Day 1

Travel by Eurostar to Paris, then continue by TGV Lyria to Lausanne. Stay at, for example, Hotel Agora Swiss Night*** or Hotel Continental***, both close to the station.

Day 2

Travel along the shores of Lake Geneva to Montreux, where you board the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken. Continue from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen. Stay at, for example, Hotel Silberhorn***, with its terrace overlooking the Staubbach Falls. Depending on availability, you may also stay in nearby Mürren, Grindelwald or Wengen.

In the afternoon, there is time for an optional excursion, for example to Mürren, with magnificent views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Day 3

An early start today (between 07:00 and 07:30). Travel on the Luzern–Interlaken Express, part of the GoldenPass Line, past crystal-clear mountain lakes and over the Brünig Pass to Lucerne. The train uses rack-and-pinion technology to climb the pass. At Lucerne station, board the boat across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen and enjoy the mountain scenery from the deck or onboard restaurant.

Continue via the historic Gotthard route to Lugano. During the operating season you travel on the Gotthard Panorama Express; outside this period, you travel on the Tren Gottardo. Stay at, for example, Hotel Federale***.

Day 4

Travel by PostBus from Lugano along Lake Lugano and Lake Como to the Italian town of Tirano. Outside the operating period of the Bernina Express Bus, or if it is fully booked, you travel by train via Monza instead.

In Tirano, board the Bernina Express, one of Switzerland's most spectacular panoramic railways, crossing the Bernina Pass (2,328 m). Stay in Bergün, an authentic Graubünden mountain village, at, for example, Hotel Weisses Kreuz*** or Hotel Ladina***, both close to the station.

From early April until early May, most facilities in Bergün are closed. During this period, you will stay in Chur instead.

Day 5

Travel on the Glacier Express, the world's slowest express train, crossing 291 bridges, passing through 91 tunnels and over the 2,033-metre Oberalp Pass to Zermatt. Stay at, for example, Hotel Alpenblick*** or Hotel Adonis***.

Day 6

Travel via Brig and the scenic Lötschberg route to Basel. Continue by TGV Lyria and Eurostar back to London, or your preferred railway station in Great Britain.
 

9-day Rail Tour

Difference from the 6-day rail tour:

• 1 extra night in Lauterbrunnen (for example, for an excursion to the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn; see "Extensions")
• 1 extra night in Bergün
• 1 extra night in Zermatt (for example, for an excursion to the Gornergrat; see "Extensions")

10-day Rail Tour (with stopover)

Difference from the 6-day rail tour:

• 1 overnight stop on either the outward or return journey
• 1 extra night in Lauterbrunnen (for example, for an excursion to the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn; see "Extensions")
• 1 extra night in Bergün
• 1 extra night in Zermatt (for example, for an excursion to the Gornergrat; see "Extensions")