Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Basel
Description
Embark on an unforgettable adventure aboard the Glacier Express, traversing Switzerland’s stunning terrain in style. Indulge in a gourmet meal during this 8-hour 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 meet you at the Basel train station.
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. * Between October 11 and December 6, the Glacier Express does not operate. During this period, we offer the same scenic route with an additional stop in a Swiss Alpine Village.
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 first-class 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 safely to Basel
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(80)
First - we had a wonderful guide. She really took a bad situation and tried to make it better. Problem 1 - The trip was scheduled to leave at 9:15 but in the morning, we got an email saying that we were leaving at 8:45. Then, no one showed. After I contacted them, someone showed at 9:25. Problem 2 - At that point we were told that our trip was in a different order than was advertised. We took the train to Lucerne first. No big deal - until the rain. If we had gone on the trip as advertised, we would have missed the rain. Problem 3 - this was supposed to be 10 hours, and it ended up that it was over 12 hours. Problem 4 - Because we had to hurry to get on the last train, we didn't get to eat and we were starving by the time we got back to Basel. Considering how expensive this was, we expected better.
Tour Operator never showed up. Three days before I got an email telling they had charged the cc. They never tried to contact me about canceling the tour, telephone numbers provided were useless and texting did not work either. It has been 24 hrs and still haven't heard from them. SCAM!! Proof of photos upon request.9
The views on the train were lovely, and we enjoyed the ride..had splendid seats. We were told we could order food while on the train at own cost. Unfortunately, the staff never offered us this option, so we flagged down a person in charge to obtain a beer and bought Pringles at a train stop. Our experience with the tour guide was disappointing. She came across as very inexperienced and unprofessional. The Hearing devices were not checked in advance and many didn’t work. They were all in a tangle, and she spent much time trying to correct the problem. She was confused when we arrived in Lucerne and told us to buy a bus ticket , then told us to skip that idea. Then she told us we could book a boat trip (which wouldn’t arrive back in time to catch the train).She tried to upgrade us to better seats (first class?) at a significant cost differential (she kept coming back to us.. 4 times, and we refused). Unfortunately, the group who decided in this option were sorely disappointed, as they thought food was included. Although the train ride itself was lovely, we felt the trip was overpriced for the experience we had.
A terrible travel experience. Unable to contact the operator. No specific meeting location provided. Very poor organization. The owner's service was extremely poor and the tour was overpriced. Highly not recommended!
We had an excellent trip Berenice was our guide and she was amazing making sure we got from place to place. She also shared information about different locations we visited and made the whole experience even better.
We enjoyed our guide Berenice very much. The views were lovely even though it was rainy.
Our tour started by meeting our guide at our hotel. A wonderful lady. We took a tram to the train station, then off to Lucern, where we showed all around the old town. So many wooden bridges. Beautiful lake, And you can drink the fountain water!! After a short ride up a cog rail train, we reached Andematt. Lovely town, but there we found the Glacier Express. A slow express. Amazing mountain and valley views. Good food, and wonderful friendly service. Finally, the long ride back to Basel via Zurich, with Lake Zurich by our side for most of the way. The long day was made absolutely wonderful by our excellent guide, Berenice. Thank you.
The day flew by. So many things to see and experience. Vernice is an amazing tour guide. We had a full and satisfying day.
It was a wonderful tour! The sights of Lucerne and on the train were wonderful. Our guide Carlos was the best.
The several train stops and changes that need to take place prior to writing the actual glacier express.
