About this trip.
Three regions, one slow train
The Glacier Express is not actually express. It crosses Switzerland between St Moritz and Zermatt at a steady pace, dawdling over the Landwasser Viaduct and the 2,044-metre Oberalp Pass with the explicit aim of letting passengers absorb the view through panoramic windows. A full day on board sits at the centre of this self-guided walking holiday, which links three quite different parts of the country: the high Engadine valley around Sils, the famously photogenic terrain beneath the Matterhorn, and the lakeside Old Town of Lucerne.
The walking is graded easy-to-moderate — daily distances of roughly 5 to 15km, with the occasional climb if you fancy one. It is a holiday for people who want their boots on each day but would rather end the afternoon in a café than on a ridge.
Walking from Sils and Zermatt
Sils sits at the head of the Upper Engadine, a quiet larch-fringed village with a 17th-century former farmhouse for the first two nights. From here, the gentlest day is a 7km amble along the south shore of Lake Sils — about two and a half hours, with around 120 metres of ascent — reached by boat or bus across the water. For something more ambitious, a 10.5km route uses the cog railway and cable car to the summit of Piz Nair, then descends gradually through the Suvretta Valley to lakeside Silvaplana, where a bus returns you to Sils.
After the Glacier Express delivers you to Zermatt, the trails turn properly Alpine. The Gornergrat Railway gives you a high start point for walks with the Matterhorn in clear view, and the village itself is busy in a way Sils is not — vibrant rather than tranquil, with a 4-star spa hotel as your base.
Lucerne and the lake
The final stretch is a rail transfer to Lucerne, where the days slow down again. The Old Town is worth a wander for its painted bridges and lakeside promenades alone, and Mount Rigi is within easy reach by cog railway if you want one more upland walk. Optional boat trips on Lake Lucerne are part of the appeal, and the included half-fare card brings the cost of these spontaneous additions down by up to 50 per cent.
Bookings and what's included
This is a self-guided itinerary you can begin on any day between 15 June and 15 October 2026, with extra nights easy to add. Seven nights cover one 3-star and two 4-star hotels; meals are seven breakfasts and three dinners, leaving you free to eat out where it makes sense. Inntravel provides route notes, GPS navigation files, the reserved Glacier Express seat, all internal rail transfers between Sils, Zermatt and Lucerne, transfers from and to Zürich airport, the half-fare card and a free transport pass for the Sils area. Flights or rail travel from London can be arranged separately.
Prices start at £2,451 per person. The carbon footprint comes in at around 62kg CO₂e per person before travel, helped along by the fact that the entire holiday runs on Swiss trains, boats and cable cars rather than a hire car.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
