Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Premium Switzerland by Rail: A Grand Tour

Premium Switzerland by Rail: A Grand Tour, a rail journey with Vacations By Rail

Curated for travelers seeking an indulgent and extensive Swiss vacation, this grand tour explores in style with premium rail journeys, five-star hotels and exclusive excursions

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zürich

    Arrival in Zürich

    Land at Zürich Airport and make your own way to a five-star hotel in the city center using the First Class Swiss Pass. Afternoon at leisure. Welcome dinner with the Tour Manager and group.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lucerne

    Embarking on the Legends of Lake Lucerne cruise

    Guided walking tour of Zürich's Old Town and Bahnhofstrasse, then train to Lucerne. Board the historic steamboat Gallia for a five-hour dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne with a five-course meal and onboard storyteller.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lucerne

    Riding Europe's steepest cogwheel railway to Mt. Pilatus

    Train to Alpnachstad, then Europe's steepest cogwheel railway (48% gradient) to the summit of Mt. Pilatus, descending by cable car. Afternoon at leisure in Lucerne's Old Town.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: St. Moritz

    Exploring Switzerland's oldest town

    Coach to Chur, Switzerland's oldest town, with free time to explore. First Class train onward to St. Moritz in the Engadin Valley.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: St. Moritz

    Riding the Bernina Express to northern Italy

    First Class Bernina Express over the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, past Lago Bianco to Alp Grüm for Palü Glacier views, spiraling down the Brusio viaduct to Tirano, Italy, then return to St. Moritz.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Private Excellence Class car on the Glacier Express

    Full-day journey in a privately chartered Excellence Class car on the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt via Andermatt and the Rhône Valley, with a five-course lunch and wine pairings.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  7. Day 7railovernight: Zermatt

    Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway

    Guided walking tour of Zermatt village, then the Gornergrat Mountain Railway (opened 1898) to the summit at over 10,000 feet for Matterhorn views.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Grindelwald

    To Grindelwald via idyllic Interlaken

    Train via Visp and Spiez to Interlaken with time to explore, then coach through the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Grindelwald, checking into a family-run hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Grindelwald

    To the Top of Europe on the Jungfrau Railway

    Eiger Express cable car to Eiger Glacier station, then the cogwheel Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch ("Top of Europe"), visiting the Ice Palace and exclusive Ice Bar, with lunch at the summit.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  10. Day 10railovernight: Lausanne

    Prestige Class on the GoldenPass Express

    Private chartered Prestige Class car on the GoldenPass Express through the Bernese Oberland and Pays-d'Enhaut to Montreux, with a local meat-and-cheese platter, then coach to Lausanne via a guided tour and wine tasting at Lavaux Vinorama.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  11. Day 11rail

    Traveling home

    Travel home independently after breakfast; Geneva Airport and Zürich Airport are reachable by direct rail on the included Swiss Pass.

    Meals: Breakfast

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • First Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • Max group size of 18
  • First Class Swiss Travel Pass, offering unlimited travel by train, boat, bus and tram with no additional cost
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

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