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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

Escorted Swiss mountains and Italian lakes via Gotthard Panorama Express, 10 days

Illustration of First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

Vacations By Rail's 10-day escorted journey travels from Zurich through the Swiss Alps to Milan, pairing First Class rail travel with stays in four-star lakefront hotels. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. The route combines heritage mountain railways (Mount Rigi, operating since 1871, and Monte Generoso's cogwheel ascent) with the celebrated Gotthard Panorama Express, which merges a boat trip across Lake Lucerne with a panoramic rail passage through the Gotthard tunnel to Lugano. From there, the tour explores the Italian lakes: Lake Maggiore's Borromean Islands by boat, Lake Como by cruise to Bellagio and the 12th-century Villa Balbianello, and ends with a guided tour of Milan's Duomo and Teatro alla Scala. Breakfast is provided daily, along with four group dinners. Day 4 is free, allowing you to choose optional activities using the included Swiss Half Fare Card. This itinerary suits repeat rail travellers and couples seeking guided comfort with substantial included experiences and a leisurely pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 4 is free and unguided; you arrange your own activities using the included Swiss Half Fare Card.
  • Flights to Zurich and airport transfers are not included; you travel independently to the Zurich hotel on Day 1.
  • The final day (Day 10) involves independent travel home or onward exploration at your own cost.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    Arriving in Zurich

    Land in Zurich and travel independently by train to a four-star hotel in the Altstetten district, with time to explore the Old Town and Niederdorf.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Stansstad

    To our hotel on the shore of Lake Lucerne

    First Class train to Lucerne, continuing to the lakeside village of Stansstad for a three-night stay at a lakefront hotel. Meet the Tour Manager and group for dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Stansstad

    Panoramic views from the Rigi Mountain Railway

    Boat to Vitznau via Lucerne, then ride Europe's first mountain railway (operating since 1871) to the summit of Mount Rigi, before returning via Goldau and Lucerne, with free time to explore Lucerne's Old Town and the Kapellbrucke.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Stansstad

    Free day to explore central Switzerland

    Free day using the Swiss Half Fare Card, with options including the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, the Stanserhorn funicular or CabriO cableway, or a train to Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley via the Brunig Pass and Meiringen.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lugano

    Gotthard Panorama Express to Lugano

    Boat from Lucerne to Flüelen (passing Rutli meadow), then board the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class through the Reuss Valley, past Wassen Church and the Devil's Bridge, through the Gotthard Crest Tunnel to Lugano.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lugano

    Exploring Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

    Rail from Lugano to Locarno with time to explore, then along Lake Maggiore to Stresa, followed by a boat trip to the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella's Borromeo Palace and Isola dei Pescatori), returning to Lugano by coach.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Lugano

    Monte Generoso Mountain Railway

    Train to Capolago, then a historic cogwheel railway climbing over 5,500 feet to the summit of Monte Generoso (40-minute journey) for views of lakes Lugano and Como, the Alps, and on clear days Milan and the Matterhorn.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lugano

    Lake Como cruise to Bellagio and Tremezzo

    Coach into Italy to sail across Lake Como to Bellagio, then to Villa Balbianello (a 12th-century lakeside home) for a guided tour, before crossing to Tremezzo and returning by coach to Lugano for dinner.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Milan

    Guided tour of Milan

    First Class train to Milan, then a guided city tour taking in the Piazza del Duomo, the Gothic cathedral, and the Teatro alla Scala opera house, followed by a final dinner together.

  10. Day 10

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, the trip concludes; travel home independently or continue exploring Italy at your own pace.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board Europe's first mountain railway at Vitznau, operating since 1871, to reach Mount Rigi's summit for panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and Alps.
  • Day 5Travel the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class, combining a boat trip from Lucerne to Flüelen past the Rutli meadow with a scenic rail journey through the Reuss Valley, past Wassen Church and the Devil's Bridge, through the Gotthard Crest Tunnel to Lugano.
  • Day 7Ride the Monte Generoso cogwheel railway, climbing over 5,500 feet in 40 minutes to views of lakes Lugano and Como, the Alps, and on clear days Milan and the Matterhorn.
  • Day 8Cruise Lake Como to Bellagio and receive a guided tour of Villa Balbianello, a 12th-century lakeside villa, before crossing to Tremezzo.
  • Day 9Travel by First Class train to Milan for a guided city tour of the Piazza del Duomo, the Gothic cathedral, and the Teatro alla Scala opera house.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • First Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day, 4 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

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 train travel included?
Yes. First Class rail travel, boat, and coach journeys throughout the tour are included. This covers the Gotthard Panorama Express, Mount Rigi Railway, Monte Generoso Railway, Lake Como cruises, and the Borromean Islands boat trip.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
The tour is escorted. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from start to finish. Days 1 and 10 involve independent travel; Day 4 is a free day for optional activities.
What is the activity level?
The operator rates this as Mobility Rating 3, indicating sustained walking, stairs, and physical engagement with mountain railways and guided excursions.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day. Four dinners are included; other meals are not.
What hotels are used?
Four-star accommodations: one night in Zurich (Altstetten district), three nights at Hotel Winkelried in Stansstad (lakeside), four nights at Bellevue au Lac in Lugano, and one night in central Milan.
What is the price and what does it cover?
From USD 4,999 per person. Included: 9 nights' hotel, First Class rail and all transport, breakfast daily, 4 dinners, Tour Manager expertise, guided tours and excursions, Swiss Half Fare Card, and luggage transfers. Not included: flights, airport transfers, insurance, and most lunch and à la carte dinners.

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