Tauck Switzerland Tour 2027: Scenic Trains, Lakes, and Alps

The Tauck Switzerland Tour 2027 brings together the experiences so many travelers dream about: cogwheel trains climbing toward the Matterhorn, boat rides across beautiful lakes, and mountain vistas that make you put down your camera and simply stare.

Add historic castles, grand hotels, and a taste of northern Italy, and you have a vacation with something wonderful to look forward to every day.

Officially named Switzerland: Europe’s Crown Jewel, this 11-day journey takes you from the shores of Lake Geneva to Zermatt, Lugano, St. Moritz, Interlaken, and Lucerne. Along the way, you explore an island palace on Lake Maggiore, enjoy wine tasting aboard a Lake Lugano cruise, and celebrate with a private cocktail reception inside the Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch.

Carol and I especially like the variety. You can spend one morning riding a railway into the Alps and another exploring a lakeside town with an Italian accent. With Tauck coordinating transportation, hotels, and guided experiences, you can focus on enjoying Switzerland. Here is how the adventure unfolds, day by day.

Day 1: A Lakeside Welcome in Lausanne

Your arrival transfer from Geneva leads through vineyard country above Lake Geneva to Lausanne Palace. It is a lovely introduction to Switzerland: a broad sweep of water, hillsides planted with vines, and the anticipation of the mountains ahead.

Tonight’s welcome reception and dinner provide the opportunity to meet your Tauck Director and fellow travelers. Settle in, raise a glass, and let the adventure begin.

Day 2: Castles, Gruyères, and the Train to Zermatt

Begin with Château de Chillon beside Lake Geneva, followed by medieval Gruyères and lunch. Later, travel by train from Täsch into Zermatt for two nights.

This is a day with several very different pleasures. Chillon delivers the romance of a castle at the water’s edge, while Gruyères offers the charm of a historic Swiss town crowned by its own castle. Then comes the transition into the mountains and the excitement of arriving in Zermatt, where the Matterhorn dominates the imagination before you have even unpacked.

The Matterhorn

Day 3: Ride the Cogwheel Railway to Gornergrat

Today brings the Gornergrat cogwheel railway and the Matterhorn Museum.

For mountain lovers, Gornergrat is a major reason to consider this journey. The railway climbs from Zermatt into a world of glaciers and soaring summits, with the unmistakable Matterhorn as the star attraction. In clear conditions, the panorama encompasses more than two dozen peaks rising above 4,000 meters.

Have your camera ready, but give yourself time simply to look. There is something wonderful about sitting aboard a mountain train and watching the landscape grow more dramatic as you climb.

Day 4: Across the Simplon Pass to Italy’s Lake Maggiore

Descend by rail, cross the Simplon Pass, and continue through Stresa to Isola Bella by private water taxi. Visit its palace and gardens before continuing to Lugano.

The change in scenery is part of the pleasure. After Zermatt’s mountain setting, an Italian lake and an island palace bring a different mood to the journey. Picture approaching across the water, stepping ashore, and exploring a place where architecture and gardens compete for your attention.

Day 5: Lugano, Local Flavors, and Wine on the Water

A guided walk, a Lake Lugano cruise with wine tasting, and lunch at a grotto restaurant anchor today’s experiences.

Lugano introduces Switzerland’s Mediterranean personality. The lake, surrounding mountains, Italian atmosphere, and inviting waterfront make it an appealing place to slow down and savor your surroundings.

This is a day for enjoying the pleasures of the region: a new perspective from the water, something local in your glass, and a leisurely appreciation of how much Switzerland can change from one destination to the next.

Day 6: Lake Como Scenery and the Road to St. Moritz

Travel past Lake Como, stop for lunch, and cross the Maloja Pass en route to St. Moritz.

Keep your attention on the window today. The route between the Italian lakes and the Engadin is a journey through changing landscapes, from lakeside scenery to the mountain country surrounding one of Switzerland’s most celebrated resorts.

For travelers who love a beautiful drive, days like this are part of the vacation’s appeal. The scenery between destinations deserves as much attention as the destinations themselves.

Day 7: Alpine Rails and Dinner Above Interlaken

Ride the train to Chur, visit a cheese factory in Einsiedeln, then continue to Interlaken. A private funicular ride leads to dinner at Harder Kulm.

This evening’s setting is a highlight. Harder Kulm looks out toward the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, with Lakes Thun and Brienz below. Mountains and lakes share the same sweeping view.

Your base for two nights is the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. After a day of rail travel and an elevated dinner, the prospect of returning to a grand hotel adds another layer of pleasure.

Day 8: Jungfraujoch and Cocktails Inside the Ice Palace

Ascend by cogwheel train via Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch for a private Ice Palace reception.

This is the Switzerland many travelers have imagined for years: mountain railways, immense peaks, and a landscape of snow and ice. Jungfraujoch is home to Europe’s highest railway station, and its glacier setting gives the excursion a sense of occasion before you even step inside the Ice Palace.

There, corridors and sculptures carved in ice create an extraordinary setting for a cocktail reception. It is easy to imagine this becoming one of the stories you tell first when friends ask about your trip.

Day 9: Historic Bern and Beautiful Lucerne

Explore Bern with a guide, enjoy lunch at Bellevue Palace, and continue to Lucerne.

Bern’s UNESCO recognized Old Town brings another dimension to the journey. Its arcades, historic fountains, and medieval clock tower reward a closer look, adding architectural beauty and city life to the week’s mountain and lake experiences.

Then Lucerne awaits. With its waterfront, historic center, and famous covered bridges, it is a fitting setting for the final chapter of your Swiss adventure.

Day 10: Lucerne and a Farewell Across the Lake

A guided walk and free time precede a lake crossing to your farewell dinner at Seehotel Baumgarten.

Lucerne invites you to enjoy the smaller moments: a walk beside the water, a browse through the shops, or a café stop with a view. Its Chapel Bridge and Old Town give the city a distinctive sense of place, while the surrounding mountains keep the Alpine scenery close.

Ending with a boat ride feels especially appropriate. After experiencing Switzerland from railway carriages, mountain viewpoints, and village streets, you have one more opportunity to appreciate it from the water.

Day 11: Homeward Bound

After breakfast, transfer to Zurich Airport for your journey home.

You will leave with a wonderful collection of memories: the Matterhorn, the Italian lakes, mountain trains, historic towns, and evenings in settings that made you want to linger.

Other Tauck Switzerland Small Group Land Itineraries:

• The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites
• A Week In … Switzerland