Classic Glacier Express (Chur-Brig) 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Brussels. As we travel in Standard Premier Class, a complimentary light meal and drinks are served on board. On arrival in Brussels we change for the high-speed service to Cologne, where our hotel for one night is the Four Points Hotel Central or the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre, both situated close to the station, the Rhine and the city's Gothic cathedral. (E,D)

We leave Cologne by train for Switzerland, enjoying the scenery along the Rhine Gorge, with its many fairytale castles nestled amongst lush vineyards. We journey across the border via Zürich, joining the superb Swiss railway network, famous for its efficiency and punctuality, travelling past lakes and meadows to Chur, Switzerland's oldest town with over 5,000 years of settlement history for you to explore. We spend four nights here at the Romantik Hotel Stern, traditionally Swiss and a long time favourite of our customers. (B,D)

Today's excursion takes us on the historic Bernina Express - a railway journey on the superb Bernina Line that passes mighty glaciers, rushing mountain streams and flower-filled alpine meadows. The railway line is over 100 years old and has been rewarded with UNESCO World Heritage Status - as a testament to the incredible civil engineering that was required to create the line, as well as for the breathtaking scenery through which it travels. From Chur we head south, travelling through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, including the instantly recognisable Landwasser Viaduct, an architectural treasure. The track clings to the mountainside as we wind our way above deep ravines and past rushing waterfalls. Looping and spiralling through the rugged landscape of the Engadine Valley, our ascent takes us through the Albula Tunnel and over the Bernina Pass to an altitude of more the 7,000 feet. We then begin our descent towards Poschiavo, entering the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland before arriving at our destination. Pastel-coloured houses line the streets of picturesque Poschiavo, where we have time for lunch before enjoying the journey in the opposite direction. (B,D)

Today is free to spend at leisure, which presents a superb opportunity for you to discover the area by mountain railway, with 50% discounts available using your included First Class GRJ Swiss Travel Card. The wild, rugged and rocky landscape of the glorious Graubünden region is waiting to be discovered, with superb railway journeys available from Chur that take you over, around and across the dramatic valleys which make this one of the most attractive cantons in Switzerland. Your Tour Manager will be able to help you to plan the perfect day's sightseeing. A journey on the Arosa Express to lakeside Arosa is a popular option. (B)

Today we take a train to the beautiful town of Lucerne, known for its cobbled streets and ornate churches. Your time in Lucerne is free to explore. Stroll through this pretty town, and see the famous Kapellbrücke, a 14th century wooden bridge that separates Lucerne's Old Town and New Town. The Swiss Transport Museum, the largest transport museum in Europe, is well worth a visit. Alternatively, travel on the Pilatus or the Rigi mountain railways. (B,D)

We leave Chur today, travelling from the rocky landscape of the Graubünden canton to the fantastic sunny Valais on the iconic Glacier Express. We make the journey in First Class, enjoying unspoilt views through panoramic windows - views of the scenery for which Switzerland is justly famous; lush green meadows, intricate vineyards and verdant forests rising up the hillsides beside the track towards towering snow-capped peaks. A two-course lunch is served at our seats during the journey, followed by tea and coffee - the perfect accompaniment to our time on board 'the slowest express train in the world'. We travel along the beautiful Rhine Valley, climbing steadily and then steeply as we make our way up and over the Oberalp Pass, the distant peaks of the Italian Alps in view to the south. At 6,670 feet, the Oberalp Pass is the highest point of the route. From here we descend past the countless small villages that line our route, nestled in the foothills of the surrounding mountains, before travelling through the Furka Base Tunnel and into the Rhône Valley. The final part of our journey takes us through expansive vineyards that line the surrounding hillsides. Our destination is small, historic Brig, a charming town situated at the bottom of the Simplon Pass. Brig is an ideal base from which to explore this region of southern Switzerland by mountain railway, and we spend the next three nights here at the Hotel Simplon. (B,L,D)

Today we experience the first mountain rack railway journey of the holiday as we travel to the charming, car-free resort of Zermatt. We walk the short distance to Brig railway station to board our narrow-gauge train, heading south through picturesque vineyards and alongside the River Rhône to Visp. From here we join the mountain track for the steep ascent to Zermatt. The train clings to the track as we wind left and right, ascending past small clusters of houses and tiny hamlets that together form the region's village communities. The spectacular approach to Zermatt takes us through eight tunnels and across 42 bridges, the gradient of the ascent requiring cogwheels to be engaged. Finally we reach the grandiose scenery of Zermatt, nestled below the tilted peak of the instantly recognisable Matterhorn. In Zermatt you are free to spend your time as you choose. One option that you will find hard to resist is the ascent to the Gornergrat by funicular railway. The views from the top are some of the most spectacular in Europe. (B,D)

Your free day in Brig presents another fantastic opportunity to explore the Swiss Alps. Among the most popular options available to you is a journey 'across a hundred valleys' on the Centovalli Railway, a narrow-gauge line that winds over high bridges and past sleepy villages to the town of Locarno, located on the shores of delightful Lake Maggiore. Other options include a railway journey along the Rhône Valley to Montreux on Lake Geneva, as well as a fascinating journey on the panoramic GoldenPass Line train. (B)

We depart Brig travelling through Switzerland to Basel. Here we join the train to Luxembourg, where we spend the night at the Mercure Grand Hotel Alfa, located close to Luxembourg's historic centre. On Day 10 we travel by train from Luxembourg, through the rolling countryside of the Ardennes to Brussels. Here we connect with Eurostar to London. (Day 9-B,D; Day 10-B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday