Sweeping views of evergreen forests and lofty mountain peaks overtake the landscape as you explore Switzerland and its majestic Alps aboard three scenic trains, including the Glacier Express.
About the Tour
Capture the essence of Switzerland while traveling through stunning mountainscapes and quintessential alpine destinations on this round-trip tour. Your scenic journey begins in London as you travel by train to Cologne and then onto St. Moritz. This luxurious resort town is nestled amidst the dramatic peaks of the Swiss Alps and offers the perfect introduction to the beauty of Switzerland. We board the Bernina Express in St. Moritz and enjoy a full-day excursion to Tirano, Italy, via a route so impressive - both in its construction and its surroundings - that it has rightfully earned UNESCO World Heritage status. You also have some time to enjoy the offerings of St. Moritz and the surrounding towns at your leisure before embarking on another iconic rail expedition, this time aboard the Glacier Express to Zermatt. Tucked under the imposing and instantly recognizable Matterhorn, this upscale mountain town makes a fantastic home base for exploring the region. Ride aboard the Gornergrat Mountain Railway to the summit of the Gornergrat, take a cable car to Schwarzseen and enjoy opportunities to sightsee at leisure with your Swiss Travel Card in hand. We depart Zermatt by train, following a course that passes through enchanting towns and showcases breathtaking alpine scenes on the cross-country journey to Colmar, France. The tour concludes as we travel from Colmar to Paris and then to London. An inspired adventure from start to finish, this 10-day tour makes it easy to see why Switzerland is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best countries.
Highlights
- Rail travel on the high-speed Eurostar and Thalys trains
- 3 scenic rail excursions: Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and Gornergrat Mountain Railway
- Swiss Travel Card permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat, and most mountain railroad journeys
- Hotel accommodations for 9 nights
- 16 meals
- Exclusive meeting point at our dedicated Departure Office in St Pancras
- Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
- Services of a professional tour escort and knowledgeable local guides for touring
- Baggage transfer between destinations
Call to Book 1-877-929-7245
Itinerary
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Day 1 - London to Cologne by Train
Meet your Tour Escort and fellow travelers at our London St Pancras Departure Office and board the Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival, we catch the high-speed train to Cologne. Overnight Cologne. (Eurostar meal, D)
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Day 2 – Cologne to St. Moritz
Today we continue our journey, traveling by rail to Basel, where we start our scenic climb through the Alps to St Moritz. Overnight St. Moritz. (B, D)
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Day 3 – Bernina Express
We embark on an excursion aboard the historic Bernina Express today. The line has UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to the efforts taken to build the track, as well as for the breathtaking scenery it passes. Our ascent over the Bernina Pass elevates us over 7,000 feet above sea level, showcasing panoramic views across snow-capped peaks and turquoise glacial lakes as we travel to Tirano, Italy, via the spiraling Brusio Viaduct. On arrival, there is time to explore Tirano and indulge in an Italian treat before returning to St. Moritz. Overnight St. Moritz. (B, D)
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Day 4 – St. Moritz at Leisure
With your Swiss Travel Card in hand, explore St. Moritz as you wish today. Get a bird’s eye view of town on a cable car adventure, or make the most of your Swiss Travel Card and go further afield. Overnight St. Moritz. (B)
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Day 5 – Glacier Express
Today we take the famous Glacier Express to Zermatt, enjoying incredible views from the panoramic windows of our first-class rail car. Leaving St Moritz, we cross the famous Landwasser Viaduct and work our way along the upper Rhine Valley. Lunch is served during the journey as the train climbs over the Oberalp Pass, the peak of the route, before crossing the spectacular gorge at Brig. From here, we wind our way to Zermatt, a tranquil mountain town nestled below the Matterhorn Mountain. Overnight Zermatt. (B, L, D)
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Day 6 – Gornergrat Mountain Railway
We board the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, the highest open-air cogwheel railway in Europe, and climb to the summit of the Gornergrat, at 10,134 feet. On a clear day, you can see an astonishing 29 mountaintops. After descending the mountain, enjoy a guided walking tour of this car-free town. Overnight Zermatt. (B)
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Day 7 – Schwarzsee Cable Car Excursion
Today’s excursion takes us by cable car to Schwarzsee, the starting point of the Matterhorn glacier trail. With some free time, you might like to stroll down to the chapel by the lake or take a gentle walk along one of the hiking trails. We enjoy lunch at a traditional restaurant, the perfect chance to savor some classic Swiss specialties. Overnight Zermatt. (B, D)
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Day 8 – Zermatt at Leisure
You are free to explore Zermatt at leisure. Perhaps climb the Kleine Matterhorn by regional cable car or use your Swiss Travel Card to take a ride on the Centovalli Railway, a narrow-gauge line that winds its way to Locarno, situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Overnight Zermatt. (B)
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Day 9 – To Colmar
After breakfast, we make our way to the rail station for our journey to Basel. Here, we catch the train to Colmar, our home for the night. Overnight Colmar. (B, D)
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Day 10 – Return to London
We travel by rail to Paris, connecting with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, where our tour concludes. (B, Eurostar meal)
Accommodations
Hotels include: Hotel Schweizerhof (St. Moritz) and Hotel Sonne (Zermatt)
Eurostar
The high-speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris and Lille in France as well as Brussels in Belgium.
Bernina Express
The narrow-gauge Bernina Express connects northern and southern Europe and offers a spectacular means of crossing the Alps. The route runs through the ancient landscape of Switzerland's beautiful Grisons/Graubünden region and provides essential links to the Italian-speaking population in the south.
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is Switzerland's best-known train. The 181-mile trip from Zermatt to St Moritz lasts nearly eight hours, winding its way through some of Europe's most dramatic and beautiful scenery.
Gornergrat Mountain Railway
The Gornergrat Mountain Railway runs for less than six miles from the pretty town of Zermatt to the summit of the Gornergrat some 10,135ft above sea level. It is the highest railway in Europe to run predominately in the open air.
Thalys
Thalys is a high-speed rail service linking Paris and Brussels with Amsterdam or Cologne and can reach up to 190mph.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It is your responsibility to check and fulfill the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
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