Classic Glacier Express at Christmas

Your festive rail adventure gets underway as you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras.

Boarding the Eurostar to Paris in Eurostar Plus, we enjoy a light meal at our seats as we dash through the French countryside to the capital. From here, our journey continues eastwards to Strasbourg for an overnight stop. This historic Alsatian city has a compact but captivating centre, with grand squares and picturesque narrow waterways. Blending German and French architectural influences typical of the Alsace, the picturesque centre is dominated by the incredible Gothic cathedral.

After checking in to our central four-star hotel, we take a short walk to a local restaurant to enjoy our first dinner together.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

There is a free morning after breakfast to explore the sights of Strasbourg. At this time of year, the city's centre hosts a popular Christmas market, a warren of festive stalls offering homemade produce and traditional decorations. Elsewhere, La Petite France is only 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, canals and half-timbered houses.

Leaving Strasbourg by train, we travel to Basel in First Class, changing here to join the Swiss rail network in Standard Class. As we head deeper into Switzerland, the scenery quickly increases in seasonal beauty, with snow-capped Swiss Alps surrounding our route as the landscape becomes more dramatic.

Our destination is Brig. This charming valley town nestles beside the Rhône at the northern edge of the famed Simplon tunnel. Checking in to our family-run four-star hotel near the station, we settle in for a three-night stay before a three-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A dramatic journey along the Matter Valley follows breakfast this morning. Flanked on either side by steep cliffs, our train winds between jaw-dropping winter scenes. Sugar-coated trees blanket the rising slopes, while huddles of chalets gather in small villages lining the valley floor.

On the approach to the car-free resort of Zermatt, the Matterhorn comes into view. This pyramidal peak is the Swiss national symbol and inspired the design of the Toblerone. This popular mountain resorts exudes a charming atmosphere in winter, and you're free to spend the rest of your time here as you choose.

One option is to ride the 125-year-old Gornergrat Mountain Railway to the summit for some of the best Matterhorn views. Zermatt itself has many beautiful sights, such as the picturesque historic chalets of Hinterdorfstrasse. Later this afternoon, we return by rail to Brig in time for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A day at leisure provides the opportunity to explore this beautiful part of Switzerland after breakfast. As well as a charming historic centre, Brig also boasts the impressive 17th-century Stockalper Palace. Built by wealthy local silk merchant Kaspar Stockalper, it is recognisable from miles around due to its three stone towers topped by large, gilded onion domes.

Alternatively, you could make the most of your Swiss Half Fare Card, taking the train along the Rhône Valley to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Here, you can join either the GoldenPass Line panoramic train to Gstaad or explore the striking Château de Chillon and the sights of Montreux - including its beautiful lakefront promenade and statue of former Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

For those wanting 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 evocative Simplon-Orient Express.

• Breakfast

Leaving Brig after breakfast today, we enjoy a sensational journey on the iconic Glacier Express.

Travelling on this world-famous train, Switzerland's striking natural beauty is revealed throughout. Spellbinding scenes of snowy meadows, frozen streams and white mountaintops all play their part to create a jaw-dropping winter wonderland setting. From our panoramic windows, we can marvel at the alpine scenery while we enjoy lunch served at our seats. After climbing through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel, unmissable views are revealed as we ascend to the roof of the route on the Oberalp Pass. Making our way through the elemental 'Swiss Grand Canyon', we arrive at our destination.

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

• Breakfast, Lunch

Making our way by rail to Lucerne after breakfast today, there is time to explore this attractive town situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Swiss Alps.

At this time of year, Lucerne lives up to its nickname as the 'City of Lights'. Twinkling festive displays illuminate the Old Town's cobbled streets, casting a shimmering glow on the half-timbered buildings and frescoed exteriors. Christmas market stalls can be found on the lakefront, so you could enjoy a warming hot chocolate or glühwein while admiring panoramic views of the mountains and tranquil waters. One of the main attractions of Lucerne is the famous Kapellbrücke, a 14th-century wooden bridge that increases the fairytale feel to this picturesque Swiss city. Alternatively, travel on the Rigi mountain railway or enjoy a paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne using your Swiss Travel card for 50% fare reductions.

Back in Chur this evening, the celebrations begin with a special dinner, accompanied by wine and followed by carols around the Christmas tree.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Merry Christmas! Enjoy a leisurely free day today to relax or look around Chur, a destination with a history dating back more than 5,000 years.

Chur itself is backed by mountains and the colourful buildings of its charming Old Town mean it is a delightful place to wander at this time of year. The centre of the Old Town is the idyllic Martinsplatz, where you can find the arcaded 15th-century Town Hall. Overlooking the historic centre are the 800-year-old Cathedral of the Assumption and the terracotta-fronted Bishop's Palace.

Once you've marvelled at the historical landmarks and wintry mountain setting, back at the hotel we sit down to enjoy a three-course dinner with wine.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our final full day in Switzerland delivers an unforgettable journey after breakfast as we board the panoramic carriages of the Bernina Express.

This stunning Boxing Day journey over the Alps reveals views of ancient castles, frosted forests and snow-bound plateaus. Twisting along the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, our route then climbs high into the mountains to an altitude of 7,392 feet. Views of frozen lakes and peaks blanketed in pristine white greet us as we skirt Lago Bianco and descend towards our destination. Poschiavo is a pretty town of pastel-coloured buildings and cobblestone streets in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino. The quaint main square, Piazza Comunale, enjoys views of the wintry mountains and the campanile tower of the Church of Saint Victor.

There's time to explore this small town as it emerges from its festive celebrations. Afterwards, we return to Chur via a short stop in St Moritz, dining at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A winter wonderland of spectacular snow-bound scenery, cosy chalets, festive atmospheres and iconic trains - Switzerland is breathtaking at this time of year. Having experienced many delights of this beautiful country, from the Bernina Express and Glacier Express to the mountain panoramas of Zermatt and lakeside Lucerne, your yuletide Swiss adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

Leaving Chur by train, the snow-covered mountains and glistening lakeshores line our route to Basel. From here, we continue to Paris where we switch to the Eurostar. Travelling in Eurostar Plus, we enjoy a light meal at our seats before arriving back at London St Pancras.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal