Grand Train Tour of Switzerland - An Escorted Experience

Touching down at Zürich Airport, your vacation begins as you make your way to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish, either relaxing or getting a first taste of Switzerland.

Zürich is the largest city in this landlocked European country and sits at the northern edge of a beautiful lake that shares its name. With a history dating back more than 2,000 years, there are many impressive attractions here, from the peaceful Lindenhof with its Roman origins to the 13th-century Fraumünster church boasting stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. Art lovers also have many options. The Kunsthaus displays major works of fine art, modern and Constructivist pieces can be found in Museum Haus Konstruktiv (a former power station), and Cabaret Voltaire is the spiritual home of Dadaism.

This evening, meet your Tour Manager and the rest of the traveling group at the hotel, where we enjoy our first dinner together. Overnight Zürich.

• Dinner

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head to Grindelwald in the heart of the country. The spectacular route of the Lucerne-Interlaken Express climbs the Brünig Pass, before winding alongside Lake Briez to Interlaken. From here, we continue to Grindelwald - one of the oldest and most scenic alpine resorts in Switzerland.

Picturesque vistas can be seen from every angle as we make the short walk from the train station to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the amenities of this wonderful locale at leisure. Surrounded by some of the country's most iconic mountains, including the Eiger, you might be tempted to gaze in awe at the dramatic scenery or stroll around Grindelwald, admiring traditional Swiss chalets decorated with bright geraniums.

Another option is to take the cable car up to Grindelwald First. From here, you can marvel at the mountains in all their glory, with idyllic views of the valley below. Dinner is on your own this evening, providing the opportunity to try out some alpine specialties at one of Grindelwald's restaurants. Overnight Grindelwald.

• Breakfast

A highlight of your Swiss grand tour awaits after breakfast today as we journey to Jungfraujoch, the continent's highest train station. Our climb begins with a cog railway ride to Kleine Scheidegg. Here, we switch rail lines and continue on the 112-year-old Jungfrau Express. This unsung gem of Swiss mountain railroads takes us into tunnels cut through the mighty Eiger to a height of more than 11,000 feet above sea level.

The station at Jungfraujoch is inside the mountain and we ascend via an elevator to the surface, the 'Top of Europe'. Spellbinding panoramic views of a year-round winter wonderland greet us, and there is free time to explore its attractions. From the Sphinx observation deck, you can soak in endless vistas of the Aletsch Glacier and countless snow-capped mountains. While here, you might also like to visit the Lindt chocolate shop or the magical Ice Palace.

A return rail journey provides further opportunities to absorb the beautiful scenery before an evening at leisure in Grindelwald. Overnight Grindelwald.

• Breakfast

Walking to the train station after breakfast, we join the train to Interlaken. At this attractive town between two lakes, we board the stylish panoramic cars of the GoldenPass Express. This incredible journey takes us from snow-capped mountains to palm trees and is a feat of engineering more than 100 years in the making.

The GoldenPass Express is currently less well known than Switzerland's other famous trains, but won't be for long. Passing Lake Thun, we begin to climb through untamed forests and rolling mountains, our panoramic carriages providing excellent views en route. Picturesque villages and alpine meadows dot our route, before we reach the upmarket mountain resort of Gstaad. Beginning our descent to Montreux, we view shimmering Lake Geneva through the sparkling vineyards.

From Montreux, the short final leg of our journey takes us to nearby Vevey. After checking in to our hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight Vevey.

• Breakfast

A brief walk to the train station in Vevey see us board a train to Zermatt in the southern tip of Switzerland. The scenic rail journey after breakfast carries us deeper into stunning mountains. With lush wildflower meadows, thundering waterfalls and rugged mountains, the dramatic Matter Valley guides us to our destination - beautiful Zermatt.

Transferring to our hotel upon arrival, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Zermatt is simply amazing, with its car-free streets and immense history. Dominating the town is the mighty Matterhorn and its pyramidal peak can be seen from most parts of Zermatt, and you may wish to learn more about Switzerland's symbolic mountain at the Matterhorn Museum. Exploring the historic Old Village, you can discover more than 30 traditional wooden Walser houses and ancient barns and stables, quintessential and timeless Swiss architecture.

Alternatively, you may wish to enjoy the views while relaxing in our hotel's swimming pool. Dinner is on your own tonight and Zermatt is a great place to experience a taste of authentic Switzerland. Overnight Zermatt. 

• Breakfast

Spectacular scenery lies ahead today as we journey on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway.

More than 125 years old, this charming heritage train is Switzerland's original electric rack railway and first carried travelers the six miles up the mountain in August 1898. We trace their journey, climbing over picturesque valleys and through lush alpine forests, to an altitude of more than 10,000ft above sea level. The spectacular views from the top are utterly jaw-dropping, and on a clear day an astonishing 29 mountaintops are visible. We have time to soak in these spellbinding vistas, including Monte Rosa and the best view of the majestic Matterhorn. This famous mountain is an iconic symbol of Switzerland, and its striking shape also provided the inspiration for the design of Toblerone.

Returning to the low-pitched roofs of Zermatt, there is free time to wander between 17th-century wooden chalets bedecked with blooms of geraniums on Hinterdorfstrasse before dinner at our hotel. Overnight Zermatt. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

A jewel in the crown of this grand train tour of Switzerland is today's ride on the Glacier Express.

Departing our hotel after breakfast, we board this classic train at Zermatt's station. Watching on as the Matterhorn fades into the distance and some of the region's other peaks come into view, we pass through steep valleys. Making its way across the Furka Pass, the 'slowest express train in the world' enters a nine-mile-long tunnel en route to Andermatt. We venture across the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the train ride, before we descend through the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' - an area of dramatic scenery that can be admired from the panoramic windows. Lunch is served on board before arrival in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town.

In Chur, our connecting train takes us through the pastoral beauty of Swiss valleys to Bad Ragaz, a historic spa town a short distance from the tiny principality of Liechtenstein. The evening is free to dine independently. Overnight Bad Ragaz. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

Keep your camera handy and your eyes peeled for amazing sights as we cross through the Alps aboard the Bernina Express.

Known as Switzerland's best-kept secret by rail experts, this astonishing train ride follows the highest route in the Alps and highlights the country's unique regions. Traveling high into the mountains, we can gaze upon snow-covered peaks and mighty glaciers, before gliding down the mountainside toward the palm trees of Switzerland's Italian-speaking region. Your time on the Bernina Express is filled with incredible scenery, twists and turns. Cross through 55 tunnels and pass over 196 bridges as the journey proceeds. Because the train is equipped with panoramic rail cars, you can take in all the glory at every turn as you approach Tirano in Italy.

As the train reaches its destination, we switch modes of transportation and continue from Tirano to Lugano. On arrival in this Swiss city, we take the underground funicular railway from the station to the center and embark on a lakeside walk to our hotel in time for dinner. Overnight Lugano. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

Gain a different perspective on the majestic landscape surrounding Lugano during a lake cruise.

Boarding the boat, we can absorb views of palm trees and verdant mountains as we sail toward the quaint fishing village of Gandria on the north shore of the lake. The fjord-like lake squeezes between towering Monte Brè and Sighignola on the Swiss-Italian border. On arrival in Gandria, take some time to look at the beautiful lakeside villas and visit the village's museums during your time here.

After the ship sails back toward Lugano, your afternoon is at leisure. Lugano's historic center is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets stretching inland from the floral promenade. The architecture here blends Italianate Baroque and colorful alpine charm. Perhaps take a stroll through shorefront Parco Ciani or enter the Cathedral of St Lawrence to be spellbound by its ornate statues and beautiful frescoes. Dining independently this evening, seek out some local specialties including saffron risotto or lake fish. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel before embarking on one last Swiss railway adventure aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express*.

Admire vistas of castles, palm trees and vineyards as the route begins. The train passes through spiral loops and several tunnels, including the spectacular Gotthard Tunnel, dating back to 1882. The train continues through another set of spiral loops as it nears Wassen and cascades through the Ruess Valley before arriving in Flüelen. We switch modes of transportation here as we travel by paddle steamer across Lake Lucerne. Sheer beauty abounds during the three-hour boat ride to Lucerne. Enjoy views of the snow-capped peaks of Gotthard Pass and high rock walls that rise up on both sides of the lake. Look out for the small lakeside chapel linked to folk hero William Tell. Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus come into view on the approach to Lucerne - the perfect scenic ending to this idyllic journey.

After disembarking, we transfer to the hotel. Take some time to freshen up ahead of our farewell dinner tonight at the hotel. Overnight Lucerne.

* Please note:  On departures before April 17th, the Gotthard Panorama Express will be replaced by riding the Treno Gotthardo, which follows the same route and includes the boat transfer from Fluelen.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Switzerland is famed for its iconic trains, and we have explored this mountainous country on its most famous routes. In idyllic Grindelwald, we traveled to the continent's highest station on the Jungfrau Express and were met by stunning views of a year-round winter wonderland. From here, we crossed the picturesque Swiss Highlands to beautiful Lake Geneva on the GoldenPass Express. The Gornergrat Mountain Railway revealed the majestic Matterhorn, while the world-famous Glacier Express and Bernina Express were unforgettable journeys through quintessential Swiss landscapes. Either side of a trip on the Gotthard Panorama Express, we encountered this incredible terrain from a different perspective, on relaxing lake cruises.

As your grand tour through Switzerland ends this morning, you return to Zürich Airport by rail. The Tour Manager will provide your train ticket and hotel departure time details based on your return flight schedule.

• Breakfast