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Authentic Europe · Guided tour

Escorted Grand Tour of Switzerland

Fully guided Swiss circuit on the Bernina, Glacier, and GoldenPass Express trains

Illustration of Escorted Grand Tour of Switzerland

Authentic Europe's Escorted Grand Tour of Switzerland is a 10-day, 9-night fully guided trip that starts and ends in Zurich, with an English-speaking tour manager throughout and a maximum group size of 20. The route runs from Zurich to St. Moritz, then rides the Bernina Express to Tirano on day 3 and the Glacier Express to Zermatt on day 4, where day 5 includes an excursion to Gornergrat. The tour continues to Montreux, with day 7 given to a vineyard visit and wine tasting near Lausanne and the Lavaux terraces, before the GoldenPass Express and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express carry the group on to Lucerne on day 8, where day 9 includes an excursion to Mount Rigi. A 15-day first-class Swiss Rail pass and luggage service between hotels are included throughout. This suits travelers who want a fully escorted, premium introduction to Switzerland's best-known scenic trains, with an interest in mountain and lake scenery, wine, and photography, rather than planning their own route.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence names a hotel only for the St. Moritz nights, Hotel Schweizerhof St. Moritz; no hotels are specified for Zurich, Zermatt, Montreux, or Lucerne.
  • Only breakfast is listed as an included meal; lunches and dinners are not part of the included meal plan in the evidence.
  • The evidence does not list current departure dates for this tour; check availability directly with Authentic Europe.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Arrival in Zurich

  2. Day 2railovernight: St. Moritz

    Train from Zurich to St. Moritz

  3. Day 3railovernight: St. Moritz

    Bernina Express Train & visit Tirano

  4. Day 4railovernight: Zermatt

    Glacier Express train journey to Zermatt

  5. Day 5overnight: Zermatt

    Day at leisure in Zermatt & visit Gornergrat

  6. Day 6overnight: Montreux

    Travel to & explore Montreux

  7. Day 7overnight: Montreux

    Visit a vineyard, wine tasting & visit Lausanne

  8. Day 8railovernight: Lucerne

    Travel on the Goldenpass Express to Lucerne

  9. Day 9overnight: Lucerne

    Dat at leisure in Lucerne and excursion to Mount Rigi

  10. Day 10

    Final day - return to Zurich

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Bernina Express train runs to Tirano.
  • Day 4The Glacier Express train journeys to Zermatt.
  • Day 5An excursion to Gornergrat runs on a day otherwise at leisure in Zermatt.
  • Day 7A vineyard visit and wine tasting are included near Lausanne and Lavaux.
  • Day 8The GoldenPass Express and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express carry the tour on to Lucerne.

Included

  • 9 nights accommodation (4-star hotel) in a standard room with private shower or bath/WC, including breakfast; city taxes are included
  • English-speaking tour manager throughout the tour
  • Luggage service during the tour from the Zurich hotel to the hotel in Lucerne
  • 15 day Swiss Rail pass in 1st class, including unlimited travel by train, bus and boat throughout the itinerary
  • Private transfer from Zurich airport to city centre hotel
  • Seat reservation on the Bernina Express train (St. Moritz-Tirano)
  • Seat reservation on the Glacier Express (St. Moritz-Zermatt)
  • Seat reservation on the GoldenPass Express (Montreux-Interlaken)
  • Seat reservation on the Lucerne-Interlaken Express (Interlaken-Lucerne)
  • Excursion to Gornergrat
  • Excursion to Lausanne and Lavaux, including wine tasting
  • Excursion to Mount Rigi
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, extensively. Authentic Europe includes a 15-day Swiss Rail pass in first class covering unlimited train, bus, and boat travel throughout the itinerary, plus seat reservations on four named panoramic trains: the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express, the GoldenPass Express, and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is fully guided, with an English-speaking tour manager throughout and a maximum group size of 20.
What are the four named trains?
The Bernina Express (St. Moritz to Tirano), the Glacier Express (St. Moritz to Zermatt), the GoldenPass Express (Montreux to Interlaken), and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express (Interlaken to Lucerne).
What excursions are included?
Excursions to Gornergrat, to Lausanne and the Lavaux vineyards with wine tasting, and to Mount Rigi.
What hotels are used?
The evidence names only Hotel Schweizerhof St. Moritz, for the St. Moritz nights; no hotels are specified for Zurich, Zermatt, Montreux, or Lucerne.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each morning; lunches and dinners are not listed as included.

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