Tailor Made Rail
Annecy & the Mont Blanc Express
8 daysfrom $1,735
Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday
Travelzoo: Best of Switzerland 2026
A Travelzoo rail escape to Switzerland with a free First Class upgrade, taking in the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express route, with overnight stops in Strasbourg and Lyon.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg (BW Premier Hotel des Vosges or similar)
London to Strasbourg
Eurostar to Lille, then high-speed TGV south-east to Strasbourg. UK rail to St Pancras is included at no extra cost if the onward journey can be made the same day.
- Day 2railovernight: Lugano (Hotel Admiral or similar)
Strasbourg to Lugano
Train to Basel over the Swiss border, then a regional train via the Gotthard Pass down to Lugano, continuing along Lake Lugano to the Paradiso suburb.
- Day 3overnight: Lugano (Hotel Admiral or similar)
Lugano
Free day exploring the lake by boat to Gandria and Morcote; a Ticino Ticket gives free public transport to Locarno (funicular to Madonna del Sasso) or Bellinzona's three castles.
- Day 4railovernight: Chur (Hotel Stern or similar)
Lugano to Chur via the Bernina Express
Train across the border to Monza and Tirano, then the famous Bernina Express back through eastern Switzerland via the Brusio and Landwasser viaducts to Chur.
- Day 5overnight: Chur (Hotel Stern or similar)
Free day in Chur
Switzerland's oldest town - a guest card gives free travel to the local mountain, Brambrüesch, or entry to town-centre museums and outdoor pools.
- Day 6railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)
Chur to Brig - Glacier Express route
Follow the Glacier Express route on regional trains, over the Oberalp Pass (2,033m) and along glacier-fed rivers to Brig.
- Day 7railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)
Day trip to Zermatt
Continue the Glacier Express route to its end point in Zermatt, with an optional Gornergrat Railway trip for Matterhorn views.
- Day 8railovernight: Lyon (Mercure Lyon Centre Part Dieu or similar)
Brig to Lyon
Train through the mountains and along the shore of Lake Geneva, past the Chateau de Chillon, changing in Geneva for France and on to Lyon.
- Day 9rail
Lyon to London
TGV service to Lille, changing onto the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel back to St Pancras.
Included
- All rail journeys, with a FREE upgrade to First Class
- First class rail (where available) from your local station
- Seat reservations where required
- 8 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email
- Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions
