14 Day: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Day 1- Interlaken
Make your own way to Interlaken where this itinerary starts.

In the evening meet your guide for a walking tour of Interlaken. Along the way you will learn about the history of the town and its surroundings, enjoy wild stories and local legends, explore some of the secret hideaways and discover Interlaken from a real insider’s perspective.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 2 – Jungfraujoch
Breakfast at the hotel to start your day.

The journey to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 meters ‐ Europe’s highest altitude railway station ‐ is a highlight of every visit to Switzerland. The Jungfrau Railway is an engineering masterpiece. The last section has been built inside the mountain itself, and the view through the panorama windows at the “Eigerwand” and “Eismeer” stations in the middle of the North Wall are a thrilling experience. The platform of the observatory is located right above the Aletsch Glacier. The “Alpine Sensation” a subway inside the rock connects the Ice Paradise with the Sphinx Hall.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 3 – Interlaken
Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover Swiss heritage in a day! Since the 1970s traditional farmhouses, stables, bakehouses and barns, under threat from demolition, have been dismantled piece by piece and rebuilt in the Ballenberg Open Air Museum.

This living history museum has expanded to include approximately 100 residential and agricultural buildings from all over Switzerland. The museum really comes to life thanks to the authentic cultivation of useful plants, over 250 domestic farm animals and the demonstrations by craftsmen and farmers who work with traditional tools. Try your hand at rural crafts, and discover Swiss heritage and culture.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 4 – Goldenpass Panorama  Montreux
Breakfast at the hotel.

Your journey continues with the GoldenPass Line through the wild and romantic Pays d’Enhaut and through scenic villages along the shore of Lake Geneva.

Overnight stay in Montreux in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 5 – Montreux and Surrounding Area
Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included.

In the late afternoon a Swiss wine experience is included at Vinorama, located in the UNESCO world heritage protected Lavaux wine growing region; 3 wine tastings included.

Overnight stay in Montreux in a 4-Star Hotel.

Freedom of Choice Options

Chillon Castle :One of the best preserved castles in Europe, found outside Montreux on an island located on Lake Geneva. Castle Chillon is amongst the most visited medieval castles in Switzerland and Europe. Successively occupied by the house of Savoy then by the Bernese from 1536 until 1798, it now belongs to the State of Vaud and is classified as a Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance.
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Olympic Museum:Experience the home of the Olympics in Lausanne at the Olympic Museum, which houses permanent and temporary exhibits relating to sport and the Olympic movement. With more than 10,000 artifacts, the museum is the largest archive of Olympic Games in the world and one of Lausanne’s prime tourist site draws attracting more than 250,000 visitors each year.

Day 6 – Montreux  Zermatt
Breakfast at the hotel.

Travel from Montreux to Zermatt. Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn and offers plenty of things to explore. Enjoy a day at leisure here.

Overnight stay in Zermatt in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 7 – Zermatt
Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included..

Overnight in Zermatt in a 4-Star Hotel.

Freedom of Choice Options

Gornergrat:Gornergrat, one of the most famous and truly spectacular experiences combining a cogwheel train ride from Zermatt to an altitude of 3089m. An iconic view of the Matterhorn awaits, along with 29 other 4,000m peaks. There are several stops on the way which are starting points for various hiking and walking trails.
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Matterhorn Glacier Paradise:Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. One of the highest vantage point in Europe at 3,883m ‐ right next to the Matterhorn. A series of gondolas and cable cars are taken to the summit where breath‐taking views await. The Glacier Palace is a highlight where a mystical world of ice and snow showcase impressive sculptures made of ice.

Day 8 – Glacier Express  St. Moritz
Breakfast at the hotel.

Take the world‐famous Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Enjoy some of the spectacular scenery Switzerland has to offer. Along the deep Rhone valley, the Glacier Express travels through an incredibly fascinating part of the Alps.

Overnight stay in St. Moritz in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 9 – St. Moritz
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.

The world famous holiday resort of St. Moritz lies in the heart of the Engadine Valley on the southern side of the Alps and very close to the Italian border. The stunning lake side setting makes this one of the best holiday destinations in Switzerland.

Use the Engadine Guest Card for unlimited travel on a number of cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts, as well as public transport. A recommendation is to take the funicular to Muottas Muragl. Other options include Corvatsch and Diavolezza.

Overnight stay in St. Moritz in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 10 – Bernina Express  Lugano
Breakfast at the hotel.

Board the Bernina Express, travel over circular viaducts and pass through winding tunnels before reaching Tirano in Italy.

Change to the Bernina Express bus which will take you onwards to Ticino.

Lugano, the largest town in Ticino, is a town with a Mediterranean flair, with parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. Set on the lakeside Lugano is surrounded by numerous mountains offering splendid viewpoints, and boasts a traffic‐free historic town centre with exclusive museums and a packed calendar of events.

Overnight stay in Lugano in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 11 – Lugano
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.

The Ticino Ticket provides access to unlimited travel throughout the Ticino transport network.
Additional discounts on funicular railway, cable car and boats are also possible.

A suggestion is to visit the landmark of Lugano, Monte San Salvatore, by funicular railway for magnificent 360° panoramic views over Lugano and the lake. A popular walk leads down through the beautifully situated Carona to Lake Lugano at Morcote. Taking a boat trip back to Lugano is a splendid way to round off the day.

Overnight stay in Lugano in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 12 – Gotthard Panorama Express  Lucerne
Breakfast at the hotel.

The Gotthard Panorama Express travels from the Mediterranean south to the traditional heart of Switzerland. From Flüelen you will have a boat ride over Lake Lucerne.

A few highlights of note in Lucerne include the 14th century covered wooden footbridge spanning the river Reuss and the Lion Monument which is a giant lion carved out of the wall of sandstone rock.

Overnight stay in Lucerne in a 4-Star Hotel.

Day 13 – Lucerne
Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included.

Overnight stay in Lucerne in a 4-Star Hotel.

Freedom of Choice Options

Pilatus:”Dragon Mountain” Mt Pilatus; an exceptional experience. The golden round trip starts with a relaxing cruise to Alpnachstad, from where the world’s steepest cogwheel railway ascends to Pilatus Kulm 2,123m. Descend on the otherside by cable car and gondola to Kriens and return to Lucerne.
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Rigi:Mount Rigi, known as the “Queen of the Mountains” is one of the most popular alpine excursions in Switzerland. The summit offers breath‐taking 360‐degree views over 13 lakes. A short cruise on Lake Lucerne will connect at Vitznau where the cogwheel train climbs to the summit. Return via cogwheel on the other side to Arth Goldau onwards to Lucerne.

Day 14 – Lucerne
Breakfast at the hotel.

Your tour finishes in Lucerne. Own arrangements to your ending point in Switzerland.