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lernidee.de · Escorted rail & panoramic scenic tour

Grandiose Schweizer Bergwelt

Swiss alpine rail circle on four famous trains from Maienfeld to Lucerne.

Illustration of Grandiose Schweizer Bergwelt

Lernidee.de operates this seven-day escorted rail journey through Switzerland, departing Maienfeld in the Rhine Valley and concluding in Lucerne. A professional guide from Bahnurlaub.de joins the group on the first day in Basel and remains throughout, arranging daily meals and coordinating transfers between rail and hotel. The trip alternates between celebrated Alpine trains: the Bernina Express climbs from Chur to Tirano with panoramic windows and views of the Bernina Glacier; the Glacier Express descends from Chur to Brig in first-class cars, with a side trip to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn; the Centovalli-Bahn winds south from Domodossola through valleys toward Locarno; and the Gotthard Panorama Express traverses the historic Gotthard tunnel at Airolo, then transitions to a boat cruise on Lake Vierwaldstätter with lunch and views of the Rütli meadow. Hotels range from three-to-four-star properties, and groups are limited to 22 participants. This suits repeat rail travellers and guided-comfort seekers who value named trains and included meals.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator requires a minimum group size of 18 participants and may cancel the tour until 21 days before departure if the minimum is not met.
  • German rail travel to the starting point in Maienfeld costs extra (EUR 129 from any German railway station); the base price assumes arrival by car or rail to the Swiss border.
  • Hotels in Maienfeld and Lucerne are rated three-star; the higher-starred properties (Alex & SPA in Brig, H4 Arcadia in Locarno) account for two nights total of six overnights.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Maienfeld

    Anreise per Bahn oder PKW nach Maienfeld

    Individuelle Anreise nach Maienfeld im Rheintal, wenige Kilometer nördlich von Chur (PKW mit Parkplatz am Hotel, Bahn ab Schweizer Grenze oder ab Heimatbahnhof). Begrüßung durch die Reiseleitung im Hotel, gemeinsames Abendessen.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Maienfeld

    Bernina-Express

    Fahrt mit Regionalzügen von Maienfeld nach Tirano auf der berühmten Bernina-Linie mit spektakulären Alpenausblicken; Rückfahrt auf derselben Strecke mit der Rhätischen Bahn, teils im exklusiven Bernina Express Panoramawagen. Gemeinsames Abendessen in Maienfeld.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Brig-Naters

    Glacier-Express

    Fahrt mit dem Glacier Express von Chur nach Brig. Ausflug nach Zermatt am Fuße des Matterhorns mit freier Zeit. Abendessen in Brig (oder Rösti-Essen in Zermatt).

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Locarno

    Fahrt mit der Centovallbahn über Domodossola ins Tessin

    Fahrt von Brig nach Domodossola, dann weiter mit der Centovalli-Bahn nach Locarno. Spaziergang zum Lago Maggiore empfohlen. Gemeinsames Abendessen im Hotel dell'Angelo/H4 Arcadia.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Locarno

    Lago Maggiore Express

    Fahrt mit dem Lago Maggiore Express per Bahn (Centovalli-Bahn und Valle Vigezzo-Bahn) und anschließender dreistündiger Schiffstour über den Lago Maggiore mit Blick auf die Borromäischen Inseln, die Schlösser von Cannero und die Brissago-Inseln. Gemeinsames Abendessen.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Luzern

    Gotthard Panorama Express

    Fahrt in Panoramawagen erster Klasse über die historische Gotthard-Bergstrecke von Lugano über Airolo (Gotthard-Scheiteltunnel) nach Flüelen, dann Schifffahrt über den Vierwaldstättersee vorbei an der Tellskapelle und der Rütliwiese. Gemeinsames Abendessen in Luzern.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7

