Chur to Brig with a private guide, the full Glacier Express day from Zurich
SwissTravelGuide.ch runs the only private day on our site and the one that spends longest on the Glacier Express, about four hours from Chur to Brig. It costs ~$926 for one traveler, less per head in a group, and it cannot be refunded. Below, the day stage by stage and the fine print.
Who runs it and what you pay
SwissTravelGuide.ch's private Glacier Express day at ~$926 is priced for a single traveler. The listing says the price varies by group size, so the cost per person drops when two or more people book together.
Viator shows it at 4.4 from 35 reviews. That is a small base next to the 300+ reviews of our top pick, so read a few before you decide.
The fare covers a 1-day 2nd-class train pass, the Glacier Express seat reservation and a guide who is yours for the day. Our price guide sets it against the two group tours.
8:20 am at the tourist information
The day starts at 8:20 am at the tourist information desk inside Zürich HB, earlier than the group tours. From there a scheduled train takes about 1.5 hours to Chur.
The line follows the shore of Lake Zurich and then the Walensee, with steep cliffs rising on the far side. Have a camera ready early, since the lakes come before the mountains.
A private guide also means nobody to wait for at the meeting point. On a group tour one late traveler can hold everyone back, while here the plan depends on your party alone.
Four hours on the Glacier Express, Chur to Brig
At Chur you board the Glacier Express with a reserved seat in 2nd class. The listing gives about four hours to Brig, roughly half the full run between St. Moritz and Zermatt.
The first stretch follows the Rhine west through the Ruinaulta, which the listing calls the Swiss Grand Canyon. Its pale cliffs drop up to about 400 m (1,300 ft) to the river.
Past Disentis and its monastery, the line climbs to the Oberalp Pass at about 2,033 m (6,670 ft), the highest point of the route. From autumn to spring there is usually snow up here.
Down in Andermatt the group tours leave the train. You stay on, and that is the main difference from the Chur to Andermatt stretch that most Zurich day tours ride.
West of Andermatt the train enters the Furka base tunnel, 15.4 km (9.6 miles) long. It bypasses the old line over the pass, so the glacier that gave the train its name stays out of sight.
Beyond the tunnel the train runs down the Goms valley in the Upper Valais. It is a quieter landscape of meadows and dark wooden villages, and the descent ends at Brig.
Lunch and drinks in the panorama car
This tour puts lunch and drinks on board in the price, which our top pick does not. The overview promises a gourmet lunch and the inclusions list drinks, but the listing does not name a menu.
You sit in 2nd class, still in a panorama car with windows that curve up into the roof. How the classes differ in space and service is explained in our guide to seats and lunch on board.
The railway assigns the seats, so even a private tour cannot promise the side or the direction you face. Clouds can also hide the peaks, and a private guide cannot change that.
Four hours aboard, one guide for your party
SwissTravelGuide.ch rides the Glacier Express from Chur to Brig in 2nd class with lunch and drinks, then loops home via Bern. Viator travelers rate it 4.4 from 35 reviews; it cannot be refunded.
Back from Brig by a different route
From Brig the return heads north through the Lötschberg base tunnel, 34.6 km (21.5 miles) long. After it the line passes Lake Thun and Bern on the way back to Zurich.
So the day is a loop rather than an out-and-back ride. You see two sides of the Alps and get back to Zurich roughly ten hours after leaving it.
| Private day to Brig | Group day to Lucerne | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~$926 for one, less in a group | ~$436 |
| Meet at Zürich HB | 8:20 am, tourist information | 10:00 am, clock tower |
| On the Glacier Express | Chur to Brig, about 4 hours | Chur to Andermatt, about 3 hours |
| Class | 2nd class | Check your booking |
| Lunch | Included, with drinks | On board, check if included |
| Group | Your party only | Small group, up to 15 |
| Cancellation | Non-refundable | Free up to 24 hours |
| Viator rating | 4.4 from 35 reviews | 4.5 from 300+ reviews |
Non-refundable, no changes, 48 hours to confirm
The rule here is firm. Once booked, the tour cannot be refunded or changed. Bad weather and a change of plans make no difference.
Booking is not instant either. The operator confirms within 48 hours, so leave a margin before your date and do not build the rest of the trip around an unconfirmed day.
Train delays can still touch a private day. Our guide to late trains covers what reviewers report, and our guide to the seasons explains the weeks from mid-October into early December when the Glacier Express takes a break. Ask the operator before booking a date in that window.
Who should pay for the private day
It suits couples or small families who want the longest Glacier Express ride from Zurich without planning it, and who value a guide to themselves. Ask for a quote for your group size, since the per-person price falls as the party grows.
Solo travelers on a budget get more for less with the group tour at ~$436, which ends with a walk through Lucerne. If St. Moritz appeals more, the Albula line day costs less again.
And if you are flexible and good with timetables, compare it with booking the tickets yourself before you pay for a guide.