Classic Glacier Express

Meeting our Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras, we begin our Swiss holiday by boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus Class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats and dash through the French countryside. From the French capital, we continue east to Strasbourg for an overnight stop.

This historic Alsatian city has a compact but captivating centre, with grand squares and narrow waterways. Blending German and French architectural influences, the picturesque centre is dominated by the Gothic cathedral. Dating from the 13th century and featuring a façade of ornately carved portals, the cathedral is topped by an octagonal tower. After checking in to our central four-star hotel, we take a short walk to a local restaurant for dinner, a flavour of the Alsace.

• Eurostar light meal
• Dinner

With a free morning after breakfast you could explore the sights of Strasbourg independently. The grand main square, Place Kléber, is the focal point of city life, while La Petite France is a short stroll from our hotel. Home to tanners, millers and fishermen in the Middle Ages, this pretty area is now a UNESCO World Heritage site of cobbled streets, flower-lined canals and half-timbered houses.

Leaving Strasbourg around noon, we travel First Class to Switzerland. In Basel, we join the efficient Swiss rail network in Standard Class and witness the scenery quickly increasing in beauty and altitude. From the gentle shoreline of Lake Zurich, the Swiss Alps begin to surround our route as the landscape becomes more dramatic.

As the country's oldest town, Chur is full of history - as is our central hotel. After a welcome drink and dinner, we settle down to spend the first of three nights in a 360-year-old hotel, a favourite of our customers.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, a journey on the Bernina Express in panoramic carriages is a highlight of this holiday. After breakfast in our hotel, we take the short walk to Chur train station and join this amazing train. The UNESCO-listed route twists and spirals its way south through the rugged landscape of the Engadine Valley, across the curved Landwasser Viaduct and looping through tunnels as it climbs the Albula Line. Reaching the summit at more than 7,300 feet above sea level, we pass the turquoise waters of Lago Bianco before crossing the Bernina Pass. Pausing to view the spectacular Palü Glacier beside the tracks at Alp Grüm, we then wind down to the Italian-speaking town of Poschiavo.

Pastel-coloured buildings line the streets of this compact alpine town. Hues of pale blue, pink and yellow surround pretty Piazza Comunale, and there are numerous restaurants in which to lunch independently. On the return journey, we stop briefly in the sophisticated resort of St Moritz before arriving back in Chur for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A leisurely breakfast begins a free day, and there are plenty of lovely destinations to explore. Chur itself is backed by mountains and its colourful Old Town is a delightful place to wander. The centre of the Old Town is the idyllic Martinsplatz, where you can find the Town Hall. Overlooking the historic centre are the 800-year-old cathedral and the terracotta-fronted Bishop's Palace.

For a panoramic view of Chur, take the cable car up Brambrüesch mountain. Alternatively, if you want to head further afield, you could use your Swiss Travel Card for 50% discounts on all rail journeys across the country. The scenic Arosa Line, which climbs more than 3,000 feet in less than 17 miles to the beautiful lakeside town of Arosa, is a popular option, while the stylish mountain resorts of Davos and Klosters, a favourite of British royals, are easily reachable too. Dining independently tonight, you could opt for the local speciality of pizzoccheri, a hearty dish of pasta, potato, cabbage and cheese.

• Breakfast

Today, one of Europe's most iconic train journeys awaits, after breakfast in our hotel, we board the incredible Glacier Express to Brig. The scenic route of the 'slowest express train in the world' delves into the Rhine Gorge, where panoramic carriages provide front-row seats to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' as our train snakes alongside the River Rhine.

Travelling at an average speed of 24mph, we are served a two-course lunch in our seats, admiring the dramatic landscapes from our panoramic carriages. The scenery is uplifting as we rise above the valley floor, passing serene lakes and snowy peaks as we climb to Andermatt. Emerging from the nine-mile Furka Tunnel, we follow the Rhône to the valley town of Brig, nestled beside the river at the northern edge of the Simplon tunnel. We check in to our family-run hotel near the station for a four-night stay, before dinner tonight.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A dramatic journey greets us after breakfast in Brig. Travelling by local train, we zigzag past the lush wildflower meadows, dense alpine forests and thundering waterfalls of the Matter Valley. Rugged, snow-capped mountains guide our way to beautiful Zermatt which is only accessible on foot or by train. As such, the tranquillity is immediately striking.

On arrival, there is free time to explore this idyllic mountain resort. From its location at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn, the Swiss national symbol, you could take the Gornergrat Mountain Railway up to the Alps' second largest glacier or hop into a cable car past Schwarzsee and into a year-round winter wonderland. Both provide sensational views of the Matterhorn. Alternatively, soak up the atmosphere in a café in view of the iconic peak.

Later, we tour Zermatt with a local guide to uncover the history of the town, before returning to Brig for a three-course dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A day at leisure provides an opportunity to see more of this beautiful part of Switzerland after breakfast. Besides its charming historic centre, Brig also boasts the 17th-century Stockalper Palace, recognisable from miles around due to its three stone towers topped by large, gilded domes.

Using your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on rail travel, the glamorous Swiss Riviera can be reached in under 90 minutes. Celebrities including Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury once flocked to live in the villas of Montreux and Vevey. With hillside vineyards, alpine air and the pristine waters of Lake Geneva looking out across to the French Alps, it's easy to understand why. The beautiful Swiss capital of Bern is around an hour away by train, with an attractive UNESCO-listed medieval town.

If you'd prefer to remain in the mountains, the Aletsch Glacier can be reached by cable car, and the Italian town of Domodossola is a short ride from Brig through the tunnel formerly used by the Simplon-Orient Express.

• Breakfast

Travelling by rail through the 21.5-mile Lötschberg Base Tunnel after breakfast, we arrive in the quaint town of Spiez. Set in beautiful grounds beside the crystal-clear waters of Lake Thun is Spiez Castle.

Displaying conical turrets and a central keep with dense stone walls, this fairytale fortress dates from the 10th century. In its grounds is a rustic church, reported to be older than the castle. After a tour of the fortress and its medieval exhibits, we relax on the terrace for an exclusive private aperitif.

Leaving Spiez by boat, we cruise along the turquoise Lake Thun, with mountain views in every direction, including the forest-blanketed Niederhorn that slopes into the water, and the pyramid-shaped Niesen. Along the shore, pitch-roofed chalets and church towers peek out of the trees. On arrival in the historic town of Thun, we catch the train back to Brig in time for our final dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This classic Swiss adventure has featured iconic journeys on the Bernina Express and Glacier Express, welcoming hospitality in historic Chur and Brig, and the spectacular sights of the Matterhorn and Spiez Castle. We leave the stunning Swiss Alps after breakfast this morning as we board the train to Geneva. The route takes us down the Rhône Valley, with fantastic vistas of mountains and vineyards on the way to Lake Geneva. Travelling behind the lakefront castle of Chillon, we pass through the stylish Swiss Riveira towns of Montreux and Vevey.

Departing Geneva in First Class seats on the high-speed TGV, the southern Jura mountains pass by our windows on our way to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar service, travelling in Eurostar Plus Class, enjoying a light meal on the final leg of our trip home. On arrival in London St Pancras, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal