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Austria & Switzerland

Peaks of Switzerland featuring Schilthorn & Jungfrau

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7 days From $2,695 per person
4.3 stars(6 reviews)
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Brace yourself for some of the most incredible mountain views imaginable from the tops of towering peaks throughout the Swiss Alps on this alpine expedition based in Wengen.

Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary

2025 Tour code: WE-JURR-25

About the tour

Embark on a journey through the sky, soaking in the colorful and often rugged terrain of the Swiss Alps from atop soaring mountain peaks. The Schilthorn, Jungfrau, Brienzer Rothorn, and Harder Kulm are just a sampling of the summits that welcome you to this breathtaking country. Travel aboard heritage cog railways, well-designed local trains, and even aerial cable cars to reach these heights, and enjoy adventures you could only dream of as you reach the top.

This six-night independent journey is based out of the charming resort town of Wengen. There are no cars to compete with the foot traffic here, and the surrounding natural beauty and proximity to fantastic mountains and attractions make Wengen an ideal base for your explorations. The trip begins with a quick overnight in Zurich, where culture thrives, and then continues to Wengen by train. Each day brings a fresh perspective on the scenery of the Bernese Oberland as you travel between summits. First, visit the 007 mountain, the Schilthorn, beloved for its Bond movie connections. The Jungfrau Railway is your chariot through the north face of Mount Eiger to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. You also climb to the top of Brienzer Rothorn, either aboard a cog railway or via a cable car, and spend time amongst nature in Schynige Platte. Cap off your journey with a fondue dinner atop Harder Kulm in Interlaken before returning to Zurich. There has never been an easier way to experience the beauty of the Swiss Alps.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Zurich

A modern, cultured beacon amidst rugged mountain terrain, Zurich is the starting point for your Swiss expedition. Arrive today at your leisure, and make your way to your centrally located hotel for check-in. There are so many ways to get acquainted with the region for the remainder of your day. Overnight Zurich.

Day 2 - To Wengen By Train

Transfer to Zurich's train station after breakfast at the hotel this morning and enjoy a ride deeper into the heart of the country. The route between Zurich and Wengen takes approximately three hours to complete. Over its course, it highlights gorgeous cities, including Bern and Interlaken, before arriving in Wengen in the Bernese Oberland. This alpine town is nestled amidst nature, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and scenes of quintessential Switzerland.

Your train arrives around lunchtime, and after checking in at your hotel, take the day at leisure to explore this serene region. Wengen is a hotspot for hiking, and there are many trails within a stone's throw of this car-free resort town. In town, there are plenty of opportunities for boutique shopping and dining. If it is an adventure you seek, enjoy 50 percent off your train, bus, and boat journeys using your Jungfrau Travel Pass. Overnight Wengen.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 3 - The Schilthorn

Today's excursion takes you to a mountain that you may recognize from movies, the Schilthorn. Featured in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," a classic James Bond movie, this mountain is an icon for its size, beauty, and pop culture relevance. Experience its offerings first-hand after riding by train independently from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen. In Lauterbrunnen, switch modes of transportation and begin your ascent up this 9,744-foot mountain via a series of cable cars. The views on the way up are unbelievable; there are so many peaks to look upon. The best part: They only get better the higher you get, meaning endless panoramas of the Bernese Alps are yours to behold.

At the summit, the vistas only get more impressive. Soak in the splendor from the Skyline View Platform at Piz Gloria. Views of Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch fill the skyline, though there are plenty of other mountains to see. On a clear day, you may be able to see Germany's Black Forest in the distance. If this platform is too crowded for your taste, maybe venture down to the lounges on the Schilthorn Ridge. You could also spend your time at the summit dining at Piz Gloria, Switzerland's first window-clad rotating restaurant. Are you a lover of all things 007? The Schilthorn, also known as the 007 mountain, features several attractions connecting the movie to the surroundings. Follow in the footsteps of the stars while walking along the Walk of Fame or visit the OHMSS Spy World interactive exhibit. The summit also includes a movie viewing area in which Bond movie clips are played. Check out the gift shop or grab a snack at the takeaway shop before descending the mountain once more. Overnight Wengen.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch - the Top of Europe

A crowning jewel of the Jungfrau region, Jungfraujoch is your destination today. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then join the first in a series of trains that take you up to the summit. The climb begins as you board the first train in Wengen bound for Kleine Scheidegg, with increasingly dramatic views unfolding from the train's picture windows. On arrival in Kleine Scheidegg, board the Jungfrau Railway for the final stretch of the climb. Look around once you have found your seat; the views do not last long. Passengers get their first tastes of the wonders to come, and then the train plunges into a carved tunnel in the north face of Eiger for much of the 10,000-foot climb. Pass through a couple of stations, including one at Eigergletscher, before your train stops for the final time and you are offered your first glimpse over the expansive alpine range from well over 11,000 feet. Welcome to the Top of Europe.

