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Firebird Tours · Private tour

Glacier Express Journey

Eight-day Swiss alpine rail loop from Zurich via Glacier Express and cogwheel trains

Illustration of Glacier Express Journey

Firebird Tours' Glacier Express Journey is an 8-day private tour of Switzerland's Alpine heartland, departing from Zurich and ending in Geneva. Travelling at a moderate pace, you spend two nights in Zurich, one in St. Moritz, two in Zermatt, and two in Montreux, with a private guide and driver accompanying you throughout. The highlight is the 8-hour-30-minute Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt, a legendary scenic train that winds through mountain tunnels and crosses grand viaducts. You also ascend Mount Pilatus by the world's steepest cogwheel railway, ride the Gornergrat Bahn to Europe's highest open-air station with views of the Matterhorn, tour the medieval Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva, and explore the Old Towns and landmarks of Zurich and Geneva. Hotels are downtown and four-star; breakfasts and entrance fees are included. This trip suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking private experiences, and photographers drawn to Alpine panoramas.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Glacier Express leg is 2nd Class Seat; other train segments vary between 2nd and 1st Class per the itinerary
  • Hotel choices are fixed by itinerary; Chillon Castle transport (boat vs. train) depends on the season you travel
  • No published departure dates in the evidence; confirm availability with Firebird Tours before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Glockenhof Zurich

    Zurich Arrival

    Private airport transfer to the hotel; free day to relax or explore.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Glockenhof Zurich

    Trip to Mount Pilatus

    Train to Lucerne, then a private guided tour: boat cruise across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the summit of Mount Pilatus (2,132m), and a cable car descent via Kriens.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Hotel Steffani, St. Moritz

    Zurich City Tour & Departure

    3-hour private walking tour of Zurich's Old Town, then a train (2nd Class, 1 change) from Zurich to St. Moritz.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Schweizerhof Zermatt

    Glacier Express

    8h30 rail journey aboard the Glacier Express (2nd Class) from St. Moritz to Zermatt through the Swiss Alps' tunnels and bridges.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Schweizerhof Zermatt

    Day Trip to Gornergrat

    Cogwheel train to Gornergrat, the highest open-air railway station in Europe (3,090m), with panoramic views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection, Montreux

    Train to Montreux

    Train from Zermatt to Montreux (2nd Class, 1 change in Visp); guided tour of Chillon Castle (by boat in summer, by train in winter) and a private walking tour of Montreux, including the Freddie Mercury statue and Queen: The Studio Experience.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection, Montreux

    Day Trip to Geneva

    1-hour train to Geneva; guided tour of the lakefront, Jet d'Eau fountain, Old Town, St. Peter Cathedral, the Reformation Wall and the Palace of Nations.

  8. Day 8rail

    Departure from Geneva

    Direct train from Montreux to Geneva Airport (1st Class Seat).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Boat cruise across Lake Lucerne followed by the world's steepest cogwheel railway ascending Mount Pilatus to 2,132 metres
  • Day 4Eight-and-a-half-hour Glacier Express journey from St. Moritz to Zermatt through Alpine tunnels and mountain viaducts
  • Day 5Gornergrat cogwheel train ride to Europe's highest open-air railway station at 3,090 metres, with panoramic Matterhorn views
  • Day 6Guided tour of medieval Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva, accessible by boat in summer or train in winter

Included

  • Exceptional downtown hotel accommodations
  • Guided sightseeing tours with expert English-speaking guides
  • Delicious breakfasts at your hotels
  • Entrances to Zurich Old Town - Altstadt, Geneva Water Fountain (Jet d'Eau Fountain) and more
  • Tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary
  • Professional meeting services at the airport
  • Dedicated support team before and during your trip

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes all rail tickets listed in the itinerary: Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway, Glacier Express (2nd Class), Gornergrat Bahn, and intercity trains between cities.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Firebird Tours provides a private guide and driver throughout the 8 days, plus expert English-speaking guides for all sightseeing tours.
Which trains are featured?
The Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway, the Glacier Express (St. Moritz to Zermatt, 8 hours 30 minutes), the Gornergrat Bahn, and scheduled rail services between Zurich, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Montreux, and Geneva.
What is included?
Downtown hotel accommodations, guided sightseeing tours, hotel breakfasts, entrance fees to attractions, rail tickets, airport transfers, and a dedicated support team.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate pace. Daily activities include 3-hour city walking tours in Zurich and guided walking tours in Montreux and Geneva, plus cogwheel train and cable car journeys.
When does this trip run?
Firebird Tours publishes no set departure calendar in the materials provided; contact them directly to confirm dates and availability.

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