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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Swiss Rail Adventure

Alpine rail circle through Switzerland and Germany on classic trains.

Illustration of Swiss Rail Adventure

Ffestiniog Travel's Swiss Rail Adventure is a 14-day escorted journey through Switzerland and Germany for lovers of railways and Alpine scenery. The tour departs from London via Eurostar and Brussels, travelling to Cologne, then south into Switzerland via Chur, Thun, and Lausanne. Days centre on four-night and three-night stays in Chur and Thun, with Lausanne as the final base near Lake Geneva. On Day 5 you take the Bernina Express in reserved First Class from Chur to Tirano, climbing across a 2000-metre Alpine pass; on Day 6 the Glacier Express carries you through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel with views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The itinerary weaves in heritage railways: a steam rack railway ascent of Brienz Rothorn at 2250 metres, a privately chartered Bern steam tram, and a day at the Blonay-Chamby Railway Steam Extravaganza. A First Class Swiss Travel Pass allows unlimited train travel, lake steamers, and postbuses on free days, with a tour leader guiding throughout. The trip suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking unhurried exploration, and those drawn to steam heritage railways.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one May 2027 departure listed; availability should be confirmed directly with Ffestiniog Travel.
  • Days 3 to 4 and days 11 to 12 are free days based in Chur and Lausanne; optional escorted excursions are offered but not included in the package price.
  • Bernina and Glacier Express reservations are subject to availability; the itinerary may use scheduled services instead.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Mid-morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards by train to Cologne where we have an overnight stay.

  2. Day 2overnight: Chur

    Graubünden

    Leaving Cologne we head south to Basle before changing trains for Chur, travelling in First Class using our unlimited travel pass. We stay for 4 nights in Chur.

  3. Day 3overnight: Chur

    Explore the Rhaetian Railways Network

    Free days to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the Rhaetian Railways network, with an optional escorted excursion offered each day, likely including Samedan, the Engadine, Klosters, Davos, Arosa and the Appenzell region.

  4. Day 4overnight: Chur

    Explore the Rhaetian Railways Network

    Free days to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the Rhaetian Railways network, with an optional escorted excursion offered each day, likely including Samedan, the Engadine, Klosters, Davos, Arosa and the Appenzell region.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Chur

    Bernina Express

    A full day’s spectacular return trip from Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express train, climbing across Europe’s highest railway Alpine pass (over 2000m), with reserved First Class seats both ways.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Thun

    Glacier Express

    We travel to Brig aboard the Glacier Express, then continue north to Thun via the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, for a 3-night stay near the peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Thun

    Brienzer Rothorn

    The steam driven rack railway from Brienz travels to the summit of the Rothorn (about 2250m), with time for lunch before the descent.

  8. Day 8overnight: Thun

    Bern & the Steam Tram

    A leisurely day excursion to Bern, with free time to explore, before a private charter on Bern’s unique steam tram.

  9. Day 9overnight: Lausanne

    Lakes & Mountains

    After a morning at leisure we check in to our hotel in Lausanne for a 4-night stay, overlooking Lake Geneva with views across to the French Alps.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Lausanne

    Blonay-Chamby Extravaganza

    We take the train to the Blonay-Chamby Railway for a day of steam and nostalgia, visiting during their Steam Extravaganza weekend.

  11. Day 11overnight: Lausanne

    At Leisure

    Free days based in Lausanne with your First Class Swiss Pass; possible excursions include Montreaux (for Chillon Castle) and Gruyeres, or the narrow gauge lines around Aigle, Bex and Martigny.

  12. Day 12overnight: Lausanne

    At Leisure

    Free days based in Lausanne with your First Class Swiss Pass; possible excursions include Montreaux (for Chillon Castle) and Gruyeres, or the narrow gauge lines around Aigle, Bex and Martigny.

  13. Day 13overnight: Cologne

    To Cologne

    We depart Lausanne and make our way via Basle and Mannheim to Cologne where we have an overnight stay.

  14. Day 14rail

    To London

    From Cologne we connect to the Eurostar in Brussels and arrive back at London St Pancras early afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Full day return on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano in First Class, climbing across a 2000-metre Alpine pass.
  • Day 6Journey to Brig on the Glacier Express, then continue north through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel to Thun near the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.
  • Day 7Steam-driven rack railway from Brienz to Rothorn summit at 2250 metres with time for lunch before descent.
  • Day 10Day excursion to Blonay-Chamby Railway during their Steam Extravaganza weekend, riding historic metre gauge stock.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel to and from Basle
  • First Class Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers, many city buses and trams
  • Daily escorted excursions as listed in itinerary
  • 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. Standard Class rail to and from Basle, First Class Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel in Switzerland (trains, postbuses, lake steamers, city transport), and reserved First Class seats on the Bernina Express and Glacier Express are included.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A tour leader accompanies the group from London throughout the 14 days. Days 3 to 4 and 11 to 12 are free, with optional escorted excursions offered.
Which special trains are included?
Bernina Express (Chur to Tirano), Glacier Express (via Lötschberg Base Tunnel), Brienz Rothorn steam rack railway, a privately chartered Bern steam tram, and the Blonay-Chamby Railway Steam Extravaganza.
What are the hotels and how long do we stay in each place?
CityClass am Dom in Cologne (2 nights), Hotel Freieck in Chur (4 nights), Hotel Aare in Thun (3 nights), and Hotel Continental in Lausanne (4 nights). All offer bed and breakfast.
When does the tour run?
The published departure is May 2027.
What is not included?
Meals beyond bed and breakfast, optional escorted excursions on free days, and any 1st Class rail upgrade beyond what is listed.

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