Frequently Asked Questions

You can book my tours two ways:

1. Visit my tours page, find the tour that best suits your timing and interests, and click “book now.” You can pay for the tour online by secure payment link. I will send you a confirmation of the pick-up timing once I know which hotel you’ll be staying at.
2. Just reach out via my Contact page and tell me which tour you have your eye on, your preferred dates, and how many of you are traveling. I will check availability and send back a final price and itinerary. 

Always. Every tour is built around you, so if you would like to adjust the pace or shape the day around a story you want to tell, just let me know.

I can accommodate groups of up to 31 guests, and every tour, whether it is just two of you or a larger group, is completely private. That means it is always just your group, never combined with other travelers.

Every tour includes your train tickets, my full attention as your private guide, tickets and reservations to the listed activities, and I take care of coordinating meals and reservations along the way. 

My tours are designed for two or more guests. If you are traveling solo, get in touch anyway. I am always happy to see what we can put together.

Tour length depends on where we are headed. A day trip to the Rhein Falls and Schaffhausen runs about 6 hours, while the full Bernina Express experience is closer to 11 hours. 

I meet you right in your hotel lobby, which makes the morning easy. At the end of the day, I will either drop you back at your hotel or walk you over to a restaurant if you would like to keep the evening going. 

For multi-day tours, I am happy to arrange your airport transfers. Just ask and I'll make it happen.

What you will need depends on the season and the weather that day, and I will always reach out beforehand if there is anything special to pack. As a general rule, comfortable shoes (no heels), sunglasses, and layers will serve you well on any tour. 

And do not forget your photo ID or passport, every guest needs to bring one for every tour.

Lunch is included on the Glacier Express route tour. On every other tour, I am happy to reserve a table at an authentic Swiss restaurant for you. I always choose spots with a wide variety of options, and I am glad to accommodate dietary restrictions. 

Just let me know ahead of time if you have an allergy or a specific need, and I will take care of it.

Absolutely! You are welcome to book directly through the Tours page on my website, or reach out to me directly and I will help you build an unforgettable multi-day holiday package.

Every season in Switzerland has something special to offer. Winter brings the snow and our world famous Christmas markets. Spring is when the waterfalls are at their most powerful and the landscapes come alive with color. Summer brings incredible weather, with the mountains covered in wildflowers and grazing cows. And fall paints the trees in shades of orange, red, and yellow that are hard to beat. 

There's really no wrong time to visit, it just depends on the experience you are after

You can book any time, whether that is months ahead or just a few days out.

Most of my tours like the Glacier Express route, Lauterbrunnen, and Mount Titlis are bookable all year. 

Others, like my Mount Pilatus tour, are also available year round, though certain elements, like the cogwheel train, do not run during the winter months.

A visit to the Arosa Bear Sanctuary is only available in summer as the bears hibernate over winter.

Pricing is based on the number of guests confirmed at booking. If your group grows or shrinks, I will always do my best to accommodate extra guests, depending on train and hotel availability.

What a lovely idea! Reach out to me, and let me know who the gift is for, and I will send you a payment link. Your gift recipient can then use their voucher whenever it suits their schedule and mine.

Refunds depend on how far ahead you cancel. You will get a full refund, minus ticket and processing costs, for cancellations 180 days or more before the tour, a partial refund between 179 and 31 days out, and unfortunately no refund within 30 days, except in extenuating circumstances. 

You can find full policy details in the Service Agreement if you would like to see them.

I ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes before our scheduled meeting time. Swiss trains run like clockwork, so arriving more than 10 minutes late unfortunately counts as a no-show, and I am not able to offer a refund in that case.

Absolutely, families are one of my favorite groups to guide. Hello Switzerland Tours was even named Best Travel Company for Family Holidays for its private guided rail tours across Switzerland. 

I build every itinerary around the people taking it, so it is easy to adapt the pace, activities, and accessibility to fit different generations traveling together.

Yes, and I love guiding this group. My senior-friendly tours are paced more slowly, with stops that offer calmer, lower-step options, so no one ever feels rushed. Visit the Seniors page to see more.

Many of my tours are wheelchair accessible and it is my personal goal to ensure that my guests who need wheelchairs get to experience Switzerland as well as anyone.

Switzerland has a wonderful range of wheelchair-accessible experiences, and the train network and stations themselves are too. I plan each day around your specific needs and carry a EuroKey, which gives you access to accessible restrooms and wheelchair lifts to activities around the country. 

Reach out to me and let's talk through what would work best for you.

I guide in English, and I also speak German, which comes in handy for translating along the way.

Hello Switzerland Tours is fully insured and operates under Swiss law. That said, you are responsible for your own travel insurance, and I strongly recommend comprehensive coverage, including cancellation and medical emergencies, before you travel.

Yes, I partner with travel agents and offer commissionable private Swiss train tours for their clients. Visit the Travel Agents page for the details.

I do, and it is one of my favorite parts. I know all the best lookout spots along the way, and I love capturing your special moments. I share the photos with you at the end of the tour, at no extra cost.

Email me or call me, and let's start planning your private Swiss rail adventure.