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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Grand Tour of Switzerland by First Class Rail

Twelve-day First Class rail loop through Swiss mountains, lakes, and cities from London.

Illustration of Grand Tour of Switzerland by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's Grand Tour of Switzerland is a 12-day self-guided rail holiday from London to Lausanne, designed for independent rail travellers who want to experience Switzerland's most celebrated scenic trains without daily hotel changes. The journey opens with Eurostar and TGV to Bern, Switzerland's medieval capital, where two days permit exploration of the rose garden, galleried streets, and optional mountain excursions. Day three marks the first signature moment: the Lötschberger scenic route carries you south through mountain passes and the Rhone valley, connecting to the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway across viaducts and a hundred valleys to Locarno on Lake Maggiore. Three leisurely days there allow lake exploration and visits to nearby towns. The Gotthard Panorama Express then combines a panorama-carriage train journey with a historic steamer cruise along Lake Lucerne, arriving in the city for three more nights. The climax comes on day nine: the Golden Pass Panoramic Express descends through the Bernese Oberland and past Gstaad before spiralling to Lake Geneva and Montreux. Throughout, Planet Rail books 4-star hotels with breakfast and First Class rail accommodation, leaving each afternoon and evening free for independent discovery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Many optional excursions and activities (Mount Pilatus, Rigi, Rochers-de-Naye, lake cruises, museum visits) are payable locally and not included in the headline price.
  • The from-price GBP 1,995 applies to a 7-night option; the featured 11-night itinerary as described starts from GBP 2,550.
  • Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway operates mid-May to October only; check availability for your travel dates.

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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Lötschberger scenic route from Bern climbs through Kandersteg into the Valais, then the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway crosses viaducts and bridges through a hundred valleys to Locarno on Lake Maggiore.
  • Day 6Gotthard Panorama Express travels in a panorama carriage up and over the Gotthard Pass, then transitions to a historic steamer for the cruise along Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
  • Day 9Golden Pass Panoramic Express descends through the Bernese Oberland past Château d'Oex and Gstaad, with optional VIP seats at the front of the train before the spiralling descent to Lake Geneva.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. The price covers First Class rail from London St Pancras to Bern, Locarno, Lucerne, and Montreux and return by Eurostar and TGV, plus journeys on the Lötschberger, Centovalli Railway, Gotthard Panorama Express, and Golden Pass Panoramic Express.
Is this escorted or self-guided?
This is a tailor-made, self-guided (independent) holiday. No escort or group accompaniment is provided.
What is included in the price?
First Class rail travel as listed above, 11 nights' accommodation with breakfast at 4-star hotels in Bern, Locarno, Lucerne, and Montreux, and taxi transfers in Paris. Optional activities and supplements are payable locally.
How long are the hotel stays?
Bern and Locarno each have 2 to 3 nights; Lucerne and Montreux each have 3 nights.
When does this holiday run?
Planet Rail publishes no departure schedule in the available information; confirm dates and availability directly with the operator.
How much walking is involved?
Each city invites walking exploration on foot. Optional mountain railways (Mount Pilatus, Rigi, Rochers-de-Naye) involve additional walking at altitude; these are payable locally and optional.

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