Tailor Made Rail
Discover Ticino: Italian Switzerland
11 daysfrom $2,069
Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday
Swiss Lakes & Mountains by Rail
Ride the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Gotthard Panorama Express & take a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne on this 12 day holiday.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg (Hotel des Vosges or similar)
London to Strasbourg
Eurostar to Paris, connecting a short walk away to a direct TGV service to Strasbourg. Time to stroll the historic centre this evening.
- Day 2railovernight: Grindelwald (Hotel Sunstar or similar)
Strasbourg to Grindelwald
Onward journey into Switzerland, crossing the border at Basel, changing onto a regional train to Interlaken, then a local service to Grindelwald.
- Day 3overnight: Grindelwald (Hotel Sunstar or similar)
Grindelwald & the Schilthorn
Free day in the Bernese Oberland using the included Swiss Pass - visit Wengen or Interlaken, or take the cablecar to the summit of the Schilthorn for the Bond Museum and Piz Gloria restaurant.
- Day 4overnight: Grindelwald (Hotel Sunstar or similar)
Grindelwald & the Schilthorn
Second free day to explore the region, including the Schilthorn summit excursion if not already taken.
- Day 5railovernight: Lugano (Villa Sassa Hotel & Spa or similar)
Grindelwald to Lugano via the Gotthard Panorama Express
Rail journey from Interlaken up through central Switzerland to Lucerne, then a boat ride across the lake to Flüelen to join the panoramic carriages of the Gotthard Panorama Express down to Lugano.
- Day 6overnight: Lugano (Villa Sassa Hotel & Spa or similar)
Lugano
Free day using the Swiss Pass to Ascona, Locarno or Morcote, or the San Salvatore and Brè funicular railways in Lugano itself.
- Day 7railovernight: Chur (Hotel Stern or similar)
Lugano to Chur via the Bernina Express
Brief dip into Italy via Monza and Tirano, then the panoramic carriages of the Bernina Express up to Chur via the famous Landwasser Viaduct.
- Day 8railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)
Chur to Brig via the Glacier Express
The iconic Glacier Express, reaching its highest point at the Oberalp Pass (2,044m) and following the 'Grand Canyon of Switzerland' along the River Rhine.
- Day 9railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)
Zermatt day trip from Brig
Free day using the Swiss Pass - optionally complete the Glacier Express route to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, or visit Stockalper Castle and the Brigerbad thermal baths.
- Day 10overnight: Lausanne (Hotel Mirabeau or similar)
Lausanne
Direct 2-hour journey to Lausanne, a city draped over seven hills overlooking Lake Geneva.
- Day 11overnight: Lausanne (Hotel Mirabeau or similar)
Lausanne
Free day - the Olympic Museum, Montreux's Chillon Castle, the Lavaux vineyards near Vevey, or Charlie Chaplin's former home.
- Day 12rail
Lausanne to London
Direct TGV Lyria service to Paris, then RER to the Gare du Nord for the return Eurostar to London.
Included
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 11 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Schilthorn excursion from Grindelwald
- Cruise on Lake Lucerne
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
