Switzerland by Rail
Featuring the Glacier Express
Here's a different way to discover Switzerland - by rail. Experience the spectacular scenery from the carriages of the Swiss train network. We begin in Geneva and take our first train ride through breathtaking mountain pastures and quaint villages as we make our way to Zermatt at the base of the legendary Matterhorn. We'll also ride the world-famous Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Lucerne, passing over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels...it truly is a marvel of engineering. Stops in lovely Lucerne and cosmopolitan Zurich also provide a real sense of this country. This is such a wonderful tour.
Switzerland by Rail
June 19 - June 29, 2019Highlights
- Ride the world-famous Glacier Express
- Marvel at breathtaking alpine scenery
- Enjoy walking tours in lovely Swiss cities
- View the Matterhorn from a cog-wheel train
- Time to explore personal interests
- Suggestions for additional things to see
- Small group no larger than 18
- And More... See itinerary for details
Itinerary
Wednesday, 19 June 2019: Arrive Geneva; Welcome Dinner (D)
Welcome to Geneva, Switzerland! Surrounded by the Alps, this city has dramatic views of Mont Blanc. Schedule your arrival into Geneva no later than 3:00pm. Grouped transfers from the airport to the hotel are provided based on flight arrival times. The tour begins at 6:00pm in the lobby of our hotel, where we'll make introductions and then depart for our welcome dinner. Overnight Geneva - 2 nights
Thursday, 20 June 2019: Walking Tour; Free Time (B)
This morning, we'll depart on a walking tour of the city. Geneva’s lakefront is one of its greatest assets. The familiar Jet d’eau spouts a column of lake water 450 feet in the air, and on a clear day Mont Blanc is visible. The Jardin Anglais (English Garden) is famous for its flower clock, a reflection of Geneva’s preoccupation with watchmaking. Geneva also has a beautiful Old Town. Art lovers can meander at leisure through scores of stunning art galleries, and antique hunters will be overwhelmed by the authentic treasures found in shops.
Friday, 21 June 2019: Travel to Zermatt (B,D)
After breakfast, we'll board the train to Zermatt, an idyllic Swiss village in the Matter Valley nestled at the base of perhaps the best-known Alp, the Matterhorn. Situated at altitude of 5,300 feet above sea level, Zermatt boasts stunning mountain scenery. After checking into our hotel, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy exploring this charming, car-free enclave. Overnight Zermatt - 2 nights
Saturday, 22 June 2019: Cogwheel Train to Gornergrat to see the Matterhorn (B)
Virtually every region has its “must-do” and in the Alps, this is the Gornergrat cogwheel train. This train is a technical masterpiece of 19th century engineering, having made its maiden trip in 1898. From this vantage point, one of the most breathtaking mountain panoramas in the world opens up.
Sunday, 23 June 2019: Glacier Express Train to St Moritz (B)
Today we experience the Swiss Alps in all their magnificence as we board the world-famous Glacier Express, a fascinating 8-hour rail journey through untouched mountain landscapes, deep gorges, delightful valleys, 91 tunnels and across 291 impressive bridges. From our comfortable seats in the panorama car, we'll see vistas of forests, pastures, mountain streams and valleys. Our disembarkation point is St. Moritz, the lovely alpine resort that was the birthplace of winter tourism. Overnight St Moritz - 2 nights
Monday, 24 June 2019: Free Time in St Moritz; Group Dinner (B,D)
The world-renowned resort of St Moritz is situated on the southern flank of the Swiss Alps and is blessed with what is called a "champagne climate" -- the sun shines 322 days a year, almost guaranteeing great weather. Today is yours to enjoy this cosmopolitan resort. Your WTT Tour Leader will have suggestions for things to do and see and will help pair travelers with similar interests.
