Great Rail Journeys
Best of Tuscany, Bologna, Como & Bernina Express
Eleven-day escorted tour through Tuscany, Bologna, Como and the Bernina Express
11 daysfrom $4,940
55% rail
Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday
Scenic Switzerland and Lake Como
Enjoy a holiday combining the mountain scenery of Switzerland with the resort of Lake Como. Includes the Glacier Express and Gornergrat.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg
London to Strasbourg
A Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Lille, with a simple change to Strasbourg near the German border. Check in at the Hotel Hannong (or similar). Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est (Alsace) region, known for tarte flambée and its Gothic Cathedral.
- Day 2railovernight: Zermatt
Strasbourg to Zermatt
An 'open' journey day - leave Strasbourg whenever you like and take the train down into Switzerland, changing at Basel and Visp en route to Zermatt. The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn takes you up to 5,275 feet at the foot of the Matterhorn. Check in at the Hotel Pollux (or similar) for a 2-night stay in the car-free village.
- Day 3railovernight: Zermatt
Zermatt and the Gornergrat
A free day in Zermatt with walking trails from the village, plus an included return ticket on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, the highest open-air cog railway in Europe, with views over the surrounding peaks including the Matterhorn.
- Day 4railovernight: St Moritz
Zermatt to St Moritz with the Glacier Express
The full route of the world-famous Glacier Express, the 'slowest express train in the world', through the centre of Switzerland via 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. Check in at the Sport & Wellnesshotel San Gian (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
- Day 5overnight: St Moritz
St Moritz
A full day at leisure in St Moritz, one of Switzerland's oldest and most fashionable ski resorts with 300 days of sunshine a year; walking routes, lakeside strolls, boutiques, and optional day trips to Davos or Arosa.
- Day 6railovernight: Como
St Moritz to Como via the Bernina Express
The panoramic Bernina Express to the Italian border and Tirano, with magnificent viaducts, mountain lakes and glaciers (an optional lunch stop in Tirano is possible), continuing south to Lake Como. Check in at the Barchetta Excelsior Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay.
- Day 7overnight: Como
Lake Como
Two full days at leisure on Lake Como - ferries from Piazza Cavour, the gardens of Villa Carlotta, the streets of Bellagio, lakeside beaches, and the funicular up to Brunate for views over the lake.
- Day 8overnight: Como
Lake Como
Two full days at leisure on Lake Como - ferries from Piazza Cavour, the gardens of Villa Carlotta, the streets of Bellagio, lakeside beaches, and the funicular up to Brunate for views over the lake.
- Day 9railovernight: Basel
Como to Basel
A train back into Switzerland, with an optional stop in Locarno on Lake Maggiore, then the direct Treno Gottardo service from Locarno to Basel through the Gotthard Pass. Check in at the Hotel Gaia (or similar).
- Day 10overnight: Brussels
Basel to Brussels
A free morning to visit Basel's museums, then a direct service to Cologne along the Rhine Gorge, past Boppard and Bingen, changing onto a high-speed ICE service to Brussels. Check in at the Pullman Brussels Midi (or similar).
- Day 11rail
Brussels to London
Time to discover more of Brussels before a Eurostar journey back to London.
Included
- All rail journeys, in standard class
- Seat reservations where required
- A return journey on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway from Zermatt
- 10 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email
- Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions
