Grand Tour of Switzerland

Leave Interlaken this morning and make your way to the Ost station for a scenic journey down via Spiez and Zweisimmen to Montreux on the Swiss Riviera. The last leg of this journey can be made either aboard a modern train with panoramic windows, or by vintage style ‘Belle-Epoque’ carriages. Let us know which you would prefer!

On arrival in Montreux, head to the conveniently located Suisse Hotel Majestic (or similar), where you will be spending the next 2 nights.

Enjoy a day at leisure on the Swiss Riviera, where you can walk, swim, cruise or even paddle-board around Lake Geneva, with its fantastic backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

From Montreux, you can walk along a promenade fringed with flowers to the lovely Chateau de Chillon (pictured) which is free to enter with your Swiss Pass. You can also take a boat to other lakefront towns including Vevey, Lausanne and Geneva. If you fancy another day on the rails, there’s also a scenic train, the Rochers de Naye, taking you up into the hills for sweeping panoramic views of the lake, mountains and nearby vineyards.

It’s time to leave Lake Geneva today and head through the Swiss canton of Vaud and then across into the canton of Valais. After a quick change in Visp, the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn will take you up to 5,250 feet above sea level and the mountain-ringed village of Zermatt.

You will be spending 2 nights here, at the Garni Testa Grigia (or similar). Settle into your centrally located hotel before heading out to eat in one of Zermatt’s many restaurants.

You have a free day today in the resort town of Zermatt, which is a haven for skiers and snowboarders in the winter and a base for other outdoor pursuits like hiking and mountain biking at other times of the year.

You can take the opportunity to climb aboard the Gornergrat Mountain railway so that you can get up close to the distinctive peak of the Matterhorn. Your Swiss Pass gives you a 50% discount on this. Alternatively, enjoy a walk on one of the well-signposted hiking trails or simply relax and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Board the Glacier Express this morning for your stunning journey across Switzerland to St Moritz. Watch from the panoramic windows as the train snakes alongside the the Rhône at its source, and across to Andermatt, before climbing to over 6,560 feet at the Oberalp Pass. You will follow the course of the Rhine as you make your way into St Moritz. Commentary is provided along the way and a lunch is served on board (payable locally).

On arrival, check in for an overnight stay at the San Gian Hotel (or similar), with the rest of the afternoon at leisure in St Moritz.

After breakfast this morning, it’s time for another beautiful journey as you head south to Tirano, just across the Italian border. After time for lunch here, return to the station for the second stage of your journey, which takes you past Lake Como and the picturesque landscape of Valtellina to Lugano. During December and January, you can make this last stretch of the journey by train.

On arrival in Lugano, check in for a 2-night stay at the Dante Swiss Quality Hotel (or similar).

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Lugano is located on the lake of the same name, which becomes Lake Maggiore across the Italian border. This sunny corner of Switzerland has a distinctly Mediterranean feel, with palm trees, lovely piazzas and al fresco dining.

For breathtaking views of the lake and mountains, take a funicular train to the top of Monte Bré or Monte San Salvatore. Alternatively, you can easily reach other lakefront resorts like Locarno or Ascona by rail and other public transport – all freely accessible with your Swiss Pass.

Your last stop on the Grand Tour takes you to the shores of Lake Lucerne. Catch a train back across the Alps to Lucerne, where you will have 2 nights at the Waldstaetterhof Hotel (or similar).

Enjoy a full day at leisure here. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town and the city’s famous wooden bridges, take a cruise on the lake or perhaps visit the stunning Lion Monument, which commemorates the massacre of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution.

At the end of your Switzerland Grand Tour, catch a train back to Zurich airport for your return flight to London. We can also offer flights to/ from regional airports. Please call for details. Of course, it’s also possible to return to the UK by train.