DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Zurich

Begin this touring holiday with a flight to Zurich or by taking Eurostar to Pari and then on to Zurich by TGV. Stay in Zurich for one night. Thought the flight will drastically cut travelling times, enabling an earlier arrival, we do recommend taking the scenic railway trip via Paris and Basel.

Day 2: Zurich to St Moritz

Board the train to St Moritz in the morning, arriving about 3 and a half hours’ later. This rail journey takes you first along the southern curve of Lake Zurich, passing through Horgen, Wadenswil, and heading inland onto the vast plains of the valley at Lachen. From here, you carry on towards the undulating green shores of Lake Walen, Weesen, and Walenstadt. Follow the paths of the valleys as you continue southeast to the spa town of Bad Ragaz and cross the border into the canton of Grisons at Landquart. Change trains at Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, and join the pathway of the Bernina Express. You travel through the Ruinaulta, or Rhine Gorge, taking in one of the most picturesque landscapes in the Alps. The winding river changes altitude beside the railway tracks, passing sheer white cliffs, hilltop towers, and slinking under arched viaducts.

The first stop on the journey is at Tiefencastel, which has ochre-fronted houses, stunning, narrow stone bridges, and is crowned by a solitary tower. The line splits here, bringing passengers to join the train from Davos. Davos is beautiful both when covered with snow and when graced with summer sunlight. The Bernina Express will then take you through the Domleschg Region, the area with the most castles and palaces in Switzerland. One of the highlights of this stretch is the towering curve of the Landwasser viaduct, built in 1901. This route takes you on through Filisur towards Bergun, where you may wish to stop to visit the Bergun Railway Village, home to the Albula Railway Museum and the Railway Adventure Trail. Otherwise, ensure you take in the sight of the crystal-clear blue waters that run in the rivers.

From Bergun, the train continues on to Samedan, a small town hemmed in by lakes and the lower verdant banks of the mountains. Hurtle on towards St Moritz, passing the Cresta Run in Celerina, one of the St Moritz area’s most famous attributes. You stay in St Moritz at your choice of hotel for two nights.

Day 3: St Moritz

The dry, clear climate of the Upper Engadine Valley makes St Moritz the perfect winter sports resort, but also well-suited to long rambles, walks, and hikes across the undulating mountainside. Perhaps spend an hour or two wandering around the lake shore, admiring the mountains and the waterside, and uncovering shady groves, trickling waterfalls, and hidden caves. It is also possible to navigate higher up the mountains by rail, reaching the vantage points on the Piz Corvatsch and Chantarella at the top of the steep track. At Corviglia, a cable car takes you up to the Suvretta Mountain’s most popular viewing point. Those looking for more thrilling and active experiences could partake in the water sports at Lake St Moritz or Lake Sils, or across at the high-altitude Lake Silvaplana, known for being windy.

Days 4 - 5: St Moritz to Lugano on the Bernia Express

From St Moritz you board the Bernina Express again. Less than 10km from St Moritz is Pontresina, the next stop on the rail route. It sits at the entrance to the Val Bernina on a sloping mountainside terrace, which adds to the village’s quaint majesty. The next leg of the journey, however, passes two exceptional sights: the Montebello Curve and the Morteratsch Glacier. The curve itself has a minimum radius of 45m, turning a total of 180 degrees, and remains one of the most photographed sections of the track. After this brief descent, the Bernina Express gains higher ground; the highest ground, in fact, of the Rhaetian Railway, reaching 2253m above sea level at Ospizio Bernina, your next stop. This secluded station is a beautiful sight with soft light stone walls and distinctive red shutters on its windows. From here, move on to perhaps the most unique stop on the Bernina Express route: Alp Grum. This restaurant is the only restaurant that is exclusively accessed by rail. As a result, the dining experience is equally exclusive, with unrivalled views of the Val Poschiavo all the way to the Bergamo Alps. If you wish to dine here this is best done on a day trip from St Moritz. The journey then takes you on to Poschiavo itself, a town surrounded by rich, deep green vegetation, with a serene lake on one side. Then, the train will stop in Le Prese, a small village captured in a bubble of peace and quiet. Next, the Bernina Express takes you through to Brusio. After coming along the mountainside, the track spirals back on itself, allowing passengers plenty of time to take in the views before they descend under the viaduct they have just passed over. The Bernina Railway ends across the Italian border in Tirano, after passing orchards and vineyards, where the influences of Italy can already be seen in the architecture of the townhouses lining the riverside. Disembark here, pausing for lunch depending on the time of the train you have chosen, and then board the dedicated Bernina Express bus to Lugano, the largest town in Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton on Switzerland. Lugano is the 3rd most important financial and business centre in Switzerland. Parks, grand villas, and sacred buildings line the streets, blending a definite Mediterranean feel with the reputation and glamour of a world-class city. You stay in Lugano for two nights.

Day 6: By train from Milan to London

Say goodbye to Lugano and board the train back to Zurich for your return flight. If you wish to return by rail, we would recommend spending an extra night in Zurich.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class of about £555 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance and an appropriate driving licence, if you intend to hire a car at Lake Como. The AA and FCO should also be consulted.