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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Highlights of Switzerland in Winter

Seven-day Swiss Alps rail circle from Vevey to Klosters on mountain railways

Illustration of Highlights of Switzerland in Winter

The Railway Touring Company's Highlights of Switzerland in Winter is a 7-day escorted tour showcasing the Swiss Alps' most celebrated mountain railways. Departing from Vevey on Lake Geneva and ending in Klosters, the journey travels west to east across Switzerland aboard First Class trains including the Golden Pass Express, the Glacier Express, private 1930s Pullman coaches on the UNESCO-designated Albula Line, and specialized rack railways. Accommodation spans 4-star hotels in Vevey, Brig, and Chur with breakfast, four dinners, and one lunch included. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Day 2 features the gauge-changing Golden Pass Express climbing to 1279 metres near Gstaad and passing through the Zweisimmen traverser to shift from metre-gauge to standard-gauge tracks. Day 4 includes the Gornergrat Railway ascending to 3089 metres for high-altitude Matterhorn views. Day 5 travels the Glacier Express dome cars across the Oberalp Pass and down the Rhine Gorge. The tour suits repeat rail travellers, luxury seekers, and photographers drawn to Alpine scenery and heritage rail engineering.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is listed: January 2027. Confirm availability and dates with The Railway Touring Company before booking.
  • The price tier 'Standard' from GBP 2,995 includes Eurostar and TGV travel from London plus all rail within Switzerland. The 'Ground only' option at GBP 2,795 excludes UK-to-Switzerland rail and airport transfers on days 1 and 7.

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 Express gauge-changing train from Montreux to Interlaken

    Travel from Montreux via Gstaad to Zweisimmen over the Golden Pass Express, valid with a First Class Swiss Travel Pass, climbing to 1279 metres near Gstaad. In Zweisimmen the gauge-changing coaches pass through the metre-to-standard-gauge traverser, continuing via the Simmental Valley and Lake Thun to Interlaken, with free time at Interlaken West before returning to Vevey via Bern, 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. Dinner at the hotel.

  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 to explore.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Chur

    Rhaetian Railway from Chur to St Moritz by private Pullman Coach along the Albula Line; Return via the Engadine Valley and Vereina Route

    Loco-hauled express train over the Albula route through Filisur, with spiral tunnels, horseshoe curves and the Landwasser Viaduct, accommodated in a private original 1930s Pullman car, to the resort town of St Moritz. After time by the frozen lake, return by RhB service train in First Class via Zernez through the Engadine Valley and the Vereina tunnel, emerging at the ski resort of Klosters and continuing via the Prattigau region to Landquart and Chur. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

  7. Day 7rail

    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 2The Golden Pass Express climbs to 1279 metres near Gstaad, then coaches pass through the gauge-changing traverser at Zweisimmen to shift from metre to standard gauge
  • Day 3The Gornergrat rack railway ascends to 3089 metres for high-altitude views of the Matterhorn
  • Day 5First Class travel aboard the Glacier Express dome cars descends via the Oberalp Pass through the Rhine Gorge to Chur
  • Day 6A private 1930s Pullman car traverses the UNESCO-designated Albula Line, passing through spiral tunnels and horseshoe curves to the Landwasser Viaduct and St Moritz

Included

  • First Class travel from London St Pancras International to Vevey and return from Chur, First Class travel within Switzerland where possible
  • First Class group travel tickets and half fare cards
  • 3 Nights accommodation with breakfast at 4-star Hotel Astra, Vevey
  • 1 Night accommodation with breakfast in Brig
  • 2 Nights accommodation with breakfast at a centrally located 4-star hotel in Chur
  • 1 Lunch
  • 4 Dinners
  • All privately chartered vintage trains as detailed in the itinerary
  • First Class travel on Golden Pass panoramic train (Montreux to Interlaken)
  • First Class travel on Glacier Express (Brig to 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 in the price?
Yes. The Standard tier at GBP 2,995 includes First Class travel from London St Pancras International to Vevey via Eurostar and TGV, all First Class travel within Switzerland, and all mountain railway journeys. The Ground only tier at GBP 2,795 excludes the London-Switzerland rail leg and airport transfers.
Is this tour guided?
Yes. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the 7 days. Accommodation and all transfers between hotels are arranged.
Which trains are featured?
The itinerary includes the Golden Pass Express (Montreux to Interlaken), the Gornergrat Railway (Zermatt to 3089 metres), the Glacier Express (Brig to Chur), and the Rhaetian Railway's Albula Line in a private 1930s Pullman coach (Chur to St Moritz). Funicular and rack railway excursions also feature at Mont Pelerin and Rochers de Naye.
What accommodation is provided?
Three nights at the 4-star Hotel Astra in Vevey, one night in Brig, and two nights at a centrally located 4-star hotel in Chur. Breakfast is included daily.
When does this tour run?
A departure is confirmed for January 2027. Contact The Railway Touring Company for future dates.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day. Four dinners and one lunch are provided, plus lunch on board the Glacier Express. Other meals are at your own expense.

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