Search

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Lake Lucerne & Gotthard Express

Swiss Alps rail journey from London through mountain railways to Milan.

Illustration of Classic Lake Lucerne & Gotthard Express

Great Rail Journeys' 9-day Classic Lake Lucerne and Gotthard Express is an escorted rail tour departing London and ending in Milan, combining First Class European rail with Swiss mountain railways and a five-night base in the lakeside village of Weggis. The journey opens with Eurostar Plus from London to Paris, then First Class rail across the French-Swiss border to Basel and Lucerne, where you explore the medieval Old Town on a guided walking tour and embark on boat trips across Lake Lucerne. From Weggis, you ride Europe's oldest mountain railway to the summit of Mt Rigi on Day 3, and on Day 6 summit Mt Stanserhorn via a historic funicular and the world's only open-top double-decker cable car. The signature moment arrives on Day 7: the Gotthard Panorama Express, traveling in First Class from Flüelen through the Alps to Lugano with an onboard guide narrating the Gotthard Crest Tunnel and surrounding peaks.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is GBP 750 above half the double price (single from GBP 4,249 vs double from GBP 3,499), a significant premium.
  • Days 4 and 6 are largely unguided; the tour provides a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounted fares but you choose and book your own activities.
  • Group size capped at 30, which is substantial for an escorted tour.
  • The itinerary ends Day 5 mid-sentence in the evidence pack; confirm final activities and return logistics with Great Rail Journeys before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Basel

    London to Basel for an overnight stay

    Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at your seat. Change trains in Paris and continue by First Class rail to Basel. Check in to the hotel beside the Rhine River. Sit down for the first dinner together at the hotel.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Weggis

    Exploring Lucerne's picturesque Old Town

    Enjoy a relaxed morning in Basel before walking to the rail station to board a train to Lucerne. Arriving in the early afternoon, embark on a guided walking tour of the Old Town, including the Kapellbrücke covered bridge, cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Board a boat on Lake Lucerne to the lakefront town of Weggis, the base for the next five nights. Check in to the hotel and enjoy dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Weggis

    Riding the historic Mt Rigi Mountain Railway

    Walk to the pier and board a boat to Vitznau. Board Europe's first mountain railway for a scenic journey to the summit of Mt Rigi, the 'Queen of the Mountains', operating since 1871. Free time at the summit to admire panoramic vistas. Descend via open ticket to Rigi Kaltbad and catch a cable car down to Weggis at leisure. Free afternoon to explore Weggis or take a boat to Lucerne. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Weggis

    A free day to explore Central Switzerland

    A free day with the Swiss Half Fare Card providing 50% discounts on rail, boat and mountain railway journeys. Options include Mt Pilatus on the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe, the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Meiringen near the Reichenbach Falls, or Bern's UNESCO-listed Old Town. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Weggis

    The Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Interlaken

    Travel by boat to Lucerne then board the panoramic Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Interlaken, between glacial lakes Thun and Brienz. The train passes through lush landscapes, lakes Lungern and Sarnen, the scenic Brünig Pass at 3,307 feet, and views of the Bernese Alps and Giessbach waterfall. Free afternoon in Interlaken, options include the Harder Kulm funicular or a cruise of Lake Brienz. Return to Weggis in the late afternoon. Dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Weggis

    Summiting breathtaking Mt Stanserhorn

    Take a train from Lucerne to Stans, then board a historic wooden funicular (dating to 1893) to Kalti, followed by the world's only open-top double-decker cable car to the summit of Mt Stanserhorn. Free time at the top to enjoy the revolving restaurant, marmot mini zoo, and views of 62-mile alpine chain and ten lakes. Descend to Lucerne for a free afternoon. Dine independently and return to Weggis by boat at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Milan

    Travelling south on the Gotthard Panorama Express

    Board a boat to the southern tip of Lake Lucerne, looking for Rütli meadow and enjoying views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Join the Gotthard Panorama Express at Flüelen in First Class seats with large picture windows. An onboard guide provides commentary. Pass Wassen Church and the Devil's Bridge, travel through the historic Gotthard Crest Tunnel, and arrive in Lugano. Board a regional service to Milan, check in to the hotel, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Milan

    Touring Milan, a treasure trove of arts and culture

    Guided tour of Milan including the Piazza del Duomo, Teatro alla Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Gothic Duomo di Milano with included entry. Free afternoon to explore, options include Sforza Castle, Da Vinci's Last Supper (advance booking required), the Quadrilatero della Moda, or pavement cafés. Final dinner together at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9rail

    Homeward bound

    Early start from Milan train station, travelling by First Class rail to Paris, then connecting to the Eurostar service. A light meal is served in Plus class seats on the way back to London St Pancras, where the holiday ends.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Ride Europe's first mountain railway to the summit of Mt Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, operating since 1871, with free time to enjoy panoramic vistas before descending by cable car.
  • Day 5Board the Lucerne-Interlaken Express, a panoramic train passing through the Brünig Pass at 3,307 feet with views of the Bernese Alps and Giessbach waterfall between glacial lakes Thun and Brienz.
  • Day 6Summit Mt Stanserhorn via the historic wooden funicular from 1893 and the world's only open-top double-decker cable car, with views of a 62-mile alpine chain and ten lakes from 6,227 feet.
  • Day 7Travel the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class from Flüelen through the historic Gotthard Crest Tunnel to Lugano, with an onboard guide narrating views of Wassen Church and the Devil's Bridge.
  • Day 8Guided tour of Milan covering the Piazza del Duomo, Teatro alla Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Gothic Duomo di Milano with included entry.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel (with light meals)
  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
  • 7 breakfasts
  • 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • Swiss Half Fare Card (50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys)
  • All guided tours and excursions
  • Included entry to the Duomo di Milano

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus class, First Class rail from Paris to Basel to Lucerne, the Lucerne-Interlaken Express in Panoramic class, the Mt Rigi Mountain Railway, Mt Stanserhorn funicular and cable car, the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class from Flüelen to Lugano, and regional rail from Lugano to Milan and Milan back to Paris. You are charged from GBP 3,499 for the full package.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
Escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a Tour Manager from London to Milan. Guided tours run in Lucerne and Milan. Days 4 and 6 are free days where you choose activities with a Swiss Half Fare Card for discounted travel.
What hotels are included?
Great Rail Journeys books you into 4-star hotels: one night in Basel beside the Rhine River, five nights in Weggis (Hotel Rössli), and two nights in Milan. Hotel Rössli is named; the others are listed by location and rating.
When does the tour run?
Departures are confirmed for June 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.
What meals are included?
Seven breakfasts, five dinners, and light meals on the Eurostar Plus class services outbound and return. Days 4 and 6 you dine independently. Wine and drinks are not listed as included.
How much walking is involved?
Day 2 includes a guided walking tour of Lucerne's Old Town with cobbled streets and medieval buildings. The rest of the tour involves pier walks, funicular and cable car rides, train stations, and free-day options. No sustained hiking is described.

Similar journeys