Grand Tour of Switzerland by Rail

Begin your journey with complimentary airport lounge access before flying to Zürich, Switzerland’s largest city. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, ideally located between the Limmat and Sihl rivers, just a short stroll from Lake Zürich and the main station. Spend the afternoon soaking up the lakeside atmosphere and mountain views before meeting your fellow travellers and guide in the evening.

Stay: Hotel Glockenhof, Zürich or similar (Superior)

After breakfast, meet your driver in the hotel lobby ready for your first trip to the Rhine Falls. Spend the morning marvelling at the view of Europe’s biggest and most powerful waterfall. Watch as torrents of water crash dramatically into the basin below. Continue to St Gallen for a guided tour of its charming medieval old town, with included entry to the world-famous Abbey library, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stay: Hotel Walhalla, St Gallen or similar (Superior)

Today’s journey takes you to glamorous St Moritz. En route, stop at the Appenzeller Show Dairy for a behind-the-scenes look at Swiss cheesemaking, complete with a tasting. Pause in the colourful town of Appenzell, then continue via the Principality of Liechtenstein to explore Vaduz at leisure, before arriving in St Moritz.

Stay: Hotel San Gian, St. Moritz or similar (Superior)

This morning, board the legendary, narrow-gauge Bernina Express at St Moritz and enjoy one of Switzerland’s most impressive scenic rail journeys. Sit back in panoramic carriages as the train climbs over the spectacular Bernina Pass to an ascent of more than 2253 metres, wind through snow-covered mountain peaks and glaciers across the Alps to Tirano in northern Italy. After a pause for lunch, rejoin your driver for a scenic drive along Lake Como and into Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region, where you’ll overnight in Lugano.

Stay: Hotel De La Paix, Lugano or similar (Superior)

Travel via the Gotthard Mountain pass to Andermatt, with time to explore and enjoy lunch before boarding the world-renowned Glacier Express. Watch through panoramic windows as the train passes through some of the most spectacular scenery Switzerland has to offer. Admire the dramatic valleys, deep ravines, sparkling mountains and alpine passes en-route to sophisticated, car-free Zermatt.

The following day, ride the cogwheel railway up to the Gornergrat for breathtaking views of the Matterhorn. The remainder of the day is free to stroll Zermatt’s boutique-lined streets, savour local cuisine, or relax at your hotel.

Stay: 4* hotel to be advised, Zermatt (Superior)

Following a leisurely breakfast, take the short shuttle train to Täsch, then continue into French-speaking Switzerland. Stop at the delightful Domaine Bovy for a private wine tasting before continuing to lakeside Montreux, where the afternoon is yours to explore at leisure.

Stay: 4* hotel to be advised, Montreux (Superior)

Board the GoldenPass train for a spectacular journey across linguistic and scenic borders, passing glittering lakes and alpine peaks en-route to Interlaken. From here, transfer to Grindelwald to explore at your own pace, or opt to ascend by gondola and cogwheel train tunnelling through the mountain to the Jungfraujoch – take in breathtaking mountain views as you ascend to Europe’s highest railway station, also known as the ‘Top of Europe’ (supplement applies, with discounts available using your Swiss Half Fare Card). Continue to Lenk for two nights at the superb Lenkerhof Resort.

The following day is yours to spend as you wish, relax in the spa facilities of your five-star hotel or join an optional excursion to Glacier 3000. A short drive brings you to the cable car, where at the summit you can enjoy unique activities including the Peak Walk suspension bridge, dog sled rides, and an alpine coaster (tickets payable locally, with discounts using your Swiss Half Fare Card).

Stay: Lenkerhof Resort, Lenk or similar (Deluxe)

After breakfast, journey via the scenic Brünig mountain pass to Lucerne, arriving by early afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure to discover the city’s lakeside promenades, wooden bridges, and historic old town.

Stay: Radisson Blu, Lucerne or similar (Superior)

After breakfast, transfer privately to Zurich Airport for your flight home, or speak to one of our consultants about extending your stay in Zurich if you wish.