This train ride through the Swiss Alps will make you reconsider slow travel as a luxury, making the classic route from St. Moritz to Zermatt a lengthy, scenic tour. If ever you’ve considered a birthday trip to the region but couldn’t fathom how you’d see all the sights in just a few days’ time, the Glacier Express is exactly the kind of tour you’ve been searching for. Pass snow-capped mountains and head into tiny alpine towns, all the while enjoying the best food, wine and views in just a day’s journey.
Photography: justmovedtoswitzerland
Window to the Alps
Hop aboard this beauty and you’ll spend your next birthday pinching yourself to make sure the experience really is real. Get ready for panoramic views of alpine villages, famous ski towns and glorious mountainous countryside, with windows on all sides and skylights above for optimal viewing of all the terrain. You can opt to take a tour that includes overnight stays along the way, or stick with one simple day of train bliss. The Glacier Express season starts up again on December 10th, so be sure to book your b-day travel accordingly.
Photography: wildflowerchild_cate
On The Agenda
If you’re sticking with the original route from the famed holiday resort of St. Moritz to the alpine village of Zermatt, you’ll make your way through the Solis and Landwasser viaducts and spiral tunnels, the Rhine Gorge (aka the Grand Canyon of Switzerland), Oberalp Pass and end with spectacular views of Matterhorn. As far as birthday agendas go, you can’t do much better than that, unless of course you start or end the trip with an epic ski session.
Photography: Tron Le | Chloe Barry-Hang | Long-Nong Huang
An Indulgent Experience
While most of the trains of the world are known to serve bland sandwiches and cheapo beers, Glacier Express turns that notion completely upside down by serving three-course meals and the best of local wines. This crew recognizes that the magic ingredient for an epic day of adventuring is delicious, nurturing fare. Sounds fab for a birthday extravaganza!
Photography: Benjamin Savary | Etienne Bösiger
