Alpine Lakes Trains

This famous bright red train runs the length of southern Switzerland between Zermatt in the west and St. Moritz in the east, and is known as the “slowest express train in the world.” The trip takes about 7 ½ hours and it traverses its highest point at the Oberalp Pass at 6,700 feet (2042 meters). Some sections are steep enough to require a rack-and-pinion system on the tracks. The cars have panoramic windows and domes, and there is a restaurant car. The towns it links are among the most famous ski resorts in the world, and it gets its name from the Rhone Glacier in western Switzerland, one of the sources of Lake Geneva and the Rhone River.

Is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps which goes through both Italy and Switzerland. The climate, both in the winter and summer is mild enough to products Mediterranean vegetation, with many gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Many islands overlook the lake, including the Borromean Islands, the Brissago Islands, Castelli di Cannero, and Isolina Partegora.

This town is located in southwest Switzerland in the canton of Valais, and is best known by the nearby 14,000ft (4267m) Matterhorn. The town began as an agricultural area and in the 19th century became famous as a ski and mountaineering resort. Most of the town now depends on tourism, and in ski season the town of 5,000 swells several times over. To keep the air clean, all vehicles are now electric and mostly silent, with only emergency access by gas-powered vehicles such as firetrucks. The famous Glacier Express train which begins in far eastern Switzerland near St. Moritz ends in Zermatt.

St. Moritz is a ski resort town in southeast Switzerland known as a “jet set” destination and playground of the wealthy. It is in the canton of Graubunden, not far from the Italian border, also not far from the highest peak in eastern Switzerland, Pic Bernina (13,200 feet/4023 meters). St. Moritz is named for St. Maurice, a Roman martyred there in the 3rd century, and first became popular as a pilgrimage site with healing spring waters. The 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics were held here. The town was used in the opening scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s original version of “The Man Who Knew Too Much” with Peter Lorre in 1934.

This city of 80,000 people is in north-central Switzerland in the canton of Lucerne and sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne. The town began with a Benedictine monastery in the 8th century and gained importance from its location on trade routes. The most famous sights in Lucerne are the wooden Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) across the Reuss River, the Hofkirche (Church of St. Leodegar) and the Swiss Museum of Transport. The city celebrates Carnival every year beginning the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Mt Pilatus, with the world’s steepest cog railway, is visible from Lucerne.

Ascend the majestic Mount Pilatus overlooking Lucerne by cable car and descend via the world's steepest cog railway.