Tours/Basel/Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Basel
Viator · Private tour

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Basel

4.2(13)Basel1 hour
VIATOR4.1(7)TRIPADVISOR4.3(6)

Description

Embark on an extraordinary one-day journey from Basel as you board the iconic Glacier Express panoramic train, traveling from Chur to Brig. With a private tour guide by your side, immerse yourself in the breathtaking Alpine scenery while relishing a gourmet lunch on board. This exclusive experience seamlessly combines luxury train travel, culinary indulgence, and the personalized touch of a knowledgeable guide, ensuring an unforgettable adventure through Switzerland's majestic landscapes

Tour Options

Glacier Express one day round trip with private tourguide - starts in Basel

Itinerary

Pass by

The elongated, slightly curved shape of Lake Zurich resembles a banana. The lake is around 28 kilometers long from Rapperswil to Zurich

Pass by

The Walensee is a lake in the eastern Prealps in Switzerland and is located in the cantons of St. Gallen and Glarus.

60 min

Chur is a city in the Alps and the capital of the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. In the car-free old town, winding streets lead to the three-aisled 13th-century Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the courtyard of the Bishop's Palace. Here the Glacier Express journey ends and you change after the city visit to the regular trains.

Pass by

The Ruinaulta or Rhine Gorge is a gorge of up to 400 meters deep and around 13 kilometers long in the Vorderrhein between Ilanz and the mouth of the Hinterrhein near Reichenau in the canton of Graubünden

10 min

The winter sports and health resort is located in the upper part of the Surselva. At the end of the 17th century, a new monastery complex was built in the baroque style. The Glacier Express train stops here for 10 minutes

Pass by

The Oberalp Pass connects the villages of Sedrun in the Surselva in the canton of Graubünden with Andermatt in the Urseren Valley in the canton of Uri in Switzerland

10 min

Andermatt is a village in the Ursen Valley of the Swiss Alps. The cable car takes visitors to the Gemsstock ski area and a chairlift connects the village with the easier slopes on the Nätschen. North of Andermatt one of numerous hiking trails leads to the Teufelsbrücke over the Schöllenen Gorge. The Glacier Express train stops here for 10 minutes.

Pass by

The highest valley section of the Upper Valais between the source of the Rhone and the valley step of Grengiols near Brig is called Goms. It is the easternmost part of the canton of Valais. In the east it is limited by the Furka Pass between Galenstock and Pizzo Rotondo and in the west by the Weisshorn. The uppermost part of the valley is still called Obergoms.

60 min

Brig is an alpine town in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland. It lies at the foot of the Simplon Pass, which leads to the Italian border. A stop on the Glacier Express train, Brig is known for its thermal baths, the Sebastian Chapel and the 17th-century Stockalper Castle. At Brig you leave the Glacier Express train and after the city visit, you travel back to your origin departure point by regular intercity train. From Brig to Bern it takes one hour, from Bern to Zürich/Basel or Luzern another hour.

Pass by

Lake Thun is a fjord lake in the Bernese Oberland on the northern edge of the Alps.

Pass by

Berne is called the "Federal City" and functions as the capital of Switzerland. As the seat of the city and large parts of the cantonal and federal administration, it is the largest center of public administration in the country

Highlights

Travel on scheduled train from Basel to Chur 2nd class (2h 20min)
Swiss tourguide for your party only
Glacier Express train travel from Chur to Brig (4 hours) incl. seat reservation in 2nd class
3-course lunch served at your seat (vegetarian option available)
Return travel by scheduled train from Brig to Basel (2 hours) in 2nd class
all taxes and fees
Headphones and written information available on board the Glacier Express
One Day Train Pass for the Travel Day in 2nd class

What's included

Included
Travel on scheduled train from Basel to Chur 2nd class (2h 20min)
Swiss tourguide for your party only
Glacier Express train travel from Chur to Brig (4 hours) incl. seat reservation in 2nd class
3-course lunch served at your seat (vegetarian option available)
Return travel by scheduled train from Brig to Basel (2 hours) in 2nd class
all taxes and fees
Headphones and written information available on board the Glacier Express
One Day Train Pass for the Travel Day in 2nd class
Not included
Drinks

Traveller Ratings

4.2
13 reviews
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8
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Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(13)

S
semira_B
December 23, 2025
Glacier Express from Basel

Joelle was a fantastic guide. It’s a long day on the train but well worth the scenery and the history. I highly recommend it.

