Switzerland Tour: Private Glacier Express Train Tour

Switzerland Travel: Private Glacier Express Train Tour

Glacier refers to the Glacier Express (GEX), a scenic tourist train connecting two of Switzerland's major resort towns:

Zermatt and St. Moritz. Ticket prices are 153 CHF for 2nd class Zermatt - St. Moritz (origin to destination).

The train offers first and second class seating. Seat reservations should be made at least two months in advance.

The journey passes through Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps. The route is 291 kilometers long, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels.

Departing from Zermatt, the journey begins in the Mattertal valley at an altitude of 1,606 meters above sea level, 
passing through the 15.4-kilometer Furka Tunnel to cross the Furka Pass at an altitude of 1,500 meters.

The train then makes a brief stop at the Oberalp Pass at an altitude of 2,033 meters,  before descending to the lowest point of the route in Chur at an altitude of 585 meters. 

Once past Chur, the train begins climbing again toward St. Moritz in the southern valleys. 

Despite the word "Express," this is not a high-speed train. On the contrary, it takes up to eight hours to complete the journey, making it known as the slowest express train in the world.

The Glacier Express entered service on June 25, 1930. The name #Glacier refers to the Rhone Glacier at the Furka Pass. In winter, there is one departure per day each way, while other seasons offer multiple departures depending on the route.

If you are looking for a relaxing way to spend a weekend while taking in magnificent scenery, you can consider this classic Swiss rail adventure on the famous Glacier Express. 

While tickets for the special "panoramic" cars can sometimes be pricey, you can find more affordable options in the "regular" cars attached to the same train, enjoying the exact same spectacular views as the "panoramic" cars.

The only difference is that panoramic coaches have windows that curve slightly over the roofline, giving you an unobstructed upward view if you really want to see the mountain peaks you are passing, though they are a bit more expensive.

A smart tip is to buy a standard ticket and upgrade for just one section between the two towns, allowing you to experience the panoramic car as part of your journey.

The Glacier Express is one of the most famous tourist trains in the world, traversing spectacular landscapes across the Alps and showcasing some of the most beautiful parts of Switzerland (with Italy as an add-on). The scenery is breathtaking whichever season you choose, except on days with dense fog and no sunshine when views are obscured. 

There are many options and several towns where you can board the train. The full 300 km journey takes around 7.5 hours, starting from Zermatt and ending in St. Moritz (or vice versa). 

As mentioned earlier, along the way you pass through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges across the Swiss Alps. Because the Alpine rail network is fully connected, you also have the option to branch off and visit destinations along the way.

One great option for planning a "Swiss train weekend" is taking the Glacier Express line to St. Moritz, spending a little time exploring this exclusive luxury resort town.

Then continue your rail journey, which from St. Moritz is called the Bernina Express. This is another incredible train trip that takes you across the stunning Bernina Pass.

The full route takes around 4 hours, but from St. Moritz it is about a 2-hour ride to the end of the line.
You can plan an overnight stay along this route; for example, the charming town of Poschiavo is highly recommended for a stopover.

Continuing on the Bernina Express brings you to the end of the railway in Tirano, Italy.
From there, if you wish to continue sightseeing, there is a bus to Lugano, Switzerland.

For the return trip to your starting point, you might consider taking a train from Lugano to Locarno, and then riding the scenic Centovalli railway to Domodossola (Italy).

From there, you can easily connect to a direct train to Zermatt or other points along the Swiss rail network. The scenery along the Centovalli route is well worth the detour and noticeably different from what you experience on the Glacier/Bernina Express. It is a shorter rail route, yet it crosses towering bridges, deep gorges, and tunnels, passing waterfalls, forests, and vineyards, while navigating numerous curves and gradual inclines throughout.

If you would like to experience this beautiful journey, See You Again can arrange it for you. Travel on a private tour to Switzerland with us—our van drops you off at the departure point and picks you up at your destination with total ease. See you next time in Switzerland!