15 Day | Four Lakes Scenic Rail Holiday

Beautiful lakes surrounded by stunning mountains

Treno Gottardo
Lake Geneva steam boat
Spiez chapel

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

 

"These beautiful lakes surrounded by stunning mountains make an ideal holiday! With scenic railways including the GoldenPass Express, the new Treno Gottardo route and the Centovalli Line, you will see some of the very best sights in Switzerland"

Get your holiday quotation today

Contact us to book your holiday

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


Day 1 - Arrive and explore Montreux

Flight from the UK to Zurich airport with connecting rail travel to Montreux. Check in to your hotel for your 3 night stay and enjoy your first glimpse of Montreux

Day 2-3 - Free days in and around Montreux on the Swiss Riviera

Montreux is a fascinating town, with cafés 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 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 4 - Experience the GoldenPass Express to Spiez for 4 nights

As the new direct GoldenPass Express train leaves Lake Geneva behind, you’ll climb steadily, passing the beautiful countryside around Saanen and the alpine resort of Gstaad before you reach Zweisimmen. Here the new train switches track and travels on with more scenic views of lush pastures and a gentle descent to Spiez on beautiful Lake Thun.

Day 5-7 - Explore the Bernese Oberland with your Swiss Travel Pass

Spiez is uniquely situated on Lake Thun for a leisurely cruise and waterside strolls. It also has rail connections to Bern and Interlaken. All these journeys can be enjoyed free with your Swiss Travel Pass or you can explore the Bernese mountains at a 50% discount. Spiez itself has a beautiful lakeside setting nestling among hills and vineyards with its own picturesque medieval castle.

Day 8 - Travel to Domodossola and enjoy the Centovalli Line to Locarno for 3 nights

From Spiez you have the option to travel on the Lötschberg Line to brig travelling on the old scenic route or taking an international train to Domodossola where you join the charming Centovalli Line to Locarno.

Day 9-10 - Explore the Ticino region and Locarno

Locarno is a resort where the Italian influence affects all aspects of life, from the architecture to what you eat. Situated on stunning Lake Maggiore, with the lakeside village of Ascona only a bus ride away, Locarno is also well placed for enjoying the mountains.

Your Ticino Ticket gives you free travel on local trains and buses helping you get the most out of your holiday. You could visit the region’s historical capital, Bellinzona, with three fabulous historic castles to explore or take a day to visit Lugano, now only 30 minutes away by train.

Day 11 - Scenic rail journey on the Treno Gottardo Line to Lucerne for 4 nights

The Treno Gottardo journey today heads towards the dramatic Gotthard Pass with slow looping tracks to Airolo where you leave the Ticino region through the 19th century tunnel. The train continues on to Central Switzerland, travelling down the beautiful Reuss valley and looping past Wassen Church three times. The descent continues to Lake Lucerne at Flüelen before a final section travelling around the water via Brunnen to Lucerne.

Day 12-14 - Lucerne and 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. You should make time for a lake cruise and 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 free with your Swiss Travel Pass along with trips further afield to Bern or Lake Constance on the German border. Mount Pilatus and other mountain railways and cable cars are available at a 50% reduction.

Day 15 - Last day

Time for a last look around Lucerne before you take the train back to Zurich airport for your flight to the UK.

 

2023 Guide Prices

3 nights in Montreux, 4 nights in Spiez, 3 nights in Locarno and 4 nights in Lucerne

Available all year

Prices from £2,051 per person staying in 3 star hotels
Prices from £2,686 per person staying in 4 star hotels

Upgrade to 1st class Swiss Travel Pass for just £192.

Half board prices: please call for prices. 

 

Your holiday price includes

Booking Conditions
  • Scheduled return flights from London to Zurich (flights available from around the UK)
  • 15 day 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass covering all rail journeys described and many more
  • 14 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation as described based on two people sharing
  • Reserved seats on the GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Spiez, 2nd class
  • Riviera Card in Montreux offering free local buses and reductions for local places of interest
  • Ticino Ticket offering free bus and train travel around the region
  • 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

Views from Treno Gottardo near Wassen

Your scenic train journeys

You can discover more about these scenic routes by clicking below

 
 
 
 

More holidays like this

Idyllic villages on the route of the Luzern-Interlaken Express

Take a look at our selection of scenic rail holidays across Switzerland

More holidays like this

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 2023
Request a scenic holiday quote