Switzerland · Panoramic Train

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Zürich With Private Guide

10 Hours Round trip from Zürich Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Ride the Glacier Express panoramic train from Chur to Brig
  • 02 Travel with a private guide for your party only
  • 03 Enjoy sweeping views of the Rhine Gorge and Swiss Alps
  • 04 Cross mountain landscapes via the Oberalp Pass route
  • 05 See alpine destinations including Disentis, Andermatt, and Brig
  • 06 3-course lunch served at your seat on board
  • 07 Round-trip rail travel from Zürich included
  • 08 Return through Bern on a regular intercity train

Experience one of Switzerland’s most scenic rail journeys on a full-day round trip from Zürich with your private guide. Travel first to Chur, then board the famous Glacier Express panoramic train for a spectacular ride through alpine landscapes, deep gorges, mountain passes, tunnels, and charming Swiss villages on the way to Brig.

Along the route, take in highlights such as Lake Zürich, the Rhine Gorge, Disentis, the Oberalp Pass, Andermatt, the Furka Base Tunnel, and the Goms Valley. Your journey includes reserved seats on the Glacier Express and a 3-course lunch served at your seat, before returning to Zürich by regular intercity train.

This is an ideal choice for travellers who want to enjoy the Glacier Express experience in a single day, with the added comfort of a private guide accompanying your party throughout the trip.

Along the route, take in highlights such as Lake Zürich, the Rhine Gorge, Disentis, the Oberalp Pass, Andermatt, the Furka Base Tunnel, and the Goms Valley.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Bern, Chur, Zurich
Languages English, French, German

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

along lake Zürich

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

Chur

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 starts.

Rhine Gorge

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

Disentis

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

Oberalp pass

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

Andermatt

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.

Furka base tunnel

The Furka Base Tunnel is a 15.38 km long railway tunnel opened in 1982, connecting Oberwald in the canton of Valais and Realp in the canton of Uri. The base tunnel replaces the old Furka mountain route.

Goms valley

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.

Brig

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. 

Lötschberg base tunnel

The Lötschberg Base Tunnel is a 34.6-kilometre-long railway tunnel that crosses under the northern Alpine chain at the Lötschberg between Frutigen in the Bernese Oberland (Canton of Bern, Switzerland) and Raron (Canton of Valais, Switzerland) and was put into operation in 2007. This base tunnel is part of the Lötschberg-Simplon axis of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA), which runs from Basel via Bern-Thun-Spiez to the Lötschberg and on via Brig-Simplon-Domodossola to Milan and Novara-Genoa, and next to the one running parallel Gotthard axis forms a second route for the transalpine rail freight traffic of the European Corridor (Rotterdam-Genoa).

passing through Bern

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

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Zürich 3 cities · 10 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • One Day Train Pass for the Travel Day in 2nd class
  • Travel on scheduled train from Zürich to Chur 2nd class (1.5 hours)
  • 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)
  • Headphones and written information available on board the Glacier Express train
  • Return travel by scheduled train from Brig to Zürich (2 hours) in 2nd class
  • Swiss tourguide for your party only
  • all taxes and fees

What's Not Included

Drinks

Know before you go

  • WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Wheelchair accessible

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Zürich, CH
Tour start
Zürich, CH
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 hours finish where they began, in Zürich.

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