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Glacier Express

Railservice Glacier Express Bahnhofstrasse 25 7000 Chur glacierexpress.ch

The journey in what has been dubbed the world’s slowest express train takes travellers across the Alps within roughly eight hours, passing through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges.

The Glacier Express offers a journey for the senses – from Engadine right to the Matterhorn. On its relaxing drive from dazzling St. Moritz to equally sophisticated Zermatt, the Glacier Express delights travellers with scenic attractions and technical state-of-the-art achievements. With its overhight panoramic windows, the Glacier Express opens up unobstructed views of unique landscapes.

Excellence Class

A rail journey through the Swiss Alps has never been so luxurious. With guaranteed window seats, an exclusive bar, on-board entertainment, a concierge service and personal travel guides, the Glacier Express Excellence Class is setting new standards. The journey between St. Moritz and Zermatt is a feast for the senses: while the spectacular landscape passes by outside, guests are served champagne and amuse-bouches – followed by an exquisite five-course meal with accompanying wine.

With this new service, the Glacier Express offers one of the most exclusive rolling touristic highlights in Switzerland. Reservations for the most sought-after seats in Switzerland can be booked at glacierexpress.ch .

Facts Glacier Express

Excursion tips.

• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise – a view of French, Italian and Swiss mountain giants from a vantage point of almost 4000 m
• Gornergrat – a view onto the Matterhorn and 28 other four-thousand-meter-peaks from a vantage point of 3131 m
• Rhine Gorge – Exploring the «Grand Canyon» of Switzerland between Ilanz and Reichenau on foot, by bike or by rafting boat
• Lake Sils – at 1800 m, Europe’s highest altitude regular scheduled passenger boat service
• Corvatsch – the eastern Alpine region’s highest altitude summit station at 3303 m. A paradise for skiers and hikers

Food & Beverages

• 1st and 2nd class: lunch served at the seat, three-course meal CHF 49, daily menu CHF 36, à la carte options
• Excellence Class: Champagne and aperitif platter, 5-course-menu with wine accompaniment, soft drinks, mineral and coffee included

Summer and winter timetable panoramic trains

This route is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travel card. Book Swiss Travel System tickets

Reservation

Apart from a valid ticket, a seat reservation is required (max. 90 days in advance). In addition, the train is subject to surcharge:

• Long section: CHF 49
• Short section*: CHF 44
• Excellence Class: CHF 470 on 1st class ticket

*short sections are: 

• St. Moritz – Chur – St. Moritz
• Chur – Andermatt – Chur
• Andermatt – Brig – Andermatt
• Brig – Zermatt – Brig

Go to reservations

Please note that no dogs are permettied onboard the Glacier Express and that only one piece of luggage is allowed per person.

Fascinating and comprehensive information around the Glacier Express, featuring highlights and relevant facts and figures, can be downloaded here: PDF brochure

Discover the surroundings

Railservice Glacier Express Bahnhofstrasse 25 7000  Chur Switzerland

[email protected] glacierexpress.ch Show Route

Railservice Glacier Express Bahnhofstrasse 25 7000 Chur glacierexpress.ch Show Route

Bernina Express

Advertisement, current offers, switzerland travel centre ag, glacier express glacier express classic, brig hike: aletsch panorama trail wallis.

Price per person in double room valid: 22.04.2024 - 31.12.2024

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt 4 for 3 in 5 star luxury

Price per person in superior room

Switzerland Travel Centre AG, St. Moritz Bernina Express

Price per person in double room

Zermatt Ski Zermatt, stay at the Zermatterhof Hotel

Riffelhaus 1853, zermatt stay for 4 nights, pay for 3.

Price per double room

Hotel Daniela, Zermatt Discover Zermatt

Price per double room valid: 22.04.2024 - 31.05.2024

Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt Luxury and relaxation

Price per Suite

Andermatt Ski Andermatt, stay at the Chedi.

Andermatt cycling holidays rhine route andermatt - basel.

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The Most Scenic Train Trips in the Alps

See recent posts by Toby Orton

The speed with which planes allow us to traverse the world is pretty impressive, but when it comes to taking the scenic route, trains have it down. In Europe, some of the best eye-candy comes from a train trip in the Alps, the mountain range that extends approximately 750 miles across eight countries, including France , Austria , Switzerland , and Italy . Crawling through valleys and tunnels carved into mountains, over towering viaducts, along glaciers, and on tracks built over a century ago, these trains might not be the quickest way to get from point A to point B, but they are the most beautiful. Without further ado, here are five of the most scenic train trips in the Alps.  

Glacier Express

Alexander Granholm/Flickr

The Glacier Express is arguably the most famous alpine line in Europe. During an epic seven-hour journey, the train makes its way from the luxury resort town of St. Moritz to the mountain resort town of Zermatt, both in Switzerland . Despite being named the Glacier Express, the train takes things slow, winding through the UNESCO-designated landscape, crossing roughly 280 bridges, and going in and out of 90 tunnels. Dissecting the Alps, the ride also offers a great view of the Matterhorn (that’s the mountain that inspired the shape of Toblerone chocolate, in case you didn’t know).

Bernina Express

Hans-Rudolf Stoll/Flickr

Taking the Bernina Express from Davos to Tirano is one seriously beautiful way to cross into Italy from Switzerland . Running on a UNESCO-designated track, the red carriages crawl up long, vertigo-inducing ascents and down heart-in-mouth descents. Taking around three hours and 45 minutes, the ride also brings passengers through 50 tunnels and over 200 bridges. The curved windows offer stunning views of the Alps along the way. 

Arlberg Railway

দেবর্ষি রায়/Flickr

Built in the mid-1800s, this line opened up a passageway for luxury travel between London and Bucharest, when it originally served the classic Orient Express. Since the golden age of train travel has faded, the line has become more accustomed to sightseers who ride the electric trains between Innsbruck and Bludenz. (The round-trip journey, which goes through the Arlberg Pass, is about five hours.) 

Semmering Railway

Miroslav Volek/Flickr

Built between 1848 and 1854, the Semmering Railway is another feat of engineering that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was the first mountain railway in Europe to be built with a standard gauge track. Journeying from Wiener Neustadt to Bruck an der Mur, the line runs through amazing forest scenes, over 100 stone bridges, and in and out of a 4,700-foot-long tunnel. The views are unsurprisingly spectacular.

GoldenPass Line

Simon Pielow/Flickr

The beautiful alpine landscape that the GoldenPass Line meanders through will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor. Designed to make the most of the scenery, the train is decked out with comfortable armchair seating and panoramic windows for prime viewing of the mountain peaks. Split into three sections (meaning you can divide it up if time is tight), the train travels through Switzerland , from Montreux to Zweisimmen, Zweisimmen to Interlaken , and Interlaken to Lucerne . Along the way, it displays views of Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern, as well as forests, pretty villages, and picturesque Swiss meadows.

You’ll Also Like:

• 8 Reasons to Travel by Train Instead of a Plane
• 5 Scenic Train Rides Around the World That Just Might Change Your Life
• The 5 Most Scenic Amtrak Train Routes

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Full Day Private Guided Scenic Train Tour to the Swiss Alps

• Train Tickets (2nd class). Per the guest's request, it can be upgraded to 1st class.
• Cable Car Tickets
• Private Guide 8-10 Hours
• Great photo opportunities and memories to last forever.
• Entry/Admission - Lauterbrunnen Village
• Upgrade to the 1st class ticket is about 20-30 CHF and it’s flexible, based on the travel date.
• Swiss National Museum, Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland On the front side of the LANDESMUSEUM (Swiss National Museum), the guide welcomes the guests holding an iPad with names on it. Address: Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for travelers with back problems
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Swiss National Museum Or, you can also get picked up See departure details
• 1 Jungfrau Region Stop: 4 hours See details
• 2 Lauterbrunnen Village Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Murren Stop: 3 hours See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• nataliepB355YF 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Zurich Tour Greg was great! Very knowledgeable and helpful! The tour was worth every penny. 100% recommend! Hoping to comeback in the summer and do this tour again. Read more Written April 23, 2024
• 49marylynnr 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles You’ll like it! Worth your time and money Wonderful experience! And you get to experience all of the vast transportation Zurich offers; cable car, boat, tram, train and walking. Read more Written April 23, 2024
• gpatterson9092 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Tour Ever Best tour and tour guide I’ve ever had and I have traveled quite a bit. The tour was thorough and informative. The tour guide made it quit enjoyable. He was very knowledgeable as well as pleasant. He ensured all participants were taken care of. Read more Written April 21, 2024
• Jacethemace 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best tour experience Tour with Greg was the best tour I've ever done. Saw every level of Zurich and by funicular, cable car, ferry, bus, and train. Greg was knowledgeable, attentive and just the right mix of funny and serious. He took the time to get to know everyone on the tour. I only spent a little more than a day in Zurich but this tour made me feel like a really got a sense of Zurich and spent my short time very wisely. Read more Written April 19, 2024
• Q9891OOsamuelw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent! Worth the price and tips! The guide Greg was very knowledgeable and caring. It's also rather comprehensive experience for half day to know about Zürich well. Read more Written April 18, 2024
• Tim C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic tour and Greg rocks! What a great tour and wonderful introduction to Zurich. It was a nice experience seeing Zurich at so many angles. Greg is an amazing guide and he made our day amazing! Read more Written April 16, 2024
• valentinacO8147JS 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing and fantastic tour with WOW Zurich team! Our tour in Zurich was absolutely fantastic, and our guide was simply superb! With a contagious passion for history and culture, our guide led us through the picturesque streets of Zurich, revealing fascinating secrets and stories of the city. From the most well-known tourist attractions to off-the-beaten-path locations, our guide provided a unique and captivating perspective on Zurich. The tour was well-organized, and our guide was very attentive to our needs and questions, ensuring that we felt safe and comfortable throughout the excursion. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Zurich in an authentic and engaging way. Thank you to our guide Greg, for a memorable experience! Read more Written April 16, 2024
• shalcomb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome all around trip Take this tour for a great overview of Zurich. Our guide was the best and very informative. I highly recommend this tour. Read more Written April 14, 2024
• TomHarn67 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Zürich in a day The trip was very worthwhile. We got to see parts of old town and the financial district, along with the ferry and cable car ride. A good way to see several sights in one day. Greg was a good host. Read more Written April 7, 2024
• fuz13 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour of Zurich Very good walking tour that covers the intercity area. The guide was very knowledgeable and charming and I would use this service again. Read more Written March 1, 2024
• Departure51379255927 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unforgettable day in Zurich The tour was very interesting, full of new information and never-heard-of trivia, the guide with his interactive and engaging storytelling managed to teleport me into the historical eras of the events that happened to the places visited. The experience at the Lindt chocolate factory unique, unrepeatable! Thank you for a wonderful time spent! Read more Written February 27, 2024
• Companion16409016144 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles thanks you You guys are doing a great job, I believe you will work with Biswas, thanks for finishing my work so quickly. Read more Written December 22, 2023
• Dreamer63207040654 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Variety Tour and Fun Guide Greg was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and made the subjects of the tour very interesting. We appreciated his sense of humor and valuable insights into Swiss culture and history. The tour was well paced and we liked the variety of activity (walking, boat, funicular). Greg also was very generous in suggesting things to do during the remainder of our stay. I absolutely recommend this tour and guide. Read more Written November 10, 2023
• 442gayatrin 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend Greg was a great guide. He answered all our questions and gave recommendations. This tour delivered everything promised. I highly recommend. Read more Written October 18, 2023
• whitleygh 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Great guide, but should be renamed “panoramic viewpoint tour” For what you pay, it’s a decent tour given the 6-hour length and a great guide. Bear in mind, however, that you’ll spend >90% of the tour either at a panoramic viewpoint….or on some form of public transportation on your way to another panoramic viewpoint. Not exactly how I wanted to spend 6 hours of limited time in Zurich, but Greg is an entertaining and very kind guide, so I’m still giving it 4 stars. Read more Written October 15, 2023

More to explore in Zurich

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Full Day Private Guided Scenic Train Tour to the Swiss Alps provided by WOW ZURICH TOURS

APRIL SALE:   Discover and book at   up to 60% off!

