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Pre-Tour: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland 12 Days

Come early and acclimatize before your Swiss train adventure

itinerary

details & pricing

Testimonials

Tour Overview

From $370 | Small Group Guided Rail Tour | Fixed Departure Dates

zurich airport meet and greet

Join us for a Pre-Tour Grand Train Tour of Switzerland 12 Days. Arrive early and acclimatize in beautiful Lucerne. This is an opportunity to kick off your 12-day Grand Train Tour of Switzerland with style and peace of mind.

This Pre-Tour Grand Train Tour of Switzerland 12 Days has been designed to allow you to arrive early and acclimatize under the care of our guides. It includes Zurich airport Meet&Greet, assisted transfer and overnight at the hotel where the trip starts. It’s also an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and stroll around the beautiful city of Lucerne. 

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Highlights

  • Tour guide meets you at the airport
  • First-class train transfer from the airport to Lucerne
  • One-night accommodation in beautiful Lucerne (breakfast included)
  • One night more to acclimatize with jetlag
  • A free evening in the beautiful city of Lucerne
lucerne old town

Featured Sites

  • Lucerne
  • Local public transport connections

Book the Pre-Tour of your 12 Days Grand Train Tour today!

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Pre-Tour Grand Train Tour of Switzerland 12 Days Itinerary

Pre-Tour Grand Train Tour of Switzerland 12 Days Itinerary has been designed to give a little extra time to spare before your great train adventure. A guide will pick you up at the airport and accompany you on the train to Lucerne. You’ll appreciate an extra night in Lucerne before meeting your tour companions.

zurich airport meet and greet
rail tours of Switzerland for seniors
Rene-Welti-ECHO-Rails-Guide

Your guide will meet you at the Zurich airport. They will accompany you on the train to Lucerne and guide you straight to the hotel. Depending on your preferences and time of the day, your guide will also be happy to share suggestions and ideas for things to do and places to eat. 

Accommondation: Hotel Continental (or comparable lodging).

Book the Pre-Tour of your 12 Days Grand Train Tour today

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Details and pricing

USD $370.00 per person (double occupancy)
USD $425.00 per person (single occupancy)

  • Meet & Greet at the Zurich airport with one of ECHO Rails English-speaking guide
  • 1st-Class Swiss Pass
  • One night in Lucerne with extensive breakfast buffet
  • Meals
  • Items of personal nature
 

See our Cancellation Policy for more details.

Visa, Maestro, and Mastercard are commonly accepted in Switzerland. American Express is not so popular and many businesses don’t accept it. The country is becoming more and more cashless with contactless and mobile payments (Google and Apple Pay). Still, it’s useful to have some cash on you while travelling. All banks provide currency exchange services at a favorable rate.

Reasonable fitness level required

This is a private tour and the excursions can be adapted to your abilities and wishes.

However, changing trains and walking from the hotels to the train station requires a moderate level of fitness. 

  1. Click on any of the “Book now” buttons on the page.
  2. You will be redirected to our dedicated booking platform.
  3. Choose a desired date for your trip and add number of participants. Select departure time, if applicable.
  4. Fill out the form with all travellers’ details and click “Confirm booking”.
  5. Once we receive your booking request you will be sent an email with payment instructions from our partner Flywire.
  6. Follow the instructions in the email.
  7. Once the payment is processed, your booking is confirmed.

Check our review page

Book the Pre-Tour of your 12 Days Grand Train Tour today

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Testimonials

"This was an amazing trip in an amazing country. Incredible vistas, well planned activities, great accommodations and wonderful food. Everything was first class. The guides, Andrea, Marta and Andreas, were exceptional. They were very knowledgeable and friendly, always going the extra mile to make sure everyone was having a great time and that the trip was running smoothly. I would highly recommend this trip which is a great value."
Ron H.
"I Wish I Could Give it 10 Stars!!! It was the most amazing 2 weeks I have ever had. It far exceeded my expectations. The venues were amazing, the scheduling was spot on, the reserved 1st class train accommodations were out standing and of course Switzerland is beyond amazing. I can’t say enough about our guides. Our entire group just fell in love with them. I can’t imagine anyone could do more or a better job than they did. Most of us had tears in our eyes when we had to say good by. They make a great team. Again an amazing experience and you can be sure I will recommend Echo Rails and Trails to anyone that asks, I may even do it again👍😀."
Stan B.
"My favorite part of this trip was our outstanding guides Andreas and Thomas along with Rene who took over for the last segment. It was the opinion of all the travelers, most of whom travel extensively, that this was the best trip they've ever been on. Of course, the real star of the trip was Switzerland! Words and pictures simply cannot describe the magnificence of this country. Even when you see it it's hard to believe! I heartily recommend this tour the trains, the hotels, and the meals exceeded my rather high expectations."
Ray L.
"The trip of a lifetime. We have seen countless photos that almost don’t look real. That’s because it is truly fairy tale scenery. Our guides, Andreas,Thomas, (aka the candy man),Leo, and Rene. We’re all extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They took great care in our comfort and well being. The trains, buses, and hotels are all very clean and welcoming. I highly recommend everyone to visit this beautiful country. And to do it with Echo rails and trails."
John P.
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Reviews

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Shea 
 
2023-10-30
 
 
  
