Glacier Express and Swiss Alps and Lucerne Tour From Zurich
Description
Embark on an unforgettable adventure aboard the Glacier Express, traversing Switzerland’s stunning terrain in style. Indulge the majestic views during this journey through Chur, Andermatt, and Lucerne, capturing breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne and the Rotsee. Conclude with a charming mini-tour of Lucerne’s Old Town, Chapel Bridge, and the iconic Lion Monument’s Head.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide will greet you inside the main hall underneath the clock tower of the central train station of Zurich HB before catching the train to the Glacier Express
Begin your journey in true Swiss style with a scenic train ride to Switzerland’s oldest city, Chur, with over 5,000 years of history. Along the way, hear stories about the landscapes, cultural heritage, and traditions of the cantons you pass. In Chur, board the legendary Glacier Express and settle into your modern panoramic carriage. Learn fascinating insights about the train’s rich history and how it became one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. **In high season when the GE fills up quickly, you may be placed on the other tour once the main tour reaches capacity. It follows the exact same route but boards a different scenic train and includes first-class tickets from Chur to Andermatt, a private Sprinter mini-coach, a fondue lunch, and the same itinerary you were expecting.
Begin your memorable ride aboard the Glacier Express, an ultra-sleek train boasting an end-to-end experience connecting a total of 291km (181 miles) inland. Settle into your dedicated seats to enjoy the train's steady pace, allowing ample opportunities to absorb the ever-changing panoramic views of southern Switzerland on your way to Andermatt. Receive insightful commentary unraveling rich Swiss traditions and the Express's operational history. Anticipation builds as you approach the Oberalp section, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fresh alpine scenery. Capture the perfect picture of architecturally pleasing bridges, where you'll reach the highest altitude of the tour. Before your next discovery, indulge in a gourmet lunch (depending on the option booked) served at your seat so you don't miss a moment of the incoming views.
At your next stop, depart the Glacier Express at Andermatt, a traditional Swiss village in the heart of the Ursen Valley, and board another cozy train. Your voyage proceeds towards the world-famous city of Lucerne, where you'll make an exciting stop. Our guide will embellish the next leg of your journey with shared secrets about forming the Swiss Confederation. Gain significant insights into the admirable endurance displayed by the Swiss guards, enabling you to connect with the discoveries made later on the tour. Next, reach the lake of four cantons, commonly recognized as Lake Lucerne. The vast expanse encapsulates iconic Swiss beauty with a backdrop of pure sparkling water and deep mountain ranges. It's a sight you're sure to remember.
Arriving at the blissful city of Lucerne, the final discovery of the tour, the guide will lead you through the medieval Old Town while providing an engaging context of the region's historical and cultural heritage. Enriched with perfectly preserved gothic architecture surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the tour through Lucerne’s Old Town will instantly transport you to the Middle Ages, giving a taste of what life was like all those years ago! This segment of the tour additionally offers the chance to encounter famed heritage sites, including the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) — the world’s oldest surviving bridge, and the Lion Monument — an intricate 19th-century rock carving commemorating the Swiss Guards that lost their lives during the French Revolution in 1792.
After a full day of adventure, you will return you safely to Zurich
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(278)
First off, the mountains of the Swiss Alps are absolutely gorgeous. We were fortunate to have a clear sunny day which provided great views and resulting pictures. Be mindful that Switzerland is expensive, a bottle of water on the train was over $8US. Now the bad stuff. At 8:23am I received an email from the tour company that the meeting time at the Basel train station was 8:45am. The time we were given was 9:15am and so there was a rush and panic to get to the train station on time. The guide seemed a bit perturbed that we were “late”. The train left four minutes after we met up with the group at 9:04am. We barely made it. Tour information was slow in being communicated and at times the guide was very anxious trying to get us to the right place at the right time. Her heavy accent made comprehension difficult and at times incomprehensible. I’d go this trip again but with a different company and different guide.
Tour guide rushed the group the entire time. Guide had a poor attitude. She acted like my group worked for her and not the other way around. Group felt she was harsh, abrupt, unacommadateing, and kept reminding us she had a headache, had a 2hr commute home and didn't want to 'waste words'. No one had a good experience with her. MD assigned her to my group to get back at me because I had an exchange of words with him for his unprofessionalism.
The adventure was rushed because of the distance. I’d prefer to have taken my time to shop in the cities we stopped in, instead of having to get back on the train to return to our starting point. The Glacier Express was just that an express train ride.
Laura was an amazing tour guide!! We got so lucky it was only the two of us with Laura, basically a private VIP tour. Thank you for such an amazing experience!
It was an excellent trip. The views were amazing! Our only issue was the length of the tour. We thought it would be about 8 hours and it was over 12 hours.
It was an adventure! We waited at the meet-up point but the guide didn’t come! Only when everyone in our group began to call and message Tripadvisor, we received a note back that another guide was coming. Laura (the back-up guide) saved the day! We were thankful (and relieved!). We had a fun time, enjoyed the scenic views and Laura’s valuable insights along the way.
Lucern is beautiful and The Glacier Express was amazing. Large open windows for the gorgeous views.
This trip is amazing! 100% worth a full day. It’s long, and you’ll take a number of trains (like a real European), but the visuals are unlike anything you’ll ever see in your life. Salma was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable, and made the trip interesting and fun while keeping us on time! I would recommend her 10 times out of 10, and suggest you request her when booking. Don’t miss out, this one’s legit!
We saw a lot of wonderful scenery and met new people.
It was a lot of trains. I wish there could have been more time to explore the cities, but that is no fault of the guide. The train was delayed. Overall the views were great and we loved chatting with Salma while on our trip.