Train & Rail Tours & Trips in Alps

Explore a wide diversity of train & rail tours through Alps. We have 17 adventures that vary from 5 days to 16 days. With the greatest number of departures in May, this is also the most popular time of the year.

Filters applied

17 train & rail alps tours with 532 positive reviews.

• In-depth Cultural
• Train & Rail

Contrasts of Switzerland (8 Days)

All of the hotels exceed expectations. Stephanie was a wonderful and amusing guide and we managed to see the highlights of the toor in reasonable weather

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Mediterranean Express: Rivieras & Railroads

Hey is anyone going on the Mediterranean Express trip on 8th September, looking to get to know my fellow travellers a little before I arrive! :)

Scenic Switzerland by Train

The trip was well organized and our guide, Marco, was excellent.

Alps By Bernina Train & Northern Lakes - 6 Days

All fine otherwise. Guide and driver great. Major drawback was Starhotels Crystallo hotel in Bergamo - very basic - no tea or coffee facilities in room - big issue with us- nil available in lobby to make a cup of tea. No way would I describe this hotel as 4* The 2 dinners we ate there basically unedible.

• Christmas & New Year

Tailor-Made Private Swiss Tour to Golden Pass Line with Daily Departure

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

8-Day Independent Tour of Switzerland Train Experience

Beautiful scenery. Hotel proximity to train stations was generally good. 3 star rooms varied greatly, from very good to average. Sizes of rooms varied the most. Bathrooms were generally newly refurbished.

Glacier Express & Porsche 911 Rail & Drive Experience

• Walking Adventure

Grand Alpine - Zurich > Lucerne > Interlaken

Alpine Lakes & Scenic Trains featuring a cruise on Lake Maggiore and scenic trains in Switzerland & Italy (Lucerne to Lake Maggiore) (2023)

• Hiking & Trekking

Crossing the Alps Light Garmisch - Meran

Magical Switzerland (Small Groups, 5 Days)

Glorious Switzerland - Preview 2022 (16 Days)

Grand Alpine Explorer Munich to Zurich (2024)

Grand Alpine Explorer - with Porterage (including Neuschwanstein)

Alpine Discovery Zurich to Budapest (2024)

What people love about train & rail tours in alps.

Had an amazing time in Switzerland and met new wonderful friends. Trafalgar did a great job. Everything was organized and safety was top priority. Will travel with Trafalgar again.

Great organized your with excellent guide, 1st class train travel and good selection of hotels

Travel Styles

Other types in alps.

• Explorer (383)
• Personalized (352)
• Private (299)
• Family (295)
• Self-Guided (292)
• Group (270)
• Fully Guided (214)
• Hiking & Trekking (207)
• Bicycle (168)
• Mountain Hikes (83)
• Partially Guided (73)
• Self-Guided Cycling (70)
• Active (70)
• In-depth Cultural (69)
• Christmas & New Year (50)
• Historical (42)
• Best Train Travel Companies

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Alpine Lakes & Scenic Trains

About this tour.

Climb aboard legendary Alpine railways and set out on a journey across the captivating Alpine landscapes of Switzerland and Italy. Ride 3 legendary train routes – the GoldenPass Panoramic Train, the Glacier Express, and the Bernina Pass Train. Explore Lucerne, the "Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” Relax in some of Europe’s most stunning and exclusive resort villages, including Zermatt, St Moritz and Lake Maggiore, Italy. Spend time at a family-owned farm where you sample their handmade cheeses paired with local wine. Cruise across one of the world’s most scenic lakes – Lago Maggiore. Across 2 countries, pass by towering mountain landscapes and discover quaint villages.

Your Tour Includes

• 4 Handpicked Accommodations
• 2 Choice on Tour Options

Included Highlights

• GoldenPass Train
• Choice on Tour

Your Tour at a Glance

7 Breakfasts

2 - Moderate

Travel Style

Best time for travel, customize your tour.

Optional Excursions

Starting at $75.00

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Best time for travel alpine lakes & scenic trains featuring a cruise on lake maggiore and scenic trains in switzerland & italy.

While just about any month is great to visit Switzerland and Italy, there are a few prime times of the year for the Alpine Lakes & Scenic Trains tour. Here are some recommendations from our destination experts.

Spring: Fairly mild weather and fewer crowds make spring a great time to visit. Noting that very few hotels have air conditioning, the naturally cooler temperatures of spring can be the most comfortable.

Summer: Summer is a beautiful time of year to experience the region’s natural beauty and outdoor activities, even as popular sites and attractions draw crowds. It can get quite hot in the summer, so keep in mind there are very few hotels with air conditioning in the region. If the heat bothers you, you may prefer visiting in the spring or fall.

Fall: Fall is yet another great time to go on this tour. Although there are still crowds into mid-October, you’ll find the weather is wonderful.

Travel Styles

Highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Enjoy stunning Alpine views on the GoldenPass panoramic train.

Soak up the mountain air with 2 nights in the Alpine village of Zermatt.

• Explore the "Swiss Paradise on the Lake," Lucerne.

Cultural Experiences:

Cruise through Lago Maggiore and visit one of the beautiful Borromean Islands.

Stroll the lakeside boulevards of St. Moritz.

Journey through the Bernina Pass on one of the world’s most scenic railways.

Culinary Inclusions:

Enjoy a three-course lunch aboard the Glacier Express train.

Savor a wine and cheese pairing at an Italian family farm.

Sit down for dinner on the Isola dei Pescatori in Lago Maggiore.

• Glacier Express Train
• Bernina Pass Train
• Lake Maggiore
• Farm Visit with Wine and Cheese Pairing
• Lago Maggiore Cruise
• Island Dinner

Book with Confidence

* With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour, upgrade your room.

Hotel Upgrade

Pre and Post Tour Extensions

• Choice On Tour

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Room Upgrade

Hotel-Grand Hotel Dino Baveno

During your stay at the Zacchera Hotels, you may choose to enjoy views of Lago Maggiore by upgrading your accommodations to a lake view room. Please inquire about this upgrade at time of booking.

*Total for all passengers

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

Today in Zermatt, you have the choice between two activities. First you may choose to join a local guide on a walking tour featuring the best-known landmarks of this charming city. In the summer months, you may also extend your tour with a short hike to visit the famous Ricola Herb Garden. Your other option is to visit the Zermatt Matterhorn Museum, dedicated to telling the story of 19th century Zermatt and the first ascent of the Matterhorn, and explore at your own pace. Follow the expedition as they conquer the final Alpine peak, only to anguish in tragedy when four of the seven climbers perished on the descent.

Extend your Italian sojourn with a 2-night stay in Milan, a chic and sophisticated metropolis known for being Italy's vibrant business and high fashion hub. In company of a Local Guide explore Milan's historic city center, viewing the La Scala Opera House, and the gothic Duomo cathedral. In the evening join a local for an informal Apericena meal mixing pre-dinner drinks and tapas-style food. On your second day, explore Milan's contemporary side during a tour of the Quadrilatero della Moda, Milan’s high-fashion district, including visits to some of the city’s best ateliers and fashion stores. Or you may choose to end your tour with a post night?

• Lago Maggiore - Milan
• Transfer to Milan, a chic and sophisticated metropolis known for being a hub of high fashion. Upon arrival, receive your 2-day public transportation pass. Then take in some of the city’s iconic sights on a locally guided walking tour: view the La Scala Opera House and Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, and visit the Duomo,* Milan’s magnificent Gothic cathedral. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore this bustling city at your own pace. This evening, join your local guide for an authentic Milan ritual, an informal Apericena meal mixing pre-dinner drinks and tapas-style food.
• This morning, join your local guide for a tour of the Quadrilatero della Moda, Milan’s high-fashion district, including visits to some of the city’s best ateliers and fashion stores. The afternoon is at your leisure. You may choose to visit the Sforza Castle, Sant’Ambrogio Cathedral, Leonardo’s Last Supper** or the Brera Academy of Fine Arts.
• Milan - Depart for Home
• Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Hotel-Hotel Astoria Lucerne

Hotel-Grand Hotel Dino

Enjoy the splendor of pure nature while gliding over a clear landscape in panoramic gondolas and spectacular cable cars. Ascend Pilatus via a unique excursion on the steepest railway of the world with a gradient of 48%. Upon arrival at the top, soak in the magnificent Alpine view from 7,000 feet above sea level. During leisure time at the summit, stroll the walkway for views from a different vantage point, or enjoy Swiss culinary delights on your own in one of the various restaurants (lunch is not included). Return back down the mountain by panoramic gondola for yet another bird’s eye view.

Surround yourself in the beauty and grandeur found on the lakes of Northern Italy. Cruise along scenic Lago Maggiore passing the Borromean Islands sprinkled throughout this stunning lake. These petite but incredible islands are brimming with grand villas and exquisite, world-renowned gardens. Glide past Isola del Pescatore viewing the gulf of Baveno before making a stop at Isola Bella. Then we make our way along the cobblestone streets of the quaint town to the impressive, Baroque Borromean Palace and gardens. This famed palace is steeped in immeasurable wealth and regal pageantry. On your guided tour, surroundings will bring you back to the 17th century. Get a glimpse inside life as a royal as you stroll through the opulent halls superbly decorated with rare artwork and tapestries. Then, you’ll head outside to the perfectly manicured, tiered gardens that abut the lakeshore. Behold stunning views and the splendor of the gardens as we make our way through with an expert. Return to the boat for a cruise back to Stresa.