Tuesday, 25 June 2019: Train to Lucerne; Walking Tour; Dinner & Folklore Show (B,D)
Known for its preserved medieval architecture, Lucerne sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. After arriving by train, we'll take a leisurely guided walking tour through the maze of small streets, bridges, promenades and plazas that are dominated by countless historical towers, fountains and frescoed buildings. Above the old town is the original city wall. The unique landmark in Lucerne is the Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe originally built in 1333. We will end the day with a dinner and folklore show. Overnight Lucerne - 3 nights
Wednesday, 26 June 2019: Excursion to Mt Pilatus (B)
After leisurely cruising crystal-clear Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, we'll ascend the steepest cog railway in the world to 7,000-foot Pilatus Kulm to admire the panorama over the Swiss Alps and lovely Lucerne. This view is simply gorgeous. We will then descend by aerial cable car to Fraenkmuentegg, and change to panoramic cable cars that sweep over pine forests and mountain meadows to the village of Kriens.
Thursday, 27 June 2019: Free Day in Lucerne (B)
This is truly a wonderful day. Today is entirely free to explore Lucerne at your own pace. Your WTT Tour Leader will have plenty of suggestions of things to see and do.
Friday, 28 June 2019: Travel to Zurich; Walking Tour; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
Today we take a short train ride to Zurich. Upon arrival we transfer to the hotel and then enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. We'll meander through the business and shopping center as well as the Old Town. We'll stop at Lindenhof, an elevated square built on Roman ruins that offers magnificent views of Old Town, and continue to Spiegelgasse and Neumarkt, just outside the old city wall to see the Grossmünster, with its distinctive twin towers. We'll also see St. Peters with the largest church clock face in Europe, and a Baroque Town Hall that dates to 1694. This evening we'll gather for our Farewell Dinner. Overnight Zurich - 1 night
Saturday, 29 June 2019: Depart Zurich (B)
Return home at your convenience, remembering that you will need to depart the hotel 3 hours prior to your flight. Your Tour Leader will assist with organizing ride-sharing to the airport based on flight departure times.
Switzerland by Rail
June 19 - June 29, 2019Pricing
Room Share
$4,973.00Single Room
$6,197.00Non-Members
ADD $100.00Status of this Tour
Trip Full and Closed
Tour Pricing Includes
- All meals and activities expressly listed in the itinerary, PLUS...
- All tipping of local guides
- WTT Tour Leader to enhance the individual & group experience
- Airport arrival transfer
- Luggage transport service between hotels
- Arranged room sharing with another solo traveler
- Travel Dollar credits (a benefit of WTT membership) toward future travel with WTT
Not Included In The Price
- Airfare or other transportation to and from the tour
- Departure airport transfers
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Beverages other than coffee, tea & still water unless otherwise noted
- Any personal expenses or expenditures
- Any pre- or post- tour arrangements
- Visa and/or passport fees
- Any gratuities for the WTT tour leader
- Travel Insurance
Payment Dates -and- Cancellation Terms for This Tour
At Space Reservation: Initial Deposit is due.
Friday, 21 Dec 2018: Initial deposit cannot be parked and is forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Monday, 11 Mar 2019: Payment in full. 50% cancellation penalty after this date.
Saturday, 20 Apr 2019: 100% forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Please review our travel and cancellation policies before making your reservation. You will be asked to confirm you have read and understood WTT's travel polices before we will accept your reservation.
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect you in the event you need to cancel your tour. WTT will mail you information from 2 reliable travel insurance providers at the time we confirm your reservation.
You can review the insurance information from TravelGuard to get an idea of rates.
Switzerland by Rail
June 19 - June 29, 2019Flights, Transfers & Lodging
Arrival & Departure Information
Travelers will make their own air arrangements as follows: When searching for flights for this trip, be sure to search "Multi-city" (on Kayak) or "Multiple Destinations" (on Expedia). For comparison, you may also want to search for one-way fares.
Arrival Airport: GVA - Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Airport)
Arrival Date: Wednesday, June 19th. Arrive no later than 3:00 pm.
Arrival Transfer: Group transfers based on arrival times provided. Details provided in Final Travel Instructions.
