15 Day | The Swiss Experience Holiday

Experience scenic rail journeys through beautiful landscapes, staying in inspirational towns

Arosa Line
Locarno promenade
Urdenbahn

This is one of our 'Scenic Touring' holidays, offering you the chance to experience the full diversity of the Swiss landscape and enjoy a good number of scenic rail journeys. You'll stay in a variety of lakes and mountains resorts across the country. There are plenty of day trips to enjoy - free or heavily discounted with your Swiss Travel Pass - or you could simply relax amidst the beautiful scenery. The holiday can be adapted in various ways to suit you, including upgrading your hotel room or adding more resorts and rail journeys.

Please call 0800 619 1200 for help with planning or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

 

"Outstanding scenic rail journeys through Switzerland's diverse lakes and mountains landscapes. For that true Swiss experience, you will be able to stay in 5 different resorts, each with its own unique beauty"

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Contact us to book your holiday

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com


Day 1 - Arrive and explore Locarno

Fly from the UK to Zurich in under 2 hours with connecting rail travel to Locarno. Welcome to your hotel and enjoy your first views of Locarno and Lake Maggiore.

Day 2 - Enjoy the Ticino region and the Centovalli Line

Locarno is an ideal place to enjoy the dolce vita with the famous Piazza Grande boutique shops and an inviting Mediterranean-style café culture. Your free Ticino Card gives you free travel on local transport including to the beautiful lakeside resort of Ascona and Bellinzona and its famous castles. Alternatively, with your Swiss Travel Pass enjoy free return travel on the stunning Centovalli Line to Domodossola in Italy.

Day 3 - Travel 1st class on the Gotthard Panorama Express

Travel to Bellinzona to join the 1st class panoramic carriages of the Gotthard Panorama Express, which takes you slowly via the old Gotthard tunnel on looping mountain tracks, with some fabulous scenery to enjoy. On arrival in Flüelen you join the lake steamer on the 1st class upper deck, for a scenic cruise along the whole length of the lake to historic Lucerne.

Day 4-6 - Lakeside Lucerne and the mountains of Central Switzerland

With your Swiss Travel Pass, Lucerne is the perfect spot from which to enjoy free travel around the dramatic scenery of Central Switzerland. In addition to lake cruises, there’s the famous old cog railway to the stunning peak of Mount Rigi. The Stanserhorn open top deck cable car and the Stoos funicular are also included with your Swiss Travel Pass. Pilatus and other mountain railways and cable cars are available at a 50% reduction.

Day 7 - Luzern-Interlaken Express to Interlaken

This striking Luzern-Interlaken Express 2 hour journey is a joy as you travel along a very scenic route including the fabulous Brünig Pass, the resort of Meiringen and a final run alongside Lake Brienz and into Interlaken.

Day 8-9 - Explore the glorious Bernese Oberland

With your Swiss Travel Pass you can enjoy free travel on cruises around the lakes of Thun and Brienz and travel into the stunning Jungfrau mountains at Wengen, Mürren or Grindelwald. You may like to consider a trip on the mountain railways or cable cars with a 50% discount to Schynige Platte, Schilthorn or Harder Kulm -Interlaken’s own special mountain.

Day 10 - Lötschberg Regio Express to Brig

A lovely journey today: take a scenic cruise on the lake to the town of Thun, where you change to rail and the Lötschberg Line. This historic route loops through the mountains via Kandersteg and offers fantastic views over the countryside en route to Brig.

Day 11 - A day in Brig, with a great choice of trips

With your Swiss Travel Pass you can take your pick of stunning visits, including free travel to the Matterhorn village of Zermatt - maybe even plan a trip on the Gornergrat railway (50% reduction). Alternatively, you can head for the amazing Aletsch Glacier where we recommend buying a local pass for walks with truly awesome views. You will be spoilt for choice!

Day 12 - Glacier Express to Chur including lunch

Sit back and relax in your reserved seat on this leisurely 4 hour Glacier Express experience to Chur. You will be served lunch while travelling through the picturesque Goms Valley en route to the highest point of the journey - the Oberalp Pass. Then it’s a spectacular finale to your journey travelling alongside the Rhine and through the Grand Canyon of Switzerland to Chur.

Day 13-14 - Chur and the wonderful Rhaetian Railway

From Chur, we have included more famous journeys. With your Swiss Travel Pass, the Arosa Line is an amazing journey, where the train climbs up to 1,800m in an hour and offers wonderful views en route. Enjoy pretty Arosa or take the cable car up to the Weisshorn mountain (50% reduction). The second journey is the Bernina Express to Tirano – a full day (4 hours each way) travelling through the high Alps via fantastic bridges, viaducts and tunnels with dramatic scenery to enjoy. An alternative shorter journey is the spectacular route to St. Moritz or Pontresina.

Day 15 - Last day

A last look around historic Chur before you board the train to Zurich for your flight to the UK.

 

2024 Guide Prices

2 nights in Locarno, 4 nights in Lucerne, 3 nights in Interlaken, 2 nights in Brig and 2 nights in Chur

Available April-October

Prices from £2,574 per person staying in 3 star hotels
Prices from £2,844 per person staying in 4 star hotels

Upgrade to 1st class Swiss Travel Pass from just £168 per person

Half board prices (except Interlaken): add from £521 per person (3 star) or from £586 per person (4 star)

Upgrade to Bernina Express on both legs of the day trip from £40

 

Your holiday price includes

Booking Conditions
  • Scheduled return flights from London to Zurich including taxes and hold baggage (flights are available from around the UK)
  • 15 day Swiss Travel Pass covering all rail journeys described and many more (2nd class)
  • 14 nights’ hotel accommodation bed and breakfast as described based on two people sharing
  • Regional rail travel Locarno-Bellinzona (2nd class)
  • 1st class travel on the Gotthard Panorama Express Bellinzona-Lucerne with reserved seats on the rail section
  • Reserved seats on the Luzern-Interlaken Express (2nd class)
  • Lake cruise Interlaken-Thun and Lötschberg Regio Express Thun-Brig (2nd class)
  • Lunch and reserved seats on the Glacier Express Brig-Chur (2nd class)
  • Regional rail travel on the Bernina Line Chur-Tirano; return with reserved seats on the Bernina Express (2nd class)
  • Return travel on the Arosa Line Chur-Arosa (2nd class)
  • Ticino Ticket offering free bus and train travel around the region
  • Personalised full detailed itinerary sent with all tickets
  • Financial protection ATOL 3148
The Swiss Travel Pass offers free travel on trains, scenic trains, PostBuses and most boats, with up to 50% discount for mountain railways and cable cars. Optional excursions may not operate year round, please check before booking. Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com
 

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

Swiss Trail Pass
 

Your holiday includes a Swiss Travel Pass, covering the rail journeys below as well as many scenic excursions

Bernina Express

Your scenic train journeys

You can discover more about these scenic routes by clicking below

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Idyllic villages on the route of the Luzern-Interlaken Express

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Build your own scenic itinerary

Glacier Express on the Landwasser Viaduct
Not quite the perfect holiday? We can tailor make it to suit you:
  • Change the direction of travel
  • Add extra nights along the way
  • Add on lakes & mountains excursions
  • Include dinner on a half board basis
  • Upgrade to superior hotel rooms
  • Upgrade to 1st class rail for extra comfort
  • Bespoke prices available throughout 2024
Request a scenic holiday quote
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