Some of the best views of the Swiss Alps are found up-close and personal. Take the Matterhorn Express cable car to Furi Station – over 6,000 feet up – where you will meet your local mountain guide. On a short downhill walk, you will take in the dramatic scenery of rugged peaks and unspoiled nature. You will arrive at the Gorner Gorge, the hidden gem of Zermatt. Walking along the wooden boardwalks of this deep glacier-carved chasm, there will be no shortage of breathtaking natural wonders. Gaze up to see towering cliffs and verdant foliage, or down to spot sparkling turquoise pools and waterfalls. Finally, end your journey in the charming village of Zermatt.

Explore the "Swiss Paradise on the Lake," Lucerne.

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Hotel Astoria Lucerne From $240 per night

Hotel Astoria Lucerne

Hotel steffani, zacchera hotels, stay longer.

Post Night: Grand Hotel Dino Baveno From $180 per night

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Check out our Glacier Express and Bernina Express Rail Packages Get your Grand Rail Journey with Swissvoyages.  Enjoy the mesmerizing view of Switzerland. Book Online Now for your splendid journey in swiss railways....

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Enjoy Europe's Highest Cogwheel & Beautiful Cities. Discover the beautiful city of Lucerne, enjoy Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway and ride on to Golden Pass Panoramic train, which will take you to beautiful alpine forest, bubbling mountain spring and picturesque...

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Enjoy riding on Rotair & Flyer chairlift for spectacular view Enjoy riding the first revolving gondala, which will take you to Mount Titlis and show you the spectacular close-up insight into a glacier.  ...

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Across the Alps

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The Alps are the most extensive mountain range within Europe’s boundaries. The stunning peaks stretch across several countries and are home to the continent’s most picturesque scenery. They’re also easy to explore by train. Here’s an overview of the best way to experience the Alps by rail. 

1. Annecy, France

Annecy, in the north of the French Alps, is a perfect starting point for an Alpine itinerary. This beautiful city is lovingly called the Venice of the Alps, owing to the canals that cut through the medieval old town. It’s easy to reach from Paris and beautiful year-round.  

How to get there

There are daily high-speed TGV trains from Paris to Annecy that take 3 hours and 40 minutes. An advance reservation is required.

2. Chamonix, France

Chamonix Mont Blanc is one of France’s most famous resort towns and is easy to reach by train. The town is located at the base of the Mont Blanc, where France, Italy and Switzerland meet. It’s a beautiful year-round destination, but is most popular for its unsurpassed winter sports.  

There are regular trains from Annecy to Chamonix that connect in St-Gervais-les-Bains. The journey including transfer times takes approximately 3 hours.

3. Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, home to the jagged Matterhorn, is perhaps Switzerland’s most iconic alpine destination. It’s accessible by train only and its remarkable scenery is perfect for hiking in summer. Winter brings with it some of Switzerland’s best skiing conditions.  

The journey between Chamonix and Zermatt will take approximately 4 hours and typically requires changes in Le Châtelard-Frontière, Martigny, and Visp. 

4. St Moritz, Switzerland

St. Moritz is at the end of the scenic Glacier Express line . It’s an exclusive alpine resort set around an idyllic lake and surrounded by towering peaks. In summer it’s a hiker’s paradise. In winter the lake freezes over and winter sports enthusiasts take to the mountains.  

The journey between Zermatt and St Moritz is on the scenic Glacier Express line. There is one daily train in winter, and up to three in summer. An advance reservation is required. 

5. Tirano, Italy

The scenic Bernina Express train traverses the Alps between Switzerland and Italy, and delivers some of the most remarkable views and railroad engineering on the continent. It ends in Tirano, a quaint Italian city on the border that's perfect for an overnight stop while exploring the Alps by rail.  

The Bernina Express connects St Moritz with Tirano in Italy and requires an advance reservation. There are also regional trains that follow the same line. The journey takes just over 2 hours.

6. Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Retracing your tracks on the Bernina Express offers a second perspective on this iconic ride, and the chance to visit an often-overlooked city (and country). Vaduz, Liechtenstein sits on the Rhine River close to the Swiss border. It’s impressively scenic, full of history, and offers easy rail connections to Austria.  

Retrace your steps on the Bernina Express line to Chur. From there, hourly trains that require a change in Sargans and Buchs will connect you to Schaan-Vaduz. The total journey time is approximately 5.5 hours.

7. Innsbruck, Austria

Innsbruck is one of Europe’s winter sports capitals owing to its close proximity to the Alps. Its beautiful old town, endless attractions and vast scenic beauty make it suitable to visit year round.  

Trains from Schaan-Vaduz to Innsbruck connect in Feldkirch and run regularly throughout the day. The journey takes approximately 3 hours.

8. Salzburg, Austria

This fairytale city is famous for its charming old town, dramatic hilltop castle, and incredible views of the Eastern Alps. It's also the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the famous musical Sound of Music.  

There are hourly trains between Innsbruck and Salzburg that take approximately 2 hours.

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TRAIN EXPERIENCE N°1 :

Train experience through the alps,  the royal baroque route & salt roads.

HISTORICAL TRAIN - CANYONS & VIADUCTS - WILD NATURE - MEDIEVAL VILLAGES - BAROQUE ART

A unique Train Experience across the Alps to discover an historical French-Italian mountain railway, you will by fascinated by its breathtaking views over the villages, the narrow canyons, and the impressive viaducts and tunnels, testimony of the very talented French civil engineering of the beginning of the 20th century. Our guide will comment on board about villages, landscapes and tell you the history of this mountain trainline (length 2h30) in one of the most amazing train track of France. On top of this, spend a day visiting authentic medieval villages following the antique Salt Road, also called the Royal Baroque Route: full of history and legends & a unique baroque heritage strew with unique and unknown chapels, churches and monasteries. Come with comfortable shoes and clothes to enjoy this sporty day (7 to 15km of walk, with some uphills) ! You spend your holidays on the French Riviera and you are looking for alternatives to get away from the hustle and bustle of the coast & the overly touristic cities of the French Riviera? This unusual day to take a deep breath of fresh air & discover the Alps: the Royal Baroque Route and the Salt Roads is made for you! Anywhere else you can go from the mediterranean sea to the highest peaks in few hours by train. Let's start the day early in the morning 8.30am, to fully enjoy this full-day excursion,  with our guide welcoming you in front of the main and oldest train station of Nice.  The Train des Merveilles will amaze you with its route, its special itinerary winding through the alps mountains, following uphill different valleys from sea level until 800 meters high. We will explain you everything about the different valleys where we go through, commenting the  views over  hills, mountains, rivers, villages,  monuments, and through olive cultures and pine tree forests , passing on viaducts and impressive tunnels, witnesses of the French civil engineering of the early 20th century. A unique railway experience through one of the most incredible trainlines in France, commented on board by our passionates guides.

Then, we will jump from village to village according to your interests, we select 2 of them, the nicest and most interesting ones of this special valley : Tende (or La Brigue) and Saorge will no longer be a secret for you! You will love the clean, fresh and invigorating air of the Alps and enjoy walking through off-the-beaten-tracks medieval towns, hidden treasures just a few steps away from the French Riviera, at the gates of the Mercantour National Park. You will have an insight of the National Park through its mysterious Vallée des Merveilles where more than 100,000 engraving stones bear witness to the Alpine peoples since the Bronce Age, a singular heritage of a people who have lived in this exceptional site for more than 5000 years. The Museum des Merveilles, a jewel of playful intelligence, will be a recommended stop to explain all the historical and natural wealth of this unique site in the world.

The lunch will be included in the price with the choice between 2 options : typical local picnic or a main dish in a restaurant. In the villages of the Roya Valley, in addition to their old medieval towns out of the touristic paths, with mazes of alleys full of history and legends, you will be led to visit their sumptuous baroque treasures : Tende Cathedral, churches and chapels, the quiet and unique Franciscan Monastery of Saorge and much more. Our local guides, experts of the valley, will offer you different options for shorts hikings and maybe the chance to take a dip in a fresh river from the Alps (if needed : bring swimsuit and towel). Sometimes, we can offer the option Our Lady of the Fountains and its incredible frescoes of the Italian Renaissance, true highlights of the valley amongst thousand wonders.

THE ALPINE ROADS BY TRAIN: HISTORY, NATURE & AUTHENTICITY  

Highlights of the Train Tour "Train Experience Through the Alps: the Royal Baroque Route" :

•     A unique historical train line through the Alps (bridges, canyons, tunnels) with commentary on board
•     Authentic and surprising villages of the Roya Valley, off-the-beaten tracks
•     A rich history through the Royal Route, the Salt Route and the Baroque Route
•     Crossing the Southern Alps
•     An exceptional cathedral, churches and baroque chapels
•     A typical picnic lunch (or a delicious restaurant)
•     Shorts hikings possible
•     Local guide, professional and expert of these villages
•     Guided tours in small groups for a better quality of service (max. 16 pers.)

OPTIONS Culture & History : - Franciscan Monastery, its painted cloister, church, choir and gardens, monks' vegetable garden, place of meditation and work for writers (+6€/person, recommended) - Unique chapel painted in 1492 by one of the forerunners of the Italian Gothic and Renaissance (5€/person, recommended, ask one week by advance if the option is possible) - Visit to the Museum of Wonders (Free, recommended) Pricing conditions: Included : train tickets (back & forth), professional guide, picnic lunch of local specialities (or restaurant, 1 main dish and 1 drink per person (+15€ per person)).

POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR GROUPS : BICYCLE OPTIONS: (Only for groups of minimum 7 people) - ELECTRIC BICYCLES +45€/bike - VELOS VTC +35€/bike OPTIONS Restoration : - Breakfast served by us on the train (+9€/p, please call 48 hours in advance) - Lunch restaurant (local cuisine +15€/person, please call 48 hours in advance). OPTIONS Sports and Hikes (Options only available for groups of 6 to 11 people, please call 2 weeks in advance): - Guided hike in the Vallée des Merveilles and its rock engravings (Bus + half-day hike (min.2h00)). - 4x4 experience in the Mercantour Park - Canyoning or river rafting or just swimming - Ride a donkey or a horse for an unusual ride - Via Ferrata and Tyrolean ( 2-3h) - Short hikes around the villages Possibility to stay one night (or more) at the Hotel, Hostel, Refuge or Camping/Mobilhome/Yourte and to elaborate tailor-made programs over several days with hikes in the Mercantour National Park (Sport or relax days, massages, spa & wellness). Choose the options you like and ask for the program! We will send you the best possible program according to the planned tours and our availability.

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How to plan a family summer trip to the Swiss Alps

Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region promises dramatic Alpine scenery, flower-flecked meadows and thrills on every summit. And with an extensive network of cable cars and rail routes, it's ideal for a 10-day stress-free family adventure.