J
julielT5402BN
May 6, 2025
Back our magnificent guide

Tour in the forest of Tijuca, Christ the Redeemer and San Teressa with our guide juanemilio ... his explanations were as exciting as he passionate, we learned a lot about Brazil ... he speaks in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian ... he has a lot of humor and will make you spend an exceptional day ... Little special attention that made us feel ... a little special ... I highly recommend IT ...

J
jenshC3064MT
March 7, 2023
Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Basel

I was disappointed to see many very poor reviews from the Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Basel. My wife and I have been very interested in the tour for several years but if the experiences related by several travelers in the past year are anywhere near accurate, we will re-think our desire to ride the Glacier Express. One would think that the tour, which costs over $1,500 for two persons, should be 100% worry-free.

Operator response

Hello You rate something that you did not experience with us. You never booked a tour and rate our service without beeing guests of SwissTravelGuide. How rude is that!

A
Adriano S
February 19, 2023
I EXPECTED MORE!

I expected more. Valid for the beautiful landscapes. The glasses are wide more damages the photos by the reflection. First and second class are virtually equal. What changes is the number of chairs. Paid meals. I stop judging because I didn't eat on board. I went from Zermatt to Saint Moritz.

Operator response

You did not book a tour with us - this is listed on the wrong business.

C
Claudia_H
August 3, 2022
This is one NOT to take

It felt like a travel day, not a tour. 6 different trains with 10 minutes to catch the next, no time to shop anywhere and a very expensive train ride and a 12 hour day.

Operator response

This is a copy/paste review from the same person complaining about prices in Switzerland.

O
obxo2019
July 10, 2022
Beautiful trip on the Glacier Express

My wife and I had a beautiful ride on the Glacier Express. Beautify scenery and the guide was very efficient. Picked us up at the hotel right on time and made sure we made all of the train connections as required. This is the way to go if you do not speak the language and you want to take all of the guess work out of it.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. Swiss precision and mostly "time-driven" in our live - but it is worth of it. :-) Kind regards

J
Joan_H
May 31, 2022
A pleasant way to see the country.

Loved seeing the snow capped mountains. The villages in the valleys were so cute. Beautiful country. The train was very nice and our guide was very attentive to us.

Operator response

Thank you for your review. Happy you had a great day.

M
Marianna_O
May 19, 2022
A Day With Oskar

What a surprise! We had our own guide. We would have missed so much, including the train, without our friendly and knowledgeable guide. This was a marvelous journey. We will never forget the beauty of the Alps and the background of Switzerland.

Operator response

Thank you for the feedback.

G
GLENDAL_P
September 13, 2021
Glacier Express not a good title

Our tour guide was terrific. I love trains so I loved riding on one. However, you really should be more descriptive in your promo regarding this trip. First of all you do not see glaciers so why is it the Glacier Express and your promo should state that it is ONLY a train ride. You do not get off in any of the villages so it is just riding close to the Alps. Not through them. Lunch on board was delicious and the service on the train was excellent. Mostly we just loved our tour guide Oskar. He was so friendly and interesting. He was very informative.

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Hello Glenda Thanks for the feedback. The name "Glacier Express" is made by the train company, which promotes this train. That's why we take over this title. You're right, on this train you don't see a real glacier, but a lot of alpine peaks (especially on the Oberalp pass). From former history, the train passed the Furka pass, where there was a view to the Aare-glacier. Since 1982 the train runs on the safe base tunnel (all year long), the old route was accessible June to Sept only. And due to the climate change, the Aare glacier shrinked that much, that even from the street you can not see it any more. To see real glaciers in Switzerland (or what is still here from the glaciers), we recommend to travel to Gornergrat or Jungfraujoch, the two last places where you see glaciers. Kind regards from Switzerland

S
Stewart M
February 25, 2020
Great winter journey

This was our second ride on this train. decided to take a winter trip with all the snow as a backdrop with great views. Took the train from Tiefencastle to Brig via Chur. Take your camera for some great pictures. The carriages are very comfortable with plenty of space. You can walk to the restaurant car for a drink or receive table service.

1 people found this helpful

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