Glacier Express Train Tours | Rail Vacations
For over 90 years, the Glacier Express has been the premier way
to experience the Swiss Alps. This train was introduced in 1930 as
the final link for the Visp-Zermatt-Bahn, Rhaetian Railway, and
Furka Oberalp Bahn to connect the resort towns of Zermatt and St.
Moritz. Tourism had been on the rise in the Swiss Alps since the
late 1800s when wealthy Europeans and traveling elites from other
countries discovered the sheer majesty of the region. Once-sleepy
mountain towns transformed into resort destinations complete with
all the modern amenities travelers could hope for, except for easy
transit between scenic areas.
The views from the Glacier Express are simply breathtaking, no
matter which service class travelers select. As the train departs
from Zermatt, the ever-impressive Matterhorn looms overhead.
Towering rock walls surround the tracks as the route descends into
the Matter Valley and approaches the cities of Visp and later Brig.
The second leg of the journey begins as the Glacier Express
ventures across the River Rhone and approaches the highly scenic
Upper Rhone Valley.
The Glacier Express is only an “express train” in the sense that
it connects some of the most enticing destinations in Switzerland
on one cohesive line. Guests looking to experience these cities or
immerse themselves in the Swiss Alps’ splendor are treated to a
journey like no other on this iconic train.