Switzerland/Germany by train
 

Do you know from experience a good group tour by train of Switzerland and Germany that includes Bernina Pass and Munich?

You could try www.raileurope.com as they have some train-oriented tours but i doubt that any of them would include both - the Bernina Express is a guided tour via train over the pass and back but it is a regular train though geared for tourists - you could pick it up in Chur, about six hours by train from Munich.

>Do you know from experience a good group tour by train of Switzerland and Germany that includes Bernina Pass and Munich?

I am not aware of any "group tour" that uses trains. Normally you are bussed around.

If you want to go by train anyway, why do you need a tour? Planning is what this site is for, and the rest is easy.

altamiro - how about that Prestige Continental Express? (Joking) - but altamiro makes a good point - taking trains in these two countries is really easy - even if you do not speak a word of the local language - so it is easy to plan your own rail tour - esp in these two countries where there are zillions of trains running everywhere all the time.

Some great sources to help plan a rail trip (perhaps railpass trip) - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latters free and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide's detailed chapters on Switzerland and Germany for lots of itineraries, rail maps, travel times, etc. - and also check www.ricksteves.com.

I have used literally hundreds of railpasses over some decades and can attest that rail travel in Europe is easily planned and done. And trains are the best way to get around if like average tourists you end up going mainly to the mega tourist cities.

thanks all I have gone to Switzerland for 8 days by train and booked all the hotels.
Thought there may be a tour co but having looked into many sites-realized there relly isn't
except vacations by rail but not excited abut the same cities....

For 8 days the 8-day consecutive Swiss Pass (Saver if two or more traveling together) is an absolute bargain and covers basically everything that moves in Switzerland from the get go to the get gone.

frenchwow - are you going to do the Bernina Express? To me that train ride is the most scenic in all of Europe and i think i've taken them all. Well worth the detour but one way would be to go to St Moritz - ride the Bernina Pass route to Tirano, Italy then go by the Bernina Express bus to Lugano, Switzerland and then another day take the Centovalli scenic train to Domodossola, Italy - on the main like to the Interlaken area. Scencic to the max the whole way!

"I am not aware of any "group tour" that uses trains. Normally you are bussed around."

There are some if you google. I do't know how easy iot would be to find one combining Munich and the Bernina Pass but it might be worth looking at www.greatrail.com or the links from http://www.seat61.com/holidays-by-train.htm

Nonconformist on May 17, 10 at 3:46pm
"I am not aware of any "group tour" that uses trains. Normally you are bussed around.">

Yes most are buses - but again RailEurope (raileurope.com) does offer group tours or at least organized tours done mainly by train.

CHECK INTO THE PRESTIGE CONTINENTAL EXPRESS
Might be right up your alley - here are some posts i copied from my Scenic Swiss Trains in a Nutshell thread:

MLF611 on May 12
The P-C-express is a charter, but not in the strict sense of the word. Fairly regularly, rail clubs or other sponsors offer trips the public can join. I've taken it twice, it's a real pleasure...piano bar, old style seats and service. The cars previously belonged to DB. Routes vary, a scenic, leisurely route from Zurich to the Ticino is one of the more common options, also from Zurich or Basel to Lausanne, also by scenic route (those are the ones we took).
Some photos: http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/...r/PCE/pix.html

schuler on May 12
http://www.prestige-continental-expr...sch/indexd.htm


MLF611 on May 12
Also: http://www.prestige-continental-expr...ry=3&Itemid=10