If you like to fit as much into your holiday as possible, this extensive week-long Swiss tour is for you! A full-circle trip taking in cities, mountains, glaciers, lakes and epic rail journeys over constantly-changing terrain, you really can see it all in one short holiday. And, don’t forget with our bespoke tailor-made holiday service you can extend your stays and add in excursions as you please and see the best of Switzerland, your way.
DAILY DEPARTURES APRIL - OCTOBER
This tour is available with winter departures, running a slightly altered itinerary, please ask for details.
Enhance your Experience
*Fly start/return from the UK are available, ask for details.
Upgrade rail to First Class from £350 per person
Upgrade your hotels to 4- or 5-star
Regional flights are available
Please note, this trip can be customised to suit your requirements and we may alter the running order for operational reasons and subject to local weather forecast, please ask for details. Some excursions on this tour reach high altitude.
The GoldenPass runs through the heart of Switzerland, between Montreux on the east end of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and Lucerne further north. The full route takes around 5 hours; a journey that will take you through gorgeous Swiss scenery (is there any such thing as Swiss scenery that isn’t gorgeous?), from the lower lands of the French-speaking region, towards the mountainous core of the country; skirting the edges of Lakes Thun and Brienz before heading northwards to Lucerne. You’ll glide past cascading waterfalls, and get some dramatic views of the peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger mountains as you pass through the stunning Bernese Oberland.
This route involves a couple of changes of train but it’s just a quick hop to the opposite platform and on you go.
For part of the journey, between Montreux and Zweisimmen, you can choose to travel in either the classic charm of the Belle Époque carriages or the more modern Panoramic carriages, each offering a different ambience to view the passing undulating landscape.
Introducing a new train to the fleet in 2023, The GoldenPass Express will travel between Interlaken and Montreux directly, using an impressive feat of engineering that allows the train to negotiate the change of gauge on the line – the train lifts and adjusts to fit the width of the narrow 1m gauge track, and resets itself to continue on the standard tracks, without passengers having to change trains (please see below video to see how it’s done!).
In addition to that, the new Prestige Class carriage with its huge panoramic windows and supremely comfortable seating, allows for the seats to change direction, so forward-facing seats will never be a problem. Some seating will also give an up-front view through the driver’s cabin along the line ahead. Watch this space!
There a lots of options to include all, or just part, of this route into a Swiss Rail holiday and we can help guide you on how to best suit your holiday requirements, so give our Travel Specialists a call and we’ll “track down” the best options for you!
Known as the “World’s slowest express train” the Glacier Express is widely-regarded is one of the world’s most famous rail journeys, and features high on any rail-enthusiast’s list of must-dos. The Glacier Express climbs to 2,044m above sea level and traverses a wide range of landscapes on its journey between Zermatt to the west of Switzerland, and St Moritz in the east. The journey can also be done in reverse, or partially from most of the stops along the route.
The route trundles at 24mph for 181 miles (290km) over an assortment of 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, and at that pace there is plenty of time – nearly 8 hours in fact! – for you to take in the ever-changing scenes, perfectly framed by the train’s large-scale windows.
Beginning in Zermatt, the mighty Matterhorn provides a towering backdrop as the train leaves the station and heads through the mountains towards Visp, where it continues; clinging to the edge of the River Rhône towards the Furka Pass. Ascending to the heights of the Oberalp Pass at 2044m (where there is often snow), the train will glide through the mountain range before snaking through the Rhine Gorge towards Chur.
Leaving Chur - the oldest city in Switzerland - you are surrounded on all sides by mountain slopes, in a landscape peppered with castles. Not content with boasting some of the most glorious scenery the world of rail has to offer, from Thusis onwards the Glacier Express travels along the Albula Line; a masterpiece of engineering. Completed in the early 1900s, the railway line has UNESCO World Heritage status, successfully and inconspicuously blending the practicality of rail travel into the surrounding awe-inspiring backdrop.
The train will wind its way towards the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct; one of the undisputed highlights of this journey as you feel yourself being absorbed by the rock face after crossing the 213ft-high drop (also featured on the Bernina Express).
Excellence Class was introduced in 2019 at a supplement.. There is no denying the enhanced quality of the experience. Excellence Class offers a very high standard of service, with its own concierge, luxury reclining seats - all of which are window seats - a 5-course regional menu with wine included, as well as complimentary snacks, drinks and the all-important Champagne! There are a few other goodies too like souvenirs and a cocktail bar.
Call our team of helpful specialists to build this train into your dream holiday.
The Bernina Express is the highest rail crossing in Europe (not to be confused with the Jungfraujoch which is the highest railway station in Europe) and connects Switzerland’s spectacular Alps from the Graubunden region to the temperate climes of Italian Lombardy, via a spectacular array of bridges (196 of them!) and 55 tunnels. The route climbs and drops over some dizzying gradients – 70% incline at its steepest - through some of the continent’s most jaw-dropping scenery.
The Bernina Express Line runs between Chur in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy – the journey can be done either way, or both ways as a day trip from halfway point St Moritz with a spot of lunch in a recommended restaurant in the milder climate of Tirano.
Leaving Chur - the oldest city in Switzerland - you are surrounded on all sides by gentle slopes peppered with castles. Not content with boasting some of the most glorious scenery the world of rail has to offer, from Thusis onwards the Bernina Express travels along the Albula and Bernina Lines; two masterpieces of engineering. Both completed in the early 1900s, each railway line has UNESCO World Heritage status, successfully and inconspicuously blending the practicality of rail travel into the surrounding awe-inspiring backdrop.
The Albula Line between Thusis and St Moritz winds its way through dramatic terrain, each time you exit one of the many tunnels a new beautiful vista awaits through the train’s domed panoramic windows. Not to mention the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct; one of the undisputed highlights of this journey as you feel yourself being absorbed by the rock face after crossing the 213ft-high drop (also featured on the Glacier Express).
Passing through glitzy St. Moritz, the journey continues on the Bernina Railway through the Bernina Pass. Before the train starts its descent to the palm trees and warmer climate of Italy, it first climbs to the highest point on the journey at 2328m, to skirt the edge of the turquoise Lago Bianco (White Lake) and takes a moment to pause in front of the glacier at Alp Grüm.
Then, a meander down towards verdant Italy, over the viaduct at Brusio, affording some great opportunities for some photographs of the train as it winds around the 360-degree spiral. There is plenty of time to admire more incredible views as you arrive into Italy - you’ll be there just in time for lunch! (And we know just the place to go where you’ll be well looked after.)
Call our team of helpful specialists to build this train into your dream holiday.
