A Grand Tour of Switzerland

For centuries the Matterhorn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau have held travellers spellbound with their powerful presence and undeniable romance. During the era of the Grand Tour, the passage through the Alps was no easy undertaking, but nowadays, thanks to the railways which snake between – and sometimes over – the mountains, modern-day travellers can marvel at these incredible landscapes in complete comfort.

Starting in easternmost Switzerland, in the idyllic but little-known Engadine Valley, our holiday takes full advantage of these trains – including the world-renowned Glacier Express – to reveal the very best of Switzerland as you journey via the Valais and the Bernese Oberland to the historic city of Lucerne. With three nights at each high-quality hotel, you have plenty of time to admire your surroundings – unless stated otherwise, our tailor-made travel pass covers all the excursions mentioned in the itinerary and gives discounts on others, and we provide notes for routes of varying levels if you wish to make the most of the superb walking. However you explore, the viewpoints will leave you with memories that will last for years.

Accommodation: As this is a holiday of outstanding scenery, we have found hotels to match, and have included superior rooms at your last two bases to make your stay all the more special:

Hotel Engiadina (4*), Zuoz Spacious and elegant, this 4-star hotel still recalls the era of the Grand Tour. The facilities are excellent, including an outdoor pool, massage rooms, and several high-ceilinged lounges. For more space, upgrade to a superior room £17pppn.

Hotel la Ginabelle (4*), Zermatt As befits its romantic location in the atmospheric, traffic-free village of Zermatt at the foot of the impressive Matterhorn, La Ginabelle is elegant and full of charm, with carved wood-panelled ceilings and delicate hand-painted motifs – all in true Swiss style. The spacious bedrooms are beautifully decorated and well appointed, as are the hotel lounge/bar and the intimate restaurant. Other facilities include an attractive garden and a beautiful spa complex complete with a sauna, steam bath, whirlpools and indoor/outdoor pool.

Hotel Alpenrose (3*), Wengen Excellent cuisine and a warm welcome from the 5th generation of the von Allmen family await you at this spacious hotel. Decorated in traditional Swiss style, it enjoys a tranquil position on the edge of the village with far-reaching views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley. These views are shared by the balconies of the south-facing bedrooms which we include to make your stay all the more special.

Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann (4*), Lucerne Situated close to the city’s famous bridge, the Kapellbrücke, this romantic hotel has been beautifully converted from several 16th-century townhouses. The interior is handsome and atmospheric, and you can choose to dine in the hotel’s own superb restaurants (pay locally) or in one of the city’s many eateries.

Traveller Reviews of This Trip

We only returned yesterday but I had every intention of letting you know just how wonderful the whole holiday was. Without a doubt it was the best Inntravel tour that we have been on. I can’t recommend it more highly. The hotels were excellent, varied and far superior to other hotels that we have stayed at with Inntravel. The rail journeys were breathtaking, not just wonderful scenery but so pleasingly efficient and reliable. A special mention for the Alpenrose in Wengen which was one of the best run hotels we have EVER stayed in. The family even waved us off and really couldn't have done enough for us. You have certainly come up trumps with this new form of holiday. Mrs JM Potter, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, 21/09/2011

Overall, we had a wonderful holiday with near perfect weather and, as always with Inntravel, the hotels were of a very high standard – in particular, we enjoyed La Ginabelle and the Alpenrose, both felt like they were family-run and the hoteliers really care about their guests. Thank you Inntravel – this is a lovely new holiday in your collection. Mrs CL Tansley, Oxford, 10/09/2011

For more reviews of this trip, see: Reviews of A Grand Tour of Switzerland