Mother Nature pulled out all the stops in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Alps. From waterfalls and cloud-capped peaks (including the big three: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau) to high pastures jangling with cowbells, cliff-hugging villages sprinkled with log chalets and Alpine railways taking you from pine to peak, this is picture-postcard Switzerland at its finest. For families, adventure awaits. Bomb down the mountains on a Trottibike scooter or thunder towards the Eiger on a zip-line. Head up high to play in the summer snow or get close to the water in glacier gorges. From villages to via ferrata, here’s how to plan a 10-day tour that takes it all in.

Days 1-3: Mürren

Begin your trip with one of the area's most spectacular rail and cable journeys, with the town of Interlaken as a starting point. Take the train to Lauterbrunnen and switch onto a gondola to Grütschalp, where a second and arguably more beautiful train ride will whisk you up to Mürren. Perched on a ridge at 1,638 metres, this high-altitude village offers knockout views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and its flower-strewn pastures, spruce forests and dark-timber chalets are the picture of Swiss Alpine beauty.  

It's the ideal spot to ease into an active holiday. Hiking trails thread from its flanks in all directions, and a funicular glides up to Allmendhubel , where you can enjoy a meal on the mountain-facing sun terrace while kids romp among giant insects and Alpine blooms in the flower-themed adventure park. Budding botanists will love the nearby flower trail, which features 150 species of mountain flowers, from gentian to edelweiss. Alternatively, adults and older children can ramp up the adrenaline on the nearby Mürren-Gimmelwald via ferrata. A guide will help you learn the ropes, and before long you’ll be exploring a series of chalelnging suspension bridges, zip-lines and tightropes, with sky-high views of the Bernese Alps.

Devote a third day to Schilthorn, which begins with a dramatic cable-car ride above great fangs of rock to the eyrie-like summit of Schilthorn — Piz Gloria. Visited by James Bond in the 1969 film adaptation of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service , this dramatic destination enjoys views across 200 peaks all the way to Mont Blanc and the Black Forest on clear days. Enjoy the helicopter and bobsleigh simulators at Spy World , before heading down to middle station Birg for exhilarating, vertigo-inducing moments on the Skyline Walk and cliff-hugging Thrill Walk (crawl through the tunnel if you dare).

Days 3-7: Grindelwald  

With sensational views of the Eiger’s imposing North Face and a lineup of 4,000-metre peaks, it’s no surprise that Grindelwald is one of Switzerland’s most popular destinations for active travellers. The first task is to pick your peak. Swing high above the meadows to 1,391-metre Pfingstegg for a mad downhill dash on the summer toboggan run or zip-line. Or opt for mountain-rimmed Männlichen, where you can enjoy nature-focused fun on the treetop path, explore the vast playground that's home to a giant wooden cow, or head out on the Lieselotte Trail, where children can search for crystals, blow into an alphorn and peek at burrowing marmots through binoculars.  

On day two, make for the 2,184-metre summit of First Mountain, which has the edge for thrill-seekers. Clinging to near-vertical cliffs, the First Cliff Walk is an ideal place to begin your day’s activity, with giddy views of the Bernese Alps. From the top, you can whizz towards the Eiger on the First Flyer zip-line at speeds of up to 50mph, before tearing down the slopes back to Grindelwald by mountain cart or chunky Trottibike. Back in the valley, feel nature’s colossal force in Grindelwald’s Glacier Canyon, as you teeter across a walkable ‘spider’s web’ strung between towering rock faces polished by the waters of the Lütschine River. Daredevils can also enjoy the canyon swing , which involves a 90-metre freefall before you rip across the gorge at speeds of 75mph.

However, all of this is just laying the groundwork for a third-day trip up to 3,454-metre Jungfraujoch. From Grindelwald, hop aboard the tri-cable Eiger Express gondola for a riveting ride with views of the Eiger’s mile-high North Face. From the Eiger Glacier station at its top, switch to the Jungfrau Railway. This red train has been chugging up to the summit since 1912 and will transport you up to Europe’s highest railway station in less than 30 minutes. Here, the Sphinx observation terrace offers out-of-this-world views of the 14-mile Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding sea of 4,000-metre peaks. It’s snowy up top all year round, so dress warmly for sledding, tubing and zip-lining in the snow park, or a subzero wander through the glittering, sculpture-strewn tunnels of the Ice Palace.

Days 7-10: Meiringen (Haslital)

From Grindelwald, take a beautiful train ride via Interlaken, or a panoramic bus ride over the Grosse Scheidegg mountain pass to reach Meiringen, a pretty Alpine town in the Haslital Valley that's surrounded by dramatic activity. Top billing goes to the 120-metre-high Reichenbach Falls, which crash over forested cliffs with a roar. This is where writer Arthur Conan Doyle had fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and villainous Dr Moriarty fall over the edge in the 1893 story The Final Problem . For a less intense experience, take the funicular up and hike back down before stopping in at Patisserie Frutal for a Swiss meringue — Meiringen lays claim to fame as the 18th-century birthplace of this sweet treat.

The next day, continue your exploration of Meiringen’s surrounding cliffs and ravines. A quick train ride from town will see you reach the Aare Gorge, which carves a deep, narrow path through limestone tunnels and galleries and past a turquoise torrent of glacial water. Visit later in the day if you can, as the canyon is at its most entrancing when illuminated by summer-evening rays. Its closest rival is the waterfall-splashed Rosenlaui Gorge, where a circular trail leads through primeval forest and past chalk-slate cliffs pounded smooth by the Weissenbach River.

Finally, head north of Meiringen, to Hasliberg. This area is a family favourite, thanks to the three-mile Muggestutz Dwarf trail that runs from Mägisalp to Bidmi, where kids can dry pine cones, take on the ‘eagle swing’ and find cave treasure. Make a day of it and check out the marble run from Bidmi to Reuti, which offers 12 giant marble runs immersed in nature and a firepit for barbecues (wood is provided).  

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Self-Guided Scenic Alps by Rail

Ride the legendary Glacier Express train and cross over the world-famous Landwasser viaduct.

Credit : Glacier Express

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Day 1 – Travel to Lucerne -- Mt. Pilatus Mountain Excursion

Typically, you will arrive on a morning flight at the Zurich airport and then travel by train to Lucerne (1 hr). In the afternoon, you can take a local train to Alpnachstad and then ascend on the world's steepest cogwheel train to the top of the 7000 ft. Mt. Pilatus. You will enjoy the beautiful Central Swiss Alps panorama and Lake Lucerne below you. When you are ready, descend via a cozy 4-person gondolas for a scenic ride down to Kriens. From Kriens, take a short walk downhill to the main road bus stop for a bus ride back into Lucerne.   Overnight in Lucerne .

Day 2 – Gotthard route in the Historic Heart of Switzerland

Lucerne--Flüelen --Gothard Route -- Lugano

Ride a historic paddle steamboat along the Wilhelm Tell express route to the town of Flüelen on Lake Lucerne. Transfer to a train to Lugano through the historic beginnings of Switzerland where you see the Rütli meadow where Switzerland was founded in 1291 and ride through the 15 km Gotthard tunnel that first opened in 1882. This 13th century Gotthard pass became the shortest North-South route through Europe and still one of the reasons for Switzerland's economic success. Once in Lugano you will be delighted to enjoy this Italian speaking part of Switzerland called Ticino, representing 10% of the Swiss population. Overnight in Lugano . 

Day 3 – Bernina Route - Lugano past northern Lake Como to St Moritz

Lugano -- Bernina Express Bus and Train -- St. Moritz

Begin with a morning bus ride alongside Lake Lugano and into Italy following the northern shores of Lake Como, then through the extensive Veltlin vineyards to the Italian border town of Tirano. From here, you will board the Bernina Express train to traverse the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bernina Railway line. Experience the scenic narrow valley terrain as the train climbs from 1200 ft up and over the 7300 ft Bernina pass summit with the 12900 ft Bernina mountain range surrounding you. The beautiful alpine scenery changes with the many twists and turns of the train along its 122 km/76 mile route, through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges and viaducts.   Overnight in St. Moritz .

Day 4 – Spectacular Swiss Alps, Lakes and Panorama Views

All Day in St. Moritz to relax, discover, and enjoy

You will see numerous alpine lakes from the Muottas Muragl funicular railway to reach the 2554m/7362ft summit overlooking this scenic Engadine valley. You have several choices today to visit a variety of mountain excursions or to walk along the pathway around the glistening St. Moritz lake while taking in the beauty of nearby snowcapped Bernina Mountain peaks. You will also be amazed at the high-end and fashionable attire in the store windows and come to understand the "champagne climate" branded by St. Moritz. The hotel should provide you with an Engadine card that will provide access to all local transportation and cable cars to summit either Piz Nair, Piz Corvatsch, or Diavolezza Mountains. It is possible that you might even be able to hear the language of Romansh in this region, which is spoken by only 1% of the Switzerland population.  Overnight in St. Moritz . 

Day 5 – Glacier Express Train -- Alpine Peaks, Green Pastures, and Magnificent Scenery

St. Moritz -- Glacier Express -- Zermatt

There are surely faster ways to get from St. Moritz to Zermatt, but none more picturesque or more notable than the Glacier Express while experiencing the one-of-a-kind mountain landscape in the Swiss Alps. In addition to breathtaking scenery, you can listen to narration (in English) along the way to learn more about what you are seeing. You will be astounded with the engineering feats of this rail route as you cross 291 bridges and go through 91 tunnels while ascending and descending 500m/1660ft through the diverse and ever-changing mountain valleys. You should have the opportunity to order al a carte lunch on the train. Throughout the day there is plenty of room to get up and walk around as you enjoy the scenery travelling by. Please note that lunch is eaten at your seats and there is no separate dining car.  Overnight in Zermatt . 

Day 6 – Gornergrat Cogwheel train -- Best Views of the Matterhorn and Surrounding Highest Peaks in Europe

All day in Zermatt to discover and enjoy!

