Switzerland

Switzerland is the Europe that Indian travellers dream about: snow-covered Alps, glassy lakes, chocolate-box villages and some of the most scenic train journeys on earth. It is also one of the easiest countries to explore, because trains, lake boats and mountain railways connect almost everything on a precise timetable. Every transfer doubles as sightseeing, and the pace leaves room for a long lunch with a view.

Our seven-day Switzerland loop runs on a Swiss Travel Pass. It starts in Zurich, with its old town and lakefront, and moves to Lucerne for the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and an excursion to Mount Titlis with its rotating cable car and glacier cave. In the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken is your base for Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, where Europe's highest railway station sits at 3,454 metres beside the Aletsch Glacier. From there you cross to car-free Zermatt for close-up views of the Matterhorn from Gornergrat, before finishing along the shore of Lake Geneva. Panoramic routes such as the GoldenPass Express or Glacier Express can be added for travellers who want more time on the rails.

Switzerland suits honeymooners, families with children and senior citizens alike, since trains and cable cars reach high viewpoints without any trekking. Summer from May to September brings green meadows, waterfalls and long daylight hours, while December to March is for snow and skiing. The country is expensive, but packages with hotels, the travel pass and breakfasts included make costs predictable, and Indian restaurants are easy to find in every major town. The Schengen visa is the main paperwork, and starting early is essential in peak season.