Luxury rail holidays

Rail holidays: luxury, tailor-made holidays and scenic train holidays in Europe

The Bernese Oberland. Nestling into the steep valleys dusted with rich green vegetation, are beautiful chocolate box villages that border the many serene lakes. Mystical grottoes have been carved into the rock by centuries of melting and re-freezing ice. Twisting rivers and streams have etched out their pathways down the mountainsides, flowing tranquilly in places and turbulent in others. Some of our favourite places in the Bernese Oberland include: Wengen, a picturesque village clustered between sheer rock faces; and Grindelwald, a village overlooked by harsh snowy peaks, the famous Jungfrau, and the Gletscherschucht glacial gorge.
The Grisons and the Engadine. Dotted with National Parks, Grisons and the Engadine are best known for the dramatic Alpine scenery and the major winter sports resorts; yet, in the spring, summer, and autumn months, the region has far more to offer. Historic towns, scenic lakes and glaciers, and chic villages packed with gourmet restaurants and boutique shops come into their own in the sunshine. This is also the region through which the iconic Glacier Express and Bernina Express scenic trains run.
Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva is popular for water sports and hiking holidays, as well as relaxing lakeside spa breaks; and, in the winter, it is close enough to the ski slopes to make a very laid-back skiing destination. Chic towns and villages sit behind rows of palm trees, basking in the Mediterranean climate, sheltering gourmet restaurants, luxury boutique shops, and a range of stunning Swiss hotels. There is perhaps nowhere more glamorous in Switzerland than Lake Geneva, and nowhere where the history and culture is so grand and visually captured in the buildings, parks, and gardens of Geneva itself.
Lake Lucerne. Immersed in history, folklore, and bustling modern culture, Lake Lucerne brings together everything that makes Switzerland in summer so special. The city of Lucerne itself is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. White-walled, tiled-roof townhouses crowd together on the water’s edge; bridges on stilts take visitors from one side of the river to the other; and the high original rampart wall is visible in the distance. Outside the city, you are free to enjoy the Alpine panoramas from a boat, or from one of the hiking trails that score the mountainsides.
Saanenland. This is the region of Gstaad and the surrounding nine villages, such as Schönried, Zweisimmen, Saanen, and Saanenmöser, which prove to be continually popular in summer and in winter. Priding itself on being a haven of wellbeing, the Saanenland offers a taste of idyllic nature, whilst remaining one of Switzerland’s chicest locations.
Ticino. A smattering of small lakes marks the upper boundary of Ticino, but it is Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano that dominate the south, prompting many of the long, straight valleys that lead into Italy. The River Ticino winds its way down from its source on the Ticino border, meeting dams, lakes, and trickling and tumbling waterfalls on its way. Palm trees line the lakesides, medieval Italian castles form the centre-points of towns, and colourful, higgledy-piggledy houses look out across the water or from their tiered position on the steep mountainside.
Valais. Perhaps most famous for the icy Alpine resort of Zermatt, Valais is a canton that captures a blend of those Swiss mountain resorts and northern Italy’s flourishing wine-producing vineyards. This mix is complicated further by the dual-language of the canton; the west of Valais speaks French, and the east speaks German. Terraced vineyards cloak the slopes of southern Valais, uniquely watered by glacier run-off. Valais is also popular amongst cycling, mountain-biking, and hiking enthusiasts. Over 8000km of marked hiking paths line the mountainsides, and well-maintained and well-marked cycling paths are combined with high-altitudes to establish a network that is unrivalled in Switzerland.
The cities of Zurich, Bern and Basel are serious places, rich in history and culture, learning and art. Mediaeval houses and traditions are well-preserved whilst life is modern and cosmopolitan too.