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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Rhätischebahn Explorer

Seven-day escorted exploration of Switzerland's narrow-gauge Rhätischebahn trains

Illustration of Rhätischebahn Explorer

Ffestiniog Travel's Rhätischebahn Explorer is a seven-day escorted tour that immerses you entirely in Switzerland's narrow-gauge rail network across the mountainous Graubünden canton. Based in the central Swiss city of Chur, the week includes five named trains: the famous Bernina Express climbing above 2000 metres to Tirano, the Vereina Tunnel line to Switzerland's easternmost station at Scuol-Tarasp, a gourmet dining train between St. Moritz and Chur with a three-course meal, the scenic Arosabahn to the resort town of Arosa, and a vintage heritage locomotive hauling the train past the famous Landwasser Viaduct. Your tour leader accompanies you from London, and you return to the same hotel each evening. The itinerary balances guided excursions with free time to explore the narrow-gauge lines at leisure. This is a repeat-rail-traveller's deep dive into a specialist rail system, combining heritage operations, dramatic Alpine scenery, and the engineering heritage of one of Europe's most celebrated mountain railways.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed, in June 2027
  • The Bernina Express return leg is subject to availability and may operate as a scheduled service instead of reserved First Class
  • First Class rail upgrade is available only upon request and subject to availability

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Chur

    Fly to Switzerland

    We take a lunchtime flight from London Heathrow to Zürich with an onward rail connection for Chur. Our hotel for the next 6 nights is centrally located in Chur on a bed and breakfast basis.

  2. Day 2overnight: Chur

    Landquart Works & Rhätischebahn (RhB) at Leisure

    A guided behind-the-scenes tour of the RhB workshops at Landquart, an up-to-date facility handling maintenance and major overhauls. The rest of the day is free to explore the narrow gauge lines of the Rhätischebahn.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Chur

    Bernina Express

    A full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano travelling on the Bernina Express route, with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000m.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Chur

    Vereina Tunnel, Scuol-Tarasp & Gourmino Dining

    A morning train through the car-transporting Vereina tunnel to Scuol-Tarasp, the most easterly station in Switzerland, before heading back via Zernez and Bever to St. Moritz, then the afternoon Gourmino dining train back to Chur for a three course meal.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Chur

    Rhine Gorge & Arosa

    Train to Ilanz through the untamed Rhine Gorge, along the turquoise-green waters of the Rhine past rock walls up to 350m high. After a lunch break we travel up the Arosabahn to the resort town of Arosa before returning to Chur.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Chur

    Swiss Heritage & Landwasser World

    A heritage loco, either a vintage Ge4/4 or Crocodile, hauls our heritage train to Filisur via Davos. In the afternoon we board the Landwasser Viaduct shuttle with an opportunity to climb to the viewing platform atop the Zalaint tunnel.

  7. Day 7rail

    Homeward Bound

    We take a morning train back to Zürich Airport where we board an afternoon flight back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Bernina Express from Chur climbs to over 2000 metres altitude via spirals and tunnels on the way to Tirano
  • Day 4The morning train passes through the Vereina Tunnel, a car-transporting route, to reach Scuol-Tarasp, Switzerland's easternmost station
  • Day 4The Gourmino dining train departs St. Moritz for Chur with a three-course meal served on board
  • Day 5A train journey along the Rhine Gorge passes turquoise-green waters and rock walls up to 350 metres high
  • Day 6A vintage heritage locomotive hauls the train to Filisur; the afternoon Landwasser Viaduct shuttle includes a climb to a viewing platform atop the Zalaint tunnel

Included

  • Economy flights from Heathrow to Zürich
  • Standard Class rail travel from Zürich to Chur
  • First Class 5 day Graubünden ticket for unlimited travel in the region
  • Excursions as described
  • 3 course meal on the Gourmino dining car
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes economy flights from Heathrow to Zürich, standard class rail to Chur on arrival, and a five-day Graubünden ticket for unlimited narrow-gauge travel in the region. Excursions include five named trains: the Bernina Express, Vereina Tunnel line, Gourmino dining train, Arosabahn, and heritage train.
What is included beyond rail and flights?
Six nights in Hotel Freieck in Chur on a bed and breakfast basis, a three-course meal on the Gourmino dining car, services of a tour leader from London throughout, local taxes and fees, and all excursions as described in the itinerary.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader who joins the group from London and accompanies the tour throughout the week. Days 2 through 6 feature guided excursions and behind-the-scenes access; you are based in one hotel.
When does the tour run?
One departure is listed in June 2027 at 2485 GBP per person (approximately 3319 USD).
How much walking is involved?
Days feature city exploration, train stations, and excursions. Day 6 includes an optional climb to a viewing platform atop the Zalaint tunnel near the Landwasser Viaduct.

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