The Gornergrat cogwheel train is a major highlight as you travel to 3000m/10,000ft and enjoy the best views of the Matterhorn Mountain along with a 360-degree view of the surrounding 4000m/13,000ft highest peaks in Europe. Immerse yourself in the stunning mountain and glacier views; showcasing awesome alpine snow-covered peak scenery. If you want to extend your Matterhorn experience, you could consider some easy hiking options along signposted paths to and through tiny alpine hamlets that offer great photo taking opportunities. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to further enjoy Zermatt on a walk through the historical section of town or a visit to the local Matterhorn museum. You will be in the German speaking region of Switzerland.  Overnight in Zermatt

Day 7 – Montreux Riviera -- Vineyards, Mountain Peaks and Lake Geneva

Zermatt – Montreux -- Chillon Castle -- Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)

Today you can travel by train to the town of Montreux which has a Mediterranean flair and considered part of the Swiss Riviera. As you enter the region, you will enjoy views of the terraced vineyards of the Lavaux Vineyards which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once in Montreux, you will have plenty of time take a leisurely 45-minute walk along the lakeshore promenade on your way to the well-preserved 12th-century Chillon Castle which is located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva. This impressive fortress was immortalized by Lord Byron who was once a prisoner there and is the most popular castle in Switzerland. In the afternoon, you could also choose to take a relaxing boat ride on Lake Geneva which is the largest lake in Switzerland and France. Montreux is in the French region of Switzerland.  Overnight in Montreux

Day 8 – Legendary GoldenPass Rail on your way to the Jungfrau Region

You will ride the GoldenPass train as it travels past alpine valleys, rolling hills, beautiful green pastures with grazing cows, wooden chalets and picturesque villages, to bring us to Interlaken and on to Grindelwald, one of Switzerland’s oldest and most popular resorts in the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau region.  Overnight in Grindelwald . 

Day 9 – Jungfraujoch Cogwheel train --Highest Railway Station in Europe

The tour ends with a magnificent trip up to the Top of Europe when you ride up to the 3,400m / 11,371ft Jungfraujoch. The Jungfraujoch complex was built in 1914 and is positioned between the Mönch & Jungfrau mountains. At the top, you will be on Europe’s largest Aletsch Glacier and bask in alpine mountains, snow, and ice as far as you can see. There’s time to walk outside on the hard-packed snow glacier or go exploring in the Ice Palace filled with ice sculptures. When you are ready, you will then take a final train to Zurich for your final tour night.  Overnight at the Zurich airport hotel

Day 10 – Depart Zurich for onward travel

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out for onward destinations.

Activity Level

Alpenwild trips are designed for people who are active and filled with a spirit of adventure. We rate this trip as easy, but you should be capable of walking about one to two miles per day. You should also be able to handle your own luggage to get to the trains and to/from your hotels. On two days, you will take a mountain railway excursion to an elevation of over 10,000 feet and you should be able to handle staying at this elevation for a couple of hours.

• Walking:  in addition to walking on the flat surfaces, you also need to walk on uphills, uneven terrain, and cobblestones. You'll likely not walk this amount all at once, but you need to be able to get to/from train stations, hotels, and excursions. We can accommodate slow walkers, but you must still be able to walk the distance.
• Stairs:  at train stations when we have to change platforms; most of the station platforms only have stairs or ramps -- not elevators. Some train connections are tight and the group may need to walk quickly to catch the next train.
• Getting on and off trains:  be aware that many trains have a few steep steps to negotiate in order to get on or off. You need to be confident that you can get on and off the trains.
• Standing time:  you need to be able to stand on your feet for at least 10-15 minutes as benches at train stations are not in good supply.
• Luggage:  You need to be able to get your own bags on and off the trains and to/from each hotel.

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Tour of the Alps 2024 live stream: How to watch cycling online

The build up to the Giro d 'Italia starts here

• FREE live streams
• Watch from anywhere
• Route & stages

Formally the Giro del Trentino but rebranded the Tour of the Alps in 2016, this short stage race based in the Tirol, Südtirol and Trentino regions of Italy and Austria will give riders a taste of some proper mountains a few weeks before the Giro d'Italia starts in May. 

Read on and we'll show you how to watch the Tour of the Alps 2024 live streams from anywhere with a VPN , and potentially for FREE .

Tour of the Alps 2024 live streams take place between Monday, April 15 and Friday, April 19. Start times vary. • FREE STREAMS —   Watch on Rai (Italy) ORF (Austria) •   U.S. — Watch on FloBikes •   U.K. — Watch on Discovery+ • Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN

The race starts in Italy then heads north into Austria before returning to finish back in Italy five days later, all set in the stunning mountain scenery.

Last year's winner Tao Geoghegan-Hart is absent so in his place his new team Lidl-Trek are sending a twin attack of Giulio Ciccone and Juan Pedro Lopez. His old team Ineos Grenadiers will this time be hoping the veteran Geraint Thomas will be able to challenge for the win and bring them another victory to keep the title in house. 

Ineos are also sending their time trial ace Filippo Ganna but he won't be challenging for the overall just working in a support role for Thomas to help him fend of the challenge from the likes of Romain Bardet (Team DSM Firmenich-PostNL), Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe) and Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EasyPost).

Thankfully the weather improved on stage four as the race headed to higher altitude to tackle longer climbs. A large break escaped the peloton early on with a few very talented riders in it including Britain's Hugh Carthy and Simon Carr from EF Education-EasyPost. 

On the penultimate climb Carr attacked with a brace of companions but dropped them both to take an excellent victory, his second in two years at the race. Behind there were multiple attacks on race leader Lopez but he fought them all off and still leads by 38 seconds from Ben O'Connor with one stage left.

Read on for where to watch Tour of the Alps 2024 cycling action live, wherever you are in the world.

FREE Tour of the Alps 2024 live streams

If you live in Italy or Austria then you can look forward to a FREE Tour of the Alps live stream in 2024. 

Italy's Rai and Austria's ORF are set to serve up free streams of this five stage stage race.

But what if you're based in Italy or Austria but aren't at home to catch that free Tour of the Alps coverage? Maybe you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch for free at home?

Don't worry — you can watch via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

Tour of the Alps 2024 live streams around the world

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the cycling on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the Tour of the Alps 2024 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN . It's the best on the market:

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

Get 60% off NordVPN with this deal

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Austrian service, you'd select Austria from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to ORF or another streaming service and watch the action.

How to watch 2024 Tour of the Alps live streams in the U.S.

Cycling fans in the U.S. can watch the 2024 Tour of the Alps on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back US$149.99 for the year or US$29.99 on a monthly basis.

And if you're currently out of the U.S. but still want to watch the race, then don't forget to explore  NordVPN  set out above.

How to watch Tour of the Alps 2024 live streams in the U.K.

Live coverage of the 2024 Tour of the Alps will be broadcast on Eurosport and Discovery+.

A 'standard' subscription to Discovery+ which includes Eurosport's cycling coverage will set you back £6.99 per month or £59.99 per year. The package includes year-round cycling streams as well as other live sports including snooker, tennis, motorsports, the Paris Olympic Games, and more.

A premium subscription, which includes all that plus TNT Sports ( Premier League , Champions League and Europa League football plus rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP) costs an additional £29.99 per month.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch Tour of the Alps live streams in Canada

Cycling fans in the Canada can watch the 2024 Tour of the Alps on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back CAN$150 for the year or CAN$29.99 on a monthly basis.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Canada.

Tour of the Alps 2024 stages

The 709 kilometre race starts in Neumarkt/Egna with a 133km stage that features three moderate climbs, firstly the ascent of Andalo followed by two ascents of the smaller and steeper 4.3 km Penone climb on the finishing circuit. 

Stage two sees the race leave Salurn/Salorno in Italy and cross over into Austria to finish in Stans. The first half of the stage is predominantly all uphill and the second half all downhill, although punctuated by a couple of nasty little ramps which could provide a launch pad for attacks. 

Set in Austria stage three is just 124.8 kilometres long with the majority of it rolling until the finale which features twin ascents of the Weerberg and Pillberg climbs. Both are very steep with gradients in the mid teens which will encourage those riders who like punchy short climbs to try and break free and take the stage. 

Back in Italy stage four is the Queen stage and boasts multiple climbs including the two first category ascents of the Passo del Compet and Passo del Vetriolo. This is the day the GC contenders will have to show what they are made of and use their superior climbing power if they want to win overall.

The race wraps up with another killer stage of climbing and another first category ascent, the Palù del Fersina which will be ridden twice to give fans two glances of their heroes. At 118 kilometres it is another very short stage but is a worthy stage to decide the winner of the 2024 race. 

Stage 1 | Monday April 15 , Egna - Cortina sulla Strada del Vino.  133.3km.

Stage 2 | Tuesday April 16, Salorno - Stans. 189.1km.

Stage 3 | Wednesday April 17, Schwaz - Schwaz. 127km.

Stage 4 | Thursday April 18, Laives - Borgo Valsugana. 141.3km.

Stage 5 | Friday April 19, Levico Terme - Levico Terme. 118.6km.

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Simon Warren has been obsessed with cycling since the summer of 1989 after watching Greg Lemond battle Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France. Although not having what it took to beat the best, he found his forte was racing up hills and so began his fascination with steep roads. This resulted in his 2010’s best-selling  100 Greatest Cycling Climbs , followed to date by 14 more guides to vertical pain. Covering the British Isles, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain he has been riding and racing up hills and mountains for over 30 years now. He hosts talks, guides rides, has written columns for magazines and in 2020 released his first book of cycling routes,  RIDE BRITAIN . Simon splits his time between working as a graphic designer and running  his 100 Climbs brand  and lives in Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District with his wife and two children.

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Tour of the Alps: Simon Carr wins stage 4 as Juan Pedro López responds to GC attacks

Chris Harper crashes out on first big mountain stage

A 45-kilometre solo break netted Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost) the hardest mountain stage of the 2024 Tour of the Alps , while a crash-marred but ferocious GC battle saw Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek) stubbornly cling on to the overall lead. 

Carr took off alone when he sensed his chance of victory, dropping fellow breakaway survivor Sergio Higuita on the rugged, poorly surfaced cat 1 Passo Vetriola climb. The British rider stayed away for the second Tour of the Alps stage victory of his career by nearly two minutes. 

Chris Harper of Jayco-AIUIa crashed on the high-speed descent off the second and last climb of the day, with the Australian forced to abandon the race. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) also crashed in the same spot as Harper, but was able to continue. 

On the flatter run-in, overall contender Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) launched an all-out attack with some 15 kilometres to go, obliging an isolated López to chase him down in person. 

Yet more challenges materialised on the finale in a seven-rider GC group, with Michael Storer (Tudor ProCycling) and O’Connor snatching a few seconds in the end. 

López’s rivals largely neutralised each other, allowing the Spaniard to stay in control of the race with just one day of mountain racing remaining.

“Today was pretty special, but also because the first few days were so hard,” Carr said.   

“I came here with legitimate GC ambitions. Then I came here and I really struggled with allergies, but the team and Juanma Garate, my directeur sportif were saying I should still have confidence but those things can go just as quickly as they come. There was a bit of rain yesterday, so I felt myself again today and I’m really happy with the result.”

Carr was not confident about winning from such a long break.

“Not really to be honest,” he said. “The gap went down to just under a minute at one point but the gap went out on the final climb so I felt a little more confident. But I was running on fumes a bit by that point, so I had to get over that and then on the final downhill I could take it a bit easy.”

