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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Highlights of Switzerland in Summer

Swiss Alps west to east by vintage mountain trains and Glacier Express

Illustration of Highlights of Switzerland in Summer

The Railway Touring Company's eight-day Highlights of Switzerland in Summer is an escorted journey across the Swiss Alps by some of Europe's most celebrated mountain railways. Beginning in Vevey on Lake Geneva and ending in Tirano, Italy, the tour stays in four-star hotels in Vevey, Naters, and Chur, with a Tour Manager guiding the group throughout. Days combine famous trains: the Belle Epoque Pullman cars of the Golden Pass, the vintage 1938 BLS streamliner in the Bernese Oberland, the First Class Glacier Express via the Oberalp Pass, and two private 1930s Art Deco Pullman coaches on the UNESCO Albula and Bernina railways. Mountain ascents include the Gornergrat rack railway to 3089 metres for Matterhorn views, the Rochers de Naye rack railway to 2042 metres, and Mont Pelerin funicular through terraced vineyards. Day 2 pairs the Golden Pass with the vintage Blue Arrow on private charter; Day 7 features the Bernina Railway's descent past the Brusio circular viaduct into Italy, with at-seat lunch. The package includes First Class rail from London, all mountain train fares, luggage transfers, and breakfast plus select lunches and dinners.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: July 2026 at GBP 2,995 (or USD 4,000). Availability and future dates should be confirmed with The Railway Touring Company.
  • The ground-only option (GBP 2,750) excludes rail and flight services from the UK and hotel transfers on arrival and departure days.
  • Days 4 and 7 involve ascents to 3089m and 2042m respectively; Day 3 includes Mont Pelerin funicular and rack railway to 2042m. Consult your doctor if you have altitude concerns.
  • The itinerary includes free time in Bern, Montreux, and St Moritz; some exploration is unguided.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Vevey

    London to Vevey

    Travel on Eurostar and TGV via Paris to Geneva, then by SBB service train to Vevey on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. Check in to the 4-star Hotel Astra, opposite the station. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Vevey

    Golden Pass in Pullman coaches; Blue Arrow railcar in the Bernese Oberland

    Travel from Montreux via Gstaad to Zweisimmen over the Golden Pass in Belle Epoque Pullman coaches on the Golden Pass Classic train, climbing to 1279 metres near Saanenmoser. In Zweisimmen board the vintage 1938 BLS 'Blue Arrow' with open cab vestibules through the Simmental Valley to Spiez and along Lake Thun to Bern, with free time in Bern before returning to Vevey via the Gruyere foothills and Lausanne. Free evening for dinner.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Vevey

    Swiss Riviera and Mont Pelerin Funicular; Rochers de Naye Rack Railway

    Explore Vevey and the Swiss Riviera, then take a funicular to the terraced vineyards and summit of Mont Pelerin. Use the complimentary rover ticket to visit Montreux and Chillon Castle, then board a rack railcar to the summit of Rochers de Naye (2042m) for panoramic Alpine views, before returning to Vevey.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Naters (Brig)

    Glacier Express route to Zermatt; Gornergrat Railway; the Matterhorn

    SBB service train from Vevey to Visp, then a panoramic narrow-gauge train on the Glacier Express route to Zermatt. Transfer to the Gornergrat rack railway, ascending to 3089m for views of the Matterhorn, before returning to Zermatt and continuing by panoramic narrow gauge train to Brig. Overnight in Naters, in the Brig district, with dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Chur

    On the Glacier Express and via the Oberalp Pass to Chur

    Travel First Class aboard the Glacier Express dome cars from Brig to Chur, via the Obergoms, Andermatt and the Oberalp Pass, descending through the Surselva region and along the Rhine Gorge to Chur. Check into a centrally located hotel, with free time before dinner.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Chur

