Channel, and later that same day enjoy dinner in TGV Lyria Premier Signature as your train speeds toward the Alps. Your rail journey over the Bernina Pass is the scenic highlight of the vacation. The final stretch through Italy and alongside the Adriatic is in grand comfort in Executive Class on Italy’s flagship Frecciarossa train, with lunch, prosecco and expresso served ad libitum.
Enjoy two nights in Zurich, at Lake Como, in Bologna and finally in Matera (plus one night at 3000 meters altitude in the Alps). Choose between perfectly located four-star hotels or luxurious five-star accommodation. Â Chauffeured cars await you in front of every railway station and hotel.
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✓ Rail travel in premium first class where available
✓ – with lunch, wine and champagne served at your seat
✓ Classic 1930s dining car on the Bernina railway
✓ One night in a mountain hotel at 3000 meters above sea level
✓ Experience Zurich, Lake Como, Bologna and Matera
✓ Chaufeurred cars between hotels and railway stations
✓ Choose between perfectly located four- and five-star hotels
✓ Independent travel with total peace of mind
✓ Departure from London every day all year
The price is per person in a shared double room on a  premium vacation. The journey includes train tickets with seat reservations, hotels with breakfast, flight home, and full peace of mind with a 24-hour emergency hotline.
Silver Tray is a member of the Travel Guarantee Fund.
Start with a glass of champagne
Begin your journey in style. Your premium first class ticket allows you to fast-track security at St Pancras, giving you more time to relax in the exclusive lounge before boarding the first of many great trains on this vacation.
Wine and dine your way to the Alps
Day one takes you all the way to Zurich in grand style, with premium first class all the way. Lunch and wine under the Channel in Eurostar Premiere, personal VIP transfer service in Paris, and dinner and free bar in TGV Lyria Premiere Signature to Switzerland.
Have lunch in a classic dining car
Anyone can ride on the spectacular Bernina railway, but you get to do it in classic style in a 1930s dining car serving local Graubunden specialities a la carte. (Please note that this lunch is at your own expense).
Cross the lofty Bernina Pass
The scenic highlight of the vacation is your crossing of the Bernina Pass over 2100 meters above sea level, with stunning views of glaciers, snowy peaks and mountain lakes.
Relax in Europe's most sumptous cabin
Board Italy’s flagship Frecciarossa and step into Executive Class, Europe's finest train car with only ten ultra-wide reclining seats, steward service, and a four-course à -la-carte lunch with wine and prosecco. The views alongside the Adriatic coast are very pleasant, too.
Savour the magical aura of Matera
Inhabited for over 9,000 years, Matera is unlike any town you have ever seen, with seemingly normal house facades hiding ancient cave dwellings that have now been turned into comfortable and unique restaurant, shops and boutique hotels.
Travel with total peace of mind
You travel independently, but Silver Tray is always behind you. Should any issues arise with trains, hotels or transfers, our team is available 24/7 to assist. We handle all the practicalities and it never costs you a penny extra.
Your journey day by day
Start your vacation with a luxurious first day. At St Pancras,
ease through the station with fast-track and access to
an elegant lounge. Onboard, savour a three-course lunch
with wine and champagne. In Paris, a personal escort
will meet you at the train and guide you to a
chauffeured car for the short drive to Gare de Lyon.Â
After a pleasant visit to Le Train Bleu’s opulent bar, board
your TGV Lyria. Enjoy premium first class with a three-
course dinner with wine served at your seat as you
approach Switzerland. Arrive early evening and stay
two nights in the heart of Zurich’s charming and
lively old town.
