Search

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Lake Constance and the Glacier Express

Seven-day rail loop from London through Swiss Alps to Lake Constance and Stuttgart

Illustration of Lake Constance and the Glacier Express

Tailor Made Rail, an independent rail holiday operator, offers a seven-day journey from London to Stuttgart that combines the Swiss Alps with Lake Constance and a stop in Germany. The trip spans six nights, starting with Eurostar and high-speed trains across France before boarding the Glacier Express from Brig. This famous mountain train climbs to 2,033 metres at the Oberalp Pass and descends into Chur, Switzerland's oldest town. From Chur, you travel northeast through St Gallen to Konstanz, a historic city on Lake Constance where you stay for three nights. These middle days are entirely at your own pace; you might visit the town's Münster tower, take a boat trip to Mainau Island, or simply rest by the lake. On day six, you cross the lake by ferry to Friedrichshafen, where you can visit the Zeppelin Museum before catching a train to Stuttgart for your final night. The following morning you board the Eurostar home. All rail journeys, seat reservations, hotel accommodation with breakfast, and travel documentation are included. This independent package suits first-time rail travellers who want professional support and couples wanting time together in one location, as well as those who prefer to explore destinations on their own schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar', so your final accommodation in each city may differ from those named
  • The outbound journey from London to Brig involves three train changes (Eurostar, TGV, domestic Swiss service) and takes one full day
  • The package uses standard class throughout; upgrades to rail journeys and hotels are optional extras

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Hotel Ambassador (or similar), Brig

    London to Brig

    Catch the Eurostar to Paris, cross to the Gare de Lyon and board a high-speed TGV service to Lausanne, then a domestic Swiss service to Brig.

  2. Day 2railovernight: ABC Swiss Quality Hotel (or similar), Chur

    Brig to Chur with the Glacier Express

    Leave Brig aboard the Glacier Express, climbing to 2,033 metres above sea level at the Oberalp Pass before descending into Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland.

  3. Day 3overnight: Hotel Hirschen (or similar), Konstanz

    Chur to Konstanz

    Leave Chur on a regional service to St Gallen, with an option to stop for lunch, then continue on open tickets to Konstanz for a 3-night stay.

  4. Day 4overnight: Hotel Hirschen (or similar), Konstanz

    Konstanz

    Full day at leisure on Lake Constance; views from the tower of the Münster, or a boat trip to Mainau Island or Bregenz.

  5. Day 5overnight: Hotel Hirschen (or similar), Konstanz

    Konstanz

    Second full day at leisure on Lake Constance.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Arcotel Camino (or similar), Stuttgart

    Konstanz to Stuttgart

    Catch a ferry across the lake to Friedrichshafen, with an optional stop for lunch and a visit to the Zeppelin Museum, then a direct train to Stuttgart.

  7. Day 7rail

    Stuttgart to London

    Time to explore Stuttgart's museums and castles before returning to the station for a service via Mannheim to Paris, then the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Glacier Express climbs to 2,033 metres at the Oberalp Pass before descending into Chur, Switzerland's oldest town
  • Day 4Full day at leisure on Lake Constance with options including views from the Münster tower or a boat trip to Mainau Island
  • Day 6Ferry crossing of Lake Constance to Friedrichshafen, with an optional visit to the Zeppelin Museum before the train to Stuttgart

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 6 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The price includes all rail journeys in standard class from London to Stuttgart, including Eurostar, TGV, the Glacier Express, and regional services. Seat reservations are made where required.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
This is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides tickets, hotel bookings, and travel documentation, but there is no tour guide. You travel at your own pace and have full days at leisure in Konstanz.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, six nights of handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast, easy-to-follow travel documentation, email ticket dispatch, and proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
When does this trip run?
Tailor Made Rail does not publish fixed departure dates. This is a tailor-made itinerary you can request for dates of your choice. Low season pricing (November to March) starts at £1,199; high season (April to October) from £1,299.
What are the optional extras?
You can add extra nights in Switzerland, stay in other Lake Constance locations such as Lindau or Bregenz, stop overnight in Paris, Basel, or Lausanne on the outbound journey, or upgrade hotels and rail classes.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes station transfers and walking in city centers. Days 4 and 5 in Konstanz are full days at leisure; optional activities include climbing the Münster tower and boat trips but no mandatory strenuous walks are described.

Similar journeys