Grand Tour of Switzerland

Grand Tour of Switzerland
from £2,874 excluding flights
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Highlights

Take four iconic rail journeys including the Glacier Express & Golden Pass

Immerse yourself in the Alpine paradise of St Moritz

Delve into Lucerne’s beautiful old town

Visit the famous terraced vineyard of Lavaux

Sit back and relax as you cruise across Lake Lucerne

Explore the Bernese Alps from Interlaken
Why this trip...

On track and flight free
Slow travel from London to the classic towns and cities of Europe with your rail tickets and accommodation taken care of

Carefully planned
This itinerary has been thoughtfully designed to provide the experiences and places you'll enjoy at a comfortable pace

Tailor made
This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe
Overview
Combine the spectacular alpine scenery of Switzerland and the engineering prowess of the Swiss and you have a recipe for truly extraordinary rail journeys. In fact, we think this two-week itinerary is one of the best rail holidays in the world. Not only does it seamlessly link four iconic and seriously scenic train journeys – the Golden Pass, Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama Express – but it also includes ample opportunities for exploring medieval towns and cities, sampling traditional Swiss cuisine and enjoying the odd mountain hike, cable car ride or boat trip. What’s more, it’s completely flight-free – simply hop on a train at London and let your rail adventure begin!
Golden Pass
Connecting central Switzerland with Lake Geneva, the Golden Pass route is made up of three train journeys: the Luzern-Interlaken Express, the Interlaken-Zweisimmen leg and the Golden Pass Panoramic (between Zweisimmen and Montreaux). There are quicker ways of travelling between Lucerne and Lake Geneva, but none take you on a more breathtaking route through the heart of some of Europe’s finest mountain scenery. End-to-end, the Golden Pass takes six hours, but you’ll be breaking your journey in Interlaken for a two-night alpine interlude. Highlights of the journey include the Brünig pass and the steep descent to Montreaux, weaving through vineyards and country estates.
Glacier Express
It takes around 7.5 hours to trundle 180 miles on the famous Glacier Express, travelling at an average speed of just 24mph. The slower the better as far as we’re concerned! Linking Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with the iconic ski resort of St Moritz, this is arguably Switzerland’s most scenic train journey, and you’ll want to spend every minute soaking up the views of snow-capped peaks, alpine forests and mountain villages from the special panoramic coaches used on this route. Highlights include the Rhine Gorge (the ‘Grand Canyon of Switzerland’), the Oberalp Pass and the remarkable mountain-to-mountain Landwasser viaduct – one of nearly 300 bridges traversed.
Bernina Express
Another contender for Switzerland’s most scenic rail journey, the Bernina Express is the highest railway in the Alps, crossing the 2,253m Bernina pass, tackling gradients as steep as 1 in 7 and negotiating 55 tunnels and 196 bridges on its trans-Alpine route between Chur in Switzerland and Tirano in northern Italy. After climbing up to the Morteratsch Glacier, the line descends through flower-speckled meadows and conifer forest, passing picturesque villages like Poschiavo. When you roll into sunny Tirano, you’ll have covered 90 miles in four hours. Slow travel at its best!
Gotthard Panorama Express
The fourth and final stage of Grand Tour of Switzerland is on the Gotthard Panorama Express – a combination of train and boat travel. From the Mediterranean city of Lugano, with its grand palaces and fine parks, the railway takes you to the 15th-century castles of Bellinzona (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), through the vineyards of Gionico and the 15km-long Gotthard Tunnel before climbing in tight loops above the village of Wassen with its eye-catching Baroque church. Arriving at Flüelen, you transfer to a Lake Lucerne steamboat for an equally relaxing journey by water, passing Tell’s Chapel and Rütli Meadow before arriving in the beautiful city of Lucerne. Gotthard Panorama Express operates between May and the 14th of October.
Itinerary
Day 1 London - Zurich
Depart London in the morning and, depending on the most convenient rail connections, travel to Paris or Brussels on Eurostar, before departing on your onward journey to Zurich where you'll spend the following two nights.
Depart London in the morning and, depending on the most convenient rail connections, travel to Paris or Brussels on Eurostar, before departing on your onward journey to Zurich where you'll spend the following two nights.
Day 2 Zurich
