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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Swiss Alpine Holiday

Fifteen-day Swiss rail journey through alpine scenery on Bernina and Glacier Express.

Illustration of Swiss Alpine Holiday

Ffestiniog Travel's Swiss Alpine Holiday is a 15-day escorted rail tour starting in Frankfurt and ending in Cologne, with four base cities in Switzerland and northern Italy. The itinerary uses two celebrated trains: the Bernina Express on Day 4, which climbs to 2,253 metres on the only North-South Alpine crossing, and the Glacier Express on Day 6, crossing mountain scenery to Interlaken. Stays span Chur, Interlaken, Lucerne, and Lausanne, each serving as a base for two or more nights. The tour includes a 15-day First Class Swiss Travel Pass, bed and breakfast at hotels, a welcome dinner, and a tour leader throughout. Most days are split between included rail journeys and free time with optional escorted excursions. This suits repeat rail travellers seeking famous Swiss routes and those who value guided support with built-in flexibility.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Bernina and Glacier Express journeys are subject to availability; the tour may use scheduled services instead.
  • Bed and breakfast basis means only breakfasts are included; other meals are not covered.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt

    London to Frankfurt

    Departing on a late morning Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Brussels, we make an onward connection to Frankfurt for an overnight stay. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Chur

    Graubünden

    Leaving Frankfurt, we head south to Basle, from where all rail travel in Switzerland is in First Class using the Swiss Travel Pass provided. We travel to Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, for a 4-night stay.

  3. Day 3overnight: Chur

    At Leisure

    A day to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network, with an optional escorted excursion on offer.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Chur

    Bernina Express

    A full day excursion from Chur to Tirano in northern Italy, the only North-South Alpine rail crossing, with the summit of the line at 2253m (7391ft), in First Class.

  5. Day 5overnight: Chur

    Leisure Time

    A further day at leisure, with the offer of an optional escorted excursion using our First Class Swiss Travel Pass.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Interlaken

    Glacier Express

    We leave mid-morning on the Glacier Express route to Brig, changing trains and continuing onwards to Interlaken, our base for the next 3 nights.

  7. Day 7overnight: Interlaken

    Free Time

    Free time based in Interlaken. Possible optional excursions include Montreux and the Golden Pass route.

  8. Day 8overnight: Interlaken

    Free Time

    Free time based in Interlaken. Possible optional excursions include Montreux and the Golden Pass route.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Lucerne

    Relax in Lucerne

    A relaxing two-hour train journey over the Brünig Pass, through mountain and lake scenery, brings us to Lucerne, our base for the next 3 nights.

  10. Day 10overnight: Lucerne

    Time at Leisure

    Optional escorted excursions each day; possible destinations include Pilatus and the Rigi.

  11. Day 11overnight: Lucerne

    Time at Leisure

    Optional escorted excursions each day; possible destinations include Pilatus and the Rigi.

  12. Day 12overnight: Lausanne

    On to Lausanne

    Leisurely start before boarding a late morning service direct to Lausanne, where we stay for 2 nights.

  13. Day 13overnight: Lausanne

    Explore

    Lausanne’s medieval city has a 12th-Century Gothic cathedral and the 19th Century Palais de Rumine. Optional excursion destinations may include Zermatt or Murten.

  14. Day 14overnight: Cologne

    To Cologne

    A morning farewell to Lausanne as we begin our journey back home via Bern and Basle to Cologne for an overnight stay.

  15. Day 15rail

    Homeward Bound

    Taking a morning ICE service to Brussels, we connect with the Eurostar service, arriving in London mid-afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Day 4: journey on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano in First Class, crossing the Alps at 2,253 metres as the only North-South Alpine rail crossing.
  • Day 6Day 6: travel on the Glacier Express mid-morning to Brig, then continue to Interlaken through mountain and lake scenery.
  • Day 9Day 9: two-hour train journey over the Brünig Pass through mountain and lake scenery to Lucerne.

Included

  • Standard Class travel to and from Switzerland
  • First Class 15-day Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel
  • Daily optional escorted excursions
  • Welcome dinner
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes Standard Class travel to and from Switzerland via Eurostar and an ICE service, plus a 15-day First Class Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited rail travel within Switzerland on the national network, postbuses, and lake steamers.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London and throughout the 15 days. Daily optional escorted excursions are arranged at no additional cost.
Which trains does the tour use?
The tour includes journeys on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano in First Class and the Glacier Express from Chur to Brig in First Class, both subject to availability. Scheduled services may be used instead.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class travel to and from Switzerland, a 15-day First Class Swiss Travel Pass, bed and breakfast accommodation in four cities, a welcome dinner, local taxes and fees, and the tour leader's services. Meals other than breakfast and the welcome dinner are not included.
When does the tour depart?
One departure is listed: September 2026 at £3,490 per person.
How many days include free time?
Six days (days 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11) are marked as free time or at leisure, with optional excursions available. Other days include trains, transfers, or travel.

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