    Rhaetian Railway from Chur to St Moritz by private Pullman coach

    Travel in a privately chartered original 1930s Pullman car over the UNESCO-designated Albula railway, with its spiral tunnels and the Landwasser viaduct, to St Moritz. Time by the lake before returning to Chur by regular RhB service via Zuoz, the Vereina Tunnel, Klosters and Landquart.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Chur

    Albula Railway to Pontresina; Bernina Railway to Tirano by private Pullman coach

    Express train over the Albula line from Chur to Samedan and Pontresina, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct. Change onto the Bernina Railway in a private Pullman coach over the Bernina pass, via Ospizio and Poschiavo, the circular viaduct at Brusio, to Tirano in Italy, with at-seat lunch catering. Return to Chur via Pontresina on the Albula line by RhB express. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

  8. Day 8rail

    Return to London

    Return to London from Switzerland via Chur, Basel and Paris on RhB, SBB, TGV and Eurostar trains.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Belle Epoque Pullman cars on the Golden Pass ascend to 1279 metres near Saanenmoser; return journey in the vintage 1938 BLS 'Blue Arrow' with open cab vestibules through the Simmental Valley and along Lake Thun.
  • Day 3Gornergrat rack railway climbs to 3089m for high-altitude views of the Matterhorn before returning to Zermatt.
  • Day 5First Class Glacier Express dome cars travel from Brig to Chur via the Obergoms, Andermatt, and Oberalp Pass, with lunch on-board.
  • Day 6Private 1930s Pullman coach on the UNESCO-designated Albula railway crosses the Landwasser viaduct and ascends through spiral tunnels to St Moritz.
  • Day 7Private Pullman coach on the Bernina Railway descends from Pontresina over the Bernina pass, crosses the circular viaduct at Brusio, and arrives in Tirano, Italy, with at-seat lunch.

Included

  • First class travel from London St. Pancras International to Vevey and return from Chur
  • First Class travel within Switzerland where possible
  • 3 Nights Accommodation with breakfast at 4-star Hotel Astra, Vevey
  • 1 Night Accommodation with breakfast at 4-star Hotel Alex, Naters
  • 3 Nights Accommodation with breakfast at 4-star Hotel ABC, Chur
  • 2 Lunches and 4 dinners
  • All privately chartered vintage trains as detailed in the itinerary
  • First Class travel on Golden Pass panoramic train (Montreux to Zweisimmen)
  • First Class travel on Glacier Express (Brig - Chur) including lunch on-board
  • All train travel and transfers
  • SBB luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
  • Seat reservations (where possible)
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail from London St. Pancras via Eurostar and TGV to Vevey, First Class travel throughout Switzerland, and all private chartered vintage trains and mountain railways listed in the itinerary. The ground-only option (GBP 2,750) covers train travel within Switzerland only.
What trains and mountain railways are included?
The itinerary features the Golden Pass Classic (Belle Epoque Pullman), the vintage 1938 BLS 'Blue Arrow' streamliner, Mont Pelerin Funicular, Rochers de Naye Rack Railway, Glacier Express route to Zermatt, Gornergrat Railway, Glacier Express (Brig to Chur in dome cars), Rhaetian Railway Albula line (in a private 1930s Pullman coach), and Bernina Railway (in a private Pullman coach to Tirano). Regular SBB and RhB services are also used.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager travels with the group throughout the eight days. Free time is provided in Bern on Day 2, Montreux and Vevey on Day 3, and St Moritz on Day 6.
What hotels are included?
Three nights at the 4-star Hotel Astra in Vevey, one night at the 4-star Hotel Alex in Naters (Brig district), and three nights at the 4-star Hotel ABC in Chur. All rooms include breakfast.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included daily. The package includes two lunches and four dinners; lunch on-board the Glacier Express on Day 5 and at-seat lunch on the Bernina Railway on Day 7 are included, plus a welcome dinner on Day 1 and farewell dinner on Day 7.
When does this tour depart?
One departure is listed for July 2026 at GBP 2,995 per person (Standard with London rail return, First Class) or GBP 2,750 (ground only, Vevey to Chur).

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