Departure Airport: ZRH - Zurich, Switzerland (Zurich In't Airport)
Departure Date: Saturday, June 29th. At your convenience.
Departure Transfer: Not included. The WTT Tour Leader will assist in organizing ride-sharing based on flight departure times.
Lodging / Hotels
Geneva: Hotel Kipling
Zermatt: Hotel Monte Rosa
St Moritz: Hotel Hauser
Lucerne: Hotel Wilden Mann
Zurich: Hotel Alexander
In the unlikely event WTT is unable to provide the hotel accommodation(s) listed, for whatever reason, WTT will substitute similar quality accommodation(s) at no additional cost to the traveler.
Want to Arrive a Day Early?
Worried about possible flight delays? Consider arriving one day before the official tour state date. Many of our travelers choose this optional service. Your pre-tour package includes:
- The room (standard check-in times apply)
- Breakfast the following morning
- Optional activity suggestions prior to tour
$373.00 Roomshare $589.00 Single
The pre-tour package is an optional service. Rates are established at time of tour posting. Early check-in is solely at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be arranged in advance. Traveler is responsible for airport transfer to hotel.
Additional Reminders About This Tour
Travelers are required to have a valid passport. Most countries require your passport to be valid a minimum of six months after your return home date, and have at least two consecutive blank pages.
Switzerland by Rail
June 19 - June 29, 2019Destination Information
What do others say about this tour and traveling with WTT?
How Does Room Sharing Work?
- If you wish to share with another solo traveler, select this option on the Reservation Form and your tour price will automatically be based on the room share price.
- Or, you may select a single room, when available, on the Reservation Form and your tour price will be automatically based on the single room price.
- These choices are clearly stated on the Reservation Form.
- All shared rooms have 2 beds
- All shared rooms are non-smoking
- No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
- Most solo travelers elect to share a room
- See "Frequently Asked Questions" TAB for more details
How Active is this Tour?
In addition to the minimum requirements, the specific activities on this tour require you to quickly board and disembark trains and are rated as follows:
- 70% Easy (walking involved)
- 30% Moderate
Read more about Activity Levels
What meals are included and how are dietary restrictions accommodated?
- Breakfast daily
- 5 Dinners
Selections for the included lunches and dinners will highlight the local cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dietary requests can be accommodated on this tour with limited selections.
What clothing and items should I pack for this trip?
In general this time of year, the average temperature during the day ranges from the low 50s to mid-70s with evening temperatures in the low 30s to 50s depending upon the area. Temperatures will be cooler in the mountain areas.
For This Trip You May Want—
- Things to do to pass time while aboard the train (WiFi service may not be available)
- Warm jacket
- Hat, gloves and scarf for higher elevations.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Inexpensive rain poncho, just in case!
- Swimsuit, some hotels have pools and/or hot tubs.
- One smart-casual outfit if you'd like to dress up a bit for dinners.
- Bring what you need to get a good night's sleep, such as ear plugs, white noise generator, sleeping pills, etc. Unfamiliar noises of all types can disrupt your rest.
Good Packing Habits—
- Pack a limited amount of comfortable, casual clothing that layer and coordinate. Your fellow travelers will not mind or even notice – seeing you in the same clothing.
- Bring only two pairs of everyday shoes: one pair of well-broken-in walking shoes, and a second pair that could do double-duty as a walking shoe or a slightly dressy shoe.
- Pare down your beauty regimen to the bare minimum and always pack travel-sized toiletries.
- Pack medication in your carry-on and pack only as much as needed for the duration of your tour plus a few extra days as a precaution.
What are the luggage restrictions for this tour?
On every WTT tour, our policies regarding luggage restrictions are driven by the physical space limitations of the vehicles we use, the requirement that all travelers be able to manage their own belongings without assistance and the restrictions imposed by other forms of transportation.
- You may bring one suitcase plus 1 carry-on. For ease of handling, we recommend your bag be no larger than 26 inches high as measured from the FLOOR to the top of the retracted handle.
