Switzerland Tours

Routes beginning in Zurich or Lucerne stay in the country longest, covering the Bernese Oberland, Zermatt and Jungfraujoch over several days. Routes arriving from Paris, London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt cross Switzerland partway through a longer itinerary — these usually stop at Lucerne and one mountain before continuing, so they show you the Alps rather than the country. The full stop list is on each tour page.

All three are reached from Lucerne and all three are on itineraries here. Titlis is the highest of the three and the only one with a glacier at the top, which is why routes wanting snow in summer choose it. Rigi and Pilatus are lower, closer to the lake, and give wider views over central Switzerland rather than over ice. Which mountain a route includes is stated on the tour page, and it is usually fixed rather than optional.

It varies by route. Some itineraries include the ascent in the tour price, others list it as an optional extra paid on the day, and some stop at the base station only. This matters more in Switzerland than elsewhere because mountain ascents are a significant cost on their own. Each tour page states which ascents are covered before you book.

Alpine visibility changes quickly, and mountain railways suspend service in high wind or heavy snow. Where an ascent is included, operators generally substitute an alternative or refund that portion rather than cancel the day. Where it is optional, you simply do not buy it. Because this is decided on the morning, no itinerary can guarantee a view. Ask about the specific policy before booking if the mountain is your main reason for the trip.

Late spring through early autumn is when the widest range of routes runs, and when the high passes are open. Summer has the fullest departure schedule and the clearest access to the mountains, though the popular ascents are busiest then. Winter departures are fewer, and routes crossing Alpine passes may take a different road or drop a stop. Available dates for each route are on the tour page.

Two to four days covers Lucerne and one mountain, which is what most multi-country routes allow. A week inside the country reaches the Bernese Oberland, Zermatt and Geneva as well, moving between valleys rather than staying in one. Longer Swiss itineraries add the eastern side toward St. Moritz and Appenzell. Route lengths are listed on each tour page.

Switzerland borders five countries and sits between the northern and southern halves of Europe, which is why so many routes pass through it. Southern routes pair it with Italy and France by way of Milan or the Riviera. Eastern routes pair it with Austria, Liechtenstein, Czechia and Hungary. Western routes reach it from Germany and the Netherlands. Liechtenstein is a separate country and counts as one on itineraries that stop at Vaduz.

The coach days are straightforward, but the mountain ascents reach altitudes well above anywhere else on these routes — Jungfraujoch stands at 3,454 metres. Most visitors feel nothing more than mild breathlessness, though anyone with heart or lung conditions should treat a high ascent as a medical question rather than a fitness one. The stops themselves involve walking on uneven ground, and viewing platforms are cold year-round. Activity level is tagged per tour.