How much does it cost?

From CHF 1,355 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,662 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains are included?

The Glacier Express (Zermatt to St. Moritz), Bernina Express train (St. Moritz to Tirano), Bernina Express bus (Tirano to Lugano), and Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano to Lucerne in 1st class). All have reserved seats and are included in the package price.

What is the itinerary like day by day?

Day 1: arrival in Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, with a leisure day and optional excursion to Gornergrat. Days 2 to 4 are each dedicated to one scenic train journey, arriving at a new town (St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne) by evening. Day 5 is departure.

Breakfast is included each morning at your hotel. Other meals are not mentioned in the package inclusions.

When does this tour run?

Magic Switzerland operates departures from April 20 to October 9, 2026. The itinerary can be reversed or booked as an open-jaw arrangement.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an individual rail tour, not escorted. You travel independently on reserved trains and stay in assigned hotels; Magic Switzerland provides booking and seat reservations.

Can I upgrade to first class?

The Gotthard Panorama Express is included in 1st class. A first-class upgrade for the other trains costs CHF 152 per person.

Magic Switzerland · Individual rail tour

Scenic Rail Adventure

Five-day Swiss rail loop: Zermatt, St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne

Magic Switzerland's Scenic Rail Adventure is a five-day individual rail tour through Switzerland, starting in Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn and ending in Lucerne. The journey follows three of Europe's most celebrated scenic train routes: the Glacier Express climbs through the Rhone valley and the Alps to St. Moritz; the Bernina Express ascends to over 2,000 meters across circular viaducts into Italian Ticino; and the Gotthard Panorama Express descends from the Gotthard tunnel before a boat ride concludes the journey across Lake Lucerne. Each evening you arrive at a new town, overnight in a three- or four-star hotel, and enjoy breakfast before the next day's train departure. All rail fares, seat reservations, and hotel accommodations are included. This tour suits first-time rail travellers, couples seeking flexible routing options, and anyone seeking a compact introduction to Swiss alpine and lake scenery without requiring a guide.

Price history

Across 4 checks, this price has held at CHF 1,355 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 1 of 4 point is a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

2 readings are held out of the price above and this history: a unknown. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

Single supplement is substantial: CHF 1,747 for 3-star (CHF 392 more than half the double price) and CHF 2,189 for 4-star.
Day 3 involves a coach segment (Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano); it is not all train travel.
The itinerary is bookable in reverse or as an open-jaw (starting Lucerne, ending Zermatt); confirm your preferred routing when booking.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Zermatt
Arrival in Zermatt
Arrival in Zermatt by train from the Swiss border or airport. Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn. Leisure day; optional excursion to the Gornergrat.
Day 2railovernight: St. Moritz
Glacier Express to St. Moritz
Take the world-famous Glacier Express through the deep Rhone valley and a fascinating part of the Alps.
Day 3railovernight: Lugano
Bernina Express to Lugano
Board the Bernina Express over the Bernina Pass, one of the most spectacular alpine routes, climbing over circular viaducts to over 2,000m to Ticino in Italy. Change to the Bernina Express bus onwards to Ticino.
Day 4railovernight: Lucerne
Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne
Take the Gotthard Panorama Express, which climbs from 470 to about 1,100 meters and enters the 15-kilometre-long Gotthard tunnel. From Fluelen, a boat ride over Lake Lucerne.
Day 5
Departure
Return to Swiss border or individual onward journey. Itinerary bookable in reverse; Open Jaw possible (starting in Lucerne and ending in Zermatt or vice versa).

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Day 2: The Glacier Express winds through the deep Rhone valley, passing through Swiss Alpine scenery en route to St. Moritz.
Day 3Day 3: The Bernina Express climbs over the Bernina Pass and circular viaducts to over 2,000 meters, then descends into Italian Ticino.
Day 4Day 4: The Gotthard Panorama Express ascends from 470 to 1,100 meters, traverses the 15-kilometre Gotthard tunnel, then a boat ride completes the journey across Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.

Included

Rail ticket in 2nd class for rail travel per itinerary
1 overnight each in Zermatt, St. Moritz, Lugano and Lucerne, quality hotels, standard rooms with private facilities and breakfast
Seat Reservation on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz
Seat Reservation on the Bernina Express train from St. Moritz to Tirano
Seat Reservation on the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano
Seat Reservation on the Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Lucerne in 1st class
50% discount on additional rail tickets (local transport) and some mountain excursions

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Switzerland Travel Centrefrom $1,386

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From CHF 1,355 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,662 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains are included?: The Glacier Express (Zermatt to St. Moritz), Bernina Express train (St. Moritz to Tirano), Bernina Express bus (Tirano to Lugano), and Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano to Lucerne in 1st class). All have reserved seats and are included in the package price.
What is the itinerary like day by day?: Day 1: arrival in Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, with a leisure day and optional excursion to Gornergrat. Days 2 to 4 are each dedicated to one scenic train journey, arriving at a new town (St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne) by evening. Day 5 is departure.
Are meals included?: Breakfast is included each morning at your hotel. Other meals are not mentioned in the package inclusions.
When does this tour run?: Magic Switzerland operates departures from April 20 to October 9, 2026. The itinerary can be reversed or booked as an open-jaw arrangement.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an individual rail tour, not escorted. You travel independently on reserved trains and stay in assigned hotels; Magic Switzerland provides booking and seat reservations.
Can I upgrade to first class?: The Gotthard Panorama Express is included in 1st class. A first-class upgrade for the other trains costs CHF 152 per person.