Call to book1-877-929-7245
Tour Search
#Favorites
Austria & Switzerland

Glacier Express and St Moritz

Save
4.0 stars(1 reviews)
Gallery
Small Group

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.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
10 days From $3,795 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2023 Tour code: GR-GZJA-23

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

View Dates & Pricing

What’s included

Itinerary

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.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - St. Moritz and a Mountaintop Dinner

You're free to explore St Moritz by cable car or go further afield today, making the most of your St Moritz and Swiss Travel Cards. We meet in the evening for a very special dinner. Nestled in the heart of the Alps, over 8,000 feet above sea level and boasting panoramic across the Engadine Valley, the Muottas Muragl Hotel is our destination for a sunset meal amid the mountains. Accessible only by its own private funicular railway, we ascend for pre-dinner drinks before taking our seats for a wondrous show by nature, accompanied by delicious local food.  Overnight St. Moritz.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast
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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Return to London

We travel by rail to Paris, connecting with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, where our tour concludes.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal

Additional information

Please Note

One of the excursions on this tour is at high altitude. If you have any medical conditions or concerns that could impact this part of the tour, we recommend you seek medical advice and talk to us. We want to make sure that any holiday you book is right for you.

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Schweizerhof, St Moritz

Hotel Schweizerhof, St Moritz

View hotel

Hotel Sonne

Hotel Sonne, Zermatt

View hotel

Trains

Bernina Express
Centovalli Railway
Eurostar
The Glacier Express
Gornergrat Mountain Railway
Thalys

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Extend your stay

Reviews

4.0 stars4.0 / 5 · 1 review

  1. 5 stars
    (0)
  2. 4 stars
    (1)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Martin

4 stars

Submitted 17 Oct 2022

Great trip and excellent tour manager that brought us to St. Moritz and more importantly, Zermatt, the highlight of the trip. The hotel had a perfect setting with mountain views and a hot tub and indoor pool right by a stream. The Gornergrat was a steep scary ride at times that was rewarded by views of the Matterhorn. The shlepping to get there was very trying though, as we had to make four different trains just to get to St. Moritz from London. There must be an easier way.

Collected by Trustpilot

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

Global Rail Adventures Brochure

The definitive guide to our 2023 Global Rail Adventures

Download brochure
Related inspiration from our journey blog