From Lucerne, you will relive history aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express and enjoy a unique combination of boat and train journeys on the route between central Switzerland and Ticino, with a Mediterranean climate and lifestyle.
In Tirano, you will board the Bernina Express which crosses the Alps on the highest rail journey in Europe.
Discover this railway line in the heart of Graubünden, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your mythical train journey will continue from St. Moritz, aboard the Glacier Express where "the slowest fast train in the world" will take you over the glistening glaciers towards Zermatt.
The final stage of this trip to Switzerland, you will board a cogwheel train for the Gornergrat - in front of the impressive Matterhorn.
Comfortably installed, you will travel in 1st class and enjoy the scenery from the panoramic cars with large bay windows.
During your stopovers, you will be accommodated in comfortable hotels in the heart of the cities and resorts that you will have the opportunity to discover between two stages.
Your local guide will accompany this small group (limited places) and will be with you throughout this trip.
Trip price
Take advantage of a reduction of -300€ on your stay in Switzerland and start from 3990€ instead of 4290€.
Program
Day 1 - City of departure*/Basel/Lucerne:
Depending on your city of departure, you will find our support teams in a Parisian station to take your train in 1st class towards Switzerland (with a change for a regional train from Basel to Lucerne), or when you arrive in Lucerne.
You will be welcomed by your guide and then you will go to your Monopol 4* hotel (local standards or similar).
You will enjoy a welcome dinner at the restaurant.
* The fixed prices published in the Rates and Conditions leaflet depend on your country and city of departure (France or Abroad).
If you are leaving from another city, we can offer you a routing solution with a supplement (contact us).
The departure and return city must be the same.
Switzerland by panoramic train Shutterstock
Day 2 - Lucerne - Lugano:
You will have breakfast at the hotel and then leave for a walking tour accompanied by your guide to discover the charming city of Lucerne.
Ideally positioned at the foot of the Alps in German-speaking Switzerland, the setting is enchanting: this 30 km long glacial lake is bordered by mountains that seem to fall steeply into the water.
Charming towns and mountain resorts are scattered along Lake Lucerne.
Located at the end of the lake, Lucerne is its jewel.
The city oscillates between adorable alleys with richly decorated old houses and a retro atmosphere of the Belle-Epoque.
The Chapel Bridge, dating from the Middle Ages, with its painted triangular panels, is considered the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe.
Another emblem of the city: the surrounding wall of the Musegg which, except for one tower,
retained its original form.
In the pedestrianized old town, historic houses, some decorated with frescoes, line picturesque squares, such as the Weinmarkt.
Lucerne is a city of squares and churches.
The Jesuit church from the 17th century is the oldest sacred Baroque construction in Switzerland and the two towers of the Hofkirche church are inseparable from the image of the city.
The Dying Lion, carved into the rock in homage to the heroism of the Swiss who died at the Tuileries in 1792, is one of the most famous Swiss monuments.
Your city tour will end at the Lake Lucerne boat landing.
You will board a steamer for Flüelen – (via Weggis, Vitznau, Beckenried, Gersau and Rütli).
You will appreciate the charm of sailing on an inland lake and the surrounding historical sites of Quatre-Cantons.
Lunch will be served on board in the historic 1st class restaurant, while the lake reveals its most beautiful panoramas.
When your cruise is over, your local guide will accompany you to the station to board the Gotthard Panorama Express train.
You will take the historic St. Gotthard line to Göschenen towards Lugano in a panoramic wagon to enjoy the magnificent landscapes that will pass before your eyes.
You will arrive in Lugano at the end of the afternoon.
You will settle in your hotel.
Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city center.
while the lake will reveal its most beautiful panoramas.
When your cruise is over, your local guide will accompany you to the station to board the Gotthard Panorama Express train.
You will take the historic St. Gotthard line to Göschenen towards Lugano in a panoramic wagon to enjoy the magnificent landscapes that will pass before your eyes.
You will arrive in Lugano at the end of the afternoon.
You will settle in your hotel.
Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city center.
while the lake will reveal its most beautiful panoramas.
When your cruise is over, your local guide will accompany you to the station to board the Gotthard Panorama Express train.
You will take the historic St. Gotthard line to Göschenen towards Lugano in a panoramic wagon to enjoy the magnificent landscapes that will pass before your eyes.
You will arrive in Lugano at the end of the afternoon.
You will settle in your hotel.
Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city center.
in Göschenen towards Lugano in a panoramic wagon to enjoy the grandiose landscapes that will pass before your eyes.
You will arrive in Lugano at the end of the afternoon.
You will settle in your hotel.
Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city center.
in Göschenen towards Lugano in a panoramic wagon to enjoy the grandiose landscapes that will pass before your eyes.
You will arrive in Lugano at the end of the afternoon.
You will settle in your hotel.
Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city center.
Switzerland by panoramic train Shutterstock
Day 3 - Lugano - Tirano - St. Moritz:
Your breakfast taken at the hotel, you will travel about 3 hours by Bernina Express bus towards Tirano.
You will cross the Swiss/Italian border, then you will take a very beautiful panoramic road along Lake Como and the Valtellina Valley.
After your lunch, you will embark on a railway adventure aboard a historic train, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Comfortably installed in your panoramic car, you will discover the beauty of the Swiss Alps as part of an extraordinary excursion aboard the emblematic red train of the Bernina Express (duration approximately 2h30).
From Tirano (300m), Italy, you will cross spectacular landscapes from the vineyards of Valtellina to the glaciers of the Bernina Pass (2300m),
before descending to St-Moritz (1800 m), the most elegant and posh of Swiss resorts!