Late morning, board a Swiss intercity train for the scenic
ride to Chur. The highlight is traveling on the shore of
of Walensee, one of the most stunning lakes in all of
Switzerland. In Chur, a table in a classic 1930s dining
car awaits you. The a la carte menu (on your own dime)
feature local specialities and is quite excellent.Â
Most tourists travel the UNESCO-listed Albula railway on the
packed Bernina Express. But you get to experience the
stunning scenery, and one of the most spectacular narrow
gauge railways in the world, in relaxed style at your table
in the dining car. In the afternoon you arrive at St Moritz
for one glamorous night at this posh and stylish resort.Â
Late morning, board a local train for your journey across
the Bernina Pass, one of the highest and most dramatic
railways in the Alps. On the way, we treat you to lunch
at a historic railway station at an altitude of 2000 meters,
with the finest view on the entire Bernina Line, overlooking
a glacier and mighty peaks.
From Alp Grum, descend steeply from the glaciers
to the warm valleys and palm trees of Italy. Your train
passes through a couple of small Alpine towns, taking
over the main street as it does so! In Tirano, change to a
humble Italian local train and travel alongside Lake Como
– with views of beautiful villages and scenery – to Varenna.
Travel from Varenna to Bologna in just three hours. A
local train transports you to Milan’s impressive central
station where you board a Frecciarossa high-speed train
for the fast journey to Bologna. You are seated in the
train’s Business Class cabin. A light snack is served
at your seat as part of the premium service.
Board the Italian state railway’s flagship, Frecciarossa
and take your seat in the finest premium first class
on the continent, with only ten ultra-wide and supremely
comfortable reclining seats in the entire car. A steward is at
your beck and call, with wine and prosecco on constant offer,
as well as a four-course a-la-carte lunch.
Much of this six-hour journey is wonderfully scenic, traveling
close to the Adriatic with often only the beach separating you’
from the sea. Shortly before arriving at Bari you will pass
very close to the site of the ancient battle of Cannae, one of
the greatest in world history. A chauffeured car will take you
the last hour’s drive to Matera, arriving late afternoon.
Your rail journey to Matera begins in classic style.
At London St Pancras you ease through fast-track and relax in the elegant lounge before boarding Eurostar. A three-course lunch with wine and champagne is served on your way to Paris. On arrival, a personal escort and chauffeured car take you to Gare de Lyon. After a pause in the opulent Le Train Bleu bar, board TGV Lyria in premium first class. A three-course dinner with wine is served at your seat as you approach Switzerland. Early evening you arrive in Zurich, where two nights in the heart of the old town let you enjoy its charming streets, cafés and lake views.
From Zurich, the journey turns scenic almost at once. A Swiss intercity train carries you to Chur, with dramatic views over Lake Walensee. Here, a table awaits you in a 1930s dining car, where you can order excellent local dishes as the train glides along the UNESCO-listed Albula line. Instead of joining crowded tourist trains, you savour the famous alpine landscapes in relaxed style. By afternoon you arrive in glamorous St Moritz for a night in this legendary resort.
Next morning, a local train takes you across the Bernina Pass—one of the highest and most spectacular railways in the Alps. At 2000 metres, you pause at a historic station for lunch, with a glacier and mighty peaks in full view. The line then descends steeply from snowfields to palm trees, before continuing along Lake Como to Varenna. Here, in the loveliest town on the lake, you stay two nights overlooking the water. Ferries to Bellagio and charming lakeside walks make this a highlight of the journey.
From Varenna a short ride takes you via Milan to Bologna on Italy’s flagship Frecciarossa. In Business Class you enjoy premium seating and a light snack served at your seat. By midday you are in Bologna, famed for its cuisine, where you check in just in time for lunch and an overnight stay in the city’s historic centre.
The final stage is both indulgent and scenic. Boarding Frecciarossa’s most exclusive Executive Class, you join just ten passengers in a carriage of ultra-wide reclining seats and personal service. A steward serves prosecco, wine and a four-course à -la-carte lunch as the train follows Italy’s Adriatic coast, often just metres from the beach. Near Bari you pass the site of the ancient battle of Cannae before a chauffeured car takes you inland to Matera. You arrive in the late afternoon at one of the world’s most extraordinary cities: a labyrinth of stone dwellings carved into cliffs, rich in history and atmosphere, and the perfect finale to your journey.
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