Five-Star Jungfrau Express

Our Swiss adventure begins at London St Pancras International, where we board the Eurostar service to Paris in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal at our seats. In the French capital we continue by rail to the beautiful town of Colmar, the capital of the Alsace wine region, a place where France meets Germany. The old town's cobblestone lanes and flower-filled canals are lined with colourful half-timbered houses. After dark, the bridges of Colmar's 'Little Venice' are illuminated, creating a fairy-tale ambience. We spend the first evening of our holiday soaking up the charm, history and culture of this picture-book town, before we have our first dinner together.

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

After a free morning to relax or look around Colmar, we travel by First Class train to Grindelwald. On this scenic journey we travel alongside the picturesque shores of beautiful Lake Thun, passing the stunning Spiez Castle. In traditional Grindelwald, our luxurious 5-Star hotel awaits. Run by the same family for generations, the welcome here is always warm and attentive. The hotel has a private spa and a peaceful indoor swimming pool which has fabulous views of the imposing Eiger mountain.

Grindelwald is an idyllic Swiss village, one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, overlooked by the dramatic north face of the Eiger, the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. With quaint wooden chalets and inviting cafés, bakeries and gift shops, this is an area of natural beauty and Swiss charm with an unforgettable mountain backdrop. The train station is on our doorstep, so we are perfectly located to explore locally and further afield.

This evening we enjoy a three-course dinner together in our 5-Star Swiss chalet-style hotel.

*For departures 27/08/2024, 10/09/2024 and 26/09/2024 we will stay at the Grand Hotel Beau Rivage in Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning after breakfast there's time to look around the village before we board the cable-car which takes us up the scenic Grindelwald First mountain, one of the most popular in the Jungfrau region. Ascending to Grindelwald First in the sky gondola is a delight, affording some wonderful panoramas of the magnificent Alps. Up at the top we have great views across the snowy peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, swathes of forests and far-off villages set among fresh mountain air and spectacular scenery. This afternoon we are at leisure until dinner at our Grindelwald hotel. You may like to venture out on one of the nearby trails for spectacular views, or stroll through the vibrant village and visit one of the welcoming cafés and bars, before returning to our hotel for a three-course dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a scenic paradise on our doorstep, a picnic lunch provided by our hotel, a charming village and a railway station only a few metres away, you have plenty of options on this free day. Don't forget your Swiss Travel Card for discounted fares. You might like to take a cable car up to the nearby viewing point of Männlichen, or a train to the beautiful town of Spiez, set between green hills and vineyards on tranquil Lake Thun. Spiez is known for its handsome medieval castle and gorgeous lakeside location. If you prefer to stay local, Grindelwald itself is surrounded by hiking trails, ranging from gentle to challenging - whichever route you choose, you're guaranteed breathtaking vistas.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is set to be a highlight of our holiday, an incredible journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest train station - on the Jungfrau Railway. We take the train to Kleine Scheidegg, where an expert guide joins us aboard the sensational Jungfrau Express. The journey rises gently through alpine meadows, passing the imposing north face of the Eiger. As we travel, our guide tells us about the mountains and geology around us and describes the history and construction of this remarkable railway line. From Kleine Scheidegg we travel by cogwheel train through the final section of the route, into an incredible tunnel which cuts through the Eiger. Even more incredible are the carved-out viewing windows meaning we can enjoy the scenery from inside the tunnel.

When we reach Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a UNESCO-listed World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see. We enter the glimmering interior of the Ice Palace, carved inside the glacier and adorned with dazzling ice sculptures. This special location is not open to members of the public and we enjoy an exclusive tour with a glass of wine, beer or glacial water at the Ice Bar.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we travel along an open-coach cog railway through pretty alpine meadows on our way up to Schynige Platte, where we have the best possible views of the Jungfrau mountain. Enjoying this wonderful journey from beautifully restored 19th-century carriages, the vintage train hugs the picturesque contours of the mountain as we cross bridges and burrow through endless tunnels. The higher the train climbs, the more breathtaking the views.

At the summit, we have free time to explore the Alpine Botanical Garden. An explosion of colour, this delightful garden has hundreds of different species of alpine flora. Look out for the legendary edelweiss flower, a beloved symbol of the Swiss Alps, as it blossoms in its natural habitat.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel by rail to Interlaken today, a picturesque town set between two glittering lakes and surrounded by majestic mountains. This beautiful location sets the stage for the rest of our magnificent day. We head to Brienz, the starting point for a steam-hauled ascent of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain above the glorious turquoise Lake Brienz. The cog railway journey to the top of the mountain is magical, as we admire wonderful views of the Emmental Alps. Free time at the summit allows you to explore and soak up the panoramic views at your leisure, whether it's taking a stroll or visiting the summit restaurant for a bite to eat. Our afternoon ends with a wonderful scenic cruise back to Interlaken, sailing serenely across the crystal clear lake on a traditional lake boat. With the alps rising all around us, and pretty villages dotting the green shores, our cruise is as beautiful as the ascent.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today provides another opportunity to explore with your Swiss Travel Card, providing 50% discounts on rail fares. One exciting option is to travel by rail and cable car to the summit of Schilthorn, the site of the famous rotating restaurant 'Piz Gloria' that featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here, you're close to the Jungfrau massif with a stunning 360° panorama. Other interesting locations for a day trip by rail include the cultural city of Bern (1.5 hours), the seat of Switzerland's government and its medieval capital, the lakeside city of Lucerne (2.5 hours), or the glamorous city of Montreux (3 hours) nestled beside Lake Geneva. Of course, you may prefer to relax in the lovely surroundings of our hotel and make the most of the exceptional hotel facilities.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a final breakfast, we board the train to Basel, continuing by high-speed rail to Paris. There we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras, enjoying a light meal at our seats. In London our journey ends, but the memories of this outstanding holiday will no doubt linger.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal