Essential Switzerland: Glacier Express & Zermatt

A route of dramatic mountain peaks and memorable alpine rail journeys lies ahead as your adventure begins today in Switzerland's largest city and financial center, Zürich. As your plane touches down, make your way to the airport's rail station for a quick and efficient transfer to Zürich's city center, where we stay for two nights. If there is free time upon checking in, you can begin to get to know the contemporary and historical sides of Zürich.

The skyline here is a tapestry reflecting centuries of occupation and growth, with modern skyscrapers within reach of well-preserved structures from centuries past. You might like to head to Old Town to get a look at this history, with the oldest building being the 9th-century St. Peter's Church, or simply peruse the countless storefronts of the Bahnhofstrasse, the city's main shopping street.

Return to the hotel this evening to meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travelers, and together, we sit down to our first dinner in Switzerland in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Zürich.

• Dinner

 Nestled amongst the rolling hills of northeastern Switzerland near the borders of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein, the charming city of St. Gallen is our destination after breakfast today.

Arriving after a short train journey, we embark on a walking tour of Old Town. Colorful buildings with ornate oriel windows (a style of protruding bay windows) line the attractive squares and streets, but St. Gallen's main attractions sit around its 18th-century, UNESCO-listed Baroque cathedral. This cathedral sits on the grounds of an abbey dating to the 8th century and is a highlight of our tour.

After learning about the town's origins and exploring its most historic sites, there is some free time in St. Gallen. You could grab lunch independently or perhaps use your Swiss Half Fare Card to enter the astonishing abbey library, a World Heritage site containing a significant collection of works dating from the 8th century.

We return to Zürich by train this afternoon with the rest of the day at your own pace. With no group dinner tonight, you might like to taste Swiss specialties in a local restaurant. Overnight Zürich.

• Breakfast

The serenity of the Swiss Alps beckons as we leave Zürich behind this morning, traveling by rail to the quaint resort town of Zermatt. After breakfast at the hotel, we walk to the station to board a local train for a trip into Switzerland's most impressive landscapes - a journey of less than four hours.

As we travel, the train passes through the capital city of Bern and skirts the shores of Lake Thun. Your views become increasingly dramatic during the approach to Zermatt, and the train arrives in the heart of Matterhorn Village, surrounded by charming alpine architecture. Zermatt is full of historic sites and dominated by views of the Matterhorn, whose pyramid-shaped peak can be seen in many parts of the town.

We walk to our hotel for check-in and then the rest of the day is at your leisure. Soak up the ambiance afforded by car-free streets, and maybe get to know your new surroundings aboard a horse-drawn carriage (payable locally). Dinner is served at the hotel this evening. Overnight Zermatt.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our day begins with breakfast at the hotel before we dive into Zermatt's scenery and heritage on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway. More than 125 years old, this heritage train is Switzerland's original electric cogwheel railway, operating since August 1898.

We climb the six miles to the summit in 33 minutes, riding across picturesque valleys and through lush alpine forests to an altitude of more than 10,000 feet above sea level. The vistas from the top are spectacular, and on a clear day, up to 29 mountaintops are visible, with the pièce de résistance being the mighty Matterhorn. We have time to soak in these breathtaking vistas before descending the mountain and embarking on a guided tour.

Lead by a local expert, we wander amongst the 17th-century wooden chalets bedecked with blooms of geraniums on Hinterdorfstrasse. Learn about the town's history and see its half-timbered houses before continuing the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight, and Zermatt is a wonderful place to taste regional delicacies, like fondue. Overnight Zermatt.

• Breakfast

Stepping aboard the "slowest express train in the world" after breakfast this morning, we enjoy an all-day journey through Switzerland's most dramatic scenery on the Glacier Express. Each mile reveals stunning vistas, and we soak in all its natural grandeur while following the route's full length to St. Moritz.

Watching as the Matterhorn fades into the distance and some of the region's other tall peaks come into view, we pass through the steep Rhône Valley. After crossing the Furka Pass, we enter a nine-mile-long tunnel and traverse the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the Glacier Express route. Gaze in wonder upon the "Swiss Grand Canyon" and witness the beauty of the UNESCO-listed Albula Line. Because we enjoy a two-course lunch at our seats, we never miss a moment of the astonishing scenery. The last leg of this journey snakes across deep ravines and impressive viaducts, including the iconic Landwasser Viaduct - on the approach to St Moritz in the Engadine Valley.

On arrival, we continue to our hotel and have a free evening to find dinner locally. Overnight Engadine Valley.

• Breakfast

Often called the rail expert's best-kept secret, the Bernina Express leads the way for today's adventure. This train follows the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway from St. Moritz and presents another vantage point from which to admire the Alps.

While twisting and turning along the highest route in the Alps, we travel to more than 7,300 feet above sea level before passing Lago Bianco and crossing the Bernina Pass. Pausing to view the Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm, we then wind down the mountains, spiraling through the corkscrew viaduct at Brusio. Our destination is the Italian town of Tirano.

Stepping off the train, you can wander amongst the cobbled streets and character-filled piazzas, soaking in the charms at your leisure. You might like to find a local café for lunch or visit the 16th-century Roman Catholic church. Enjoy an encore viewing of the scenery as we return to St. Moritz. With some free time before dinner at the hotel, you could wander along Via Serlas, one of the world's most famous shopping streets. Overnight Engadine Valley.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before we set out on Switzerland's rail network once again, leaving the mountains and lakes of the Graubünden region behind as we travel back to Zürich. The Albula Line puts on a picturesque show as we make our way to Chur, and lakeside views can be admired as the train heads toward Zürich.

Arriving this afternoon, you can get acquainted with this dynamic city after checking into the hotel for the night. You could seek out Zürich's impressive sights, such as the Opera House or the castle-like building that houses the National Museum. The Grossmünster towers above the city, and you might like to climb its 187 tower steps for incredible views over Lake Zürich and the distant mountains. You could also stroll along the scenic shores of the Limmat River or wander through the pedestrian-only Niederdorf region of Old Town.

We reconvene at the hotel in time for dinner this evening. Overnight Zürich.

• Breakfast, Dinner

For such a small nation, Switzerland certainly has much to offer. The last week has been a testament to this, showing us booming cities, historic villages and the showstopping vistas provided by the Swiss Alps.

We rode the full length of the Glacier Express, witnessing the magical changes in the landscape while traveling from Zermatt to St. Moritz, and followed the Bernina Express's spectacular route to Tirano, Italy. Exploring historic St. Gallen and idyllic Zermatt on guided tours further opened our eyes to the allures of Switzerland.

Your Swiss expedition comes to a close with breakfast at the hotel this morning. Upon checking out, you are free to begin your travels home.

• Breakfast