Birthplace of winter tourism (1864) it was the scene of two editions of the Winter Olympics.
Its curative sources, 3000 years old, have also participated in the referencing of this famous holiday resort.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night.
Free dinner in one of the charming restaurants of the city, the opportunity to taste the local dessert: the Engadine walnut pie.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night.
Free dinner in one of the charming restaurants of the city, the opportunity to taste the local dessert: the Engadine walnut pie.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night.
Free dinner in one of the charming restaurants of the city, the opportunity to taste the local dessert: the Engadine walnut pie.
Day 4 - St. Moritz – Zermatt:
You will have breakfast at the hotel and then be transferred to the train station to board the famous Glacier Express.
This route will take you to Zermatt, village of the Matterhorn, in the heart of a landscape of majestic Alpine peaks.
Shortly after your departure from St. Moritz, the carriages will take the Albula section of the Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During almost 8 hours of pure pleasure, the famous "slowest express train in the world" will cover some 291 km of rails, cross 291 bridges, plunge into 91 tunnels and pass the Oberalp pass at its highest point at 2033 m.
Crossing the unique Landwasser Viaduct - UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as crossing the Rhine Gorge, also called the "Grand Canyon of Switzerland"
will also be among the highlights of this trip.
As forests and alpine pastures, torrents, lakes and mountain glaciers follow one another from your panoramic wagon, a lunch will be served to you in your place, and you will enjoy some tourist commentary.
You will arrive in the late afternoon at the charming alpine village of Zermatt, with its typical chalet-style architecture, then you will be driven to your hotel.
Free dinner.
then you will be taken to your hotel.
Free dinner.
then you will be taken to your hotel.
Free dinner.
Switzerland by panoramic train Shutterstock
Day 5 – Zermatt:
After breakfast, you will leave for a fabulous ascent of the Matterhorn on board the highest cogwheel train in Europe, connecting the station of Zermatt (1600 meters) to Gornergrat (3133 meters).
In service since 1898, this line is also the first to be electrified in Switzerland.
Your nostalgic vintage train will meander along the edge of the wooded area, through the mystical forests of larch and stone pines of the Riffel mountain pasture.
It will then cross pastures where Black Nose sheep graze in summer.
A little higher, the alpine flora becomes scarce, gradually giving way to rock.
After this journey of about 30 minutes, you will reach the Gornergrat, and discover a universe of glaciers and peaks that rise to more than 4000 meters and stretch as far as the eye can see!
You will enjoy a typical lunch in a restaurant at altitude.
Return in the afternoon to Zermatt, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some free time.
Farewell dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 6 - Zermatt-Lausanne/Town of return:
You will leave your hotel after breakfast and reach the train station to take your train to Visp then continue to Lausanne (journey of approximately 3 hours).
Continuation to France and your return city* by TGV.
(The departure and return city must be the same).
The trains
The Gotthard Panorama Express
: Go on a unique adventure and go down in history on board the Gotthard Panorama Express panoramic train.
You will enjoy a unique combination of steamboat and train journeys on the route between central Switzerland and Ticino, a region renowned for its Mediterranean climate and lifestyle.
An ideal way to travel, to discover unique panoramas, not accessible by car.
Relax in your armchair and let yourself be guided by the commentary of your guide while enjoying the landscape and tasting gourmet and tasty dishes.
Take in the scenery with the 360° view from your seat.
The Bernina Express
: Discover this UNESCO-listed railway line in the heart of Graubünden that crosses the Alps on Europe's highest rail route.
Comfortably installed in your panoramic car, you will discover the beauty of the Swiss Alps as part of an extraordinary excursion aboard the emblematic red train of the Bernina Express (duration approximately 2h30).
Switzerland by panoramic train Shutterstock
The Glacier Express
: For nearly 8 hours of pure pleasure, the famous "world's slowest express train" will transport you through the splendid alpine panoramas!
The route of the Glacier Express crosses fantastic mountain landscapes, touches majestic peaks, crosses deep gorges, and crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
On board, everything has been thought out for your comfort, right down to the culinary delights prepared on site.
A trip aboard the Glacier Express panoramic train is an exceptional moment, it will remain forever etched in your memory.
Switzerland by Glacier Express panoramic train
The Gornergrat rack railway
: Thanks to its panoramic platform, sunny and accessible all year round, the Gornergrat, at 3089 m above sea level, has been on the list of the most beautiful excursions in Switzerland since 1898.
The Gornergrat Bahn was the first rack railway in the world.
Today, this modern and sustainable train moves thanks to a feedback mechanism that recovers energy, guaranteeing sober journeys.
This vintage train takes you through a succession of bridges, tunnels and covered galleries passing through forests of larch and pines, alpine pastures, gorges and mountain lakes.
On board, you can enjoy the restaurant with a beautiful view of Monte Rosa and taste tasty Swiss cheese specialties as well as the famous rösti.
Switzerland by panoramic train Gornergrat bahn
The price includes
Round-trip TGV rail transport in 1st class from Paris to Basel and continuation to Lucerne with change of train
Station-hotel transfers and vice versa on day 1 and 6
Luggage transfer from Lucerne to Lugano and from Lugano to St. Moritz
All 1st class train/boat tickets (except Gornergrat without class distinctions)
The trip on the Glacier Express (St. Moritz - Zermatt)
Accommodation with breakfast 5 nights in a standard double room, in 4* hotels (local standards or similar) - except in Lugano 3* hotel (local standards or similar)
Meals as mentioned in the program
The visits indicated in the program with local French-speaking guide Voyages d'exception
