Is this trip escorted?

Yes. Travelmarvel provides a Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides throughout the 20 days.

How many nights are on the river ship?

Seven nights cruising on a Travelmarvel river ship from Passau to Budapest (days 13-19).

What meals are included?

38 meals total: 19 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 13 dinners. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine are provided at lunch and dinner on the cruise.

What are the longest stays in one place?

Two nights each in Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Salzburg and Munich; one night in Zurich and Lucerne; seven nights aboard the river ship.

Are flights included?

No. The package does not include international flights unless specified in the booking details.

Travelmarvel (APT Travel Group) · Rail and River Cruise

Alpine Discovery by Rail and Highlights of the Danube

Twenty-day Alpine rail and Danube river cruise from Zurich to Budapest

This 20-day tour operated by Travelmarvel combines Swiss alpine rail with a Danube River cruise, starting in Zurich and finishing in Budapest. The first nine days focus on Switzerland's most celebrated train journeys: the Luzern-Interlaken Express, Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, and the Bernina Express descending through the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway toward Tirano. After Zermatt's two-night base beneath the Matterhorn, the journey heads east through Salzburg and Munich, including a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps. From day 13, guests board a Travelmarvel river ship for seven nights cruising the Danube through Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, visiting the Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Throughout, a Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides accompany the group. The package includes 38 meals, onboard wine and beer, all transfers and porterage, and entry to 16 towns and cities across six countries.

What to know before you look closer

The from-price covers rail journeys, river cruise, accommodation and most meals; international flights are not included
Several one-night stays (Zurich, Lucerne, Linz) mean faster pace at the start and middle of the tour; two-night stays dominate the Alps and later river sections

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Zurich
Arrive Zürich
Day 2overnight: Lucerne
Zürich, Lucerne
Day 3railovernight: Interlaken
Lucerne, Luzern–Interlaken Express, Interlaken
Day 4railovernight: Interlaken
Interlaken, Jungfrau Railway
Day 5overnight: Zermatt
Interlaken, Zermatt
Day 6overnight: Zermatt
Zermatt
Day 7railovernight: St. Moritz
Zermatt, Glacier Express, St. Moritz
Day 8railovernight: St. Moritz
St. Moritz, Bernina Express, Tirano, St. Moritz
Day 9overnight: Salzburg
St Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg
Day 10overnight: Salzburg
Salzburg
Day 11overnight: Munich
Salzburg, Munich
Day 12overnight: Munich
Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 13overnight: Passau
Munich, Passau, Embark Ship
Day 14overnight: Passau
Passau
Day 15overnight: Linz
Linz
Day 16overnight: Dürnstein
Melk, Dürnstein
Day 17overnight: Vienna
Vienna
Day 18overnight: Bratislava
Bratislava
Day 19overnight: Budapest
Budapest
Day 20
Budapest, Disembark Ship

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Ride the Luzern-Interlaken Express through Lucerne Lake and pre-Alpine valleys to Interlaken
Day 4Journey on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, the high-altitude alpine summit between Interlaken and Zermatt
Day 7Travel the Glacier Express narrow-gauge train from Zermatt to St. Moritz, viewing alpine peaks and glaciers through panoramic carriage windows
Day 8Ride the Bernina Express across the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, climbing Bernina Pass with glaciers and alpine meadows visible, crossing the Brusio Circular Viaduct before descending to Tirano in Italy
Day 12Tour Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II's fairytale palace high in the Bavarian Alps, with views over forests, lakes and mountains

Included

Two-night stays in Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Salzburg and Munich; and one-night stays in Zurich, Lucerne
Seven nights cruising on a Travelmarvel river ship
38 Meals - 19 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 13 dinners
Onboard water stations, plus tea and coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine during lunch and dinner on your cruise
Services of Travelmarvel Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides
Transfers, port charges, porterage and tipping
Explore 16 towns, villages and cities
Journey aboard the Glacier Express to St. Moritz

Not included

Flights (unless specified)

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?: Travelmarvel includes the Luzern-Interlaken Express, Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, and Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano.
Is this trip escorted?: Yes. Travelmarvel provides a Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides throughout the 20 days.
How many nights are on the river ship?: Seven nights cruising on a Travelmarvel river ship from Passau to Budapest (days 13-19).
What meals are included?: 38 meals total: 19 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 13 dinners. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine are provided at lunch and dinner on the cruise.
What are the longest stays in one place?: Two nights each in Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Salzburg and Munich; one night in Zurich and Lucerne; seven nights aboard the river ship.
Are flights included?: No. The package does not include international flights unless specified in the booking details.

Similar journeys

Travelmarvel (APT Travel Group)