How much does it cost?

From CHF 739 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $906 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is rail travel included?

Yes. The package includes a Swiss Travel Pass valid for 4 days in 2nd class, covering all regional trains and the Bernina Express (seat reservation included). A boat journey from Flüelen to Lucerne is also part of the itinerary.

Is this an escorted tour or independent?

This is an independent rail holiday. Railtour suisse provides train passes, hotel bookings, and reservations, but there is no guide. You travel and explore at your own pace.

Which trains are used?

The Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano is the signature train, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct and Bernina Pass. A regional train carries you from Lugano to Flüelen (optionally the Gotthard Panorama Express with a supplement). A boat then takes you to Lucerne.

What hotels are included?

Three 3-star hotels with standard double rooms and breakfast: one night each in Chur, Lugano, and Lucerne.

railtour suisse · Individual rail journey

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland «Glaciers & Palm Trees» (for international guests)

Four-day Swiss rail loop from Chur to Lucerne via Bernina Express and Alpine trains

Railtour suisse, Switzerland's train travel specialist, operates the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland as a 4-day independent rail holiday for travellers seeking to explore the country's diverse landscapes from alpine glaciers to Mediterranean palm trees. The journey begins in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town, and unfolds over three nights across three distinctive cities: the Rhaetian railway hub and cultural centre of Chur, the Italian-speaking lakeside charm of Lugano, and the mountain-surrounded city of Lucerne. The signature experience is Day 2, when the Bernina Express carries you through the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, past the Landwasser Viaduct and the Brusio circular viaduct, from the Alpine regions southward toward Tirano in Italy and onward to Lugano via coach through the Valtellina valley. A regional train or optional Gotthard Panorama Express then takes you from Lugano across the Alps to Flüelen, where a boat carries you to Lucerne. The package includes the Swiss Travel Pass in 2nd class for all rail and regional transport, three 3-star hotel nights with breakfast, and 50% discounts on mountain railways and free museum entry, making it accessible for both first-time and seasoned rail travellers who value independence and flexibility.

Price history

Across 4 checks, this price has held at CHF 739 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 1 of 4 point is a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

One reading is held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

Day 2 involves a 9-hour train and coach journey; this is a long travel day.
The hotels are 3-star properties; accommodation tier is standard, not upmarket.
The Gotthard Panorama Express upgrade on Day 3 requires an additional supplement and a 1st class ticket purchase.
The Swiss Travel Pass covers rail and regional transport, but the boat journey on Day 3 may require a separate ticket; confirm this with railtour suisse before booking.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Chur
arrival in Chur
Train journey to Chur, Switzerland's oldest town. The car-free old town with its countless boutiques, galleries, restaurants, cafés and bars is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland. Overnight in Chur.
Day 2railovernight: Lugano
Bernina Express (9h15)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel with the Bernina Express from Chur via the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct, the Bernina Pass and the circular viaduct at Brusio to Tirano (Italy), the south end of the Bernina Line. After lunch or a stroll through the romantic old town, you travel with the Bernina Express bus through the idyllic Valtellina valley and along Lake Como to Lugano. Overnight in Lugano.
Day 3railovernight: Lucerne
Lugano – Lucerne (5h15)
Breakfast at the hotel. Train journey from Lugano to Flüelen (optional with the Gotthard Panorama Express, with supplement, a 1st class train ticket is required). From Flüelen to Lucerne by boat. Overnight in Lucerne.
Day 4
Lucerne and return journey
Breakfast at the hotel. Stroll across the world-famous Chapel Bridge and through the winding streets of the old town, visit the Lion Monument or take a trip to Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus or Mount Titlis. Individual return journey. This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The Bernina Express crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, a UNESCO World Heritage railway structure, and spirals through the Brusio circular viaduct as it descends toward Tirano.
Day 3A boat journey carries you across Lake Lucerne from Flüelen to Lucerne, with views of the surrounding Alps.
Day 4In Lucerne, walk across the Chapel Bridge and explore the old town's winding streets, or take an optional cable car or rack railway to Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus, or Mount Titlis.

Included

Swiss Travel Pass 4 days in 2nd class
Seat reservation in the Bernina Express
1 night in Chur, 3*-hotel, standard double room, with breakfast
1 night in Lugano, 3*-hotel, standard double room with breakfast
1 night in Lucerne, 3*-hotel, standard double room with breakfast
50% discount on most mountain railways, free entry at more than 500 museums

Not included

Gotthard Panorama Express upgrade (Lugano - Flüelen) supplement

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From CHF 739 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $906 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is rail travel included?: Yes. The package includes a Swiss Travel Pass valid for 4 days in 2nd class, covering all regional trains and the Bernina Express (seat reservation included). A boat journey from Flüelen to Lucerne is also part of the itinerary.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?: This is an independent rail holiday. Railtour suisse provides train passes, hotel bookings, and reservations, but there is no guide. You travel and explore at your own pace.
Which trains are used?: The Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano is the signature train, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct and Bernina Pass. A regional train carries you from Lugano to Flüelen (optionally the Gotthard Panorama Express with a supplement). A boat then takes you to Lucerne.
What hotels are included?: Three 3-star hotels with standard double rooms and breakfast: one night each in Chur, Lugano, and Lucerne.