Captivating hike through the Alps
Ezra was an amazing guide through the vastness of the Alps! He met us at the Lucerne train station and kept us engaged from the moment we got picked up until the end of our time together. Ezra was super knowledgable and in sync with his surroundings, adding a whole new layer of depth to our hike. I so appreciated his attention to detail and commitment to making our hike amazing! Thanks so much!
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Donna M 
 
2023-10-08
 
 
  
Stunning views, good people, great vacation.
We have traveled to Europe many times, but this was the first trip we booked with a tour group and we couldn’t have been happier with the experience. There was no way we could have done so much in a limited time without ECHO’s scheduling expertise. The guides were extremely helpful, knowledgeable and simply delightful people. The entire experience was wonderful.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Ron H 
 
2023-10-03
 
 
  
Take this tour. You will love it.
This was an amazing trip in an amazing country. Incredible vistas, well planned activities, great accommodations and wonderful food. Everything was first class. The guides, Andrea, Marta and Andreas, were exceptional. They were very knowledgeable and friendly, always going the extra mile to make sure everyone was having a great time and that the trip was running smoothly. I would highly recommend this trip which is a great value.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Charlotte Cunningham 
 
2023-10-03
 
 
  
An incredible Day on Mt Rigi, Queen of the Alps.
Our guide Ezra was a joy to be with. It is obvious that he thoroughly enjoys what he does and is passionate about the beauty of Switzerland. He is very knowledgeable but fun! My sister & I are in our late 60’s early 70’s so most likely slower than younger folks. Ezra was patient and gave us plenty of breaks. And the views!! Fantastic! We highly recommend this trip and others Echo offers. You will not be disappointed!
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Stan B 
 
2023-10-01
 
 
  
10 STARS
I Wish I Could Give it 10 Stars!!! It was the most amazing 2 weeks I have ever had. It far exceeded my expectations. The venues were amazing, the scheduling was spot on, the reserved 1st class train accommodations were out standing and of course Switzerland is beyond amazing. I can’t say enough about our guides. Our entire group just fell in love with them. I can’t imagine anyone could do more or a better job than they did. Most of us had tears in our eyes when we had to say good by. They make a great team. Again an amazing experience and you can be sure I will recommend Echo Rails and Trails to anyone that asks, I may even do it again??.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Lynne H 
 
2023-09-29
 
 
  
Spectacular Views
Our private tour of the Alps was an incredible experience! Our guide, Livia, met us at the train station and led us on an excellent adventure tailored to our wishes. After a train ride and short bus ride, we ascended a mountain on a cable car. We hiked along trails, visited a cheese making farm and ate an authentic Swiss lunch surrounded by mountains. The scenery was unbelievable, from snow capped mountains to beautiful waterfalls. Livia was very accommodating and friendly, making our tour even more enjoyable!
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Pete M 
 
2023-09-22
 
 
  
Hiking tour from waldstatenburg to Quentin. Great views
Amazing hike. Leo was an excellent tour guide and provided for us. It was an amazing time. Highly recommenddd
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Pete M 
 
2023-09-22
 
 
  
Walk through country side next to Lake Lucerne.
Amazing views. Tour guide was fantastic. Very informative and helpful. Despite finishing the walk early, Ezra took us through "Old Town" and showed much of the history and area to help my wife and I understand the area.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Teri S 
 
2023-09-22
 
 
  
Journey of a Lifetime
Embarking on the 12-day Grand Rail Tour of Switzerland from Lucerne to Zurich was an experience that transcended the boundaries of a typical vacation. The tour began in the charming city of Lucerne and set the stage for the adventure that lay ahead. The panoramic views from the trains were extraordinary with landscapes varying from beautiful valleys to towering peaks, each more breathtaking than the last. The journey through the iconic Swiss Alps was magnificent. Our guides were exceptional. They were multi-lingual (very proficient in English), very engaging, and provided local expert perspectives on the various sites, cities, and villages that we visited. They were flexible and provided some options for the various daily activities and handled all of the logistics (including luggage transfer, which was a huge plus!). In order to take full advantage of all of the sites and scenes you need to be in reasonably active shape and able to walk on average 10,000 steps per day (sometimes on hilly, uneven ground). Overall, this 12-day tour was an excellent way to experience all that Switzerland had to offer. The combination of stunning alpine scenery, world-famous trains, luxury accommodations, and expert guides made it a journey of a lifetime.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Traveler16652926496 
 
2023-09-21
 
 
  
Perfect Guided Hiking in the Engadine Valley of the Swiss Alps
Thanks to Alpenwild and their first-rate guides, Louis and Sophie, for the fantastic hike from St. Moritz to Italy. I had never been to the Alps before, and I had never heard of villages like Soglio and Malaga, nor the Engadine Valley or Bregalia. Everything was spectacular and I couldn’t have asked for more from either Alpenwild, their guides or Switzerland itself. Well worth the money!!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 271 reviews

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Switzerland Office
+41 (0) 77 991 87 99
  • ECHO Rails & Trails
  • Untergütschstrasse 33
  • 6003, Lucerne, Switzerland
  • Swiss Commercial Register: CHE-443.905.414
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  • Andrea Caspani
  • ECHO Rails & Trails
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