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Tailor Made Rail · Independent rail holiday

Interlaken and the Golden Pass

Five days London to Lake Geneva via Colmar and Interlaken on trains

Illustration of Interlaken and the Golden Pass

Tailor Made Rail's Interlaken and the Golden Pass is a 5-day independent rail holiday connecting London to Lake Geneva through three countries. You depart on Eurostar to Paris, then board a TGV high-speed train to Colmar, a medieval Alsatian city with half-timbered buildings and canals. Day 2 takes you across the Swiss border to Interlaken, wedged between two lakes in the Bernese Oberland. The centrepiece is Day 3, when you travel the Golden Pass line to Montreux, with your choice of the Belle Epoque or modern panoramic carriage, passing rolling hills and mountain meadows as the train descends into the French-speaking wine region of Vaud. You then have a full free day in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva, with optional excursions by boat or rail. The package includes 4 nights in handpicked 3-star hotels with breakfast, all rail fares, and easy-to-follow documentation. This trip suits first-time rail travellers seeking a leisurely pace and independent explorers who want the convenience of booked trains and hotels without a guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • All hotel names carry 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation depends on availability and the rate tier chosen at booking.
  • The from-price is for low season (November to March); high season (April to October) adds GBP 100.
  • The itinerary does not specify exact train times or whether connections are guaranteed; confirm timing with Tailor Made Rail before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Colmar

    London to Colmar

    Eurostar to Paris, connecting onto a high-speed TGV to Colmar, an Alsatian city near the German border with a pretty Old Town of half-timbered houses and canals.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Interlaken

    Colmar to Interlaken

    A morning train to the Swiss border at Basel, then a direct train to Interlaken, sandwiched between two lakes; views from the Harder Kulm are accessible by funicular railway.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Montreux

    Interlaken to Montreux with the Golden Pass

    A direct train to Montreux (or a Belle Epoque service via Zweisimmen), through rolling hills and lush mountain meadows from German-speaking Bern into French-speaking Vaud, for a 2-night stay on Lake Geneva.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Montreux

    Montreux

    A full day exploring the Swiss Riviera, home to the Chateau de Chillon; a free day of rail travel to Villars or Gruyères, or a boat to Vevey and Lausanne.

  5. Day 5rail

    Montreux to London

    A return journey to Paris via Lausanne, connecting for the Eurostar back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London for Paris, then a TGV continues to Colmar, an Alsatian city with half-timbered medieval houses and canals near the German border.
  • Day 2A morning train crosses the Swiss border at Basel and arrives in Interlaken, set between two lakes; the Harder Kulm viewpoint is reached by funicular railway.
  • Day 3The Golden Pass train departs Interlaken for Montreux, offering a choice of Belle Epoque or modern panoramic carriages as it passes rolling hills and mountain meadows into the French-speaking Vaud region.
  • Day 4A full free day in Montreux on Lake Geneva, with optional boat travel to Vevey and Lausanne or a rail excursion to Villars or Gruyères.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 4 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes, Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations is included: Eurostar London to Paris, TGV to Colmar, trains to Interlaken, and the Golden Pass to Montreux. The return journey via Paris is also included.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive travel documentation and directions to hotels, but you travel at your own pace without a guide.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, 4 nights' accommodation in handpicked hotels with breakfast, comprehensive directions, travel documentation, and ticket despatch. Meals other than breakfast are not included.
Can I choose which carriage on the Golden Pass?
Yes, you may travel on either the Belle Epoque service via Zweisimmen or the modern panoramic carriages on the direct route to Montreux.
What can I do on the free day in Montreux?
You have a full day at leisure. Optional extras include a boat trip to Vevey and Lausanne, a visit to Chateau de Chillon, or a rail excursion to Villars or Gruyères (these are priced separately).
When does this trip run?
Tailor Made Rail does not publish specific departure dates in their information; contact the operator to check availability and reserve your preferred dates.

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