Wintertime in Lucerne - The Chapel Bridge
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Best of Winter - Grand Train Tour of Switzerland - 5 Star
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Wintertime in Lucerne - The Chapel Bridge
The Bernina Express
Wintertime in Lucerne
Skiing in Zermatt
Journey to the 'Top of Europe"
Switzerland

Best of Winter - Grand Train Tour of Switzerland - 5 Star (Tour code: 13000)

Starts and Ends
Lucerne to
Chur
Travel Periods
12 Dec 24 - 20 March 25
Experience
Travel Style
Independent Holiday Packages
Snow-covered mountain peaks and the glittering lake landscape awaits you. Travel in two iconic panoramic trains: Glacier & Bernina Express!

Highlights

Travel through Switzerland in two iconic panoramic trains with stays in famous winter resorts.

Top sights including Matterhorn, Rhine Gorge and Morteratsch Glacier.

Ski up to 3 different mountain regions including Jungfrau and Zermatt

Scenic rides on the Glacier and Bernina Express

2x Freedom of Choice Activities

8 days
From
AUD 6,497
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

Overview

Switzerland is a winter paradise with many magical moments to be discovered.Be captivated by breathtaking winter scenery and journey through beautiful landscapes where the winter sun shines bright and snowy peaks sparkle like magic. 

The magic begins in Lucerne, where you will be enchanted by the beautiful lakeside setting and iconic Chapel Bridge. Continue to Interlaken, the gateway to the renowned Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station. You are literally on top of Europe! After Interlaken, travel to Brig, which lies in the Upper Valais at the foot of the Simplon Pass. Enjoy a day excursion to Zermatt, a renowned ski resort town at the foot of the Matterhorn.

Next the winter magic continues as you journey on the Glacier Express, the slowest express train in the world. This short ride between Brig and Chur is an unforgettable experience surrounded by a breathtaking backdrop of mountain panoramas. Travel across unspoilt landscapes as the route takes you over the Oberalp Pass and through the Rhine Gorge until you reach Chur. Followed by a ‘must’ in this region and for Switzerland in general is a journey on one of the panoramic trains Switzerland is so famous for. Board the Bernina Express for a spell-binding journey past mighty glaciers and high-alpine lakes covered in snow before descending through a winter wonderland to the Italian speaking Tirano. On your return to Chur explore the glamorous resort of St.Moritz. 

Inclusions

1 night in Lucerne in a 5* Hotel
2 nights in Interlaken in a 5* Hotel
2 nights in Brig in a 4* Hotel
2 nights in Chur in a 4* Hotel
8 day Swiss Travel Pass - 1st class
Daily Breakfast
Seat Reservation Glacier Express from Brig to Chur
Seat Reservation Bernina Express (Chur to Tirano)
50% discount on additional local rail tickets
50% discount on some mountain excursions
Local guest cards in Lucerne & Interlaken for free local transport and/or discounts
Freedom of Choice Days
Freedom of Choice

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day, as follows:

  • One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 3
  • One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 5

Expand the itinerary below for more details.

Please note, if more than one room is selected during the booking process, our team will contact you afterwards to discuss options.

Day 1 Lucerne

Independent arrival in Lucerne. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Lucerne at your leisure. 

Surrounded by famous peaks and set on the majestic lake of the same name, Lucerne is
often seen as quintessential Switzerland. The romantic old town is perfect for a late afternoon stroll: don’t miss the Chapel Bridge, with paintings in the eaves dating back to the Middle Ages, or the charming shops and restaurants along the lakeside. 

Overnight stay in Lucerne in a 5-Star Hotel.

Lucerne
Chapel Bridge

Day 2 Lucerne Lucerne-Interlaken Express Interlaken

After breakfast and check out in Lucerne, travel to Interlaken by train. Check in to your hotel.

Interlaken sits in the heart of the Bernese Oberland and the Swiss Alps. It is the gateway to the Jungfrau region with the famous peaks Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Interlaken nestles between the two beautiful lakes of Thun and Brienz at the foot of the Jungfrau massif. There is so much to do in Interlaken and the surrounding area is a holiday region like no other; you may want to consider a mountain excursion to the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn (not included).

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 5-Star Hotel

Breakfast
Lucerne → Lucerne-Interlaken Express → Interlaken
Interlaken | Credit Ivo Scholz

Day 3 Interlaken

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Today enjoy one of your pre-selected Freedom of Choice activity.

Overnight stay in Interlaken in a 5-Star Hotel.

Breakfast


Freedom of Choice Options

  • Self-guided excursion to the Jungfraujoch :

    The journey to the 'Top of Europe' at 3,454 meters ‐ Europe’s highest altitude railway station ‐ is a highlight of every visit to Switzerland. The Jungfrau Railways is an engineering masterpiece. The last section has been built inside the mountain itself, and the view through the panorama windows at the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations in the middle of the North Wall is a thrilling experience. The platform of the observatory is located right above the Aletsch Glacier. The Alpine Sensation, a subway inside the rock marks the centenary of the Jungfrau Railway and connects the Ice Paradise with the Sphinx Hall.

    Return to Interlaken by train. This excursion is self-guided.