How it unfolded

An early move by 2023 Tour of the Alps runner-up Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Easy Post) and teammate Carr kick-started the mountain stage and meant the 141 km stage was going to be an intense day of racing. 

They were soon joined by Colombian allrounder Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Davide Piganzoli (Polti-Kometa). Then the addition of another seven riders: Ineos Grenadiers’ Oscar Rodriguez, Movistar’s Gregor Muhlberger, Lucas Hamilton (Jayco-AIUIa), Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Mattia Bais (Polti-Kometa) and Luca Covili (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and Gijs Leemreize (Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL) nearly tripled the number of participants in the early break.

As the best-placed GC rider, Piganzoli’s two-minute time-gap on race leader Juanpe López (Lidl-Trek) meant the Italian was a genuine threat and Lidl-Trek duly kept things under control for the first two hours of racing. 

The break’s lead all but disintegrated on the Category 1 Passo del Compet, after Simon Carr and Higuita hacked their way clear on the slopes.

They clearly still had some fuel left in the tank and having barrelled off the Passo del Compet, they tackled the nine-kilometre Passo del Vetriolo, with a solid 1:20 advantage on their previous companions in the break and over two minutes on the bunch. 

Then as soon as they hit the lower slopes of the roughly surfaced narrow ascent, with some 45 kilometres to go, Carr took off alone, with Higuita able to follow at a distance, but seemingly struggling to close the gap.

In the peloton, Decathlon-AG2R’s pronounced acceleration early on the Vetriolo left Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) flailing and the rider who took over the race lead from the Norwegian on Wednesday’s stage, Juanpe López, isolated from his Lidl-Trek teammates. 

More attacks came but the Spaniard responded to everything that his rivals threw at him, most notably by O’Connor. He was by far the most aggressive GC rider until destiny and hidden kerb stepped in a little later. 

The easier slopes nearing the top of the climb  then helped spark a regrouping of the main GC favourites, with Poels,  Tiberi, Lopez, O’Connor and teammate Valentin Paret-Peintre joined by Ivan Sosa (Movistar),  Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL), Chris Harper (Jayco-AIUIa), Michael Storer (Tudor ProCycling)  and a flagging Higuita.

Carr led over the Vetriolo with a minute’s advantage, but the action did not let up in the chase group on the descent, as first Harper, then O’Connor tested the waters downhill. 

The roads were thankfully smooth and broad given the aggressive racing, but Harper crashed at speed on curve, sliding out and then slamming his head against a post. O’Connor crashed in the same spot, losing his slight advantage on Lopez but thankfully seemingly only suffering minor grazes and able to get up and continue.In contrast Harper seemed dazed and was unable to race on.

The crash took the punch out of the leader’s group, allowing Carr to all but triple his advantage to nearly three minutes as he tackled the unclassified ascent of the Colle San Marco. 

When Valentin Paret-Peintre made an attack from the front group with some 13 kilometres to go, it brought almost no response from Lopez. A cagey series of attacks and regroupings followed almost all the way to the finish. 

There was time for one last blistering attack by O’Connor, despite the cuts and grazes visible on his arm but Storer was quick to outpace him at the finish, and López could keep control of the green leaders jersey despite all the challenges. He leads O’Connor by 38 seconds, with Tiberi and a select few others at 48 seconds.

One day of mountain racing remains on Friday but the Lidl-Trek leader has put the hardest stages behind him, and the former Giro d’Italia leader and appears on track to add overall victory to Wednesday’s first professional career victory.

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Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews , he has also written for The Independent ,  The Guardian ,  ProCycling , The Express and Reuters .

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The day the mountain crumbled

Her love of the backcountry drew emily franciose to boarding school in the swiss alps. then the mountain fell apart beneath her skis – and left her parents wanting answers..

The day after their world crumbled, Sue and Reg Franciose arrived in Switzerland to search for their daughter. It had been 24 hours or so since the phone call — “There’s been an accident” — and ever since, they had been sprinting through the fog, each frantic step darkened by questions with no answers.

They knew the likely outcome but had to come see for themselves what happened on the Wellhorn, a rocky peak that towers over the Reichenbachtal valley in the Bernese Alps.

A dash through multiple airports, a race through the mountains, and now they ambled through a small mountain village. That’s when they saw him, sitting in his car on the side of the road. Sue stopped, unsure what to do.

In another life, Guido Bieri could have been a friend, swapping stories over wine after a long day on the mountain. He was 61, a beloved leader at the boarding school that their 18-year-old daughter, Emily, attended. He had taken her on nearly a dozen backcountry treks across the alps. Emily adored him. And Sue loved that she and Reg had someone in Switzerland to look after their daughter on the mountain.

In this life, though, Bieri was the tour guide on the previous day’s outing, one of the last people to see Emily on the mountain.

Sue tapped on the car window.

“We’re Emily’s parents,” she announced.

EMILY WAS AN ONLY CHILD. Sue and Reg met in 1998, in the Denver operating room. He was a trauma surgeon, and she was a cardiovascular perfusionist running the heart-lung machine. They got married and started a family relatively late — he was 48; she was 41. Emily was the center of their universe.

They moved to Vail, Colo., and Sue quit working full time. Reg was the longtime medical director of the Vail Ski Patrol, and both parents would haul Emily up and down the mountains whenever possible. Emily grew up in the outdoors, finding poetry in trees and beauty in the sky. Summers were spent paddling on the river and winters skiing backcountry, exploring virgin snow far from the tourists taking selfies at pricey resorts.

Sue and Reg never once hired a babysitter, instead dragging their young daughter to symphonies, black-tie fundraisers and medical conferences. They made a point to visit impoverished communities around the world, to remind Emily there was a world beyond the Rockies.

“She knew that life was bigger than just here,” Sue says of Vail, “and the world is bigger than here.”

Midway through her junior year, Emily began to feel ready for something bigger than the small private school in her small mountain town. She told her mother as much, then stayed up all night researching possibilities.

At 5 a.m. the next day, she burst into her mother’s room with her laptop.

“I found it,” she said.

“Found what?”

“The school I want to go to.”

She had stayed up all night researching Ecole d’Humanité, a boarding school of about 120 in Hasliberg, Switzerland, where students are encouraged to explore the outdoors, including skiing the backcountry with help from experienced guides. Emily had already contacted the admissions office, inquiring about the school’s cellphone policy, among other things.

Switzerland

Satellite image: ESRI.

LARIS KARKLIS AND ARTUR GALOCHA/THE WASHINGTON POST

She was never one to do something halfway. When she was younger, Emily was so determined to sell the most Girl Scout cookies that she set up a booth at the base of the ski lift, hawking boxes of Samoas until she had set the troop record. Now, when her parents told her she would have to work after school and during the summer to help cover Ecole d’Humanité’s $60,000 tuition, Emily didn’t flinch.

Sue called Reg, with whom she had recently divorced.

“Are you sitting down? Emily’s going to go to Switzerland for her senior year. It is happening.”

IT WAS EASY TO SEE the school’s allure for a backcountry enthusiast. Skiing off-trail is rustic and visceral. In ski towns, kids graduate quickly from chairlifts to the backwoods, with its untouched powder and unexplored terrain. There are well known locations but no trail maps, no ski patrol or snow groomers on duty. Skiers might have to endure an uphill hike of a few hours or more for a trip down fresh snow that lasts just a few minutes. It’s exhilarating, and it’s dangerous.

For most, the adrenaline rush isn’t the point. It’s being isolated, removed from the crowd, closer to nature. That’s all Emily wanted.

“I love watching as the sky changes at dusk and am amazed by the different colors,” Emily wrote in a college application essay. “My favorite thing to do whenever I’m camping or out at night is to look at the stars, hunting for different constellations or admiring the vastness.”

More than 2.5 million Americans alone skied off-trail last year, up 30 percent from just two years earlier, according to Snowsports Industries America. The spike comes with increased safety concerns and avalanche risks. In Colorado alone, there were 861 human-triggered avalanches involving 122 people and resulting in 11 deaths last year, higher than the 10-year averages (84 people caught and seven deaths). In Switzerland, 21 people were killed last season, and 222 people were swept up in avalanches.

Emily, though, had been on skis since she was 2. She had attended avalanche safety courses and traveled with a first-aid kit. She knew and embraced the risks. So when she saw that Ecole d’Humanité had a backcountry program, with ski tours at least once a week in the Swiss Alps, she was sold.

She arrived in Hasliberg in August 2022, one day after she turned 18.

“I say she arrived, but it was more like she burst,” Lydia Breunig says. “She burst into our lives and into our community with so much enthusiasm.”

Breunig was the manager for House Kathrin, the school chalet where Emily lived with 11 other students. She calls Emily the glue there, drawing together students from different backgrounds. She folkdanced, did pottery, learned silversmithing, started a girls’ weightlifting group and baked cookies with her calculus teacher on weekends. Laughter poured out of her room each night, and Emily was always the first one up the next morning.

“I call Emily the sun of House Kathrin. At first, it was because she just glowed, and she was just full of such brilliance and warmth,” Breunig says. “But even more than that, she had a gravitational pull — she really did pull people to her. Her room was the center of our little house.”

She roomed with Breunig’s daughter, Maia Stark. Emily shared with Maia a word — a feeling — from back home in Vail: “frothing.” It’s an adjective, unique to the ski dictionary, that captures the bursting-at-the-seams excitement Emily had on the mountain, staring down a run, with friends, in nature. It was her happy place and her baseline.

Emily and Maia had the only balcony in the house. Some nights, they would pull their mattresses out to sleep, staring at the stars and frothing, together, about what the upcoming ski season would bring.

THERE WERE NO CLASSES on March 21, 2023. Emily and Maia woke up excited about what the day held.

It was the school’s last backcountry outing of the season, and with spring break a couple of days away, the girls had a train trip to Paris scheduled. But first, a trek to the top of the Wellhorn, a jagged, monstrous rock that stretches more than 10,400 feet toward the sky.

Innertkirchen

Ecole d'Humanité

Schattenhalb

Emily blasted some bouncy reggae as the girls triple-checked their gear, which included a shovel, a probe and a transponder in case of an avalanche. Then seven students, three guests and two group leaders loaded into two vehicles.

They were led, as always, by Guido Bieri, a longtime school employee who was in charge of the outdoors program, and Lukas Iten, a veteran area tour guide. Iten and Bieri mapped out the excursion, and sometime around 10:30 a.m., the group began the trek up. Bieri and Iten did not respond to messages, and a defense lawyer declined to comment. Their accounts of the accident, as well as those of the surviving students, are included in an avalanche investigative report and police interview transcripts reviewed by The Washington Post. The Post also reviewed video of the day’s trip filmed by the skiers, including of the avalanche.

