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Travelmarvel (APT Travel Group) · Rail Tour and River Cruise

Switzerland by Rail with European Gems

Swiss scenic trains and river cruise through six European countries

Illustration of Switzerland by Rail with European Gems

Switzerland by Rail with European Gems, operated by Travelmarvel, is a 25-day tour combining Alpine rail travel with a 14-night river cruise. You depart Geneva, spend 10 days traveling through Switzerland on five panoramic trains (GoldenPass Express, Jungfrau Railway, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Gotthard Panorama Express), visiting Interlaken, St. Moritz, and Lugano. On Day 11 you board a river ship in Amsterdam and cruise the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers to Budapest, stopping at medieval towns and baroque cities including Cologne, Bamberg, Vienna, and Melk. A Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides accompany you throughout. Most days follow a settled rhythm of two-night or one-night hotel stays in Switzerland, then daily port visits during the cruise. The tour suits repeat rail travellers seeking famous Swiss trains, couples wanting extended time in romantic Alpine and imperial cities, and history lovers drawn to baroque palaces and opera houses.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price (deposit $250 AUD per person for 2027 departures, balance due September 2026) does not include flights unless specified; confirm with the operator
  • Most Swiss hotels are one-night stays; only Interlaken and Lugano offer two nights, making the pace balanced rather than relaxed overall
  • The 14-night river cruise portion (Days 11-24) involves daily moves by ship with guided port visits, not independent exploration

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Geneva

    Arrive Geneva

  2. Day 2overnight: Lausanne

    Geneva, Lausanne

  3. Day 3railovernight: Interlaken

    Lausanne, Montreux, GoldenPass Express, Interlaken

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    Interlaken, Jungfrau Railway

  5. Day 5railovernight: St. Moritz

    Interlaken, Brigg, Glacier Express, St. Moritz

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lugano

    St. Moritz, Bernina Express, Tirano, Lugano

  7. Day 7overnight: Lugano

    Lugano

  8. Day 8railovernight: Lucerne

    Lugano, Gotthard Panorama Express, Flüelen, Lucerne

  9. Day 9overnight: Lucerne

    Lucerne, Mount Pilatus

  10. Day 10overnight: Zürich

    Lucerne, Zürich

  11. Day 11overnight: Amsterdam

    Zürich, Arrive Amsterdam, Embark Ship

  12. Day 12overnight: Utrecht

    Amsterdam, Utrecht

  13. Day 13overnight: Brühl

    Cologne, Brühl

  14. Day 14overnight: Rüdesheim

    Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim

  15. Day 15overnight: Miltenberg

    Miltenberg

  16. Day 16overnight: Würzburg

    Würzburg

  17. Day 17overnight: Bamberg

    Bamberg

  18. Day 18overnight: Nuremberg

    Nuremberg

  19. Day 19overnight: Regensburg

    Regensburg

  20. Day 20overnight: Linz

    Passau, Linz

  21. Day 21overnight: Dürnstein

    Melk, Dürnstein

  22. Day 22overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

  23. Day 23overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

  24. Day 24overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

  25. Day 25

    Disembark Ship, Depart Budapest

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: the GoldenPass Express carries you from Montreux to Interlaken through alpine meadows and Swiss villages
  • Day 4Day 4: the Jungfrau Railway ascends from Interlaken toward Jungfraujoch in the high Alps
  • Day 5Day 5: the Glacier Express narrow-gauge train travels from Brigg to St. Moritz, revealing glaciers and peaks through panoramic windows
  • Day 6Day 6: the Bernina Express crosses the UNESCO Rhaetian Railway into Italy, climbing the Bernina Pass and curving across the Brusio Circular Viaduct to Tirano
  • Day 8Day 8: the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class panoramic trains winds through alpine valleys, spiral tunnels and dramatic gorges from Lugano toward Lucerne

Included

  • Two nights in Interlaken, Lugano, Lucerne, One night in Geneva, Lausanne, St. Moritz, Zurich
  • 14 nights cruising on a Travelmarvel river ship
  • 58 Meals - 24 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 20 dinners
  • Onboard water stations, plus tea and coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine during lunch and dinner on your cruise
  • Services of Travelmarvel Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides
  • Transfers, port charges, porterage and tipping
  • Explore 24 towns, villages and cities
  • Journey aboard the Glacier Express to St. Moritz

Not included

  • Flights (unless specified)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes all five named scenic trains (GoldenPass Express, Jungfrau Railway, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Gotthard Panorama Express) plus transfers. Flights are not included unless specified.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Travelmarvel provides a Cruise Director, Tour Director and local guides throughout the entire 25 days.
What hotels are included in Switzerland?
The package includes two nights each in Interlaken and Lugano, and one night each in Geneva, Lausanne, St. Moritz and Zurich. The operator does not specify hotel names in the published details.
How many meals are provided?
Travelmarvel includes 58 meals: 24 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 20 dinners. During the river cruise, onboard water stations, tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer and local wine are provided at lunch and dinner.
Does the train travel involve sleeping on board?
No. You stay in hotels in Switzerland and a river cruise ship from Amsterdam onward; no overnight train travel is included.
When does this tour depart?
The operator lists a 2027 departure, with booking deadline 21 July 2026 and balance due 1 September 2026. Confirm current availability directly with Travelmarvel.

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