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Authentic Europe · Guided

Switzerland Explorer

Guided Swiss rail circle: Glacier, Bernina, and GoldenPass Express trains

Illustration of Switzerland Explorer

Authentic Europe runs this 11-day guided small-group tour that starts and ends near Zurich, traveling through Switzerland with stops in Liechtenstein and Italy. Rail is the centerpiece: day four rides the Bernina Express in first class from St. Moritz to Tirano before continuing to Lugano by road, day five rides the Glacier Express to Zermatt, and day eight rides the GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Interlaken. In between, day six adds a cogwheel railway excursion from Zermatt up to Gornergrat, and day seven includes a wine tasting at Domaine Bovy. The overnight town changes almost every day, with only Zermatt held for two nights, so the pace is brisk rather than settled. The tour is guided, with a maximum group size of 12, and luggage is transported between hotels. This suits travelers who want to ride Switzerland's named scenic trains in first class as the main event, with alpine, glacier, and lake scenery in between, rather than a slower single-base stay.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen €25 since 4 Jul, to €5,540.

€5,540€5,5154 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

One reading is held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm the calendar and price with Authentic Europe before booking.
  • The evidence names only one hotel, the Hotel BEAUSite in Zermatt; standard rooms are described for the other nine overnight towns, so confirm the exact properties with Authentic Europe.
  • The itinerary changes overnight town almost every day, with only Zermatt held for two consecutive nights across the 11-day tour.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Arrival at Zurich airport and transfer to the city centre

  2. Day 2overnight: St. Gallen

    Travel to the Rhine Falls and St. Gallen

  3. Day 3overnight: St.Moritz

    St. Gallen – Appenzeller – Liechtenstein – St. Moritz

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lugano

    Bernina Express train to Tirano & to Lugano by road

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Travel on the Glacier Express to Zermatt

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Own time in Zermatt & cogwheel railway to Gornergrat

  7. Day 7overnight: Montreux

    Travel from Zermatt to Domaine Bovy and Montreux

  8. Day 8railovernight: Interlaken

    Travel on the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken

  9. Day 9overnight: Lenk

    Lenk & optional excursion to Glacier 3000

  10. Day 10overnight: Lucerne

    Drive to Lucerne & time at leisure

  11. Day 11

    Final day, return to Zurich

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4The Bernina Express carries the group in first class from St. Moritz to Tirano, then the tour continues to Lugano by road.
  • Day 5The Glacier Express runs in first class from Andermatt to Zermatt.
  • Day 6A cogwheel railway excursion from Zermatt up to Gornergrat.
  • Day 7A wine tasting at Domaine Bovy on the way to Montreux.
  • Day 8The GoldenPass Express runs in first class from Montreux to Interlaken.

Included

  • 10 nights hotel accommodation in standard room with private bathroom and breakfast
  • Rail journeys and touring as per day-to-day itinerary
  • Luggage transportation (1 large suitcase + 1 hand luggage per person)
  • Rail travel in 1st class
  • Seat reservation on the GoldenPass Express (Montreux to Interlaken)
  • Seat reservation on the Glacier Express (Andermatt to Zermatt)
  • Seat reservation on the Bernina Express (St. Moritz - Lugano)
  • Self-guided excursion to Gornergrat
  • Guided city tour of St. Gallen
  • Entry to Abbey Library in St. Gallen
  • Entry to Appenzell show dairy
  • Wine tasting in Domaine Bovy
  • Ticino ticket in Lugano and guest cards in Montreux, Lenk & Lucerne (free local transport and discount on experiences)
  • Taxes and service charges
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Not included

  • Tourist taxes (paid locally)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From €5,540 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,422 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which named trains does this tour ride?
The Bernina Express (St. Moritz to Tirano), the Glacier Express (Andermatt to Zermatt), and the GoldenPass Express (Montreux to Interlaken), all in first class with seat reservations included.
Is this tour guided or independent?
It is guided, with a maximum group size of 12, and combines rail travel with minibus and road transport as per the day-to-day itinerary.
What is included besides the trains and hotels?
A guided city tour of St. Gallen, entry to the Abbey Library in St. Gallen and the Appenzell show dairy, a wine tasting at Domaine Bovy, a self-guided excursion to Gornergrat, guest cards and a Ticino ticket for local transport and discounts, and taxes and service charges.
What countries does the tour visit?
Switzerland, with stops in Liechtenstein on day 3 and Italy (Tirano) on day 4.
What is not included?
Tourist taxes, which are paid locally.

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