How much does it cost?

From £2,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,835 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

What trains are included on this holiday?

Standard Class rail travel includes the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur, the Bernina Express (day trip to Tirano from Chur), the RailJet to Innsbruck via the Arlberg Pass, an Intercity train from Innsbruck to Lake Bled via Salzburg and Munich, and Eurostar on the return to London. Seat reservations are included.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

Tailor Made Rail describes this as an independent rail holiday. You receive comprehensive directions to your hotels, pre-arranged rail tickets, and hotel vouchers, but travel independently rather than with a guide.

What hotels are used on this trip?

Hotels include the Hotel Garni Testa Grigia in Zermatt, Ambiente Hotel Freieck in Chur, Hotel Innsbruck, Hotel Lovec in Lake Bled, Grand Hotel Wiesler in Graz, and the 4-star Arcotel Camino in Stuttgart. Tailor Made Rail offers optional upgrades to Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Grand Hotel Toplice, and others.

Can I upgrade to First Class?

Yes, Tailor Made Rail offers an upgrade to First Class on all rail journeys from £200 per person.

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Across the Spine of the Alps

Tailor Made Rail's 13-day independent rail holiday follows the spine of the Alps from Zermatt, Switzerland, through Austria and Slovenia to Stuttgart, Germany. The journey spans four countries and relies almost entirely on scenic trains, including the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur with panorama windows and seat-served meals, plus the Bernina Express (a return day trip to Tirano in Italy), the RailJet over the Arlberg Pass, and regional services across Alpine terrain. You stay in handpicked 3 and 4-star hotels for 12 nights, with free days in Zermatt to explore the Matterhorn's slopes via the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, in Chur's medieval Old Town, in Innsbruck's centre with an optional excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and two full days at Lake Bled to visit its 17th-century island church and hike in Triglav National Park. The return journey features travel along the Rhine Gorge past the Loreley Rock, ending at Eurostar's Brussels terminal for the final leg to London St Pancras. This suits experienced rail travellers and independent explorers who prefer to pace their own sightseeing.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £2,099 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Day 1 involves rail travel from London through Paris to Switzerland; optional overnight stops in Paris or flights to Geneva, Zurich, or Basel are available but booked separately from the main package.
The itinerary highlights an overnight stop in Heidelberg on the return journey, but this is not listed in the hotel accommodation; confirm return routing details with Tailor Made Rail before booking.
Single supplements apply for sole occupancy; pricing is quoted for two people sharing a room.
Supplements may apply during peak periods, particularly at short notice.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Zermatt
London to Zermatt
Depart London St Pancras for Paris, transfer to Gare de Lyon for a connecting service to Basel, then onto the Swiss network south to Zermatt. Optional overnight stop in Paris or flights to Geneva/Zurich/Basel can be arranged.
Day 2railovernight: Zermatt
Zermatt
Free day in the resort town at the foot of the Matterhorn, with lifts for hikers and skiers and the Gornergrat Mountain Railway for panoramic views.
Day 3railovernight: Chur
Glacier Express to Chur
Ride the Glacier Express, the world's slowest express train, with panorama windows, seat-served local cuisine and audio commentary, to Chur.
Day 4railovernight: Chur
Chur and the Bernina Express
Explore Chur's medieval Old Town, one of Switzerland's oldest settlements, or take the Bernina Express return trip to Tirano in Italy.
Day 5railovernight: Chur
Chur and the Bernina Express
Second day in Chur; the Bernina Express day trip to Tirano can be taken on either of the two days.
Day 6railovernight: Innsbruck
Chur to Innsbruck
Change at Sargans onto an Austrian RailJet train through Liechtenstein and over the Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck.
Day 7overnight: Innsbruck
Innsbruck
Full day exploring the old town centre and surrounding hills; optional day trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany.
Day 8railovernight: Lake Bled
Innsbruck to Lake Bled
Scenic journey east through Tyrolean villages, connecting at Schwarzach-St Veit onto an Intercity train from Salzburg and Munich through the Karawanken Tunnel into Slovenia, arriving at Lesce Bled.
Day 9overnight: Lake Bled
Lake Bled
Explore Lake Bled, its 17th-century island church, and hikes in the nearby Triglav National Park.
Day 10overnight: Lake Bled
Lake Bled
Second free day at Lake Bled, with local specialities such as Kremšnita custard cake.
Day 11railovernight: Graz
Lake Bled to Graz
Regional train to Ljubljana, then a direct service along the Sava River and across the Austrian border to Graz.
Day 12railovernight: Stuttgart
Graz to Stuttgart
Free morning in Graz before a direct train through dramatic Alpine scenery, across the German border to Stuttgart.
Day 13rail
Stuttgart to London
Scenic train along the Rhine Gorge past the Loreley Rock, platform change at Cologne, Eurostar terminal at Brussels, then onward to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Ride the Glacier Express, the world's slowest express train, with panorama windows and seat-served local cuisine from Zermatt to Chur.
Day 4Optional day trip on the Bernina Express to Tirano in Italy, descending through Alpine switchbacks and viaducts.
Day 6Journey on the RailJet through Liechtenstein and over the Arlberg Pass into Austria.
Day 9Explore Lake Bled's 17th-century island church and nearby hikes in Triglav National Park.
Day 13Return journey along the Rhine Gorge past the Loreley Rock, platform change at Cologne, and Eurostar from Brussels to London St Pancras.

Included

Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
12 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
Comprehensive directions to your hotels
Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,835 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
What trains are included on this holiday?: Standard Class rail travel includes the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur, the Bernina Express (day trip to Tirano from Chur), the RailJet to Innsbruck via the Arlberg Pass, an Intercity train from Innsbruck to Lake Bled via Salzburg and Munich, and Eurostar on the return to London. Seat reservations are included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: Tailor Made Rail describes this as an independent rail holiday. You receive comprehensive directions to your hotels, pre-arranged rail tickets, and hotel vouchers, but travel independently rather than with a guide.
What hotels are used on this trip?: Hotels include the Hotel Garni Testa Grigia in Zermatt, Ambiente Hotel Freieck in Chur, Hotel Innsbruck, Hotel Lovec in Lake Bled, Grand Hotel Wiesler in Graz, and the 4-star Arcotel Camino in Stuttgart. Tailor Made Rail offers optional upgrades to Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Grand Hotel Toplice, and others.
Can I upgrade to First Class?: Yes, Tailor Made Rail offers an upgrade to First Class on all rail journeys from £200 per person.