The climb winded through forest and took nearly four hours, parts on foot and parts on skis. The sun’s rays poked through the trees, illuminating their path. The temperature hit 48 degrees, warm enough that Emily stripped down to a T-shirt for stretches — a special Vail Ski Patrol shirt that belonged to her dad and that the two playfully stole back and forth.

Wellhorn peak

March 18, 2023 satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC. Extent of the avalanche by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.

Iten, 53, had been leading tours at the school for nearly two decades. He had made this particular trek a dozen or so times, by his own estimate, and had checked the avalanche bulletin the night before, taking note of the high-elevation dangers and concerns about the snow. On the ascent, he encouraged the students to walk 10 or so yards apart. He occasionally stomped to make sure the ground was steady and once even drove a ski pole into the snow to test its stability.

“I felt that the conditions were very good and did not notice any signs of a critical weakness at all,” he later told investigators.

Emily’s left knee started bothering her. She had undergone surgery a couple of years earlier, and the hike was taxing. She found a place at the base of the hill to rest as her classmates continued to the top. They skied down on the fresh snow shortly after 2 p.m. and agreed to return to the top to squeeze in a second run. Emily was feeling better, so she stepped into her skis to make the climb.

The group reached the base of the rocky peak around 3:45 p.m. Emily teased a classmate named Eli and shared her Toblerone with another boy, Louis, who had already emptied his snack pack.

Iten discussed the descent. They wouldn’t follow the same route that they had just taken. Instead, he directed, he would ski down first and the others should keep to the right of his tracks.

1st descent

2nd descent

Graphic by The Washington Post based on map drawings that Lukas Iten provided to Swiss police.

ARTUR GALOCHA/THE WASHINGTON POST

Graphic based on map drawings that Lukas Iten provided to Swiss police.

Iten reached the bottom, followed by two others. He wore a GoPro camera so he could review the footage and discuss technique with the younger skiers. The rest followed one by one, 30 or so seconds apart, leaving some distance between skiers.

Next up was Maia, followed by Emily, a British student named Archie Harvey and a French girl named Valentine Reynaud. They were all seniors, on the cusp of adulthood, making plans and swapping dreams that had no limits. (The students and their families either couldn’t be reached or didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.)

MAIA WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM when the ground started to crumble, but the three others were higher up. As massive and powerful as an avalanche can be, it must be summoned to life. The slightest pressure in the wrong patch of snow can set off a chain reaction felt across the mountain, which is why there are detailed and sacrosanct safety guidelines that tour guides must follow.

The mountain was covered by several layers of snow , each snowfall adding another coat. The layers are all different, formed by wind, moisture and weather conditions.

Some crystals bond together tightly, creating a compact sheet of snow

While others are much looser , resulting in a fluffier blanket.

When one of these layers is compromised below the surface , a fracture can spread across the mountain and, particularly on steeper slopes, frozen sheets of snow can start cascading en masse — a slab avalanche.

When one of these layers

is compromised below

the surface , a fracture can spread across the mountain and, particularly on steeper slopes, frozen sheets of snow can start cascading en masse — a slab avalanche.

On the Wellhorn, the string of skiers had upset the ground beneath them. A crack formed near the top of the hill, where Valentine had begun making her way down. She froze.

“I couldn’t do anything but watch,” she said later.

The snow around her broke into pieces, a shattered puzzle, and started sliding. Valentine was in the clear, but Archie and Emily were in a more precarious stretch. Soon the slope was in a free fall.

“The whole mountain was in motion,” another student said later.

It wasn’t like a movie; the snow wasn’t a giant wave crashing down from overhead. It was more like a gushing stampede more than three football fields wide, growing in size and speed as it barreled toward the valley.

Maia was safely coming to a stop at the bottom of the slope when she turned and watched the side of the mountain slide. She thought back to a video she and Emily had watched online, a snow rabbit hurriedly jumping its way through an avalanche, safely reaching a still part of a mountain.

High up the slope, Archie and Emily were getting chased by snow. Iten saw it all, helplessly bellowing, “Oh, God!” Bieri was up above, where all he could see was a cloud of white dust.

“At first I thought that the whole group had disappeared,” he said.

Archie managed to remain upright on his skis briefly, skidding across the slabs of snow like a wakeboarder before vanishing into a cloud of snow.

About 25 yards below, Emily seemed to realize something was amiss as the ground broke apart. Her scream echoed across the valley. She stopped just short of a jump on the mountain, where she was pummeled by a wall of snow, a frozen freight train that carried her over a 600-foot cliff.

When the snow settled at the base of the mountain, the Alps were eerily quiet, save the sobbing from the surviving classmates who had collapsed into each other’s arms.

Rescue crews raced to the mountain. There was a signal coming from Archie’s transponder, but it took time for crews to reach him. When he was found more than an hour later, he was buried under six feet of snow, pronounced dead at the scene.

There was no signal from Emily’s transponder, suggesting it was buried too deep. Nearby they found her backpack, one ski and a pole. They kept searching the mountainside until it became too dark to see.

WITH ONE STUDENT DEAD and another missing, police investigators called in avalanche experts immediately. The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research arrived the next day to find out what went wrong.

By that point, police had already interviewed the tour guides and the surviving students. Many students mentioned how close they were with Bieri, whose wife also worked at the school. “I mean, Emily adored this man,” Sue says.

Bieri estimated he had planned more than 100 outdoor excursions for the school over the previous decade. Bieri’s son, a former student at Ecole d’Humanité, was also on the tour that day.

“I trust Guido and Lukas completely,” one student told police.

“They were role models for me,” another said. “We had a very good relationship over the last three years because I loved outdoor sports so much. Definitely for me but also for other people, we were very close.”

“I trust [Lukas] completely,” a third reported, “with my life.”

Iten was a student himself at Ecole d’Humanité more than a quarter-century ago. He had been a licensed mountain guide since 2000 and had been running tours for the school since 2004 — climbing excursions in the spring and fall, skiing in the winter.

“I’m quite attached to the school,” he told investigators.

On the day of the trek, the area near Wellhorn’s peak, called the Gstelliwang, had a moderate avalanche warning, which meant there was an elevated risk, particularly on very steep slopes. Skiers were advised to choose their routes carefully, ski down one at a time and avoid steep areas.

The bulletin warned there could be weak, older layers of snow, and Emily and her classmates knew what that meant. They had just had an avalanche safety course a couple of weeks earlier.

Iten told police that he had asked the students whether anyone wanted to do a second run. They all agreed, and Iten proposed the new route down the hill.

This, investigators determined, was likely a costly mistake. The new route placed the skiers on a slope that was 40 degrees steep in parts — far too steep for the conditions. Because of its proximity to the cliff, it also made any potential rescue attempt impossible. Investigators said Iten’s stomping and driving a pole into the snow had been insufficient tests to assess the avalanche risk.

The report found that skiing “on steep, exposed slopes is difficult for us to understand given the generally good leadership.” And while the report did not cite a specific cause, the presence of four skiers at different parts of the slope was probably too much pressure on a fragile layer of snow.

“The avalanche was triggered by chance certainly,” the report stated. “A person had to [ski] into an area where the weak layer was particularly weak and not heavily covered.”

In short, if they had just skied the same initial route, the avalanche probably could have been avoided. The avalanche investigators concluded that the tour guides bore some level of responsibility. Bieri and Iten are now being formally investigated for negligent homicide, according to Swiss court records. Police and the public prosecutor in the canton of Bern declined to comment, citing Swiss privacy laws.

“This was not an accident,” Sue says. “These were poor choices.”

THE DAY AFTER SUE AND REG ARRIVED , they went up in a helicopter to help with the search for Emily. Reg had worked with the ski patrol in Vail for two decades. He knew there were two ways to die in an avalanche: buried by snow resulting in suffocation or blunt force trauma. When he saw the huge cliff, he knew.

“She was dead in seconds,” he says.

With a background in medicine and an expertise in backcountry skiing, Emily’s parents had, like her, a deep appreciation for the dangers on the mountain. Sue especially carried a nagging fear. She had given her daughter a keychain, in fact, that said, “Don’t do stupid s---.”

“Every time she’d send me pictures from one of the trips, I’d be like, ‘Oh, thank God, another day is gone,’ ” Sue says.

It was pure happenstance that they spotted Bieri parked not far from the school. Sue was stunned — and conflicted. She knew how much her daughter cared for him, but she also knew Bieri was ostensibly in charge of the tragic backcountry outing. Part of her wanted to summon every morsel of the pain and grief that had suddenly consumed her and hurl it at Bieri with all the force she could muster. Instead, she just introduced herself.

Inside the car, Bieri didn’t say a word. Sue and Reg saw the veteran guide speak briefly at an impromptu memorial one day earlier at the school, where Bieri broke down. “I miss you, Emily,” he had said through tears.

Sue asked him to step out of the car and offered a hug, as did Reg. Bieri was an empty shell — “a shattered, broken man,” Reg would recall later.

“Emily loved you,” Sue told Bieri.

“I loved her so much,” she recalls him responding.

Reg and Sue packed up their daughter’s room and returned to Colorado to settle into their nightmare. The updates from Switzerland were slow. In early June, crews found the other pole. And then the other ski.

That month, Reg was involved in a terrible car crash. He was in an intensive care unit when the phone rang. It was Father’s Day.

The snow had melted in Switzerland. Part of Emily’s body had been found in shallow water. She had been buried under 50 feet of snow, and her body had been wedged between some rocks in a streambed about three-quarters of a mile from the accident, not far from where Archie’s body also had settled.

The avalanche was so powerful and the surge so strong that her body was not intact. A local fisherman would find the rest of Emily three months later, more than two miles downstream.

Sue flew back to Switzerland to retrieve her daughter’s remains. Investigators had to use DNA testing to positively identify Emily. At the crematorium, Sue held her daughter’s hand and painted her fingernails one final time, picking a glittery purple nail polish that she thought Emily would have loved.

EIGHT HUNDRED PEOPLE came to Emily’s memorial service, filling the auditorium, plus two overflow areas, at Vail Mountain School. Her high school teachers recalled special gifts Emily brought them: a playful coffee mug for the biology instructor, a llama piñata for an English teacher. Friends recalled stargazing from water towers and cracked jokes about Emily’s car, which she had playfully dubbed “Shelly the S---box.” They agreed she was an old soul — or, as one cousin put it, someone who seemed to “belong wherever she went.”

They lauded Emily’s unique style and relentless positivity, too. How she was always “frothed with stoke.”

“Whatever magic and witchcraft you performed, we’d have the greatest of times,” one friend recalled. “Enemies would become friends. Two groups who couldn’t stand each other before were now sitting on the same couch laughing uncontrollably at some stupid joke.”

Friends from Switzerland made the trip and told the crowd how much Emily had impacted their lives. And then Reg and Sue stepped toward a microphone. They were still in the fog, the second act of a horrific tragedy.

“She was my life,” Sue said. “She completed my world.”