    Rückreise nach Maienfeld & Heimreise

    Entspannte Rückfahrt - je nach Anreiseoption per Zug ab Luzern zurück nach Maienfeld oder Richtung Basel zur Weiterreise.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Bernina Express runs from Maienfeld via Chur to Tirano on the famous Bernina line, offering views of the Bernina Glacier and returning in panoramic cars through the same route.
  • Day 3Glacier Express travels from Chur to Brig in a panoramic car; optional excursion to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with free time.
  • Day 4Centovalli-Bahn carries the group from Domodossola south to Locarno; Day 4 concludes with a suggested walk to Lago Maggiore.
  • Day 5Lago Maggiore Express combines the Centovalli-Bahn and Valle Vigezzo railway with a three-hour boat tour viewing the Borromean Islands, Cannero castles, and Brissago Islands.
  • Day 6Gotthard Panorama Express departs Lugano in first-class panoramic cars, crosses the Gotthard tunnel at Airolo, and descends to Flüelen for a boat cruise on Lake Vierwaldstätter past the Rütli meadow, with lunch aboard.

Included

  • Bahnurlaub.de-Reiseleitung ab/bis Basel SBB
  • PKW-Anreise mit gratis Parkplatz - Bahnfahrt ab/bis Schweizer Grenze oder gegen Aufpreis ab/bis jedem Deutschen Bahnhof inkl. Reservationen 2. Klasse
  • Transfer in Brig mit dem kleinen Simplon Express
  • 2 x Übernachtung inkl. Frühstück & Kurtaxe im Hotel Swiss Heidi 3* in Maienfeld (im Herbst Chur)
  • Gültige Fahrkarte nach Chur am ersten Tag
  • 2 × 3-Gang Halbpension (exkl. Getränke) im Hotel Swiss Heidi 3* in Maienfeld
  • 1 x Übernachtung inkl. Frühstück & Kurtaxe im Alex & SPA Hotel 4* in Brig
  • 1 × 3-Gang Halbpension (exkl. Getränke) im Alex & SPA Hotel 4* in Brig oder Rösti-Essen in Zermatt
  • 2 x Übernachtung inkl. Frühstück & Kurtaxe im Hotel H4 Arcadia 4* in Locarno
  • 2 × 3-Gang Halbpension (exkl. Getränke) im Hotel H4 Arcadia 4* in Locarno
  • 1 × 3-Gang Halbpension (exkl. Getränke) im Hotel 3* Waldstätterhof in Luzern
  • 1 x Bernina-Strecke im Regio- und Panoramawagen des Bernina Express
  • 1 x Glacier Express im Panoramawagen Chur – Brig
  • Schiffsfahrt auf dem Vierwaldstättersee inkl. Mittagessen an Bord im Gotthard Panorama Express
  • 1 x Postauto Brig – Domodossola
  • Fahrt mit der Centovalli-Bahn
  • 1 x Ausflug Lago Maggiore Express, 2. Klasse
  • Reiseführer Alpenbahnen, Gepäckanhänger, Schweiz-Karten
  • SBB Gepäcktransport von Brig nach Locarno und von Locarno nach Luzern

Not included

  • Wunsch-Ausflüge

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Centovalli-Bahn, Lago Maggiore Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, and a Postbus segment Brig to Domodossola, plus reservations in second class (or first class on the Gotthard). A three-hour boat cruise on Lake Vierwaldstätter is included with lunch.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Bahnurlaub.de-Reiseleitung (Lernidee.de's guide team) leads the group from Basel SBB throughout the entire seven days, meeting guests at Maienfeld on Day 1.
How much walking is involved?
The operator advises the trip is not suitable for people with restricted mobility. Days involve boarding trains and boats, handling luggage between hotels, and optional town walking (a walk to Lago Maggiore is recommended on Day 4).
What are the hotels?
Swiss Heidi-Hotel (three-star, Maienfeld, two nights); Alex & SPA Hotel (four-star, Brig, one night); H4 Arcadia (four-star, Locarno, two nights); Waldstätterhof (three-star, Lucerne, one night). All include breakfast and local tax.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily at the hotel. Three-course half-board dinners (excluding beverages) are included at each hotel. Day 6 includes lunch aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express boat.
When does this tour depart?
The evidence pack does not list specific departure dates or seasons. Contact the operator directly for availability.

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