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What a wonderful trip! Eve and Dave were fabulous! Switzerland was amazing! The hotels were great! The planning was excellent! The people in our group were so, so dear and world travelers. Alpenwild got high marks from our group! - B.P. - Colorado
This tour is rated easy but active. It’s ideal for travelers with a spirit of adventure and the ability to walk 1–2 miles per day, including stretches of at least ½ mile at a time (about 1,500 steps), sometimes uphill or on uneven surfaces.
You’ll need to:
Walk on hills, cobblestones, and uneven paths.
Navigate stairs at train stations, on trains, and possibly inside hotels.
Confidently get on and off trains with steep steps.
Stand for 10–15 minutes at a time (seating is limited at some train stations).
Carry your luggage to and from the train on arrival day.
We accommodate slower walkers, but you must be able to walk these distances multiple times throughout the day. Additional optional walks and hikes are available for those wanting more activity.
The tour begins in Lucerne, Switzerland. You’ll travel there independently by train (just 1 hour from Zurich) and meet the group at 12:30 PM in the hotel lobby for an orientation and an excursion to Mt. Pilatus. A welcome dinner follows that evening. We’ll provide you with detailed arrival instructions and a hotel map.
We keep our group size intimate—typically 14 to 15 guests—to ensure personalized attention and exceptional service. If you have a private group, we can also arrange a custom guided tour just for you.
Only on the first travel day to Lucerne and on one day during the tour (the Glacier Express day). For the rest of the tour, Alpenwild arranges luggage transfers from hotel to hotel. You’ll just carry a small daypack for daily essentials. We recommend one rolling suitcase (max 50 lbs, ideally under 25 inches) plus your day bag.
Yes! Your expert Alpenwild guide will meet you at the hotel in Lucerne and accompany you throughout the tour—on trains, excursions, and meals. You’ll also have some free time most afternoons before regrouping for dinner.
9 hotel nights
1st-class rail and all tour transportation
Daily excursions
Luggage transfers (except for one day)
Expert Alpenwild guide
Daily breakfast, most dinners, and one farewell lunch
Lunches are not included, but your guide will offer recommendations or advise you when to pack a picnic—especially on travel days like the Glacier Express (note: there is no dining car; lunch is eaten at your seat).
Yes, with advance notice. While Switzerland’s cuisine is dairy-forward, we’ve successfully accommodated guests with allergies and special diets, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and lactose-free needs. Vegan options are limited, but breakfasts typically include fresh fruit and whole grains, and most dinners will offer at least a vegetarian option.
We stay in 3- and 4-star, independently owned Swiss hotels known for their charm, comfort, and excellent locations. Expect warm hospitality, alpine character, and authentic cuisine.
Please note:
Most hotels do not have air conditioning, though windows often open for ventilation.
Bathrooms typically have deep tubs with a hand-held shower rather than walk-in showers.
The final night is at a hotel conveniently located at Zurich Airport for ease of departure.
You’ll enjoy 1st-class seats on nearly all trains and boats. A few scenic excursion trains (e.g., Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat) only offer one class. Occasionally, we may ride in 2nd class if seat availability requires it.
This tour offers much more than train rides! You’ll explore Switzerland through scenic train routes and exciting excursions, such as:
Mt. Pilatus cableway with views over Lucerne
Paddle steamboat on Lake Lucerne
Gornergrat Railway for stunning Matterhorn views
Gruyères Castle and cheese dairy
Jungfraujoch – Europe’s highest railway station
Walk on the Aletsch Glacier
Optional mountain excursions in St. Moritz
Expect multiple train transfers each day, as direct routes are uncommon—part of what makes this such an immersive experience!
Approximately 30 days before the tour, you’ll receive digital tour documents through the Vamoos app, including:
Packing list
Hotel map for Lucerne
Hotel contact list
Arrival instructions
Rail passes (15-day 1st-class Swiss Travel Pass)
Absolutely! Many guests choose to arrive early or stay after the tour ends. Your 15-day rail pass covers additional days beyond the tour. Our office is happy to help with hotel suggestions, itinerary ideas, and logistics.
Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF). ATMs are widely available and often offer the best exchange rates. Most shops and restaurants also accept credit cards, so cash needs are minimal.
You’ll need a valid passport with at least 3 months remaining past your return date.
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 mountain railway to an elevation of 11,388 feet, and you should be able to stay 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 own 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 on most days. Please note that there is one day during the tour when the group will take their suitcases on the Glacier Express train with them.