- To enjoy travel by train in Switzerland we will use a luggage transfer service to transport luggage from hotel to hotel. Your Tour Leader will provide you with further guidance.
- You will need to be able to move quickly with your carry-on bag and without assistance to board and exit the trains. Swiss trains run on time and do not wait long in stations, so ensure that you can easily manage your carry-on with one hand, leaving your other hand free to hold onto a railing, hold your train ticket, etc.
- You are responsible for managing your own luggage. We expect you to take your belongings from the lobby to your room and to bring it back to the lobby for the Luggage Transport Service on days we change hotels. We do not provide luggage pulls; they are not safe and are inconvenient.
- If you carry a purse, it should be able to be worn across your body, hands-free.
What are the health recommendations for this tour?
The standards for health and hygiene in Switzerland are excellent. You should practice the same hygiene rules as here in the US.
What are the phone and internet recommendations for this tour?
Only you can determine your need to stay in contact while traveling. Internet access is available in most hotels, sometimes for a fee.
- If you are bringing a cell phone, contact your cell phone service provider before departing about adding international calling and/or texting features. Texting internationally is often less expensive than placing a cell phone call.
- Learn how to make an international call BEFORE you leave. Consult your cell provider and check out the web site www.HowtoCallAbroad.com.
What are the electricity requirements for this tour?
You may need to purchase a universal adapter which supports a wide variety of sockets/plugs. You should also check your electronic devices for voltage compatibility. Many countries operate on 220V or 230V, which differs from most of North America. Most of today's electronics (laptops, phone chargers etc.) are multi-voltage and will work worldwide automatically, without a transformer. Consult your owner's manual for further details.
How much money should I bring on this tour?
Only you can determine the optimum amount of cash to take on tour. When budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses, there are several aspects to consider: the number of meals you are responsible for, the amount of money you like to have on-hand for snacks and drinks, and your individual shopping interests and habits.
- Notify your credit card issuer that you will be traveling and provide dates of travel.
- Switzerland's official currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). The Euro and US Dollar are often accepted but the rate of exchange will vary considerably depending on the establishment.
- Debit cards can be useful for cash advances. ATMs are typically the best way of obtaining cash as they are found in most airports and big cities and tourist areas. However, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work overseas. Some foreign countries limit the amount that can be withdrawn daily. You must know your PIN number for your debit card to use ATMs. Always use caution when withdrawing money.
- Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money.
- Exchange $100+ into local local currency so you have cash upon arrival. Be sure to keep smaller denominations of cash on hand for taxis, small purchases, etc.
What are the tipping guidelines for this tour?
All tips to local guides during your tour have already been paid on your behalf.
- You are responsible for tipping wait-staff, porters, or other individuals who provide a service to you at the hotel, or other public locations.
- There is no obligation to tip in restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, etc. Swiss Federal law requires all service charges be included in published prices and waitstaff do not depend on tips for their livelihood. However, many in Switzerland do add a small tip as a token of appreciation for good service.
- You may want to tip your WTT Tour Leader for an outstanding job. The amount is entirely a personal preference. If you'd like a guideline, consider $8-$10 per day.
What other Additional Information do I need to know?
Travelers are required to have a valid passport. Most countries require your passport to be valid a minimum of six months after your return home date, and have at least two consecutive blank pages.
Can I transfer my deposit to another tour?
To get off this tour and register for another tour, you must follow these steps - in the order shown:
2) WAIT before submitting your new reservation! You must receive the Cancellation Confirmation email before submitting your new reservation. This can take up to 2 business days. The Cancellation Confirmation email will list the amount of parked credits from this tour that are now available to use on a new reservation.
3) COMPLETE the new Reservation Form and USE the parked credits towards your deposit on the new tour.
Note: If you used Parked Credits to pay the deposit on this tour, these credits cannot be used a second time and are not eligible to be transferred.
What happens if I need to cancel this tour?

Our Promise to You
It doesn’t matter which tour you choose.
You’ll find your people and make memories that last a lifetime.

