Swiss Alpine Adventure by Rail

This morning after breakfast, we’ll head off for a fully guided walking tour of the city’s atmospheric Old Town. Zurich’s origins trace back to its founding by the Romans in 15 BC, who established a military post called Turicum on the site. The city’s growth accelerated in the Middle Ages, as Zurich became an important centre for commerce and craftsmanship. Its autonomy was solidified in 1351 when it joined the Swiss Confederation, laying the foundation for its development into Switzerland’s largest city and a major financial hub. Our knowledgeable local tour guide will engage us with colourful stories and anecdotes while introducing us to some of the highlights, including Bahnhofstrasse, Niederdorf, Grossmünster Cathedral, Lindenhof, and more.

Our tour finishes back at the main train station where we’ll depart for a short train journey along the lake to Adliswil to connect with the cable car that takes us up to Felsenegg Peak for an all-you-can-eat cheese fondue lunch at the mountain-top restaurant with its brilliant views of Lake Zurich and the Alps.

Upon our return to Zurich, the rest of the afternoon and evening is yours at leisure.

Overnight: The Hotel Schweizerhof, Zurich (B, L)

Utilising our Swiss Rail passes, we depart Zurich after breakfast this morning and make our way to the charming town of Montreux on beautiful Lake Geneva. On this journey, we’ll begin to experience some of the breathtaking scenery this country has to offer. After checking into our hotel right on the lake, we’ll enjoy lunch together before taking a short trip to visit the magnificent Chateau de Chillon, strategically nestled between the mountains and the lake. A thousand years of history is contained in this iconic castle standing proudly on an island in the lake – the first written mention of Chillon Castle dates back to 1150.  Our expert local guide, dressed in period costume, will take us on a journey through the most interesting history of this ‘must see’ jewel of Switzerland and paint a picture of the life and legends inside this labyrinth of rooms, dungeons, and halls.

Dinner tonight will be in our hotel on the shore of Lake Geneva.

Overnight: Hotel Eden Palace Au Lac, Montreux (B, D)

After breakfast this morning, we’ll take the short walk back to the station and board our train for the scenic uphill journey overlooking Lake Geneva and across the renowned Golden Pass to the beautiful old town of Gruyeres Ville, the home of the famous cheese factory. Today is yours to spend as you wish – visit the castle, towering majestically above the town; tour the cheese factory; or just soak up the picture-book village.  Your tour leader will facilitate any of your preferences.

Mentioned for the first time in the archives in 1244, Gruyeres Castle is one of the most prestigious and historically significant in Switzerland.  Built in the 13th century as the main residence of one of the most important noble families of western Switzerland in the Middle Ages – the Counts of Gruyère, the castle borrowed an architectural plan known as the “Savoyard square”, a military model developed by the House of Savoy, of which the counts were vassals. You may see some similarities with Chateau de Chillon in this sense.

Located at the foot of the castle is La Maison du Gruyère, the home of the king of cheeses, Gruyère AOP. A visit here is a fascinating insight into how one of the most famous cheeses in the world is made.

Overnight: Hotel Eden Palace Au Lac, Montreux (B)

Today, we say goodbye to Montreux and go back over the Golden Pass, this time on the Golden Panoramic Express, to the lakeside town of Interlaken, enjoying a light lunch on the train along the way.  Our route reveals stunning views of Lake Geneva and the ‘teeth of the Midi’, one of Switzerland’s most dramatic ranges.  Interlaken, a jewel in the heart of the Swiss Alps, is nestled between the sparkling waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and framed by towering peaks such as the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, offering some of the most breathtaking scenery in Switzerland – perhaps the world.

Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our hotel located directly on the river joining Interlaken’s two lakes, before taking a round trip by ferry cruise on the turquoise Lake Brienz.  Set amid the spectacular mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland, a boat ride on this typical alpine lake with its steep sides is a truly memorable experience.

Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Boutique Hotel Bellevue, Interlaken (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll travel on the local train service to the beautiful town of Lauterbrunnen, situated in one of the most impressive glacial trough valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks.  From here, we’ll ride the Wenger alp Railway, the longest continuous rack railway in the world up to its highest station, the Jungfraujoch, where you’ll experience breathtaking views of Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland’s largest and longest glacier.

