5-Day Switzerland Scenic Rail: St. Moritz & Zermatt

Are you coming to Switzerland one day earlier?

Upon landing in Zurich, you’ll check in and rest at your comfortable airport hotel — the ideal way to recover from your international flight before your adventure begins.

For the next day, we’ve designed a wonderful Pre-Tour Option: a full-day excursion to Stein am Rhein & the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. After the tour, your guide will accompany you back to Zurich to collect your luggage and then escort you to the train station, ensuring you comfortably continue to your next destination.

Please note that this is a full-day tour, and if you choose to join it, you’ll travel to St. Moritz in the late afternoon, arriving at your hotel around 9 pm. In winter, the train ride takes place after sunset, so you won’t see all the mountain scenery along the route — but it’s still a smooth, comfortable, and beautifully atmospheric journey through the Alps. It makes for a longer day, but an incredibly rewarding start to your Swiss adventure!

If this sounds like the perfect start to your journey, simply contact our Travel Experts — we’ll seamlessly add it to your 5-Day Rail Tour and handle all the arrangements for you. 

Accommodation: Zurich Airport Hotel Hyatt Regency or Place (or comparable lodging).

Your local ECHO Rails Guide will pick you up at your hotel at 9 am. 

Today you will enjoy a relatively flat and leisurely hike boasting panoramic views of the surrounding Bernina Alps, St.Moritz, Engadin Valley and the lakes.

In summer, you can enjoy an exciting funicular ride up to Muottas Muragl, a vantage point above the Engadine valley. If the funicular is closed, your guide will suggest alternatives such as a ride up to Diavolezza glacier, a hike around Pontresina village or similar.

Hike along the sunny side of the Alps and find out why the Engine Vally has been attracting generations of hikers and nature lovers. 

Along the way, your local guide will explain the Rumantsch culture in Graubünden, artistic St. Moritz “Graffiti” architecture, and the town’s history as the world’s first winter tourism resort, as well as its current status of one of the world’s most beloved mountain resorts.

Scenic Journey Duration: approx. 1 hour.

Journey Mode: Funicular.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hauser Hotel (or comparable lodging).

Get ready for an unforgettable experience as today you embark on a journey on the world-renowned Glacier Express. This slow express train is a masterpiece of engineering, taking you on a scenic ride through the heart of the Alps for approximately eight hours. During the ride, you’ll pass through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges.

Important: Glacier Express connections are suspended for the maintenance works between mid – October and mid – December. You can still travel on the route o Glacier Express but it might not be as convenient as with the dedicated panoramic train. 

With amenities such as power outlets, and free Wi-Fi, each seat is designed for your comfort and convenience. Moreover, the train features a newly built information system that allows you to track your location on the map, along with an audio guide, to learn about the incredible sights you’ll see along the way.

As you travel West up through the Rhine gorge, you’ll have the opportunity to see the Albula tunnel, Landwasser viaduct, and Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. A highlight of the journey is a 3-course lunch served on board, allowing you to savor delicious Swiss cuisine while admiring breathtaking panoramas through the large panoramic windows.

In the evening, you will arrive in Zermatt, where you can relax and unwind in the spa area of your hotel. You’ll also have some time to explore the car-free, picturesque town of Zermatt. Be sure to go out enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant – we’ll provide some suggestions.

Scenic Journey Duration: approx. 8 hours.

Journey Mode: Glacier Express.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ginabelle (or comparable lodging).

Your private ECHO Rails Guide will pick you up at your hotel at 8:30 am.

Today, you will experience breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and the Alps in an excursion that combines a cogwheel train ride with an easy-to-moderate day hike of your choice.

You’ll ride Europe’s second highest railway and the highest open-air railway on the continent, the Gornergrat cogwheel train, climbing up to 10,134 feet (3089 meters) and offering incredible views of the Matterhorn along the way.

You walk up to the 360-degree platform area providing a panoramic view of 29 alpine peaks higher than 13,123 feet (4000 meters), including the world-famous Matterhorn.
Depending on the season and your preference, your guide will lead you on a 1-2 hour guided hike along sign-posted trails of an alpine nature reserve featuring awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn mirrored in pristine alpine lakes.

Along the way, you’ll learn about the origins of Zermatt and the people of the canton of Valais (French) or Wallis (German). In the evening, your guide will bid you farewell after giving you all the information you need to travel back to Zurich the next day.

Scenic Journey Duration: approx. 1 hour.

Journey Mode: Gornergrat Cogwheel Train.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel La Ginabelle (or comparable lodging).

After breakfast you depart to your own destination.

Our guide will provide all the information so you safely get to your final destination.

We bid you a farewell and wish you safe travels.

Meals included: Breakfast.