How much does it cost?

From £2,055 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,776 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is all train travel included?

Yes. The price includes standard class rail in Switzerland and return Eurostar or flights between London and Zurich. First class upgrades are available at extra cost.

Which trains do I travel on?

You ride the Golden Pass Express from Montreux to Interlaken and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express from Interlaken to Lucerne. You also travel on Eurostar (London to Paris or Paris to London) and regional trains connecting to Montreux and from Lucerne.

Are the hotels included?

Yes. Six nights of bed-and-breakfast accommodation in four- or five-star hotels are included. You choose between two hotel options in Montreux, two in Interlaken, and two in Lucerne.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

This is an independent tour. You have free days in each city to explore on your own. Optional guided excursions are available at supplement.

What meals are included?

Only breakfast is included daily. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.

Great Rail Journeys · Independent

Switzerland's Lakes, Mountains & The Golden Pass

Seven-day Swiss rail loop from London via two scenic trains and eight lakes

Great Rail Journeys' Switzerland's Lakes, Mountains & The Golden Pass is a seven-day independent rail journey across the Swiss heartland for travellers seeking a mix of train travel and free time in lakeside towns. Starting from London, the trip takes you by Eurostar and regional rail to Montreux on Lake Geneva, where two nights allow you to visit the medieval Château de Chillon and walk the promenade. The centrepiece is a daylong ride on the Golden Pass Express from Montreux to Interlaken, a train with panoramic windows that reveals lush valleys, charming villages, and mountain peaks as it climbs through the Bernese Oberland. You spend two nights in Interlaken, gateway to the Jungfrau region, with the option to ride a funicular to Harder Kulm or take a boat across the lakes. From there, the Lucerne-Interlaken Express carries you onwards to Lucerne, where another two nights let you explore the medieval city and walk the historic Chapel Bridge built in 1332. The return to the UK is your choice: fly from Zurich or continue by train through Basel and Paris on the Eurostar. Throughout, you stay in four- or five-star hotels on a bed-and-breakfast basis. This pace suits independent travellers and couples seeking scenery and self-guided exploration without a tour guide.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £70 since 4 Jul, to £2,055.

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. 3 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.

What to know before you look closer

The final day offers a choice between a flight from Zurich or an all-rail return via Paris; check which suits your schedule
Hotel selection within each city depends on availability and tier chosen; confirm your specific hotel with Great Rail Journeys when booking
Optional extras such as Schilthorn, Jungfrau Express, and guided e-biking are at additional cost

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Montreux
Montreux
On arrival in Montreux, transfer to your hotel (4* or 5*, B&B basis). Famous for its jazz festival, Montreux sits on the banks of Lake Geneva with walks along the promenade and views over the lake and mountains, near the medieval Château de Chillon.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2overnight: Montreux
Montreux
A free day wandering around Montreux, or an optional excursion bookable at a supplement, such as a guided tour of Château de Chillon.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3railovernight: Interlaken
The Golden Pass
After a free morning in Montreux, take the Golden Pass Express through Switzerland's landscapes, arriving in the afternoon at Interlaken, the gateway of the Bernese Oberland, and transfer to your hotel (4* or 5*, B&B basis).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4railovernight: Interlaken
Interlaken
A free day in Interlaken, the town between two lakes, with options including the Harder Kulm funicular, a boat ride on the lake, a stroll through the park, or optional excursions such as the Schilthorn, guided e-biking, the Schynige Platte cog railway, or the Jungfrau Express.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Lucerne
The Lucerne Interlaken Express
Travel aboard the Lucerne Interlaken Express through rolling hills, mountain lakes and peaks to the medieval town of Lucerne, then transfer to your hotel (4* or 5*, B&B basis).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6overnight: Lucerne
Lake Lucerne
A free day exploring the medieval city of Lucerne, including its museums, monuments, the 1332 Chapel Bridge over the River Reuss, and chocolate shops.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7rail
Lucerne to the UK
Take the train from Lucerne back to Zurich, then fly from Zurich airport back to the UK. Alternatively, travel the entire journey by rail via Basel, Paris Gare de Lyon and the Eurostar from Paris Nord to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Board the Golden Pass Express from Montreux through lush valleys, serene lakes, and charming villages to Interlaken
Day 5Ride the Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Lucerne, viewing rolling hills, mountain lakes, and majestic peaks
Day 6Walk across the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, built in 1332, in the medieval city centre

Included

6 nights hotel accommodation (Bed and Breakfast)
Standard Class Rail in Switzerland; First Class Rail upgrades available
Return flights between London and Zurich

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,055 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,776 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is all train travel included?: Yes. The price includes standard class rail in Switzerland and return Eurostar or flights between London and Zurich. First class upgrades are available at extra cost.
Which trains do I travel on?: You ride the Golden Pass Express from Montreux to Interlaken and the Lucerne-Interlaken Express from Interlaken to Lucerne. You also travel on Eurostar (London to Paris or Paris to London) and regional trains connecting to Montreux and from Lucerne.
Are the hotels included?: Yes. Six nights of bed-and-breakfast accommodation in four- or five-star hotels are included. You choose between two hotel options in Montreux, two in Interlaken, and two in Lucerne.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: This is an independent tour. You have free days in each city to explore on your own. Optional guided excursions are available at supplement.
What meals are included?: Only breakfast is included daily. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.