Golden Pass Panoramic (Switzerland in late Sep)

I am planning to visit Switzerland and the following is my planned itinerary:

• 22 Sept - Zurich Airport to Lucern (overnight in Lucern)
• 23 Sept - Lucern to Interlaken Ost (Golden Pass Panoramic) (overnight in Interlaken)
• 24 Sept - Interlaken to Andermatt, then from Andermatt take Glacier Express to Zermatt (overnight in Zermatt)
• 25 Sept - Zermatt (overnight in Zermatt)
• 26 Sept - Zermatt to Geneva (Overnight in Geneva)
• 27 Sept - Geneva, then fly back to London from Geneva AirportI tried to look for Golden Pass

Panoramic's tickets on this website (www.goldenpass.ch), but all they allowed me to do is to reserve my seat with no option for me to buy a ticket on the same system, and therefore not allowing me to proceed further on the web page.

I am based in the UK, I have looked up rail europe website (www.raileurope.com) hoping to buy my Golden Pass tickets, but they would not allow me to choose UK as a country of origin on the website. Basically, they have all countries except any European countries.

1. I have bought a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass, which day would you suggest I should start using it?
2. With the Swiss Travel Pass, do I still need to purchase separate tickets for Golden Pass Panoramic and Glacier Express?
3. How different are the VIP seats from first class seats? I am planning to buy first class seats on both scenic trains.
4. Will Glacier Express be running in September during my dates?
5. How can I buy tickets for Golden Pass and Glacier Express, since the website on www.goldenpass.ch would only allow me to reserve my seats?
6. Would you suggest me to stay two days in Zermatt (as planned above), or rather, spend two days in Interlaken instead?
7. What train would you suggest me to take from Interlaken to Andermatt? I have only planned to go to Andermatt because it is a station where I could board the Glacier Express. Would Visp be a better and more convenient place to board the Glacier Express instead?
8. What train would you suggest me to take from Zermatt to Geneva? I don't suppose there would be any scenic trains - should I just take the standard ones?

I would be very grateful for your advice on the above. Many thanks in advance!

Sorry,I am posting a question of my own here.

I have a 8 days consecutive swiss pass .Can I use it for Golden pass panoramic/classic without seat reservation?

Can I go in reverse direction ,from Montreaux to Lucerne?

Can I get down at Interlaken,visit Jungfrau and board later /get down at Lucerne ,take a boat cruise and board the train for return journey to Montreaux?

Thanks & regards

Mani

Hello kutarbaby, and thanks for posting your questions here! Let's take a look at them:

1. I''d suggest to start using your Swiss Travel Pass on September 23. That way you'd only need regular tickets for Zurich-Lucerne on September 22, which is quite a short trip. Purchase options are listed at www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/price. Since you're from the UK, you can best order through www.swisstravelsystem. co.uk.

2. and 5. No, you don't need tickets for the Glacier Express or Golden Pass if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. The Swiss Travel Pass covers both journeys. You'd only need additional seat reservations for the Glacier Express: www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress/tickets. Reservations are not obligatory for the Golden Pass, so there's no need to get tickets or book seats for this trip: www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass/tickets. VIP seats do need reservation.

3. 1st class seats in Golden Pass trains are regular seats in spacious and comfortable carriages with panoramic windows. VIP seats are special seats in the very front of the train, allowing you to enjoy the view from the driver's perspective. Note that not all Golden Pass trains offer VIP seats. Please refer to www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass for further information.

4. Yes, it will. You'll find a link to timetables at www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress/gettingth ere. Glacier Express trains are also included in the general Swiss timetable: www.myswissalps.com/ti metable.

6. Both options are fine in my opinion. It depends on your specific preferences. If you want to make a local scenic trip during your stay in Zermatt (like Gornergrat or Klein Matterhorn) or Interlaken (like Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch), I suggest you review our attraction pages and see what appeals to you. If there's a day trip you're especially interested in, you should spend the extra day in that particular town or area.

7. If want to do part of the Glacier Express, it makes sense to board in Andermatt from Interlaken indeed. It doesn't make sense to do so from Visp, as you'll only enjoy the very last part of the journey to Zermatt in that case. It doesn't really matter which train from Interlaken to Andermatt you take; just pick a connection in the timetable that best fits your scheme. Please note that there's an easier way to travel from Interlaken to Zermatt: first travel to Spiez, then board the local Lötschberg train that runs via Kandersteg and Goppenstein. Once you're in Visp, you can change to a local train towards Zermatt. This isn't the Glacier Express route, but it's still scenic.

8. Yes, just pick any train from the timetable. There are no special scenic trains on this route.

Hello Mani,

Yes, you can use the Swiss Travel Pass for Golden Pass trains without further reservations, unless you'd want to reserve VIP seats. Please refer to www.myswissalps .com/goldenpass/ticket s and www.myswissalps .com/swisstravelpass/v alidity. You can travel from Montreux (not Montreaux ;-)) to Interlaken, and it's no problem to get out along the way and then continue your journey.

I'm not sure if you plan to get from Montreux to Interlaken and back, plus a visit to the Jungfraujoch and to Lucerne all in one day. That would be too much in my opinon. Please consult the timetable to plan such trips in details.

Would you mind posting follow-up questions in a new topic of your own? Thanks!

I have a second class swiss travel pass. Can I ride the golden pass train with this.

Sure, see the above posts.

Thanks Annika !