The Glacier Express & Scenic Switzerland by First Class Rail

Enjoy First Class Rail on this fabulous journey to the roof of the Alps and enjoy fabulous scenery from alpine meadows to stunning lakes and picture-postcard towns and villages on this wonderful 7 night holiday.

Daily departures throughout the year and tailor-made just for you.

Holiday Highlights
Our included Swiss Rail Pass allows you to make the most of Switzerland’s majestic beauty and breathtaking scenic rail journeys. Experience 3 of Switzerland’s most scenic and world-renowned rail journeys on this fantastic 7 night holiday.

• the world famous Glacier Express
• Bernina Express - where you can see more glaciers than on the Glacier Express!
• Poschiavo
• Stunning lakeside Montreux
• Château de Chillon (payable locally)
• Bernese Oberland
• The Jungfrau – Top of Europe (supplements apply) - the highest altitude railway in Europe
• Golden Panoramic Express (small supplements apply)
• On the return journey you'll see the scenic Rhine Gorge, Cologne and its famous Cathedral just outside the main train station

Detailed Itinerary

Your Outward Journey:  

Day 1 – By rail to Switzerland
As you stroll into stunning London St Pancras International station let the holiday mood take over. Sit back, relax and watch the countryside glide past as you travel by Eurostar to Paris at speeds of up to 186mph. Enjoy the complimentary 3-course meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class (formerly 1st class). On arrival at the Gare du Nord a private transfer takes you across Paris to continue your journey by TGV through France into Switzerland, alongside sparkling Lake Geneva to the elegant lakeside town of Montreux. Your hotel for the next 3 nights is the 4 star Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, perfectly situated a few steps from the station and with fabulous views of the lake.

Switzerland

Day 2 - Golden Panoramic to Interlaken & Jungfrau Railway to the ‘Top of Europe’
Today you board the GoldenPass Line panoramic train for a truly memorable rail journey. First you journey south to Visp then up into the picturesque Bernese Oberland to Spiez and Interlaken aboard comfortable regional trains. Onward and upward from Interlaken, past the famous resorts of Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg, the spectacular Jungfrau Railway (supplements apply) conveys you to the highest railway station in Europe at 11,333ft. Savour the experience from the ‘Top of Europe’ before a dramatic descent via Grindelwald. Then relax in the comfort of your seat as the Golden Panoramic Express snakes alongside sparkling Lake Thun and climbs to more than 4,000ft above sea level. Enjoy the option of dinner in the restaurant car (payable locally) whilst you gaze at majestic views of the Swiss Alps as you pass through valleys dominated by cattle-farming and cheese-making, past the glamorous resorts of Château d’Oex and Gstaad. On the last leg of this fabulous journey back to Montreux revel in the breathtaking views of the French Alps as the train makes its spiralling descent towards Lake Geneva.

Day 3 – Château de Chillon and free time
Stretch your legs or board the trolley bus for the short journey to the stunning medieval Château de Chillon (payable locally). As you marvel at the spectacular setting, twixt sparkling lake and breathtaking mountains, spare a thought for the prisoners of this 13th century castle, considered to be one of the best-preserved in Europe. Your afternoon is free to stroll around Montreux, enjoy a scenic lake cruise or take the rack railway up Rochers-de-Naye for stupendous views and a chance to visit the ‘Marmot Paradise’.

Day 4 – The Glacier Express
Excitement builds this morning as you bid farewell to Montreux and travel south-east to join the Glacier Express. Probably the slowest ‘express’ in the world, the narrow-gauge train climbs up the Rhône Valley, past mountain peaks, tiny hamlets, rushing streams, then spirals upwards as it snakes its way over the Oberalp Pass at 6,670ft. Lunch on-board the Glacier Express is included for you to enjoy at your First Class seat while you admire the scenery through the panoramic windows. As the train descends the landscape changes to pasture and woodland as you enter the broad valley of the Rhine before arrival in the historic town of Chur. Here you spend three nights at the attractive, family-run 3 star Romantik Hotel Stern, located in the old town.

Day 5 – A free day to relax or explore... You may decide to stroll around the attractive old town of Chur today, amidst its cobbled streets and pretty squares, and visit the vast 12th century cathedral or sample its many shops. To make the most of your included Swiss Pass travel first class to Lucerne and take the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad to the summit of the Pilatus Kulm. When you reach the top of the world’s steepest cogwheel railway there is a magnificent panoramic view of Lucern, its sparkling lake, and the Alps beyond. For a different view you could journey east to gorgeous Lake Constance and join the Pre-Alpine Express for the scenic rail journey through the charming pre-alpine landscape with its rolling hills and storybook villages nestled in the valleys, possibly stopping to visit the monastery and Old Town of St. Gallen (UNESCO world cultural heritage site)

Day 6 – The Bernina Express
Board the Bernina Express in Chur for fabulous, breathtaking views from your First Class panorama car as you travel over bridges and graceful viaducts, through galleries and switch-back tunnels hewn into the rock, past waterfalls, ravines and rushing mountain streams. The route spirals and loops into the Engadine Valley before climbing more than 7,000ft to the Bernina Pass without the help of a rack-and-pinion mechanism. Marvel at the snow-capped mountains as the train descends into the pretty,Italian-speaking town of Poschiavo with its different cultural feel. There is time to relax and enjoy lunch in one of the town’s cafés or restaurants before the return journey to Chur.

Homeward Bound
Day 7 – Switzerland to Germany by First Class train
Today you head north, leaving Chur and Switzerland behind as you journey aboard a EuroCity train, via Basel into Germany, along the scenic Rhine Gorge to Cologne. On arrival walk the short distance to your hotel for one night, the 4 star Four Points Hotel, ideally located close to the station and the city’s impressive Gothic cathedral.

Day 8 – ICE and Eurostar to London Walk the short distance (50m) to Cologne Hauptbahnhof and travel by ICE or Thalys fast-speed train to Brussels. Here you join your connection with Eurostar to London. Reflect on the past week of memories during your three-course meal and drinks served at your comfortable Standard Premier seat as you return to London St Pancras.