Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Switzerland – Zurich – Lucerne – Interlaken – Montreux – Zermatt – St. Moritz – Milan
100% customisable for you
Your epic alpine journey starts today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and relax in the lounge before boarding your one-hour-and-a-half flight to Zurich. On arrival, check in for one night at a beautiful hotel in the heart of the old town.
Spend the rest of the afternoon settling into your surroundings – head out for a stroll and an aperitif in town or simply relax at the hotel. At dinnertime, pick from one of the specially selected eateries in our Dossier for an evening of wining and dining to celebrate the start of your adventure.
It wouldn’t be right to leave Zurich without admiring its curiosities, so head out this morning with a knowledgeable local guide for a relaxed tour of the city, tailored to your interests. Fascinating sites you might like to visit include the Cabaret Voltaire, the birthplace of the world-famous Dada art movement; the Oerlikon district, a bustling post-industrial commercial hub; and the beautiful Kaferberg woods, where you can enjoy views across the whole city. Then it’s time to board your first train of the trip: Zurich to Lucerne. The journey only takes an hour but offers some scenic views across this tiny sliver of Switzerland. On arrival, settle in for two nights at a cosy hotel in a central spot. The rest of today is yours to spend relaxing, before a hearty meal this evening.
From the well-preserved Spreuerbrucke footbridge to the transport museum and its immersive IMAX cinema screen, Lucerne has a lot to offer. One of the most popular things to do here is take the Rigi Kaltbad aerial cable car up to a fantastic viewpoint. As it steadily climbs, admire the forest, the city and breathtaking Lake Lucerne, before enjoying views of Lake Zug to the north and Rossberg to the east at the top. To see more quintessentially Swiss scenery, head into the mountains on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Electric motors have replaced the old locomotives that were used at its inception in 1869, but steam trips run from July to September if you fancy experiencing this evocative rail journey as it once was.
It’s time to bid farewell to Lucerne and make tracks to your next destination: Lake Interlaken. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel this morning, board the Luzern–Interlaken Express. The journey takes around two hours and passes through some magnificent alpine landscapes made up of crystalline lakes and soaring mountains.
On arrival in Interlaken, check into your hotel for one night. Once you’ve freshened up, head out for a tasting of Swiss wines and cheeses. The surroundings of Interlaken are one of the most important regions for Swiss winegrowing, particularly the muller-thurgau and pinot noir grapes. Enjoy a private visit to a picturesque vineyard on Lake Thun before sampling some of the region’s finest wines and cheeses for a delicious taste of the Swiss terroir.
Make your way back to the train station this morning to board a three-hour train to Montreux, a traditional Swiss resort town on Lake Geneva. Today, your travels take you along the magnificent Golden Pass, through colourful countryside and splendid mountain scenery. On arrival, settle in for two nights in a charming local hotel. Spend the rest of today enjoying your new surroundings, before tucking into a hearty meal this evening at one of the recommended restaurants in our ever-helpful Dossier (you’re welcome).
To say there’s plenty to see and do on Lake Geneva is something of an understatement: your options for today are endless. There are some interesting statues to visit, including that of Elisabeth of Austria by Antonio Chiattone and Irena Sedlecka’s bronze depiction of Freddie Mercury, who lived in Montreux and recorded six albums here with Queen. An hour-and-a-half boat ride on the lake takes you to the beautiful city of Lausanne, home to the Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Museum of Typewriters and the Olympic Museum. Just south of Montreux, in Veytaux, is one of the most romantic castles in the world: Chillon. Make sure to arrive by boat to admire the beauty of Medieval architecture and nature in unison. There’s also the Chateau du Chatelard in Clarena, a 15th-century fortified house surrounded by vineyards specialising in pinot noir.
Today, swap lakeside lounging for the mountain resort of Zermatt. After a fuelling breakfast at the hotel this morning, make your way to the station to catch a three-hour train into the heart of the Alps. Your home for the next two nights is a charming chalet in Zermatt, where you’re never too far from views of the majestic Matterhorn, a jagged-tooth shaped mountain soaring high into the sky. Enjoy an afternoon relaxing in your new surroundings before savouring a traditional meal ahead of tomorrow’s adventures.
Make it a hearty breakfast this morning, as today you hike up the heavily glaciated Breithorn mountain. The western summit of the Breithorn reaches a height of 13,600ft, so an experienced local guide will support you every step of the way. Take the cable car up to the Klein Matterhorn station, which sits at 12,500ft high, and get kitted out ready to traverse the Breithorn glacier. The route from here to the summit takes just a few hours and is doable without much mountain experience, however it does require good stamina and confidence on different terrain. If you’re a keen hiker, it’s a great opportunity to hone new skills such as your crampon technique, and as you’d expect, the views across the snow-capped mountains at 13,000ft are simply magnificent. After conquering Breithorn, head back to the hotel this evening to enjoy a well-deserved feast.
The time has come to say goodbye to the Matterhorn and continue to your final destination in Switzerland: the luxury alpine resort of St. Moritz. Travelling on the Glacier Express route from Zermatt takes a good eight hours, so we can book you on an early train this morning. The journey offers captivating views across the Swiss Alps throughout, so sit back and watch the natural wonders from your window. On arrival this afternoon, check in for two nights at a comfortable hotel in the heart of town. A chairlift and cable car pass are waiting for you at the hotel, making it possible to head into the nearby mountains before dinner this evening.
St. Moritz might be the birthplace of Alpine winter sports, but enjoying more than 300 days of annual sunshine, there’s no shortage of things to do in summer too. You have today to explore at your leisure, so get up and out to see more of this stylish resort. For the best view in town, take the cable car up Piz Nair, a mountain peak that offers more of those spectacular Swiss vistas you now know so well. For something more active, head out on one of the many hiking and biking trails among flower-filled meadows and alongside lovely Lake St. Moritz, where windsurfing, kayaking and swimming can also be on the agenda.
As one of Europe’s most sophisticated ski spots, glitzy St. Moritz has plenty of elegant eateries and chic boutiques, so don’t forget to fit in some upscale souvenir shopping and luxurious dining.
Bid St. Moritz (and Switzerland) a fond farewell today as you board the Bernina Express early this morning. The first leg from St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy takes around two-and-a-half hours, and then it’s roughly the same again to Milan. In total, today’s journey takes around five hours, so you should reach the city with the afternoon free to explore.
On arrival, drop your bags at the hotel before setting off for some sightseeing. Stroll through town, sampling delicious Italian nibbles and indulging in some very stylish window shopping as you go. We can also arrange a tour of the city’s famous Duomo or a visit to the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to see da Vinci’s The Last Supper. This evening, enjoy another delightful dinner to end your trip, savouring specialities like risotto alla Milanese (risotto enriched with saffron) and ossobuco (veal shank braised with vegetables, wine and stock).
Sadly, the time has come to head back home. Enjoy one last indulgent breakfast at the hotel this morning before travelling to the airport to catch a two-hour flight back to the UK. Not quite ready to leave yet? If you’re lucky enough to have a few extra days to play with, then we can arrange to extend your holiday with a trip to the luxurious lakes of northern Italy.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
