Search

Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday

Wonders of the Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps rail loop Zurich to Geneva via Glacier Express

Illustration of Wonders of the Swiss Alps

Marvellous Escapes' five-day tailor-made rail holiday traces the alpine heartland of Switzerland from Zurich to Geneva. The journey opens with a night in Zurich before heading east by rail to the elegant resort town of St. Moritz, where optional activities include a historic toboggan run or evening at the casino. Day three is the centerpiece: an eight-hour voyage aboard the Glacier Express, one of Europe's most celebrated scenic trains, which crosses the Landwasser Viaduct and winds through mountain passes, lakes, and villages before arriving in car-free Zermatt. The trip closes with a night in Geneva, where you explore major landmarks such as the Jet d'Eau fountain and Cathedral of Saint-Pierre at your own pace. Four nights of accommodation with breakfast, Swiss rail pass, and Glacier Express reservation are all included, along with UK flights or an alternative roundtrip train journey from London St. Pancras. This package suits first-time rail travellers seeking a structured alpine itinerary and independent explorers who want flexibility to wander.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 4 Zermatt-to-Geneva journey requires a transfer in Visp; it is not a direct train
  • The operator publishes no hotel names; accommodation may vary by availability and tier

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    Zurich

    Arrive in Zurich and settle in to your hotel for an overnight stay ahead of your Swiss Alps rail journey.

  2. Day 2railovernight: St. Moritz

    St Moritz

    Picturesque open-air rail journey from Zurich to St. Moritz. Leisurely lakeside stroll, with the option of the historic 'Cresta Run' toboggan run or the St. Moritz Casino in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Zermatt

    Glacier Express to Zermatt

    Aboard the Glacier Express, cross the Landwasser Viaduct and wind across mountain passes and past lakes and villages on an 8-hour journey to Zermatt.

  4. Day 4overnight: Geneva

    Geneva

    Journey from Zermatt to Geneva with a transfer in Visp. Explore Geneva at your own pace - the Jet d'Eau fountain, the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, and Place du Bourg-de-Four.

  5. Day 5

    Return Home

    Check out of your hotel and begin your onward travel plans from Geneva.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Leisurely rail journey from Zurich to St. Moritz through alpine landscape
  • Day 3Eight-hour journey on the Glacier Express crossing the Landwasser Viaduct and mountain passes to Zermatt
  • Day 4Explore Geneva independently, including the Jet d'Eau fountain and Cathedral of Saint-Pierre

Included

  • 1-night stay in Zurich with breakfast
  • 1-night stay in St Moritz with breakfast
  • 1-night stay in Zermatt with breakfast
  • 1-night stay in Geneva with breakfast
  • Flights to and from the UK (or a roundtrip train journey from London St. Pancras)
  • Travel in comfort throughout your journey with a Swiss Pass
  • Secure reservations for the Glacier Express Rail Journey

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes a Swiss Pass for travel throughout your journey and a reserved seat on the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt.
Which trains are featured?
The signature journey is the Glacier Express, an eight-hour scenic train from St. Moritz to Zermatt. Additional rail connections link Zurich to St. Moritz and Zermatt to Geneva.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
Marvellous Escapes describes this as a tailor-made rail holiday. Day 4 in Geneva is explicitly self-paced exploration; other days include optional activities (Cresta Run, St. Moritz Casino).
What does the price include?
Four nights in hotels with breakfast, flights to and from the UK (or roundtrip train from London St. Pancras), Swiss Pass, and Glacier Express reservation. From GBP 1,299.
How much walking is involved?
Day 2 features a leisurely lakeside stroll in St. Moritz. Day 4 involves walking around Geneva's attractions. The other days are mainly travel by train and hotel-based.

Similar journeys