Whether it’s for ski season, walking tours, or the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland is an evergreen favourite for tourists. From February, you can offer your clients an authentic taste of alpine culture by booking them on to a cheese-themed railway excursion, complete with a behind-the-scenes tour of how the country’s famous fondue gets made.
ALL ABOARD!
The voyage begins with a panoramic train journey, setting off from either Montreux or Zweisimmen on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 3 February and 30 October 2024. An hour’s ride on the GoldenPass-MOB scenic route is an adventure itself. With breathtaking views of Lake Geneva, clients can feast their eyes before they chow down on the best cheese Switzerland has to offer. A second-class adult ticket comes in at around £70 per person.
THE BIG CHEESE
The train’s destination? Chateau d’Oex: Switzerland’s hot air balloon capital. Clients will be escorted to Le Chalet, a restaurant famous for its authentic Swiss cuisine since 1976. What better way to work up an appetite than watching cheesemongers transform 200 litres of organic milk into “Le Chalet Bio” cheese before their eyes. As the wood fire crackles, traditionally dressed experts will talk your clients through the artisanal production techniques passed down through generations.
Then, it’s time to eat! The excursion comes with free fondue for adults and children. Anyone under six can choose a plate of pasta in case there are any picky eaters on the trip. Now they’re cheese experts, clients will be offered a complimentary souvenir bag, for a more permanent (though maybe slightly less delicious) memory of their trip.
Before they go, remind clients they can see the majestic Swiss mountains unfurl beneath them in miniature on the first floor, which houses a GoldenPass-MOB model railway.
EXPLORING CHATEAU D’OEX
Direct families to the Jardin de Neiges ski village, which caters specifically to children learning to ski, snowboard or sledge for the first time. While they burn off their lunch, you could point adults towards the Musee du Pays-D’Enhaut. The excursion comes with free entry to this charming collection of historic Swiss artefacts, including local handicrafts, blacksmithing, woodwork and oil paintings. Make sure you introduce them to the museum’s decoupage collection, which is a fascinating insight into the intricate art of paper-cutting: a must-see for any clients looking for an authentic understanding of Swiss culture. There’s nothing cheesy about that!
