Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Basel
Basel, Switzerland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Local Guide
- Standard Rail Pass
- Glacier Express Seat Reservation
- Meet and Greet at Basel SBB (Instructions will be sent after booking)
- Lunch (can be purchased by card on the Glacier Express)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Centralbahnstrasse 10, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Meet the representative inside the main hall of the Basel SBB next to the benches close to the escalators, and in front of the Migros Flower shop.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:15 am
Itinerary
1
Basel
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Chur
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Oberalp Pass (Pass By)
3
Andermatt
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Lucerne
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
5
Basel
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 84 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Elena_F, Jun 2026
First - we had a wonderful guide. She really took a bad situation and tried to make it better. Problem 1 - The trip was scheduled to leave at 9:15 but in the morning, we got an email saying that we were leaving at 8:45. Then, no one showed. After I contacted them, someone showed at 9:25. Problem 2 - At that point we were told that our trip was in a different order than was advertised. We took the train to Lucerne first. No big deal - until the rain. If we had gone on the trip as advertised, we would have missed the rain. Problem 3 - this was supposed to be 10 hours, and it ended up that it was over 12 hours. Problem 4 - Because we had to hurry to get on the last train, we didn't get to eat and we were starving by the time we got back to Basel. Considering how expensive this was, we expected better.
Karen_J, Jun 2026
It was a wonderful tour! The sights of Lucerne and on the train were wonderful. Our guide Carlos was the best.
Craig_M, May 2026
The several train stops and changes that need to take place prior to writing the actual glacier express.
MarciaA_C, May 2026
We were either given the wrong time to meet, or, our tour guide didn’t dhow up. We got there 30 minutes early, waited over an hour. Absolutely unacceptable.
We have been rescheduled for tomorrow, We will be there 30 minutes early. It is the highlight of our Switzerland trip, and cost $1,140. I sure hope the guide is there, such a hassle snd disappointment.
John_M, Apr 2026
Roksan is an excellent tour guide. Glacier Express train is something everyone should see. We enjoyed everything
Brenda_C, Jan 2026
BEWARE when booking this tour as myself and three friends booked with PREMIUM RAIL PASSES in July 2025 but on the day of the tour (9th December 2025) at Basel train Station we were informed by the tour guide that we would not be travelling on the GLACIER EXPRESS train (no proper reason given) and took regional trains to Lucerne where we had lunch in a restaurant NOT the three course meal we were expecting on the GLACIER EXPRESS as we should have with a PREMIUM RAIL PASS !! Also we did not get a proper tour of Lucerne with free time to explore as after lunch needed to get back to station to get yet another regional train and in fact boarded a number of regional trains throughout the tour and the whole tour was definately NOT as described on the Viator site and the communication between Viator and the Tours of Switzerland is very poor !! We are four pensioners in our mid seventies but have not gone senile yet so know we did NOT at anytime board the GLACIER EXPRESS as expected and the only reason we booked a trip to Basel to experience a bucket list trip !! so was extremely disappointed when we did not get the tour we paid for and are at the moment in dispute with Viator re a refund as it was a very expensive tour which Viator/Tours of Switzerland did not honour
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, and we understand how disappointing it must have felt — especially when you were looking forward to a bucket list moment like the Glacier Express.
Please know that we always aim to provide a seamless and memorable experience for our guests. However, on rare occasions, last-minute operational disruptions (such as train suspensions, weather, or route changes) require us to act quickly and offer alternative solutions to ensure the day is still enjoyable. While we understand these may not align exactly with original plans, we always strive to offer an experience of similar value.
We recognize that booking through third-party platforms like Viator can sometimes cause breakdowns in communication, especially when updates aren’t relayed as efficiently as we would like. We always recommend guests reach out to us directly at info@tours-of-switzerland.com or visit tours-of-switzerland.com for direct bookings, clearer updates, and more flexible pricing.
We sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused and would be happy to look into this further with you directly to see how we can make things right.
Thank you again for your feedback — it helps us improve every step of the way.
Sandra_M, Dec 2025
Georgina was a great guide. We enjoyed our time with her. We did not realize how many trains we would be on throughout the tour but we definitely saw many faces of Switzerland!
Lillian_W, Nov 2025
ABOVE & BEYOND knowledgeable !!! I want to give a HUGE shout out to Jean our tour guide … He was very knowledgeable & so very valuable to his profession … Thank you for making my Number#2 Bucket List come true - Swiss Alps was everything and more importantly of what I was expecting… THANK YOU for making my memories last a lifetime ….