There’ll be time for lunch and a stroll through the village of Lauterbrunnen, where the cascading waterfalls frame the town before returning to Interlaken.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours at leisure.

Overnight: Boutique Hotel Bellevue, Interlaken (B)

Today is yours!  After breakfast at the hotel, and with your Swiss Rail Pass in hand, there’s a lot of options – you might like to take the cable car to the top of Schilthorn Mountain, (made famous by James Bond’s 1969 movie ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’), ride the bus from Lauterbrunnen to the Trummelbach subterranean waterfalls, or jump on the Harder Kulm Funicular, a 100-year old inclined railway that will take you up to the Harder Kulm at 1322 metres above sea level in less than 10 minutes for stunning views over the lake. Or you may prefer to stay in town and explore all it has to offer, including a lakeside walk or two.

Overnight: Boutique Hotel Bellevue, Interlaken (B)

After a leisurely start this morning, we’ll take the Kandertal railway route through the Kander Valley and the original Lotschberg Tunnel, stopping for some lunch along the way before a thrilling descent of the Rhone Valley down to Brig, a charming medieval city with an imposing 17th-century castle overlooking the town.   Nestled at the foot of the Simplon Pass, Brig serves as a gateway to both Italy and the stunning Swiss Alps and is renowned for its well-preserved baroque architecture, particularly the magnificent Stockalper Palace, a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

Upon arrival, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel and check in before taking a stroll through the town’s quaint streets, where traditional Swiss charm meets vibrant local culture, and pay a visit to the Stockalper Palace, one of the most important historic palaces in Switzerland.  The first building dates back to 1532 and remained relatively unchanged until the rise of Kaspar Stockalper, a wealthy silk merchant of Brig, who took to developing it with vigour!  Between 1630 and 1678 the Palace expansion under his supervision was the largest private construction in Switzerland at the time.  However, he didn’t get to enjoy much of it – you’ll learn why when you visit!

Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Londres, Brig (B, D)

This morning after breakfast we’ll board a local train and travel along the valley and up the gorge to Zermatt at the base of the awe-inspiring Matterhorn. It may not be Switzerland’s highest mountain, but it certainly is its most iconic. We’ll then board the famous Gornergrat rack railway, opened in 1898 and the first electric rack railway to be built in Switzerland, to the shoulder of Monte Rosa.  At 3135 metres, this railway is the second highest railway in Europe after the Jungfrau.

The spectacular viewing platform here provides you with breathtaking views across 29 of the highest peaks of the Alps and the vast Gorner Glacier below.  Enjoy this time at what feels like the top of the world before returning on one of the regular trains to Zermatt for a leisurely look around, including some time to enjoy lunch before returning to Brig. Guests from past tours over the years have loved this day and some even took the cable car all the way up to the Matterhorn – such is the freedom of having a Swiss Rail Pass in your hand and a flexible itinerary!

Dinner tonight is at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Londres, Brig (B)

This morning after breakfast and checking out, we’ll again hand our luggage over to our courier and take the famous Glacier Express for a run over the Oberalp Pass to Chur. You’ll be glad this is the world’s slowest express train.  You’ll have time to savour every minute of the stunning views of rugged cliffs, crystal-clear mountain lakes and quaint, picture-perfect villages, and the array of remarkable railway engineering feats, while enjoying lunch and expert commentary along the way. This is truly one of the greatest rail journeys of the world!

Upon arrival in Chur, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel and check in.  Chur, our home for the next four nights, is the oldest city in Switzerland, boasts a history spanning 5,000 years and is a captivating blend of historical richness and alpine charm. The city’s Old Town is a maze of narrow, cobbled streets lined with well-preserved medieval buildings, quaint boutiques, and inviting cafes, many of which we’ll explore in our time here.

After time to relax and freshen up we’ll head out for a short walk to our dinner spot at Drei Könige (Three Kings), an authentic local Swiss restaurant dating back to 1793.

Overnight: Hotel Stern, or similar, Chur (B, L, D)

After breakfast this morning we’ll embark on a guided walking tour of this fascinating city, through the old town and into the area of the Bishop’s Palace and the historic 12th-century Cathedral, including a look at Saint Martin’s Church, the oldest church in Chur; and the Town Hall.  We’ll have some free time at the end of the tour to explore a bit more and enjoy some lunch.

