Departure in the early evening on a direct sleeper train from Prague to Switzerland.

alpine peaks, lakes, and railway marvels

Breakfast on the train. After arriving in Switzerland, we continue to Landquart and take the red carriages of the narrow-gauge adhesion railway of the Rhaetian Railways to Sagliains, then through the most beautiful valley in eastern Switzerland, the Engadin, to the world-famous winter sports resort that hosted the Winter Olympic Games, St. Moritz. Here, we can take an interesting walk around the lake, relax at a viewpoint overlooking it, or stroll through the streets of this fashionable town. We continue on the Albula line, where the train overcomes elevation differences using generously designed spiral tunnels and viaducts, then travel through the Valley of Castles to Reichenau Tamins at the confluence of the Upper and Lower Rhine. From there, we take another train through the Grand Canyon of Switzerland upstream along the Rhine to Disentis, dominated by a magnificent monastery. Next, the red and white carriages of the narrow-gauge rack railway Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn will take us over the Oberalp Pass to the heart of the Alpine fortress town of Andermatt. We descend to the entrance of the Gotthard Tunnel and our accommodation area in Erstfeld. Dinner, overnight stay. In St. Moritz, there is an option to store luggage for a fee of about 10 CHF, which is not included in the tour price.

views from rigi and a lake cruise

After breakfast, we will head to Arth-Goldau, where the blue-and-white cogwheel train cars will take us up to the summit of Rigi. Besides the stunning views, you’ll surely appreciate the chance for easy hiking on the plateau or a visit to the cheese dairy located a short distance below the summit. The other branch of this railway, with its red carriages, will take us to Lake Vierwaldstättersee at Vitznau. After a brief stop, which we can enrich with a short walk along the lakeside promenade or a break at one of the many cafés offering typical Swiss specialties, we continue by boat across Lake Vierwaldstättersee to the resort town of Brunnen. There is an option to visit the Victorinox store. We will then cross to the Rütli meadow, where the treaty considered the founding moment of this country was signed. By boat, we proceed to Flüelen, from where we take the train back to our accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay.

the gotthard tunnels and the magic of lago maggiore

After breakfast, we will travel on the Gotthard railway, a system of spiral tunnels, ramps, and viaducts, climbing up to the northern portal of the fifteen-kilometer-long Gotthard Tunnel, which passes under the namesake Alpine pass and has connected the northern and southern sides of the Alps since 1882. Descending through the mountainous landscape in the canton of Ticino, passing the city of three castles Bellinzona, we will arrive in Locarno, a town on Lago Maggiore, known for its unique atmosphere and often called the Swiss Monte Carlo. There is an option to take a cable car up to the pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso, home to the famous Bramante painting 'Flight into Egypt.' On the way back, we will pass through the world's longest railway tunnel, the 57-kilometer-long Gotthard Base Tunnel. The total travel time inside the tunnel is 20 minutes. We will return to the accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay.

pilatus, lucerne, and a farewell to switzerland

After breakfast, we will depart for Lucerne, leave our luggage in storage, and then the red carriages of the Brünig Railway will take us to Alpnachstad. We will ascend the famous Pilatus on the world's steepest cogwheel railway, with gradients up to 38%. There is an option for easy hiking. After visiting this site, we will descend by cable cars to Kriens and then use local transport back to Lucerne. Free time in one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities, famous for its Chapel Bridge. There is an option to visit the largest transport museum in the world, boasting a magnificent collection of famous Swiss locomotives and many other transport-related exhibits. Music lovers will surely want to visit the Richard Wagner Museum, which houses many original scores of his famous operas. In the late afternoon, we continue to Zurich, from where a direct sleeper train will take us back to the Czech Republic.

Breakfast on the train. Arrival in the Czech Republic in the morning hours.