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Wexas Travel · Tailor-made rail holiday

Swiss Alps by Rail & Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Swiss Alps and Venice via Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and luxury sleeper train

Illustration of Swiss Alps by Rail & Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Wexas Travel's eight-day Swiss Alps by Rail and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of Europe's most celebrated luxury rail journeys, combining three of the continent's finest scenic trains. You depart from the UK with a flight to Zurich, then travel by train across the Alpine heartland: the regional train to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, the celebrated Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz in first class, and the Bernina Express descending from St Moritz through UNESCO-listed mountain valleys to Lugano. From there, a regional train carries you to Venice, where you spend two nights exploring the canals and squares. The centrepiece is the overnight Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a legendary luxury sleeper train that departs Venice in its distinctive gold-and-blue livery, serves a four-course dinner in your cabin, and arrives in Paris the following morning. The journey concludes with Eurostar to London. Hotels include famous Alpine retreats and the Hotel Metropole in Venice, and meals on the sleeper train are prepared on board.

What to know before you look closer

  • The final day concludes in London with no onward accommodation included; you arrive at St Pancras International and must arrange your own travel.
  • Hotels are listed generically (e.g., 'Zurich accommodation' and 'Zermatt accommodation') except for Venice's Hotel Metropole; confirm the exact properties with Wexas Travel before booking.
  • Prices exclude the optional Gornergrat excursion in Zermatt and the optional Excellence Class upgrade on the Glacier Express; these are sold separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich accommodation (Superior)

    UK to Zurich

    Complimentary airport lounge access before your flight from the UK to Zurich, transferring to your hotel in the old town near the river Limmat, Lake Zurich and the main train station. An optional sightseeing tour with a private guide and driver is available.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Zermatt accommodation (Superior)

    Zurich to Zermatt

    Travel by train to Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn. An optional excursion to the Gornergrat cogwheel train, operating since 1898, takes you to an altitude of 3089 metres for views of the Matterhorn and 29 other four-thousand-metre peaks.

  3. Day 3railovernight: St Moritz accommodation (Superior)

    Zermatt to St Moritz on the Glacier Express

    Board the Glacier Express, traversing the cantons of Valais, Uri and Graubünden, across eight hours through the mountains and valleys of southern Switzerland, with the option to upgrade to Excellence Class for a guaranteed window seat, a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings, and Glacier Bar access.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lugano accommodation (Superior)

    St Moritz to Lugano on the Bernina Express

    Take the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Lugano, passing the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway region, the Morteratsch Glacier, Lago Bianco and the Brusio Circular Viaduct. On arrival in Tirano, switch to a scenic coach for the last leg to Lugano.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Hotel Metropole, Venice (Deluxe)

    Lugano to Venice

    Board a direct regional train from Lugano to Venice, staying two nights at the Hotel Metropole, with its Oriental allure, near the Riva degli Schiavoni promenade.

  6. Day 6overnight: Hotel Metropole, Venice (Deluxe)

    Venice

    Time to soak up Venice at your own pace: Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, and perhaps a cruise to the islands of the Venetian Lagoon including Burano.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Deluxe)

    Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

    Board the gold-and-blue carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, welcomed with sparkling wine and shown to your wood-panelled cabin, before a three-course lunch, views of the Dolomites heading north into Switzerland, and an exquisite four-course dinner.

  8. Day 8rail

    Paris to London

    Breakfast in your cabin as you continue through France, then a lavish brunch before arriving in Paris. The final stretch is on the Eurostar, crossing the Channel to London St. Pancras International.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Optional Gornergrat cogwheel train ascends to 3,089 metres for views of the Matterhorn and 29 other four-thousand-metre peaks.
  • Day 3The Glacier Express traverses eight hours through the Swiss cantons of Valais, Uri, and Graubünden, crossing high mountain passes and valleys.
  • Day 4The Bernina Express passes the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhaetian Railway region, the Morteratsch Glacier, and the Brusio Circular Viaduct before descending to Lugano by scenic coach.
  • Day 7Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in its gold-and-blue carriages for an overnight journey with three-course lunch, views of the Dolomites, and an exquisite four-course dinner in your wood-panelled cabin.

Included

  • Complimentary UK airport departure lounge access
  • One way flight between UK and Geneva
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Zurich on a BB basis
  • Regional train from Zurich to Zermatt
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Zermatt on a BB basis
  • Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz in 1st class
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in St Moritz on a BB basis
  • Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano in 1st class (Tirano to Lugano by Bernina Express luxury coach)
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Lugano
  • Regional trains from Lugano to Venice
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Venice on a BB basis
  • Departure transfer from Venice hotel to Santa Lucia Station
  • Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to Paris
  • Eurostar from Paris to London St Pancras in Business Premier Class

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes the regional train from Zurich to Zermatt, the Glacier Express in first class, the Bernina Express in first class with coach connection to Lugano, regional trains from Lugano to Venice, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to Paris in a Deluxe cabin, and Eurostar from Paris to London in Business Premier Class.
What is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express experience like?
You board in Venice and travel overnight to Paris in a wood-panelled Deluxe cabin. The journey includes welcome sparkling wine, a three-course lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner. Wine pairings are available separately. You wake as the train moves through France.
Which hotels are included?
One night each in Zurich, Zermatt, St Moritz, and Lugano on a bed-and-breakfast basis, two nights at the Hotel Metropole in Venice on a bed-and-breakfast basis, and one night in a Deluxe cabin on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
What is included in the price?
The from-price includes complimentary UK airport lounge access, one-way flight from the UK to Geneva or Zurich, all named trains and coaches, all hotel accommodation, departure transfer in Venice, and breakfast at hotels. Optional extras and meals beyond the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express dinner are not included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Wexas Travel describes this as a tailor-made rail holiday. You travel by train independently, though optional private guided tours are available in Zurich and optional excursions in Zermatt.
How much walking or physical activity is involved?
Day-to-day travel is by train or coach. You will walk in city centres (Zurich, Venice) and can optionally take the Gornergrat cogwheel train at high altitude, but no demanding hikes are described in the itinerary.

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