Brian_H, Oct 2025
Well it is not what is advertised. Never went to Lake Lucerne or the glacier express train. The tour owner/operator Jonas, pulled the bait and switch at the original price after you pay. The following day, we met with our awesome guide Jean, but he informs us we are taking the train from Basel to St. Moritz instead. It was a nice train ride, but extremely long and not what was advertised. I contacted owner/operator Jonas via email and he informed me that the trip to St Moritz was better anyways, and would not offer a partial refund. I didn’t ask for a full refund, just partial. He is not even hearing it. Skip this tour and book the train system yourself. You will save around $350 per person on your own.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations and would like to offer some clarity:
1. Jonas is not the owner, but part of our operations team working to ensure your tour could still take place despite last-minute disruptions.
2. Your booking and payment were made via Viator, a third-party reseller. We do not receive your full payment and have no control over the 40%+ markup Viator adds to our base price.
3. The Glacier Express route segment from Andermatt to Chur was suspended due to operational/weather issues, which we were informed of less than 30 minutes before the tour began. At that point, we presented you with two options:
• Proceed via the replacement bus service along the original route
• Or enjoy a scenic journey to St. Moritz instead
You chose the St. Moritz route, which, while more expensive for us to operate, was provided at no extra cost to you.
4. The tour description clearly mentions that the Glacier Express does not operate year-round and that a CHF 100 discount is already applied when the train is not running.
We understand this may not have been the tour you originally envisioned, but our team did everything possible in real time to ensure you still had a meaningful and scenic Swiss Alps experience. If you’d like to discuss further or book directly in the future at a better rate, feel free to reach us at info@tours-of-switzerland.com.
Patrick_S, Sep 2025
Train ride was fantastic. Our tour guide-Ana was extremely knowledgeable and the best. We did feel rushed at stopping points. Also the start time for our tour was delayed which was a bit confusing and resulted us seeing Lucerne in the dark which was the one key point we really looked forward to having seen in the daytime. We felt the price was a bit high for not providing a meal as well. Also get clear directions as to the meeting point and the time to meet to ensure you arrive timely. The glazer express views were incredible . Confusion as well to the premium railway pass regarding a meal. We paid for this but told it did not include the meal.
Diane_R, Jul 2025
The experience was great. A full day out with a personal guide and 6 trains from and to Basel inc the Glacier Express.
However, we would not use Viator again as it is the equvilant of booking.com which I had not realised when I searched 'Glacier Express trips'. Not enough description of the day and no efficient connection between Viator and 'Booking Tours of Switzerland' as the former kept asking for a meeting point, which I had already arranged.
A very expensive, but thankfully memorable 10 hour trip, despite the time on the Glacier Express only being under 2 hours.
Charlotte_M, Jul 2025
Wonderful experience and views of the Swiss Alps, cities and history. We did have an issue with Viator and miscommunication with the local contracted Swiss tour company on location to meet which made us miss the original train and caused us to alter the daily plan. Be sure to look for any late emails.
Toni_S, Mar 2025
There was very poor communication about the pickup point. So we missed the first train, which pretty much ruined the rest of the day. We had a good guide.
He was new, but tried his very best. The glacier express was disappointing. But we were only able to do half of it, due the delay in the 1st train.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you very much for sharing your feedback.
We sincerely apologize that our scheduled guide was not able to meet you directly at your docking location. As we understand, you were in contact with our head guide both in the days leading up to your tour and on the day itself. He did his best to clarify the arrangements, and it seems there may have been a misunderstanding at some point with the guide we had scheduled to lead your tour that day. That said, we’re glad to hear you found him helpful throughout the remainder of your trip.
On the operational side, we made every effort to adjust the itinerary in order to minimize any disruptions. Arranging a private van to Lucerne was necessary, as the train from Basel wasn’t an option without risking the Glacier Express experience. Thanks to these adjustments, we were able to maintain the schedule and even include the second portion of the Glacier Express route, which is typically not part of our standard itinerary.
We’re also sorry to hear about the issues onboard the Glacier Express. While we continuously work closely with their team to ensure smooth service, we understand how this may have affected your experience. Please know that we are committed to addressing these concerns with them to help improve the experience for future guests.
Your feedback is extremely valuable to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts through Viator. If there’s anything else we can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our head guide or contact us directly at booking@tours-of-switzerland.com.
Steven_S, Mar 2025
Rose was our tour guide for the very ambitious day of riding multiple trains, Glacier Express, and visiting the wonderful town of Lucerne. We were very lucky to have such a knowledgeable, nice person to show us around. We would be lost without her. Everything was planned beautifully. Rose gave us wonderful tips for taking really good photos, both on and off the train. It was a great opportunity to learn about Swiss culture, architecture, and history. We highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the Swiss Alps.
From $562.24
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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