13 Day | Four Lakes Scenic Splendours Tour

Beautiful lakes surrounded by stunning mountains

GoldenPass Express
Charlie Chaplin statue, Vevey
View over Lugano from Monte Brè

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. This holiday is suggested as 13 days, but can easily be extended by another 2 nights.

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

 

"These four beautiful lakes surrounded by stunning mountains make an ideal holiday! With scenic railways including the GoldenPass Express, Luzern-Interlaken Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express, you will see some of the very best sights in Switzerland"

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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 the lakeside resort of Lugano

Flight from the UK to Zurich in under 2 hours with connecting rail travel to Lugano. Welcome to your hotel for your 3 night stay and enjoy your first taste of the Italian way of life in the Ticino region of Switzerland.

Day 2-3 - Enjoy the warmth of southern Switzerland beside Lake Lugano

Soak up the Italian atmosphere of this attractive lakeside resort. Your Ticino Ticket gives you free travel on the region’s buses and trains to explore the area. You can even visit the town of Bellinzona, which boasts three medieval castles. There are also discounts on the funiculars to visit the local mountains. Your Swiss Travel Pass gives you free travel further afield – perhaps a journey on the Centovalli Line and lunch in Domodossola.

Day 4 - Travel 1st class on the Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne

Your next adventure is at a leisurely pace on the Gotthard Panorama Express. This unforgettable journey starts in special panoramic 1st class rail coaches for the spectacular journey through the original Gotthard Tunnel before meandering down to Flüelen. Here you board the lake steamer on your 2½ hour cruise criss-crossing beautiful Lake Lucerne all the way to the old town of Lucerne.

Day 5-6 - Charming history and scenery beside Lake Lucerne

With your Swiss Travel Pass you can enjoy free travel around the dramatic scenery of Central Switzerland - a lake cruise is a great way to relax and connect with your mountain visits. Also free with your Swiss Travel Pass is travel to Mount Rigi via the cable car from Weggis or the railway from Vitznau, as well as the Stanserhorn open deck cable car and the Stoos funicular. The historic Old Town has wonderful sightseeing, shopping and restaurants. Pilatus and other mountain railways and cable cars around Lake Lucerne are available at a 50% reduction.

Day 7 - Luzern-Interlaken Express journey to Interlaken

This striking 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 into Interlaken. A 10 minute private transfer brings you to Bönigen, a tranquil, relaxing village on Lake Brienz (from where you can also take advantage of the benefits of Interlaken).

Day 8-9 - Explore the glorious Bernese Oberland from Bönigen, your Lake Brienz base

An Interlaken Card is provided for free travel into town. With your Swiss Travel Pass you can enjoy free travel on cruises around the lakes of Thun and Brienz and travel to the stunning Jungfrau mountain villages 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 - GoldenPass Express to Montreux - an exceptional scenic journey

A day to look forward to, with the GoldenPass Express all the way to Montreux. Enjoy views of Lake Thun as you head into the mountains and the Simmen Valley to Zweisimmen. Here, the train switches track and travels on to the alpine resort of Gstaad, before the descent into Montreux, with fabulous views of Lake Geneva. It’s a short rail journey to Vevey and private transfer to La Tour-de-Peilz. This lovely lakeside setting offers a quiet alternative to the bustle of Montreux.

Day 11-12 - Explore Vevey and Montreux on glittering Lake Geneva

Situated a short walk from Vevey, a Tour-de-Peilz holiday also benefits from the Riviera Card offering free local transport to Montreux. This fascinating town has a great café culture, and a wonderful promenade which you can follow to the romantic Chillon Castle. Entry is free with your Swiss Travel Pass, as is travel on the lake steamers and mainline trains so you can visit Geneva for the day, or perhaps Lausanne and the vineyards at Lavaux. The mountain railway to Les Rochers-De-Naye at 50% reduction is highly recommended for spectacular views. Chaplin's World in Vevey is also a great visit with 50% off with your Riviera Card.

Day 13 - Last day

Time for your last look at Lake Geneva before your journey back to the UK.

 

2025 pricing

3 nights each in Lugano, Lucerne, Bönigen (near Interlaken) and La Tour-de-Peilz (near Montreux)

Available 14 April-15 October

Please note the Gotthard Panorama Express does not run on a Monday however you can travel on the same route at other times. More details...)

Guide prices from £2,317 per person in 3 star hotels or from £2,623 per person in 4 star hotels

Upgrade to 1st class Swiss Travel Pass from just £177

Include half board from £479 (3 star) or £426 (4 star, excluding Lugano) per person

 

Your holiday price includes

Booking Conditions
  • Scheduled return flights from London to Zurich including taxes and hold baggage (other flights are available from around the UK)
  • 13 day 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass covering all rail journeys described and many more
  • 12 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation as described based on two people sharing
  • 1st class travel on the Gotthard Panorama Express Lugano-Lucerne with reserved seats on the rail section
  • Reserved seats on the Luzern-Interlaken Express (2nd class) and local transfer to your hotel in Bönigen
  • Reserved seats on the GoldenPass Express Interlaken-Montreux and regional rail to Vevey with local transfer to your hotel in La-Tour-de-Peilz
  • Ticino Ticket in Lugano offering free bus and train travel around the region
  • Interlaken Card in Bönigen offering free local travel
  • Riviera Card in La Tour-de-Peilz (Montreux) offering free local buses and reductions on local places of interest
  • Fully detailed itinerary sent with all tickets
  • Financial protection ATOL 3148
The Swiss Travel Pass is valid on trains, PostBuses, boats (Swiss part of Lake Maggiore only), scenic trains and some mountain journeys as described. Travel on other mountain railways/cable cars is up to 50% reduction. Optional excursions may not operate year round. 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

Steamer on Lake Lucerne

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 2025
Request a scenic holiday quote