Celebrate an unforgettable New Year with a breathtaking ride on the Jungfrau Railway to the highest train station in Europe, a winter wonderland carriage ride from Grindelwald amongst the snowy Alpine peaks and a visit to charming Mürren.
- Interlaken
- Mürren
- New Year's Eve journey to Jungfraujoch
- Glacier & ice caves
- New Year's Eve gala buffet and champagne
- New Year's Day in Grindelwald
- Carriage ride with gingerbread & glühwein
- Swiss Half Fare Card
We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Paris, where we continue by TGV to Brussels. After changing trains, we continue to Luxembourg where we spend the night at the Grand Hotel Mercure Alfa. Dinner this evening is in the hotel. (D)
Continuing to Switzerland, we travel by EuroCity train to Basel, and then on to Interlaken. We spend the next five nights at the Hotel Metropole, located in the centre of Interlaken. This pretty town is an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful Bernese Oberland region. (B,D)
We travel by train to the picturesque mountain village of Mürren today. Situated high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley at 5,413 ft (1,650 m) above sea level, the village is a popular tourist destination all year round, thanks to the incredible mountain views it offers - and in winter in particular, it is alive with activity. Your time in this traffic-free village is free for you to explore at your own pace. Perhaps take a walk on one of the well-prepared footpaths and admire the spectacular scenery, or even have a go at skating on the open-air ice rink if you're feeling adventurous. Another popular option is the Schilthorn. From Mürren, you can take a cable car to the summit - where youc an visit Piz Gloria, which was the world's first revolving restaurant and was made famous in the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. (B,D)
Your day is free, giving you the opportunity to use your Swiss Half Fare Card to explore further afield. From our base in Interlaken there are many mountain peaks and beautiful places to be discovered - why not make the journey across the Brünig Pass to Lucerne, a favourite destination among Great Rail Journeys customers due to its wonderful lakeside location and stunning mountain scenery. The companct city boasts charming streets and the famous 14th century Chapel Bridge, built in 1333, it is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. Another highlight is the nearby water tower, which has served as a prison, torture chamger, watchtower and treasury. The Swiss Transport Museum, with its fascinating collection of artefacts relating to land, air and sea transportation, is another popular option. Alternatively you could visit Montreux, which is easily accessible by train. From here you can take a fabulous journey into the mountains by cog railway to Rochers de Naye, one of Switzerland's most beautiful viewpoints. On a clear day, you can see the Eiger and Mont Blanc. (B)
We travel to the pretty Alpine village of Grindelwald, nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. From Grindelwald we enjoy a sleigh ride through the snowy forests, followed by tasty gingerbread and glühwein. You have time to explore Grindelwald at your own pace before we return to Interlaken together for a gala New Year's Eve dinner buffet, with champagne at midnight. (B,D)
Today we enjoy what is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the holiday. We begin on the Bernese Oberland Railway, travelling via Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg, where we board the iconic Jungfrau Railway. This sensational journey tu8nnels through the Eiger to Jungfraujoch. During our journey through the tunnel we make a short stop at Eiger Wall to enjoy the view through the picture window from the north face of the Eiger down to Grindelwald. We also stop briefly at Eismeer to enjoy the views before arriving at Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station at 11,333 feet (3,454m). The underground station situs just beneath the Jungfrau summit itself and provides breathtaking views across the Eismeer Glacier. We also visit the glacier with its labyrinth of ice caves and sculptures carved inside. (B,D)
Leaving Interlaken, we travel west to Basel and then continue into Germany. We head to Cologne, where we spend the final night of the holiday at either the Four Points Hotel or the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre - both located close to the station and the city's impressive Gothic Cathedral. (B,D)
Our final day begins with a rail journey on the high-speed line to Brussels, and here we connect with the Eurostar service to St Pancras International. (B,E)
E = Eurostar meal, B =
Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your
holiday
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