As an only child, Emily had formed tight relationships with both of her parents. Reg recalls long walks with his daughter during the pandemic, telling her: “Look, Emily, I know how to do a lot of stuff, but I have zero skill set for raising a teenage girl. So we’re going to have to fumble our way through this together.” They jokingly called Reg’s style “experiments in poor parenting.”

At the memorial service, Reg mentioned that when they packed up Emily’s room back in Hasliberg, he couldn’t find his old ski patrol shirt. When he studied photos of Emily from that last day on the mountain, sure enough, he spotted it.

He turned to the projector screen and found his daughter’s face smiling back. “I want my T-shirt back,” he sobbed.

A YEAR HAS PASSED NOW. Ecole d’Humanité canceled its backcountry program this year. Iten and Bieri have been summoned for questioning at a May 31 hearing, court records show. There is no making sense of the tragedy for the Franciose family, no recourse that might somehow balance the scale. Under the Swiss legal system, if convicted, Bieri and Iten could face up to three years in prison for what is technically a misdemeanor charge.

“For two kids? I don’t think that’s fair,” Sue says.

The Franciose family could recoup $30,000 or so in a civil judgment, but the Swiss system doesn’t allow for punitive damages, so they will never see money that even covers their costs associated with Emily’s death. They recently received a $5,000 bill for the cost of a search-and-rescue helicopter.

Ecole d’Humanité has maintained to the family that the school is not liable for the accident, and it is not a party in the criminal proceedings. Administrators from the school declined to be interviewed. “For the past year we have been grieving this loss and our hearts continue to go out to the families affected,” the school said in a statement.

The family is left only with grief. The memories that shadow Sue through each day provide some comfort but mostly sadness. Reg has stopped taking on-call shifts with the emergency room in Vail. “I don’t have any empathy left,” he says.

They had spent much of their professional lives around pain, trauma and death. The physiology of the human body and the fragility of human life are not foreign to them. But that doesn’t make the emotional toll any lighter.

“I’m German and Irish,” Sue says. “I should be pissed and angry. I’ve never been angry. I’m just confused, broken, really sad.”

“Oh, I’m the opposite,” Reg says. “I have raging anger.”

“Just feel so lost and so empty,” Sue says. “Like, what do I do now? Because I'm just really very confused.”

“Most people don’t understand,” Reg offers. “Thank God, most people don’t understand.”

For Sue, the best part of each day is when she wakes up and there are 20 or 30 seconds where she’s still in a sleep fog.

“I just have this serene, peaceful feeling,” she says. “And then it’s like: ‘Oh, s---. Yeah, that happened. Oh, God, how am I going to get out of bed today?’ ”

Emily’s Hut

Emily’s Vail bedroom is largely untouched, save for the urn on the bed and the picture-filled poster boards from her memorial service. Sue has her daughter’s photos on display throughout the house, each stirring a different memory. From the hospital when Emily was born, a school recital, a family trip to Guatemala, Emily’s 16th birthday, a carousel ride, a father-daughter dance, the beach, the river.

In many, Emily is wearing skis, a parka and an ear-to-ear smile, colorful snapshots that place her forever on the mountain, forever surrounded by snow and trees and blue sky.

“No matter what time of day it is, the sky always changes,” Emily once wrote, “and is never the same or predictable. I love how, even though we’re all under the same sky, it looks different for everyone. It reminds me that even though we are all unique, we can find something to connect over.”

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5 amazing holidays to Japan for an unforgettable adventure

Considering a once-in-a-lifetime Japan holiday? Look no further with these magnificent options

While the country's big-hitting cities such as spiritual Kyoto, cosmopolitan Osaka and vibrant Tokyo, Japan's capital and a popular springboard for Mount Fuji, are all must-sees, there are the sunny southern islands of Japan to discover too. With breath-taking beaches and a slower pace of life, they're the ideal spot for a more leisurely trip. And then there are the Japanese Alps, vast and verdant, and a hugely popular choice for a Japan skiing holiday.

While you need to consider where you'd like to visit on your epic Japan adventure, there's also the case of how . Flights go direct from London to Tokyo, but when it comes to choosing how to traverse this incredible country there are numerous options – from guided coach tours to luxury cruises.

For a helping hand with where to start, we've rounded up some of our favourite ways to discover Japan, including a group tour across the Japanese Alps , a 17-day cruise during beautiful cherry blossom season, and an indulgent inclusive break in sun-drenched Okinawa.

A tour of Japan's essential highlights

Embark on this thrilling 13-day roundtrip from Tokyo, which showcases the magical, ancient heritage of Japan as well as its futuristic, neon-lit metropolises. This guided tour, which includes coach travel and hotel accommodation, will give you plenty of time to soak up the colour and culture of Japan's capital, which boasts the bustling shopping district of Ginza, vivid Harajuku, iridescent Akihabara electric town, and world-famous Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, the commercial district.

Beyond Tokyo, you'll visit majestic Mount Fiji, Japan's tallest peak; ride the Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train; see the resident deer in the city of Nara; spend the day in Hiroshima, which has been rebuilt into an attractive, modern city; and have the chance to stay in a ryokan , a typical Japanese inn, in Kyoto. This accessible and fully-organised tour covers all the essentials and more.

Join us on the Good Housekeeping 13-day Japan tour in August 2024.

A cruise in beautiful cherry blossom season

One of the biggest draws to Japan is undeniably its picturesque cherry blossom season and the custom of hanami , admiring the beauty of it. Every spring, millions of locals and visitors alike patiently wait for the first sakura (the Japanese term for cherry blossom) buds to bloom, showing off their delicate, baby pink-hued petals. The abundance of blossom flowering is celebrated with festivals, picnics and the eating of seasonal, sakura-themed delicacies.

If experiencing this springtime phenomenon is on your bucket list, then this 17-day cruise in Japan is for you. While giving you the opportunity to catch the cherry blossom in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, the leisurely sailing with Holland America enables you to see plenty more of Japan, too. Other port stops include Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Aomori and the lively, karaoke-loving city of Busan in South Korea. And all of this is without mentioning the incredible entertainment, food and bars onboard your ship, of course.

Embark on a 17-day cherry blossom cruise around Japan with Good Housekeeping in 2025.

FIND OUT MORE

A jaunt through the Japanese Alps with plenty of tradition

While this group tour ticks off the unmissable cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, it takes its guests on a journey through the beautiful Japanese Alps, a series of mountain ranges on the island of Honshu. This mountainous region is home to an abundance of picturesque cities and towns, all offering a glimpse into Japan's rural life. On this 13-day tour you'll visit the pretty city of Takayama, which brims with Edo Period houses, food and craft markets and traditional restaurants.

You'll also get the chance to wander the village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its thatched roof farmhouses that are said to resemble the praying hands of Buddhist monks. Along with admiring gorgeous scenery, you'll have the chance to get on hands-on with activities such as miso-making, washi paper-making, gold leaf crafting and origami. If you're craving a taste of traditional Japan, you'll find bags of it on this brilliantly-curated trip.

Explore the Japanese Alps with Good Housekeeping in 2024 or 2025.

A city break in Tokyo, Japan's energetic capital

If you've got limited time or would prefer to dedicate your trip to just one destination in Japan, then Tokyo is the answer. Known as Edo until 1868, the Japanese capital is the world's most populous city and thus it's a melting pot of activity, culture and cuisines. As city breaks go, you'll be spoilt for choice here: see the Imperial Palace and many landscaped gardens (we like Koishikawa Korakuen and Hama Rikyu) in central Tokyo, the museums and towering Skytree viewing platform for city-wide views in northern Tokyo, and the busy shopping and entertainment districts of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku in the west.

For easy access to all of this (and so much more) it's best to base yourself centrally, and a hotel would give you the benefit of a helpful concierge to offer recommendations, book transfers and advise on transport throughout your trip. In a city with so much to offer, a bit of local knowledge goes a long way.

Plan a Tokyo city break British Airways, where you can book flights and hotels as a package.

A relaxing all-inclusive holiday in Okinawa

The idyllic island of Ishigaki is part of the Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan, where the climate is tropical and the weather is warm and humid all year round. It's here that you'll find Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort , perched on the edge of the Kabira peninsula with endless views of the turquoise ocean ahead. A family-friendly resort, Kabira Ishigaki is the ideal way to see Japan with a hearty side of rest and relaxation. You can lounge around the freshwater pool and unwind with a treatment in the spa, or, on days where you can muster the energy, try your hand at windsurfing or kayaking in the crystal-clear sea.

The ocean is sacred here, as it's home to manta rays and other marine life, and guests wanting to learn more about life under the water's surface can book eco-friendly snorkelling tours or day trips to nearby islands. There's the chance to experience local culture on dry land too, as guests can take part in sanshin lessons (an Okinawan musical instrument that's similar to a banjo) and sample Okinawan flavours with a selection of traditional dishes, all served in a restaurant that offers 180-degree sea views. Sounds like paradise to us...

Soak up the sun, sand and sea of southern Japan at Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort.

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Tour Details

Moscow metro tour: architectural styles of the subway.

Duration: 2 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing

This metro tour of Russia’s capital and most populous city, Moscow, is your chance to get a unique insight into the beautiful and impressive architecture of the city's underground stations. Admire their marble walls and high ceilings representing Stalin's desire for glory after World War 2, and see first-hand how the interiors change with the rise of new political eras. Your guide will lead you through the complex network, which is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems worldwide, with over two billion travelers in 2011.

Opened in 1935, Moscow’s underground system, now 190 miles (305 km) long with 185 stations, is today one the largest and most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. On this Moscow metro tour, discover the impressive architecture of Moscow’s underground stations and learn how they reflect the Soviet era.

Getting around by metro, your local guide will take you through parts of Moscow’s infamous history. Stop at stations built during the time of the USSR (Soviet Union) that are praised as one of the most extravagant architectural projects from Stalin’s time. After World War 2, he was keen on establishing Stalinist architecture to represent his rising regime and a recognized empire. Learn how when his successor started the de-Stalinization of the former Soviet Union in 1953, the extravagancy of the architecture was toned down.

Discover how the unique character of each station reflected several different eras. While stations like Kievskaya and Slavyansky Bulvar have pompous halls and high stucco ceilings brimming with extravagant decorations, those built later, like Volzhskaya, are lightly adorned with sparse furnishings. Architect Alexey Dushkin and painter Alexander Deyneka were just two of the many artists who made these magnificent landmarks possible.

Revel in Moscow's glory days, as well as the years of scarcity, on this fascinating Moscow metro experience. Conclude your tour at one of the central stations in Moscow. If you're lucky, you may even find the secret entrance to the unconfirmed Metro-2, a parallel underground system used by the government -- a mystery which has neither been denied nor confirmed today.

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Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

For those who like to travel in comfort

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon