The Glacier Express, Switzerland

Switzerland has much to surprise, impress, delight, satisfy. It is simply a country that has and can. One of the unique experiences one can have in Switzerland is a ride on the most popular long-distance tourist train - the Glacier Express. This train connects the two famous resorts of Zermatt and Saint Moritz and offers some of the most beautiful and memorable scenery of any train journey in Europe. The Glacier Express route between the two resorts includes 291 bridges. There are a few must-do's - have lunch on the Glacier Express, take the train over the spiral track at Filizur and enjoy the views from the Grandiol Viaduct.

The Glacier Express is the slowest express in the world - the train averages just 35 km/h, which is understandable because its aim is to keep travellers happy. The journey on the Glacier Express takes around 7 hours, and while this may be initially startling for some, it will all fade away once the 290 kilometres of unique alpine scenery is explored. Around every bend lies a new view, and the close encounter with the size of the mountains is awe-inspiring. The cars of the Glacier Express are appropriately made panoramic - they reach the roofline. Simultaneously with the views, information flows in the headsets, which are translated into six languages.

As well as pleasing the eyes, the Glacier Express also knows how to satisfy culinary pretensions - eating on the train is one of the greatest pleasures of the journey. The dining car offers a three-course menu or pre-prepared meals on request. There is also a bar on the Glacier Express.

The route of the Glacier Express passes through extremely scenic terrain on its way from Zermatt to St Moritz, which rivets the eye to nature's masterpieces, but there is also an engineering masterpiece that is also worth admiring. Just before Filizur is the Landwasser viaduct, which owes its fame to the graceful curve and the way its last arch pops out of the cliffs where the railway enters a tunnel. Just beyond Filisur is a man-made creation that deserves to be revered - it is one of the most picturesque and artfully designed and constructed stretches of railway in the world. It is so unique that it has been declared a World Heritage Site. It is characterized by its three horseshoe shaped curves and three spirals, most located inside the tunnel - the idea being to avoid the use of rack and pinion.