Meet your guide at your Basel hotel and make the roughly 2-hour journey by private, air-conditioned vehicle via Zurich to Chur.
The capital of the Graubünden canton and reputedly Switzerland’s oldest town, this pretty, mountain-framed city is one of the stops of the Glacier Express train.
On arrival, enjoy a private walking tour of the Old Town, delving into the cobbled lanes lined with medieval townhouses, churches, and fountains.
Afterward, head for the railway station to catch the Glacier Express train between Chur and Brig. Settle into a pre-arranged seat and admire the spectacular views on one of Europe’s most scenic rail journeys. If you wish, use the onboard headphones for commentary on the sights.
Absorb the scenery as you pass through the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon,’ an epic part of the Rhine gorge where the river carves through rocks.
Feel the train’s cogwheels engage as it climbs from 5,249 feet (1,600 meters) to 6,669 feet (2,033 meters) — your journey’s highest point — at the Oberalp Pass. Then, descend to 4,724 feet (1,440 meters) for a 20-minute stop at Andermatt, where you have time to disembark for photos.
Continue through the 9.3-mile (15-kilometer) Furka Pass tunnel and picturesque Goms Valley past traditional villages, pastures, and high mountain peaks.
Two hours from Andermatt, leave the train at Brig and enjoy a stroll around the pedestrianized quarter including its central square, stately houses, and baroque Stockalper Palace.
Then, catch an inter-city train via the Alps, Lake Thun, and Bern to Basel, where your tour ends.
