Glacier Express Week-end (Switzerland)

DAY 1 : LAUSANNE > MONTREUX
Flight or train to Montreux on request.

Individual arrival in Lausanne.
Departing Lausanne, you begin your Swiss rail tour, travelling along Lake Leman for 25 minutes to Montreux.
Check-in at your hotel.
Montreux is famous for its jazz festival and for its relaxed way of life.
Take a stroll along its Riviera, dotted with palm trees and splendid mansions facing the lake.
Make the most of your day by visiting the Château de Chillon. Easily accessible on foot or even by boat, it looks like something out of a fairytale.
Overnight at the hotel in Montreux.

DAY 2 : MONTREUX - ZERMATT
It's off to the heights: this day takes you to Zermatt, at an altitude of 1600 m. Take the connecting train from Brig to Zermatt at a time to suit you. It will take you to this famous Alpine resort in 2h hours.
The last part of your journey, between Visp and Zermatt, is particularly picturesque: the Matterhorn-Gothard railway line offers a splendid view of the famous Matterhorn.
Arrival in Zermatt. Check into your hotel.
Once you've settled into this elegant winter sports resort, board the Gornergrat Bahn, Europe's highest open-air cog railway.
The 30-minute journey takes you to the top of Mount Gornergrat, where you can enjoy panoramic views of dozens of peaks over 4,000 metres high.
Return to Zermatt on the Gornergrat Bahn.
Enjoy your free time in this car-free village nestling at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn.
Overnight in a hotel in Zermatt (B)

DAY 3 : ZERMATT - CHUR (Glacier Express panoramic train)
Your day is devoted to Switzerland's most famous panoramic train: the Glacier Express. On board, you will make a real crossing of the Alps, from glacier to glacier, in the most comfortable conditions.
The Glacier Express leaves Zermatt in the morning for a 5.30 hour day trip to St. Moritz. Since 1930, this exceptional train has been crossing the Swiss Alps from west to east over 291km, crossing bridges and tunnels on a route that culminates at the Oberalp Pass at 2033m.
Proud of its average speed of 36km/h, the self-proclaimed "slowest express in the world" is one of the most exceptional trains in Europe. Its carriages with oversized windows allow you to enjoy the scenery to the full. Meals (at an additional cost on board) are served at your seat. Audio guides are available throughout the journey to give you information about the places you pass through.
Arrival in Chur at around 14:30. You leave your Glacier Express panoramic train behind and settle into Switzerland's oldest city: Chur was founded over 5,000 years ago.
You will discover its bishop's castle and its cathedral with three naves.
Overnight in a hotel in Chur (B)

DAY 4 : CHUR- ZURICH
After breakfast, take the regular train to Zurich in just 1 hours. Make the most of your weekend to explore this beautiful city, little-known as a tourist destination but nevertheless captivating. Discover its medieval quarters and enjoy the superb views of the mountains and lake. Visit Zurich's main churches: St Peter's, with one of the largest sundials in Europe, and Fraümunster, illuminated by Marc Chagall's colourful stained glass windows.
(B)

Additional night, return flight or train from Zurich on request.

Glacier Express week-end : Your train stops  

Regular Swiss train
Lausanne > Montreux (25 min)
Montreux > Zermatt (2h30)

Glacier Express panoramic train
Zermatt > Chur (5h30)

Regular Swiss train
Chur > Zurich (1h30)

The Glacier Express panoramic train - Switzerland

. The Glacier Express is the best-known of all the Swiss panoramic trains.
. It is easily recognisable by its red and white carriages marked with the Swiss cross.
. It is renowned for its slow speed (36 km/hour), which makes it easy to take in the scenery.
. Its circular route crosses Switzerland, linking Zermatt in the west and Saint-Moritz in the east.
. It is the longest panoramic train ride in Switzerland. In its entirety, it takes 8 hours (only 5h30 on our weekend, which ended in Chur).
. The Swiss Glacier Express is a beautiful new train. Its decor is both elegant and contemporary.
. In 2nd class carriages, the seats are arranged in squares of 4 seats on each side of the aisle.
. In 1st class, one side of the aisle is occupied by squares of 4 seats, the other by pairs of seats facing each other.
. The Excellence class has beautiful beige leather seats and offers an even more premium service.
. The Glacier Express is the only panoramic train in Switzerland that is a restaurant train.
. The meals are simple but very good. In Excellence class, they are gourmet.
. The staff serve in uniform: white shirt and apron.
. At the entrance to each carriage, there is a small opening for taking photos in the open air.
. The Glacier Express also has a panoramic carriage with opening windows.
. The headphones provided allow you to listen to tourist commentaries in English along the way.
. When the train approaches a commentary area, a small acoustic signal will warn you.

THE PRICE INCLUDES

. Swiss Travel Pass 2nd class
. Gornergrat Bahn return tickets
.  Reservation for the Glacier Express panoramic train
. Public transport in all towns along the route
. Accommodation in a 3-star hotel in the city centre, depending on the category chosen
. Breakfast (B)
. Assistance from Discovery Trains teams
. Electronic version of the travel guide

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
. International transport (by train or plane)
. Hotel taxes (to be paid locally)
. Single supplement in hotels
. Lunches and dinners
. Guide for excursions
. Private transfers between stations and hotels if necessary (most of the time the hotels are located not far from the station)
. Any insurance
. 1rst class ou Excellence train supplement
. 4* hotel supplement
. Paper travel diary sent by post (on request)