With a full day to explore Zurich, we suggest heading to the medieval old town, Altstadt, and strolling along the waterfront where you can admire the beautiful guild houses that were built for tradespeople such as carpenters, merchants and spice dealers. Zurich’s Niederhof area is also worth exploring. Dominated by the Romanesque church of Grossmunster, it’s riddled with cobblestone alleys lined with trendy boutiques and Swiss eateries. Don’t miss the Neo-Baroque Café & Conditorei 1842 where you can treat yourself to traditional sweets or sample the truffles, pralines and cakes. For chocolate lovers, the Lindt Home of Chocolate and its 9-metre high chocolate fountain, is a also a must place to visit. Visit the Cabaret Voltaire to learn about the birth of the Dada movement over a century ago. Overnight in Zürich.
With a full day to explore Zurich, we suggest heading to the medieval old town, Altstadt, and strolling along the waterfront where you can admire the beautiful guild houses that were built for tradespeople such as carpenters, merchants and spice dealers. Zurich’s Niederhof area is also worth exploring. Dominated by the Romanesque church of Grossmunster, it’s riddled with cobblestone alleys lined with trendy boutiques and Swiss eateries. Don’t miss the Neo-Baroque Café & Conditorei 1842 where you can treat yourself to traditional sweets or sample the truffles, pralines and cakes. For chocolate lovers, the Lindt Home of Chocolate and its 9-metre high chocolate fountain, is a also a must place to visit. Visit the Cabaret Voltaire to learn about the birth of the Dada movement over a century ago. Overnight in Zürich.
Day 3 Zurich - Interlaken
Take the morning train to Lucerne before boarding the Golden Pass railway to Interlaken. Leaving Lucerne, the Golden Pass train skirts the Pilatus mountain and two lakes (the Sarnersee and Lungernsee) before climbing to the Brünig Pass at 1,008m. A 413m descent on a cogwheel track brings you down to Meiringen, from where you follow the Hasli valley to serene Lake Brienz and Interlaken for a two-night stay.
Take the morning train to Lucerne before boarding the Golden Pass railway to Interlaken. Leaving Lucerne, the Golden Pass train skirts the Pilatus mountain and two lakes (the Sarnersee and Lungernsee) before climbing to the Brünig Pass at 1,008m. A 413m descent on a cogwheel track brings you down to Meiringen, from where you follow the Hasli valley to serene Lake Brienz and Interlaken for a two-night stay.
Day 4 Interlaken
Boasting spectacular views of three famous Swiss peaks – Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger – Interlaken makes a superb base for exploring the Bernese Alps by train, funicular, cable car and, of course, via an extensive network of hiking trails. An optional cruise on either Lake Thun or Brienz aboard an historic paddle-steamer is highly recommended. Overnight in Interlaken.
Boasting spectacular views of three famous Swiss peaks – Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger – Interlaken makes a superb base for exploring the Bernese Alps by train, funicular, cable car and, of course, via an extensive network of hiking trails. An optional cruise on either Lake Thun or Brienz aboard an historic paddle-steamer is highly recommended. Overnight in Interlaken.
Day 5 Interlaken - Montreux
Today, you continue your rail journey on the Golden Pass. Leaving Interlaken, the train weaves through the mountain-framed Simmen Valley, verdant with farms and forests, before climbing to a high point near Saanenmöser at 1,279m. The line passes the glitzy Swiss resort of Gstaad before descending to Montreaux on a dramatic, sinuous track that offers wonderful views of Lake Geneva. Spend the following two nights in Montreaux.
Today, you continue your rail journey on the Golden Pass. Leaving Interlaken, the train weaves through the mountain-framed Simmen Valley, verdant with farms and forests, before climbing to a high point near Saanenmöser at 1,279m. The line passes the glitzy Swiss resort of Gstaad before descending to Montreaux on a dramatic, sinuous track that offers wonderful views of Lake Geneva. Spend the following two nights in Montreaux.
Prices and Departures
Price from £2,874 excluding flights
This itinerary is based on rail travel from the UK, so flights are not required.
What's Included
- Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
- Breakfast throughout
- Interrail Pass for 15 days
- All compulsory seat reservation fees on panorama and international trains
- 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
- No surcharge guarantee
- Full financial protection
From price per person
Based on two sharing a twin room with private facilities and breakfast. Prices may vary depending on departure date. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates.
Departure | Duration | Twin Price | |
---|---|---|---|
15 May - 06 October | 14 nights | £2,874 | Round trip by train |
15 May - 06 October | 14 nights | £2,711 | Fly to and from Zürich - price excludes flights* |
*Please note that flights are not included in the price, but will be quoted at the time of booking.
This itinerary is flexible and the number of nights at each of the overnight stays can be extended or reduced.
Children under 12 travel free on the parent's Interrail Pass and 12-27 year olds receive a discounted youth Interrail Pass. Accommodation is in family rooms where available. Please contact our travel specialist for a quotation.
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