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Grand Train Tour of Switzerland
Thumbnails
Bernina Express
Chillon Castle - Montreux
Glacier Express
Zermatt
St Moritz
Lake Lugano
Switzerland

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland (Tour code: 11611)

Starts and Ends
Interlaken to
Lucerne
Travel Periods
01 May 24 - 07 Oct 24
Experience
Travel Style
Rail Packages
Embark on a grand rail journey combining the most scenic Swiss routes: Golden Pass, Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama.

Highlights

Board the Bernina Express, travel over circular viaducts and pass through winding tunnels before reaching Tirano in Italy where you change to the Bernina Express bus which will take you onwards to Ticino.

Take the world‐famous Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Enjoy some of the spectacular scenery Switzerland has to offer. Along the deep Rhone valley, the Glacier Express travels through an incredibly fascinating part of the Alps.

An extraordinary journey with the GoldenPass Line through the wild and romantic Pays d'Enhaut through scenic villages along the shore of Lake Geneva.

One of 2x Mountain Excursions with our Freedom of Choice at either Gornergrat, one of the most famous and truly spectacular experiences OR visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, one of the highest vantage point in Europe.

The Gotthard Panorama Express travels from the Mediterranean south to the traditional heart of Switzerland. From Flüelen you will take a boat ride over beautiful Lake Lucerne.

Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The holiday destination, which is presided over by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is the starting point for numerous activities.

The journey to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 meters ‐ Europe’s highest altitude railway station ‐ is a highlight of every visit to Switzerland. The Jungfrau Railways is an engineering masterpiece. The last section has been built inside the mountain itself, and the view through the panorama windows at the "Eigerwand" and "Eismeer" stations in the middle of the North Wall are a thrilling experience.

Montreux, ideally nestled between the lake and the alps, is a land of contrasts. It’s a kind of miniature Switzerland where visitors and locals have been living together for three centuries.

Stay in the famous holiday resort of St. Moritz, in the heart of the Engadine Valley on the southern side of the Alps.

14 days
From
AUD 6,811
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

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Overview

Travel through Switzerland’s spectacular scenery during this exciting, 14-day independent rail adventure. This rail journey will take you to discover Switzerland’s most celebrated tourist destinations from Interlaken to Lucerne.

Stroll down Interlaken, the gateway to the renowned Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station. You are literally on top of Europe! From Interlaken, board the Golden Pass train. Enjoy a scenic rail ride until you reach Montreux. Montreux is a beautiful town that sits on the shores of Lake Geneva. From Montreux, take a train to Zermatt, a renowned resort town located below the majestic Matterhorn.

From Zermatt, board the fabled Glacier Express, the world’s slowest express train. This scenic route will take you to the glitzy resort town of St. Moritz. From St. Moritz, board the Bernina Express which will take you to the sunny side of Switzerland, the Tirano region. From Lugano, travel to Lucerne aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express.

Peace of mind booking plan
  1. ENTIRE Cooling-Off Period
  2. ENTIRE AUD Prices
  3. ENTIRE Change of Mind
  4. ENTIRE Industry Accredited
  5. ENTIRE On Ground Support
  6. ENTIRE Australian Owned

Inclusions

3 nights in Interlaken in a 3* Hotel
2 nights in Montreux in a 3* Hotel
2 nights in Zermatt in a 3* Hotel
2 nights in St. Moritz in a 3* Hotel
2 nights in Lugano in a 3* Hotel
2 nights in Lucerne in a 3* Hotel
14 Day Swiss Travel Pass in 2nd class
Upgrade to 1st Class on the Gotthard Panorama Express
GoldenPass Line from Zweisimmen to Montreux
Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz
Bernina Express train from St. Moritz to Tirano
Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano
Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Lucerne in 1st Class
Seat reservation on the Glacier Express, Golden PassExpress, Bernina Express train and bus, Gotthard Panorama Express
Daily Breakfast
Jungfraujoch self-guided Mountain Excursion
Ballenberg Open Air Museum self-guided visit
Wine tasting self-guided experience in the Lavaux
50% discount on additional local rail tickets
50% discount on some mountain excursions
Swiss Coupon Pass
Guest Cards in Interlaken, Montreux, St.Moritz, Lugano, and Lucerne
Freedom of Choice Days
Freedom of Choice

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day, as follows:

  • One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 5
  • One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 7
  • One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 13

Expand the itinerary below for more details.

Please note, if more than one room is selected during the booking process, our team will contact you afterwards to discuss options.

Package Upgrades

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland - 4 Star from AUD8,322 per person, twin share.

Day 1 Interlaken

Make your own way to Interlaken and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure in this beautiful town.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 3-Star Hotel.