OR

  • Ski Day Grindelwald:

    Full day ski excursion ahead. 
    Take a complimentary ski bus from Interlaken to Grindewald. Collect your ski equipment rental in Grindelwald and head to the slopes. The pass covers the extensive Jungfrau Ski Region taking in resorts of Grindelwald, Wengen and Murren ‐ over 206km of available piste. Return ski equipment.

    Take the bus from Grindlewald back to Interlaken.

Interlaken
Jungfrau Railway

Day 8 Chur

After breakfast at the hotel your Winter Magic journey ends in Chur. Independent travel back to your ending point in Switzerland.

Breakfast

Day 4 Interlaken Brig

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Brig by train. 

The lovely old town is dotted with stately homes and cozy inns. The lively main street is great for shopping and the Stockalper Palace is one of the most important baroque palaces in Switzerland.

Overnight stay in Brig in a 4-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Interlaken → Brig
Brig

Day 5 Brig Zermatt Brig

After breakfast at the hotel, a full day of self guided excursion to Zermatt awaits. Surrounded by amazing scenery with the iconic Matterhorn as a backdrop ‐ Zermatt has it all.

Enjoy your pre-selected tour from our Freedom of Choice options below.

Transfer by train back to Brig (via Visp).

Overnight stay in Brig in a 4-Star Hotel.

Breakfast


Freedom of Choice Options

  • Full Day Skiing in Zermatt:

    Full Day Skiing at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise including lift pass, skis and boot rental.

    On arrival head to the equipment rental store to collect the ski equipment. Surrounded by amazing scenery with the iconic Matterhorn as a backdrop ‐ Zermatt has it all. The world‐class area offers fantastic high altitude skiing until late spring for all levels.

    Transfer by train to Brig via Visp.

     

OR

  • Gornergrat:

    Self‐guided excursion to the Gornergrat Gourmet Ticket ‐ indulge in gastronomic treats with the best views of the Matterhorn along the way.

    Transfer by train back to Brig via Visp.

Brig → Zermatt → Brig
Matterhorn Cable Car

Day 6 Brig Glacier Express Chur

After breakfast at the hotel, discover the many highlights along the Glacier Express route. The trip between Brig and Chur is unforgettable. Surrounded by a fantastic mountain panorama, the journey leads eastwards into the Upper Rhone valley which reaches 1366m at Oberwald, passing Andermatt onwards to the Oberlap Pass before winding its way upwards to 2034m (the highest point of the journey).

The journey continues on a decent along the Rhine valley to Chur at 595m (the lowest point of the route). The landscape looks very dramatic in the Rhine gorge between IIanz and Reichenau. The journey ends in Chur, the capital of the canton of Graubunden and the largest town along the route.

Overnight stay in Chur in a 4-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Brig → Glacier Express → Chur
Glacier Express Winter Journey

Day 7 Chur Bernina Express Tirano Chur

After breakfast at the hotel, board the Bernina Express for a journey along magical winter scenery. Experience the one‐of‐a‐kind mountain landscape of the Swiss Alps on this spectacular train journey across viaducts and bridges and through tunnels and ancient gorges. From the icy peaks of the Canton of Graubunden and the Morteratsch Glacier (where the ascent up the Bernina Pass begins) to Lago Bianco which at this time of year is covered in snow. Soon after, reach the highest point of 2253m at Ospizio Bernina. The dramatic descent down via Alp Grum offers magnificent views of the Palu Glacier. Finishing in the Italian border town of Tirano.

Option to return directly by regional train to Chur or stop in St Moritz for a few hours before continuing back to Chur.

Overnight stay in Chur in a 4-Star Hotel.

Breakfast
Chur → Bernina Express → Tirano → Chur
Bernina Express

Additional information

Official language
French, Swiss - German, Italian, Romansh
Local currency
SWISS FRANC
  • Please be advised that the seat reservation for the Glacier Express is non-refundable once confirmed. An additional deposit will be necessary to secure this service, and our team will reach out to you with further information.
  • We work with a selection of hotels in each location. All bookings are subject to availability, which means our team will confirm your specific hotels upon confirmation and payment of deposit. The package price is based on 5 & 4-star accommodation.
  • Please be advised that the accommodations in Brig and Chur have a 4-star rating, as a 5-star rating is not available.
  • Swiss Coupon Pass provides 2for1 discounts. It is not included in the package for Single travellers.
  • Blackout period:Christmas & New Year 24.12 - 03.01.25; February 01.02 - 28.02.25 can be booked upon request,subject to availability and minimum stay requirements.

Excluded

  • International airfares and taxes
  • Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
  • Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
  • Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
  • Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
  • Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
  • Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

  • They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
  • Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
  • We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
  • Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
  • They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
  • A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

  • We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
  • You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

  • Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
  • The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

  • Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
  • A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
  • The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

  • To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
  • For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
  • For further details please visit our Payments page.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

  • Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
  • TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
  • Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

  • Travel on a specific airline of their choice
  • Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
  • Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
  • Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
  • Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

  • On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
  • You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
  • To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
  • An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

When experience matters
INDUSTRY ACCREDITED
AWARD WINNING
TRAVEL SUPPORT
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