Scenic Alps by Rail – Track 2 is rated easy to slightly moderate since it is an active tour with a fair amount of walking. It’s ideal for travelers with a spirit of adventure and moderate mobility. You’ll need to comfortably walk 1–2 miles per day, including stretches of ½ mile at a time (approximately 2,000 steps), sometimes uphill or on uneven surfaces like cobblestones. Unfortunately, our tour cannot accommodate walkers or wheelchairs.
What to expect:
Walking: To and from train stations, hotels, and excursions.
Stairs: Especially at train stations (platform changes), some excursions, and when boarding trains.
Train boarding: Some trains have 1-2 steep steps. You must be confident getting on/off with little assistance.
Transfers: When the group is traveling to a new hotel, there will be multiple train changes along the journey
Standing: Expect to stand for 10–15 minutes at a time at stations, where seating may be limited.
Luggage: You'll handle your own suitcase to the hotel in Lucerne. During the tour, luggage transfers are provided by a transfer company
The tour begins in Lucerne, Switzerland. You’ll take a train from Zürich Airport (just about an hour, with departures every 30–60 minutes) to Lucerne. We’ll provide detailed arrival instructions and a hotel flyer with a map.
The group meets in the hotel lobby at 12:30 PM on Day 1 for a brief orientation, followed by an excursion to the Stanserhorn Cabrio Cable Car and a welcome dinner that evening.
We keep our groups small—typically 14–15 guests—so you’ll receive personalized attention from your guide and enjoy a close-knit travel experience. Please be aware that we need to have a minimum of 8 guests to be a guaranteed tour.
Just on the first day! You'll bring your suitcase on the train to Lucerne and to your hotel. After that, Alpenwild arranges luggage transfers between hotels on the travel days. You’ll only carry a daypack during excursions and train rides.
We recommend: One rolling suitcase (recommended not larger than 25-26", max weight is 20 kg or 44 lbs) and a daypack for daily essentials
Yes—your Alpenwild guide will meet you in Lucerne on Day 1 and stay with the group throughout the journey. Your guide will handle logistics, share insights into Swiss culture, and lead daily activities. Most afternoons include some free time, followed by group dinners.
9 nights in comfortable hotels
All rail, boat, and cable car transportation during the tour
Luggage transfers between the hotels
Guided excursions and mountain visits
Daily breakfast and 7 dinners
Lunches are on your own—some days allow time to stop at a café, while others are better suited for a grab-and-go lunch to enjoy on the train. Your guide will offer recommendations.
You’ll travel in 1st class on all trains and boats throughout the tour. While rare, there may be an occasional switch to 2nd class due to availability.
Scenic trains you’ll ride include: Voralpen Express, Luzern–Interlaken Express, GoldenPass Express, Mont-Blanc Express, Centovalli Railway
Not at all! While trains are a major part of the adventure, we also include excursions to mountain peaks, waterfalls, lakes, and charming villages.
Highlights include: Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Boat rides on Lake Brienz and Lago Maggiore, Mountain excursions at Stanserhorn, Harder Kulm, Schilthorn, and Aiguille du Midi. Each day includes sightseeing and scenic travel—not just sitting on trains.
You’ll stay in charming 3- and 4-star hotels, most of which are independently owned and located in the heart of Alpine towns and villages. These properties reflect local character and hospitality.
Please note:
Air conditioning is rare in Swiss hotels—rooms may feel warm in summer.
Most rooms feature deep bathtubs with handheld showers rather than walk-in showers.
The final night is at a modern airport hotel in downtown Zurich for easy departure.
Note that the Lucerne hotel does not have twin beds that can be pulled apart. Although it is possible to get a room with twin beds in the same frame with separate bedding. In addition, the Zurich hotel only has rooms with one large bed. If you require two separate beds, you may wish to consider upgrading to a single-occupancy room at this property.
Yes! We’re happy to accommodate most dietary needs. Just let us know in advance. While vegetarian meals are widely available, vegan options may be limited in Alpine regions due to dairy-rich local cuisine. We've successfully supported travelers with celiac disease, nut allergies, lactose intolerance, and more.
In Switzerland, you’ll use the Swiss Franc (CHF). ATMs are readily available and offer the best exchange rates. Most places accept credit cards, but it’s a good idea to carry some cash for small purchases.
In Chamonix, France, you’ll need Euros (EUR). There are ATMs in town where you can withdraw Euros as needed.
Absolutely! Your tour includes a 15-day 1st-class Swiss Travel Pass, which can cover your transportation before and after the trip. (We use 9 of those days during the tour, so you can use the other 6 days for personal travel within Switzerland.)
Many guests add extra days to explore on their own. We’re happy to suggest destinations and help with pre- or post-tour plans—just let us know!
About 30 days before departure, we’ll send an email with your login access to the Vamoos app. The app will include tour documents such as: arrival directions, 1st class 15-day Swiss Travel Rail pass, Hotel contact info, packing list, etc.
Pack light and focus on comfortable, casual clothes suitable for sightseeing, walking, and travel. You may want to bring:
Walking shoes with good traction
Lightweight layers for changing weather
A rain jacket or a small umbrella
Casual attire for dinners (no formalwear needed)
A small daypack for daily outings
Avoid overpacking—our goal is for each guest to bring one checked-size suitcase (max 20 kg/44 pounds, ideally 25-26 inch size) and a day bag.
U.S. and Canadian citizens need only a valid passport to enter Switzerland. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your return date.
If you're traveling with a passport from another country, check this site to see if you need a visa.
Visit the Alpenwild website and look for Scenic Alps by Rail – Track 2. You can reserve your spot with a $500 deposit per person.
Prefer to speak with someone? Feel free to call our office, and we’ll be happy to walk you through the booking process. Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation and invoice. Your final payment is due 120 days before departure, and we’ll send a reminder when the time comes.
We rate this trip as easy to slightly moderate because this is an ACTIVE tour. You should be capable of walking 1-2 miles per day and at least 1/2 mile in one stretch (about 1500 steps and maybe uphill). There are additional hiking and walking options available for those wanting more activity. You should also be able to handle your luggage to get to the trains when needed. One day, you will take a cable car to an elevation of 12,600 feet, and you should be able to handle staying at this elevation for a couple of hours.
Walking: In addition to walking on flat surfaces, you also need to walk on uphills, uneven terrain, and cobblestones. You'll likely not walk this amount all at once, but you need to be able to get to/from train stations, hotels, and excursions. We can accommodate slower walkers, but you must still be able to walk the distance. You should be able to walk a half mile at a time, and you may need to walk this amount a few times a day.
Stairs: at train stations when we must change platforms; most of the station platforms only have stairs or ramps -- not elevators. There are often many steps on the walk to the hotels, there are steep steps to get into some trains, and there may even be steps inside the trains before you get to your seat.
Getting on and off trains: Be aware that many trains have a few steep steps to negotiate to get on or off. You need to be confident that you can get on and off the trains. Also, note that there may be multiple train transfers on any of the travel routes. It is rare to ride just one train to our next destination on the tour. Some train connections are tight, and the group may need to walk quickly to catch the next train.
Standing time: you need to be able to stand on your feet for at least 10-15 minutes, as benches at train stations are not in good supply.
Luggage: before the tour starts, you will travel by train to Lucerne and meet the group at the first hotel. This means you'll need to get your luggage on/off the trains and to/from hotel rooms once at the hotels (there are elevators in all hotels). During the tour, we hire a company to pick up the bags.
