Discovery Trains · Individuel, Luxe, Train Panoramique

Glacier Express Classe Excellence : le luxe panoramique

6-day self-guided Switzerland circuit featuring the Glacier Express Excellence Class

Glacier Express Classe Excellence : le luxe panoramique, a rail journey with Discovery Trains

Discovery Trains books this independent 6-day, 5-night circuit through Switzerland, from Zurich to Montreux by way of St Moritz, Zermatt and the Gornergrat. After free time to explore Zurich's medieval old town and art galleries on day one, a regular first-class train carries travelers to the alpine resort of St Moritz. Day three is built around the Glacier Express in Excellence Class, a category limited to 20 seats with a dedicated butler and a 5-course gourmet menu served while crossing the Alps to Zermatt. Day four climbs to 3,089 meters aboard the Gornergrat Bahn, Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, with views of 29 peaks over 4,000 meters. The circuit ends in Montreux on Lake Geneva, with a guided walk and the option to visit the Château de Chillon. No tour guide accompanies the trip day to day; Discovery Trains provides French-speaking assistance instead. This suits independent travelers who want one high-end luxury train day within a self-planned Swiss itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • No current departure dates or seasonality are listed in this evidence; confirm timing with Discovery Trains.
  • Only breakfast is included; lunches and dinners, aside from the Glacier Express onboard menu, are not part of the price.
  • The Gornergrat NostalChic Class gourmet lunch experience costs extra and is not included in the base price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Hôtel à Zurich

    Zurich

    Arrivée à Zurich, installation à l'hôtel de charme, découverte libre de la ville (architecture médiévale, galeries d'art contemporain, boutiques de luxe).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Hôtel à St Moritz

    Zurich - St Moritz

    Train régulier en première classe vers Saint-Moritz, la perle de l'Engadine. Temps libre dans la station chic et alpine.

    Meals: breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Hôtel à Zermatt

    St Moritz - Zermatt (Glacier Express en Classe Excellence)

    Embarquement à bord du Glacier Express en Classe Excellence : majordome dédié, menu gastronomique 5 plats et vins suisses, déjeuner avec vue sur les Alpes. Arrivée à Zermatt.

    Meals: breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Hôtel à Zermatt

    Gornergrat

    Ascension du Gornergrat (3089 m) à bord du Gornergrat Bahn, train à crémaillère en plein air le plus haut d'Europe. Option NostalChic Class avec déjeuner gastronomique.

    Meals: breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Hôtel à Montreux

    Zermatt - Montreux

    Départ vers Montreux sur les rives du lac Léman. Visite guidée de la ville Belle Époque ; possibilité de visiter le Château de Chillon ou une croisière Belle Époque sur le Léman.

    Meals: breakfast

  6. Day 6rail

    Montreux

    Temps libre en fonction de l'heure de départ. Nuit complémentaire, vol ou train retour sur simple demande.

    Meals: breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Zurich's medieval old town, contemporary art galleries, and luxury boutiques are free to explore on arrival.
  • Day 3The Glacier Express Excellence Class, limited to 20 seats, has a dedicated butler and serves a 5-course gourmet menu with Swiss wines while crossing the Alps to Zermatt.
  • Day 4The Gornergrat Bahn climbs to 3,089 meters, Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, with views of 29 peaks over 4,000 meters.
  • Day 5Montreux offers a guided walk through its Belle Époque streets, with the option to visit the Château de Chillon or take a Belle Époque cruise on Lake Geneva.

Included

  • Swiss Travel Pass 1ère classe pour tout le parcours
  • Réservation Glacier Express Classe Excellence
  • Réservation Gornergrat
  • Billets de transports en commun dans toutes les villes du parcours (bus, ferry, tram)
  • Hébergement en hôtel centre-ville selon la catégorie choisie
  • Petits déjeuners
  • Assistance francophone des équipes de Discovery Trains
  • Carnet de voyage en version électronique

Not included

  • Transport international (train ou avion)
  • Taxes de séjour dans les hôtels
  • Supplément single dans les hôtels
  • Expérience Gornergrat NostalChic
  • Déjeuners et dîners
  • Guide pour les excursions
  • Transferts privés entre gares et hôtels si nécessaire
  • Assurances éventuelles
  • Carnet de voyage papier envoyé par la poste (+12 €)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. A Swiss Travel Pass in 1st class, plus reservations for the Glacier Express Excellence Class and the Gornergrat Bahn, are included.
Is this trip guided?
The circuit is described as independent and unaccompanied, with French-speaking assistance from Discovery Trains rather than a tour director; day five's itinerary does include a guided tour of Montreux.
Which trains are used?
The Glacier Express in Excellence Class from St Moritz to Zermatt, and the Gornergrat Bahn, an open-air cogwheel train climbing to 3,089 meters.
What hotels are included?
City-center hotels in Zurich, St Moritz, Zermatt (2 nights) and Montreux, at either a 4-star or 5-star level depending on the price chosen.
What is not included?
International transport, lunches and dinners, hotel tourist taxes, single supplements, a guide for excursions, and travel insurance.
How high does the Gornergrat go?
3,089 meters, described as the highest open-air cogwheel railway in Europe.

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