November 8, 2022

SWITZERLAND: Gotthard Base Tunnel Tour

Gotthard Base Tunnel Tour

Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world, measuring 57km in length! The Gotthard Base Tunnel Tour is a guided tour that takes about 2 hours. It offers a unique opportunity to tour inside this tunnel, learn about the history of this majestic construction project and see the trains whizzing past through the tunnel window.

The visiting tour is available from Wednesdays to Saturdays, 9.30am and 1.30pm. Priced at CHF 26 per person.

English guided tour is available upon request. We’d requested for English tour but due to the majority of the participants speak German (and there were only three of us who couldn’t understand German), the tour was conducted in German. However, our guide tried his best to explain to us in English too.

For full itinerary, check out 11D10N Switzerland: The Magical Fairy Tale Land

We took the bus 493 departing from Luzern Train Station (just outside the train station) to Altdorf UR, Bahnhof West at Platform W. The bus journey took about 40 minutes to reach the Altdorf UR. Bus fare is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

Happily taking up the front seat at the upper deck.

It was pretty scenic along the journey; passing by calm greenery hills, and through structured tunnels. We then reached the Altdorf UR Station in a blink.

From Altdorf UR, we then boarded the train to Erstfeld on Platform 1. The journey took about 6 minutes to reach Erstfeld.

As we reached pretty early, we took a bit of time to check out the street.

Erstfeld is just sweet and charming.

Meeting point is here at the Erstfeld Railway Station.

The guide chauffeured us on his van to access the tunnel in Amsteg. And from here, we went in about two kilometers into the mountain.

We were required to wear the fluorescent vest and helmet and given a bottle of drinking water.

The guide then leaded us through the whole journey as well as the exhibition.

The whole construction project (exclude the explanatory work) has taken 17 years to complete. This longest railway tunnel in the world allows passenger trains to travel more quickly through the Alps and reduce the number of locomotives needed by freight trains. It also shortens the traveling distance between the Altdorf (UR) and Bellinzona (TI) by 30 kilometres.

One of the highlight of this tour is this tunnel window, where you can see and hear the train whizzing pass. We got to view two times of the train passing by and it sounds like and instrument to me!

Time table of the train whizzing by.

It was really an eye opening experience to be able to view it with our own eyes, how majestic is this construction project and the technology used to construct it through this fascinating exhibition. Advance booking is required for the tour. You can make your booking at this page .