Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Grand Tour of Switzerland by First Class Rail

Grand Tour of Switzerland by First Class Rail, a rail journey with Planet Rail

Journey across Switzerland and enjoy fabulous contrasting scenery from bustling cities & stunning lakes and mountains to picture-postcard towns and villages by First Class rail.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Bern

    By rail to Switzerland

    From London St Pancras International travel by Eurostar to Paris in Standard Premier Class, with light meal and drinks on board. A private taxi takes you across Paris to the Gare de Lyon for the TGV through France into Switzerland, changing in Basel and continuing to Bern for your stay at the Hotel Bären am Bundesplatz (4 star).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Bern

    At leisure in Bern

    A full day in the medieval Swiss capital: the rose garden above the Bear Park, galleried streets and arcades, the Astronomical Clock and the 101 metre-high cathedral tower. Optional excursions include the 'Chocolate Express' to the Cailler factory at Broc and Gruyères, the Schilthorn via Lauterbrunnen and Mürren (supplements apply), or the Jungfrau Railway to the highest railway station in Europe at 11,333ft (supplements apply).

  3. Day 3railovernight: Locarno

    Bern to Locarno along the Lötschberger and Centovalli Railway

    Board the Lötschberger for the scenic mountain route south via Spiez, Frutigen and Kandersteg into the Valais and down to the Rhone valley, continuing through the Simplon Pass to Domodossola on the Italian border. There join the narrow gauge Centovalli Railway across viaducts and bridges through a hundred valleys to Locarno on Lake Maggiore. Three nights at the Hotel Belvedere (4 star), reachable on foot, by taxi or by funicular.

  4. Day 4overnight: Locarno

    Locarno and Lake Maggiore

    Explore Locarno's mix of Swiss and Italian cultures or venture along Lake Maggiore: ferry to Stresa via pretty Ascona, a lake cruise to Isola Bella and the Borromeo Palace (payable locally), or visits to Bellinzona and Lugano.

  5. Day 5overnight: Locarno

    Locarno and Lake Maggiore

    A second full day for Lake Maggiore and its islands, or time to relax around the hotel and its facilities.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lucerne

    The Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne

    Take your seat in the panorama carriage from Locarno to Flüelen, up and over the Gotthard Pass and through the Gotthard Tunnel. At Flüelen board the historic Gotthard Panorama Express steamer for the cruise along Lake Lucerne to Lucerne (lunch may be available on board, payable locally). Three nights at the Cascada Boutique Hotel (4 star).

  7. Day 7railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne and Lake Lucerne

    Enjoy Lake Lucerne by lake steamer, or take the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway, the world's steepest, from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm (operates mid-May to October; payable locally).

  8. Day 8railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne and Lake Lucerne

    A second full day: perhaps the Rigi cog railway to Rigi-Kulm with views of Mount Rigi and Lake Lucerne, descending by cable car and lake-steamer (all journeys payable locally).

  9. Day 9railovernight: Montreux

    Golden Pass Panoramic Express to Montreux

    One of the highlights of the holiday: the Golden Pass line through the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken, alongside Lake Thun, climbing past Simmental Valley chalets to Zweisimmen where the train changes gauge, then past Château d'Oex and Gstaad with the option of lunch in the restaurant car (payable locally) and 'VIP' seats at the very front of the train, before the spiralling descent to Lake Geneva. Three nights at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior).

  10. Day 10railovernight: Montreux

    Exploring Montreux

    Discover Montreux: the medieval Château de Chillon by trolley bus (payable locally), a lake cruise, or the rack railway up Rochers-de-Naye for stupendous views and the 'Marmot Paradise'.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Montreux

    Exploring Montreux

    A second full day: perhaps a trip along the lake to Vevey and the Charlie Chaplin Museum (payable locally), or a day trip to the glacier on the mountain train via Aigle to Les Diablerets.

  12. Day 12rail

    Montreux to London - Homeward bound

    From Montreux to Lausanne for the TGV to Paris, then a taxi transfer to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London St Pancras, with a light meal and drinks in your Standard Premier Class seat.

Included

  • First Class rail travel from London to Bern, Locarno, Lucerne and Montreux and return as described above (Standard Premier Class on Eurostar)
  • Journeys on the Lötschberger scenic route from Bern to Brig, the Centovalli railway from Domodossola to Locarno, the Gotthard Panorama Express from Bellinzona to Lucerne and the Golden Pass line from Lucerne to Montreux
  • 11 nights' accommodation with breakfast at highly-rated 4 star hotels in Bern, Locarno, Lucerne and Montreux
  • Taxi transfers in Paris

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