Interlaken
Interlaken | Credit Ivo Scholz

Day 2 Jungfraujoch

Breakfast at the hotel to start your day.

The journey to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 meters ‐ Europe’s highest altitude railway station ‐ is a highlight of every visit to Switzerland. The Jungfrau Railway is an engineering masterpiece. The last section has been built inside the mountain itself, and the view through the panorama windows at the "Eigerwand" and "Eismeer" stations in the middle of the North Wall are a thrilling experience. The platform of the observatory is located right above the Aletsch Glacier. The "Alpine Sensation" a subway inside the rock connects the Ice Paradise with the Sphinx Hall.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Jungfraujoch
Famous Jungfraujoch Excursion

Day 3 Interlaken

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover Swiss heritage in a day! Since the 1970s traditional farmhouses, stables, bakehouses and barns, under threat from demolition, have been dismantled piece by piece and rebuilt in the Ballenberg Open Air Museum.

This living history museum has expanded to include approximately 100 residential and agricultural buildings from all over Switzerland. The museum really comes to life thanks to the authentic cultivation of useful plants, over 250 domestic farm animals and the demonstrations by craftsmen and farmers who work with traditional tools. Try your hand at rural crafts, and discover Swiss heritage and culture.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Interlaken
Ballenberg Open Air Museum

Day 4 Goldenpass Panorama Montreux

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your journey continues with the GoldenPass Line through the wild and romantic Pays d'Enhaut and through scenic villages along the shore of Lake Geneva.

Overnight stay in Montreux in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Goldenpass Panorama → Montreux
Pays d'Enhaut | Credit: Marcus Gyger

Day 5 Montreux and Surrounding Area

Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included. 

In the late afternoon a Swiss wine experience is included at Vinorama, located in the UNESCO world heritage protected Lavaux wine growing region; 3 wine tastings included.

Overnight stay in Montreux in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast


Freedom of Choice Options

  • Chillon Castle self-guided visit:

    One of the best preserved castles in Europe, found outside Montreux on an island located on Lake Geneva. Castle Chillon is amongst the most visited medieval castles in Switzerland and Europe. Successively occupied by the house of Savoy then by the Bernese from 1536 until 1798, it now belongs to the State of Vaud and is classified as a Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance. 

OR

  • Olympic Museum self-guided visit:

    Experience the home of the Olympics in Lausanne at the Olympic Museum, which houses permanent and temporary exhibits relating to sport and the Olympic movement. With more than 10,000 artifacts, the museum is the largest archive of Olympic Games in the world and one of Lausanne's prime tourist site draws attracting more than 250,000 visitors each year.

Montreux and Surrounding Area
Chillon Castle, Lake Geneva

Day 6 Montreux Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Travel from Montreux to Zermatt. Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn and offers plenty of things to explore. Enjoy a day at leisure here.

Overnight stay in Zermatt in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Montreux → Zermatt
Zermatt: Credit: Lorenzo Riva

Day 7 Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included..

Overnight in Zermatt in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast


Freedom of Choice Options

  • Gornergrat self-guided excursion:

    Gornergrat, one of the most famous and truly spectacular experiences combining a cogwheel train ride from Zermatt to an altitude of 3089m. An iconic view of the Matterhorn awaits, along with 29 other 4,000m peaks. There are several stops on the way which are starting points for various hiking and walking trails.

OR

  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise self-guided excursion:

    Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. One of the highest vantage point in Europe at 3,883m ‐ right next to the Matterhorn. A series of gondolas and cable cars are taken to the summit where breath‐taking views await. The Glacier Palace is a highlight where a mystical world of ice and snow showcase impressive sculptures made of ice.

Zermatt
Gornergrat Railway, Matterhorn

Day 8 Glacier Express St. Moritz

Breakfast at the hotel.

Take the world‐famous Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Enjoy some of the spectacular scenery Switzerland has to offer. Along the deep Rhone valley, the Glacier Express travels through an incredibly fascinating part of the Alps.

Overnight stay in St. Moritz in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Glacier Express → St. Moritz
Glacier Express

Day 9 St. Moritz

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.

The world famous holiday resort of St. Moritz lies in the heart of the Engadine Valley on the southern side of the Alps and very close to the Italian border. The stunning lake side setting makes this one of the best holiday destinations in Switzerland.

Use the Engadine Guest Card for unlimited travel on a number of cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts, as well as public transport. A recommendation is to take the funicular to Muottas Muragl. Other options include Corvatsch and Diavolezza.

Overnight stay in St. Moritz in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
St. Moritz
St Moritz | Credit: Jan Geerk

Day 10 Bernina Express Lugano

Breakfast at the hotel.