In the afternoon we’ll ride the smart Rhätische Bahn down the main street to the lakeside resort village of Arosa, flying over the famous Langweiser Viaduct en route. This is, without doubt, the best short train ride you can take in Switzerland!

We’ll return to Chur later in the afternoon and enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Stern, or similar, Chur (B, D)

A once-in-a-lifetime rail trip is scheduled today to Tirano in Northern Italy and back.  This scenic train ride, one of the most spectacular in the world, takes you through the heart of the Swiss Alps, showcasing breathtaking landscapes and engineering marvels.  We will travel one way on board the world-famous Bernina Express and the other way on local trains stopping along the way. The route ascends through the picturesque Albula Valley, crossing towering viaducts and winding through helical tunnels. As you climb higher, the scenery transforms into a winter wonderland, with snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers, and verdant alpine meadows. The train passes through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bernina Range, reaching the highest point at the Ospizio Bernina station, over 2,253 meters above sea level. The descent into Italy is equally stunning, with views of the Poschiavo Valley and the iconic Brusio spiral viaduct. The journey concludes in the charming town of Tirano, with a wonderful collection of cafés and restaurants. Here we’ll have some free time to have lunch at leisure before experiencing the journey back to Chur on this stunning railway line, this time, taking you from the snow to the palm trees and back again. 

This evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Stern, or similar, Chur (B)

Today is yours to enjoy whatever you’d like to do – a free day!  With your Swiss Rail Pass in your pocket there are a number of options on offer.  You might like to take a short train trip up to the nearby Davos and Klosters keeping an eye out for the Barentritt, a gorgeous waterfall dropping down under the railway between Davos Wiesen and Davos Monstein that you can see for a split second, in between two tunnels. You can stop for lunch (and a bit of a shop) in St. Moritz or visit the Albula museum at Bergun. Intrepid explorers can take a walk down between the viaducts of the famous Albula Circus, where the railway circles over the soaring stone viaducts as it climbs over itself three times. 

Alternatively, you may wish to explore more of the archaeological history of Chur.  Archaeological evidence of settlement goes back as far as the Pfyn culture (3900-3500 BC), making Chur one of the oldest settlements in Switzerland. Remains and objects from the Bronze and Iron Ages have also been found in the eastern sector of the centre of the current city.

Overnight: Hotel Stern, or similar, Chur (B)

Following breakfast, it is time to check-out and head back to Zurich. As you can imagine in Switzerland, there are a number of options you are free to take, including staying with your tour leader and travelling with them.  For those who are happy to explore on their own, one option is to travel back over the Oberalp Pass on the Ratischebahn / MGB to Andermatt and connect with the standard gauge Gotthard line travelling down the very steep rack line to Göschenen, at the twin northern portals of the legendary Gotthard tunnel.  Here you can join a Zurich-bound train.  This train then winds its way down the valley with a series of spirals which then skirts the upper reaches of Lake Lucerne near Fluelen before reaching Zurich.

The afternoon and evening is at leisure, giving you lots of opportunity to continue exploring this wonderful and vibrant city.

Overnight: The Hotel Schweizerhof, Zurich (B)

Today, our last full day together, we’ll take the express train to the lakeside village of Arth Goldau, where we’ll ride Europe’s first mountain railway, the Rigi cogwheel train, which operates over a 7% incline (1 in 14) for those rail enthusiasts among us. We’ll then head over the mountain to Vitznau to take in the stunning views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains, before a short ferry ride to the charming city of Lucerne. Here we’ll pay a visit to the Swiss Transport Museum and experience the history of various forms of transportation used in bygone times, encapsulating planes, trains, boats, and automobiles, after which you are free to spend the rest of the day as you like!

You can either travel back to Zurich with your tour leader and spend more time there or stay on in Lucerne to explore the Old City and the famous Muenster bridge, amongst other great attractions.  There are regular trains to whisk you back to Zurich at whatever time you like.

Tonight, we’ll gather for a celebratory farewell dinner – a great way to wrap up our wonderful Swiss adventure.

Overnight: The Hotel Schweizerhof, Zurich (B, D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning.  Being across the road from the railway station means your onward travel is easy.  For guests returning home or flying onward, Zurich airport is a short distance by rail from our station and the number of regular services means you don’t need a reservation.