10-Day Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Today is your day of arrival. The ECHO Rails guide will meet you at the airport and assist you with the train transfer to Lucerne. The guide will contact you personally prior to your arrival to introduce themselves and arrange the details of the meeting.

Once you have checked into your hotel, your guide will give you a briefing on the itinerary. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have and make any additional arrangements you may require.

They will also be happy to recommend places to eat and things to see in Lucerne on your own.

Meals included: none

Accommodation: Hotel Waldstätterhof (of similar accommodation)

Your 10-Day Grand Train Tour of Switzerland begins with a guided trip to two of Lucerne’s home mountains: Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi. You will have the chance to ride two famous cogwheel trains, an old steamship and other modes of transport.

Your guide will meet you at the reception at 7am. Together you will take the train to Arth Goldau. Here you will board the oldest cogwheel mountain railway in Europe for a scenic ride up to Rigi-Kulm (the summit of Mt. Rigi).

Enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the Alps stretching far into the distance. On a clear day you can see as far as France to the west and the Black Forest in Germany to the north.

The schedule here is flexible: your guide will be happy to show you a family-run artisan cheese dairy or take you on a 1-2 hour hike. Then take the cable car down to Weggis in time to board a 100-year-old steamship for a scenic 40-minute cruise back to Lucerne.

Back in Lucerne, take the bus to Kriens for an impressive cable car ride to the top of Mount Pilatus. Once at the top, there is time to take in the magnificent views of the Alps. Your guide will be happy to help you explore all the attractions that await you there.

The return journey to Lucerne begins with a descent to Alpnachstad on the world’s steepest cogwheel train, with a gradient of 48%. In Alpnachstad, board the local train for a quick and easy journey back to Lucerne.

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IMPORTANT

The organization and means of transport used during this day trip depend on seasonal schedules of  cogwheel trains, boats, cable cars and gondolas.

2024 availabilities

Pilatus cogwheel train runs from May 6th till November 17, 2024. In winter we will skip the train and use gondola connection only.

Kriens-Pilatus cable car runs all year round EXCEPT April 29-30.2024, and Oct 21-Nov 8, 2024.

Alternatives for your itinerary will be communicated in advance.

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Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Waldstätterhof (or similar)

Today you’ll be leaving Lucerne for your next destination: St. Moritz. The train will take you through the rolling countryside of eastern Switzerland. From Chur, where you change trains, you will travel on the Glacier Express route, where you can admire several engineering marvels such as the Landwasser viaduct, the Albula line and a number of spiral tunnels.

Depending on your arrival time in St. Moritz, you can take a stroll around the town or do a little hiking if you’d like.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel Hauser (or similar).

Today you will board the famous Bernina Express to travel on the highest railway in the Alps, a route that offers spectacular views of mountain peaks, glaciers and waterfalls. This is the Alps at their most awe-inspiring.

Subject to availability, you will enjoy first class seating in the Bernina Express panoramic carriage. Enjoy a spectacular 2-hour journey through the Pontresina Valley up to Ospizio Bernina at a breathtaking 2,253 metres (7392 ft) above sea level. On the way, you can admire the magnificent Morteratsch Glacier before beginning the slow descent to Poschiavo and finally crossing the border into Italy with a final stop in Tirano.

Here you can enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere of this northern Italian town. We will be happy to recommend several lunch options to help you enjoy local specialities such as veal shanks, risotto and tortellini stuffed with pumpkin. Stroll through the picturesque old town and be sure to visit local must-sees such as the Santuario Madonna di Tirano and Palazzo Salis.

Enjoy a 2-hour drive back to St. Moritz.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hauser Hotel (or similar).

Today you’re travelling on the famous Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt. During this breathtaking 8-hour journey, you will see countless natural and man-made wonders. From circular tunnels and impossibly high viaducts to the Rhine Gorge (dubbed Switzerland’s “Grand Canyon”) and the soaring peaks around the Oberalp Pass (2033 metres/6000 feet), the Glacier Express offers an unforgettable experience through many of Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

During this panoramic journey you will enjoy the comfort of a first class carriage, access to a restaurant car and all the amenities before arriving in Zermatt in the afternoon.

Once in Zermatt, you can choose to relax in your hotel, stroll around the village or even take a short hike, depending on the weather. Be sure to take in the best views of the famous Matterhorn before dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ginabelle (or similar).

Today, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking local guide. Under their guidance, you will experience breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and the Alps on an excursion that combines a cogwheel train ride with an optional easy-to-moderate day hike.

The Gornergrat Cogwheel Railway is a 125-year-old narrow-gauge railway, the second-highest railway in Europe and the highest open-air railway on the continent. It climbs to 10,134 feet (3089 metres) and offers incredible views of the Matterhorn.

At the top of the Gornergrat, you have a choice of activities. Your guide will take you to the 360-degree platform area, which offers a panoramic view of 29 Alpine peaks higher than 13,123 feet (4000 metres), including the world-famous Matterhorn.

If you are so inclined, you can enjoy an immersive experience at Zooom the Matterhorn. Here, thanks to VR, you can experience what it’s like to glide over the Matterhorn.

Your guide will be happy to suggest several hiking routes tailored to the weather conditions, your fitness level and your preferences. For example, you can hike to the famous Monte Rosa hut or around Riffel Lake. All walks will offer awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn reflected in pristine alpine lakes.

From here, the itinerary is flexible and depends on the weather. The guide can suggest the best places for lunch in the mountains or in Zermatt. After lunch, you are free to explore Zermatt on your own, go shopping or relax. Your guide will also be happy to take you on a 1 hour guided tour of Zermatt, including the “Hinterdorf” with its 300-year-old wooden houses, the Matterhorn Museum and other attractions.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ginabelle (similar).

Today you travel through the lush green cantons of Fribourg and Bern on one of the world’s most picturesque Swiss railways, the Golden Pass Line.

In the morning, board another scenic train to Visp and then Montreux. You will travel through the canton of Valais, famous as one of the most important wine growing regions in Switzerland. Upon arrival in Montreux, the capital of the Swiss Riviera, you will transfer to the Golden Pass Line, which connects Montreux with Interlaken.

Continue on the GoldenPass Line through the Prealps of Canton Fribourg, the beautiful Simmental valley, famous for its sturdy brown and white cows, and the world-famous resort town of Gstaad, home to many Hollywood stars.

In the afternoon, you will arrive in Interlaken, where you will make your final connections for your journey to Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region, where you will arrive in the early evening.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel Derby (similar).

Today your journey begins with an ascent from Grindelwald Terminal to the Eiger Glacier on the ultra-modern panoramic gondola of the Eiger Express. Here you can admire the Eiger Glacier covering the hills of the famous “Ork”.

At the Eiger Glacier station, board the famous Jungfrau Railway, an electric cog railway opened in 1912 that connects Kleine Scheidegg with the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station.

Nestled between the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, the Jungfraujoch offers unparalleled views of Europe’s largest glacier, the Aletsch Glacier. At the Jungfraujoch station, you can visit the Ice Palace, climb the Sphinx Tower or learn about the origins of the Jungfrau Railway.

In the afternoon, descend back to Kleine Scheidegg and take the train to Grindelwald.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel Derby (or similar).

Today you leave Grindelwald for Zurich. Take the local train back to Interlaken and transfer to the fast and comfortable Intercity train to Zurich.

In Zurich you can check into the airport hotel and spend a lovely afternoon exploring Zurich’s charming old town and lakeside.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel Hyatt-Place (or similar).

Today is departure day. 

We wish you a safe onward journey to your next destination.

Meals included: Breakfast.