Board the Bernina Express, travel over circular viaducts and pass through winding tunnels before reaching Tirano in Italy.

Change to the Bernina Express bus which will take you onwards to Ticino.

Lugano, the largest town in Ticino, is a town with a Mediterranean flair, with parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. Set on the lakeside Lugano is surrounded by numerous mountains offering splendid viewpoints, and boasts a traffic‐free historic town centre with exclusive museums and a packed calendar of events.

Overnight stay in Lugano in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Bernina Express → Lugano
Bernina Express

Day 11 Lugano

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.

The Ticino Ticket provides access to unlimited travel throughout the Ticino transport network.
Additional discounts on funicular railway, cable car and boats are also possible.

A suggestion is to visit the landmark of Lugano, Monte San Salvatore, by funicular railway for magnificent 360° panoramic views over Lugano and the lake. A popular walk leads down through the beautifully situated Carona to Lake Lugano at Morcote. Taking a boat trip back to Lugano is a splendid way to round off the day.

Overnight stay in Lugano in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Lugano
Panoramic views over Lugano

Day 12 Gotthard Panorama Express Lucerne

Breakfast at the hotel.

The Gotthard Panorama Express travels from the Mediterranean south to the traditional heart of Switzerland. From Flüelen you will have a boat ride over Lake Lucerne.

A few highlights of note in Lucerne include the 14th century covered wooden footbridge spanning the river Reuss and the Lion Monument which is a giant lion carved out of the wall of sandstone rock.

Overnight stay in Lucerne in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Gotthard Panorama Express → Lucerne
Gotthard Panorama Express

Day 13 Lucerne

Breakfast at the hotel and choose one of our Freedom of Choice activities included.

Overnight stay in Lucerne in a 3-Star Hotel.

Breakfast


Freedom of Choice Options

  • Mt Pilatus self-guided excursion:

    "Dragon Mountain" Mt Pilatus; an exceptional experience. The golden round trip starts with a relaxing cruise to Alpnachstad, from where the world's steepest cogwheel railway ascends to Pilatus Kulm 2,123m. Descend on the otherside by cable car and gondola to Kriens and return to Lucerne.

OR

  • Mt Rigi self-guided excursion:

    Mount Rigi, known as the "Queen of the Mountains" is one of the most popular alpine excursions in Switzerland. The summit offers breath‐taking 360‐degree views over 13 lakes. A short cruise on Lake Lucerne will connect at Vitznau where the cogwheel train climbs to the summit. Return via cogwheel on the other side to Arth Goldau onwards to Lucerne.

Lucerne
Cogwheel railway, Mount Rigi

Day 14 Lucerne

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your tour finishes in Lucerne. Own arrangements to your ending point in Switzerland.

Breakfast

Optional Extras

Upgrade to 1st Class Rail

Upgrade to 1st Class Rail throughout this itinerary.

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Luggage Transport Service

Luggage Transport: 
Drop off luggage at hotel reception by 8:00am (Zermatt by 7:00am), collect at next hotel from 6:00pm (St.Moritz/ Zermatt from 7:00pm). Transport only between hotels. The service is available on the original direction and locations as per package itinerary.

Please note that clients are required to transport their luggage to the initial hotel in Interlaken and carry it with them from the last hotel in Lucerne. This pricing is applicable for a single piece of luggage, with a maximum weight restriction of 25kg per piece. If you are in need of any additional luggage, kindly contact our Sales team for further assistance.

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Additional information

Official language
French, Swiss - German, Italian, Romansh
Local currency
SWISS FRANC
  • We work with a selection of hotels in each location. All bookings are subject to availability, which means our team will confirm your specific hotels upon confirmation and payment of deposit. 
  • Gotthard Panorama Express doe not operate on Mondays. Tour departures are Friday-Wednesdays only.
  • Swiss Coupon Pass provides 2for1 discounts. It is not included in the package for Single travellers.
  • Package price is based on the journey starting in Zurich and ending in Zurich. Other starting and end points are possible but may be subject to a surcharge. This is a self-guided/independent package. 
  • Swiss Travel Pass in 2nd class covers unlimited travel by train, bus and boat from days 1- 14

Excluded

  • International airfares and taxes
  • Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
  • Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
  • Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
  • Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
  • Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
  • Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

  • They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
  • Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
  • We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
  • Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
  • They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
  • A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

  • We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
  • You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

  • Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
  • The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

  • Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
  • A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
  • The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

  • To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
  • For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
  • For further details please visit our Payments page.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

  • Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
  • TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
  • Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

  • Travel on a specific airline of their choice
  • Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
  • Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
  • Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
  • Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

  • On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
  • You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
  • To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
  • An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

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