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Switzerland

Splendors of Switzerland By Rail

Program No. 15879RJ
Discover museums, villages, waterways and culture as you explore the Swiss Alps by rail, winding through some of Europe's most iconic and photograph-worthy landscapes.

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At a Glance

Switzerland’s rail network winds through 3,000 miles of meadows and mountains, making it the densest railroad system in the world. Travel classic routes through the Swiss Alps, ride along the famed Glacier Express route and experience the picturesque Swiss-Italian narrow gauge line. Hear German spoken in central Switzerland, Italian in Locarno and Romansh in St. Moritz as you compare the history and culture of these diverse areas.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to three miles daily, sometimes on uneven, hilly terrain. Must carry your own luggage on and off trains. Elevations up to 7,690 feet.

What You'll Learn

  • Ascend Mount Rigi, the “Queen of the Mountains,” aboard Europe’s oldest cog railway.
  • Take a train to Zermatt and see Switzerland's most famous mountain, the Matterhorn.
  • Walk underneath the medieval arcades in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Julie Guidotti
Julie Guidotti, a Minnesota native, made Ticino her home in 1990. She appreciates the unique combination of Italian lifestyle and language mixed with Swiss efficiency in this southern-most canton. An educational excursion leader since 2003, Julie knows the region’s history, culture, and cuisine. She loves to show visiting groups, journalists, and other explorers the varied areas of the canton and just how much culture, history and nature Ticino has to offer in a relatively compact area. She speaks English, German, and Italian as well as the local dialect that is still spoken in many of the villages.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Julie Guidotti
Julie Guidotti View biography
Julie Guidotti, a Minnesota native, made Ticino her home in 1990. She appreciates the unique combination of Italian lifestyle and language mixed with Swiss efficiency in this southern-most canton. An educational excursion leader since 2003, Julie knows the region’s history, culture, and cuisine. She loves to show visiting groups, journalists, and other explorers the varied areas of the canton and just how much culture, history and nature Ticino has to offer in a relatively compact area. She speaks English, German, and Italian as well as the local dialect that is still spoken in many of the villages.
Profile Image of Peter Frey
Peter W. Frey View biography
Peter W. Frey was born and educated in Baden, Switzerland, spending a year as a foreign exchange student in the U.S. He studied history, sociology, and law at the Universities of Berne and Zurich, then joined the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. He worked as newscaster, anchorman, editor, foreign correspondent, radio news director, and producer. Peter now enjoys writing, volunteering for the International Amateur Radio Union, and studying 19th century Swiss emigration to the U.S. He has lectured for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Profile Image of Ursula Heckendorn
Ursula Heckendorn View biography
Ursula Heckendorn was born in 1982 and spent most of her life in Basel, Switzerland. After she attained her degree in social work, she worked as a social worker in Interlaken. Ursula has traveled extensively throughout Eastern Europe. Since 2011, Ursula has been living in Bucharest, Romania. She completed a master’s degree with a focus on Romanian risk groups and their support services, and for the last few years, she has been street worker with homeless people and families in Bucharest.
Profile Image of Milena Guthörl
Milena Guthörl View biography
Milena Guthörl was born in Germany and trained as a classical singer in Switzerland from the age of 16. She studied philosophy and medieval and modern history and has volunteered for a Swiss non-profit organization and continued her studies at Basel University, obtaining her Ph.D. Milena currently works as a coordinator and researcher at Zurich University and she enjoys hiking the Swiss Alps, discovering the country with her bike and traveling abroad. As a classical music enthusiast, she often attends performances of the Zurich Opera.
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