Spend time soaking in views of some of the Swiss Alps' most impressive peaks and Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Observation Deck. No worries if it is an overcast day and the clouds are overtaking the vistas. Head inside to the Jungfrau Panorama, a fantastic film representation of the beauty that surrounds. Other things to do inside the station include eating at one of several restaurants, shopping for quality Swiss goods, tasting chocolate at Lindt Chocolate Heaven, walking through the magnificent Ice Palace, and visiting Alpine Sensation. Adventurous travelers may wish to try tubing or snowboarding at Snow Fun Park before returning to the base. Return to Wengen following your time at the top with the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Wengen.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Brienzer Rothorn

Choose your adventure for today's self-guided excursion, but either way you do it, the result is the same: you wind up surrounded by astounding views from the summit of Brienzer Rothorn, the tallest mountain in the Emmental Alps. To get there, you may utilize one of two transportation methods.

Option 1: Join a local railway from Wengen to Brienz. Here, board the Brienzer Rothorn Railway, a heritage rack railway dating to 1892 and offering views of no fewer than 693 Swiss mountain peaks. Small, historic steam engines push the bright red carriages up the mountainside. Enjoy fresh mountain air during your ride as the carriage's windows roll up into the top, leaving no obstruction between you and the fantastic scenery. The trip to the top is filled with scenic delights, including a bird's eye view of Lake Brienz. In all, it takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Option 2: Venture from Wengen to Sorenberg, home to a UNESCO World Heritage protected Biosphere Entlebuch. Entlebuch houses more than 150 square miles of untouched landscapes, including bogs, moorlands, pastures, and rolling foothills. In Sorenberg, board the Brienzer Rothorn Cable Car to climb to the summit. This modern alternative travels throughout the year rather than just in the warmer months and offers a much quicker ascent - 10 minutes versus an hour.

At the top, you may wish to hike one of the trails or enjoy a meal with a view at the summit restaurant. Return to Wengen with the remainder of the day to explore the region at leisure. Overnight Wengen.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 6 - Schynige Platte/Interlaken With Harder Kulm

Another day of incredible mountain vistas lies ahead as you set out for two scenic destinations, Schynige Platte* and Interlaken. After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to Wengen's train station and board the local railway to Wilderswil. On arrival, change trains to a 125-year-old cog railway, the Schynige Platte Railway, and sit back and relax while beautiful views envelop you. Colorful wildflowers dot the alpine pastures, and lovely views of Lake Thun sit in the distance. You may see cows grazing along the mountainside while you look over Monch, Jungfrau, and Eiger. This lovely region is beloved for many hiking trails, so feel free to indulge when you reach the top after your 50-minute ride.

Later in the day, after you have gotten your fill at Schynige Platte, continue by train to Interlaken, set ideally between Lakes Thun and Brienz. This resort destination is known for many things, including its stately mountain, the Top of Interlaken, Harder Kulm. Venture to the center of town in Interlaken and join the funicular railway for an unforgettable ride to the top. While just 10 minutes in length, the route offers beautiful views of the valley and peeks at the two lakes surrounding Interlaken. At the top, look out over the most famous mountains in the Bernese Oberland, Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch, as well as over Lakes Brienz and Thun from the viewing platform. There are hiking trails to explore, and the piece de resistance of the summit is a restaurant fit for a Swiss king. Perhaps enjoy a fondue dinner here tonight before descending by train and returning to Wengen. Overnight Wengen.

*Please note that the visits to Schynige Platte only occur during the warmer months. Before May, the day includes a trip to Interlaken only.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Tour Conclusion

Say goodbye to Wengen this morning after a final breakfast at your hotel. Join a train back to Zurich, where you are free to make your way home on arrival. If you are not ready for the adventure to end, you are welcome to extend your vacation with an extra night in Zurich. 

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

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.

Trains

Jungfrau Railway
Schynige Platte Railway

Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 6 reviews

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

JILL

5 stars

Submitted 27/Jul

First time booking with this company (and already thinking about my next trip with Vacations by Rail); customer service was excellent and materials provided were helpful, especially suggested timing for day trips with multiple transfers. Our trip went without any problems. Wengen as base for day trips very pleasant, hotels selected in Zurich and Wengen were very comfortable. And the scenery was extraordinary!!!

Collected by Trustpilot

JILL
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ELAINE WEICK

3 stars

Submitted 31 Aug 2023

There needs to be more written information explaining about the hotels you place people in.

Collected by Trustpilot

ROBERT COOPER

4 stars

Submitted 20 Aug 2023

This is a self-directed tour. VBR supplied all of the relevant information. We had some difficulty connecting since we arrived in Zurich by train. The two hotels were very nice - the view from our balcony in Wengen was spectacular. I think I’ll take a tour with a guide next time.

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ROBERT COOPER
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ARTHUR BURDETT

5 stars

Submitted 28 Jun 2023

Wengen, hotel, day trips, ease of using trains and buses and tickets all outstanding. Directions for fifth a little off and directions back to Zurich missing.

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Alan

4 stars

Submitted 27 Jun 2023

Very good itinerary. Could have used more insight on timing and crowds. Particularly at Grindinwald First

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TIM NELSON RINGLER

5 stars

Submitted 22 Jun 2023

The best vacation we ever had. VBR did a great job on the itinerary and especially the hotel in Wengen. We thought that VBR could have done a little bit better job of preparing the instructions, particularly for first time users of the rail system, but asking a lot of questions of locals made our trip go more smoothly. The attached photos says it all......magnificent! All in all, very good job along with excellent value.

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TIM NELSON RINGLER
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