2026 February’s Top Travel News! / Glide Through The Alps in First-Class Style / By Susan Skelly / Publisher Luxurytravelmag

First-class rail journeys, majestic alpine vistas, luxurious hotels, and ample time to explore — this is Switzerland at its most enchanting

Switzerland is the undisputed home of glacial grandeur — where snow-dusted peaks meet world-class hospitality.

Think luxurious spa retreats, elegant alpine hotels, panoramic train journeys, and cuisine that celebrates both tradition and indulgence. This is a destination with timeless appeal and rarefied charm.

The Swiss Grandeur tour, part of the exclusive new Luxury Collection from Albatross Tours, is an exciting journey from Milan to Zurich, taking in Lake Como and Bellagio, jetsetters’ St Moritz, and the charming mountain villages of Andermatt and Bürgenstock.

A 15-day adventure incorporates scenic drives, lake cruises, romantic train trips and cable cars that soar to breathtaking heights, offering views as dramatic as the journey itself.

Travel on both the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express is first-class with windows as big as movie screens. Expect luxury hotels, local guides, and inclusions you’ll never forget.

Elegant stays in iconic settings

Accommodation is a rollcall of establishments well known to discerning travellers: the Art Nouveau Château Monfort in Milan; Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano; the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz; Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa; The Chedi at Andermatt; the Renaissance Lucerne Hotel; and the Park Hyatt in Zurich.

History buffs rave about the heritage ambience of the Kulm Hotel: memorabilia from Winter Olympics held in St Moritz in 1928 and 1948, photos of the resort’s glamorous jetsetting heyday, and walls of trophies signifying sporting prowess.

A stunning intarsia trompe l’oeil artwork in the lounge is part of a refurbishment in 1993 by Academy Award-nominated art director Renzo Mongiardino.

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel, in Arosa, with its private mountain railway, boasts the 5,000 sq m Tschuggen Mountain Spa, considered an architectural masterpiece.

Artisanal Experiences in Switzerland

Tailored travel, the Albatross way

Swiss Grandeur Is one of two luxury itineraries launched by Albatross Tours for 2026. The other is Italian Splendour which checks into Tuscany, Umbria and the Amalfi Coast.

The Brisbane-based operator’s take on grandeur is a singular one: smaller groups (capped at 20 guests on these limited-edition departures), five-star accommodation, longer stays in each place, and unmatched expertise.

The signature Longer Stay style of touring ensures not only looked-for highlights and famous towns, but authentic regional experiences and day trips away from the crowds.

Plenty of free time is factored in, part of Albatross Tours’ “my time” imperative.

Swiss Grandeur | Arosa Cable Car

Hits and highlights

The Swiss Grandeur itinerary combines beauty, spectacular views, romantic villages and plenty of thrills.

Explore the Italianate gardens of Villa Carlotta on the shores of Lake Como in the town of Tremezzo ahead of a relaxing lake cruise and a visit to the picturesque village of Bellagio, much loved for its villas, gardens, food, and browsing.

Experience the famous Bernina Express, from Tirano to St Moritz, as it winds its way over the Brusio Circular Viaduct, a single-track, nine-arched stone spiral viaduct opened in 1908 and considered one of the architectural highlights of the Rhaetian Railway.

Once over the viaduct, the Bernina Express rolls on into the mountains passing three enchanting lakes: Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco.

From St Moritz to Chur, Switzerland’s oldest town, the tour crosses the 65-metre high Landwasser Viaduct, another awesome feat of engineering.

The Glacier Express, boarded in Chur and taking full advantage of panoramic window seats, absorbs Switzerland’s legendary mountain scenery, following a route high above the glaciers, peaks and resorts of “the Valais”. An anticipated visit before arriving in Andermatt, is the 2,033m high Overalp Pass, its natural reservoir an inviting starting point for picnics, fishing and walks.

Mountain Highs

A note for the journal-keepers: the complete Glacier Express, together with the Bernina Express section from Tirano to Chur, passes through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges.

The Gütsch-Express is a gondola lift in Andermatt that takes visitors from the railway station to the Gütsch mountain. The modern, eight-person monocable ropeway, which opened in 2017, transports 2,400 people per hour and offers panoramic views of the Alps.

The Swiss Grandeur tour is rich with charming villages and towns, among them Lugano, Andermatt, Chur, Arosa, Lucerne, and Zurich.

Lifts, lakes and good living

While in Arosa, visit the Arosa Bärenland, a sanctuary for rescued mountain bears. On the bear platform of the Arosa Bear Sanctuary, learn not only the stories of these European brown bears but also much about their sleeping and eating habits.

Summer in Arosa is June to September: the weather is warm, trails are clear, and alpine flowers are in full bloom. The Red Squirrel Trail in Arosa is a popular walking route.

Even the adventurous will take a deep breath as they board Titlis Rotair, the world’s first rotating aerial cable car, delivering Albatross guests to the summit of Mount Titlis (3,238m).

Mt Titlis is accessed from the town of Engelberg, 45 minutes from Lucerne. Refuel with Swiss rosti at the Panoramic Restaurant. Then take another deep breath before stepping out onto the 100m long suspension bridge, 500m above ground.

The lovely lakeside town of Lucerne is the penultimate holiday treat.

Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Lucerne, take the funicular up to the exclusive resort town of Bürgenstock to browse, and return to town to check out the shopping, the riverside visits and the landmark Chapel and Mill wooden covered bridges.

Zurich, on the shores of the River Limmat, is the swan song. On its lake: white swans, kayaks, cruisers, and sleek ferries. In summer, sunworshippers pack the public baths on the lakefront.

In all seasons, travellers are guaranteed the grandeur and joie de vivre Switzerland is famous for.

From the serene shores of Lake Como to the vibrant heart of Zurich, the Swiss Grandeur tour is a celebration of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes and luxurious experiences.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or seeking a once-in-a-lifetime escape, this 15-day journey promises memories as enduring as the mountains themselves.