Classic Glacier Express

London St Pancras is our meeting point as we board the Eurostar to Paris in Standard Premier Class and enjoy a light meal. We dash past châteaux and through the characterful French countryside to Paris, before heading east to Strasbourg. This historic Alsatian city has a compact but captivating centre, with grand squares and picturesque narrow waterways. We get a flavour of the Alsace with the group's first dinner together at a local restaurant.

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

Strasbourg's impressive main square, Place Kléber, or the beautiful half-timbered, riverside houses of La Petite France are only a short stroll from our centrally located hotel. Both can be easily reached with a free morning to explore before we travel down the Rhine to Basel. Entering Switzerland, the scenery quickly increases in beauty and altitude. From the gentle shoreline of Lake Zurich, the imposing Swiss Alps begin to surround our route as the landscape becomes more dramatic. As the country's oldest town, delightful Chur is full of history - as is our central hotel. After a welcome drink and a three-course dinner, we settle down to spend the first of three nights in a 360-year-old hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, a journey on the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express in panoramic carriages is a highlight of this holiday. This 100-year-old route twists and spirals its way south through the rugged landscape of the Engadine Valley, across the curved Landwasser Viaduct and looping its way through tunnels as it climbs the Albula Line. Crossing the Bernina Pass, we pause to view the spectacular Palü glacier beside the tracks at Alp Grüm and wind our way down to the Italian-speaking town of Poschiavo. Pastel-coloured buildings line the streets of this compact alpine town where we can have lunch. On the way back to Chur, we stop briefly to take in the lake or upmarket fashion boutiques in the chic mountain resort of St Moritz.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A leisurely breakfast begins a free day today, and there are plenty of fantastic destinations to explore in this impressive part of the world. Chur itself is backed by mountains and the colourful buildings of its charming old town mean it is a delightful place to wander. With the Swiss Travel Card providing 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. The stylish atmospheres of premier mountain resorts such as Davos and Klosters, a favourite of the Royal family, are easily reachable too.

• Breakfast

It's one of Europe's most iconic train journeys and, after breakfast in charming Chur, we board the incredible Glacier Express to Brig. The 'slowest express train' delves into the Rhine Gorge, where our panoramic carriages provide a front-row seat to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' as the emerald river winds its way past limestone cliffs. Enjoying lunch from the comfort of our seats, waterfalls, ravines and rivers dazzle. Emerging from the 15km-long Furka Base Tunnel, we arrive in the charming valley town of Brig, nestled next to the Rhône at the northern edge of the famous Simplon tunnel. It is here we check-in for our four-night stay at a family-run 4-Star hotel and enjoy a three-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A dramatic, scenic journey greets us this morning as our train zigzags through lush wildflower meadows, dense alpine forests and past rugged, snow-capped mountains that guide our way to beautiful Zermatt. Only accessible by train, the tranquility of this renowned mountain town is immediately arresting. We learn from a helicopter pilot about the life-saving work of mountain rescue in this popular destination for climbers, before having a free afternoon to explore the quintessential alpine resort. From its location at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn, the Swiss national symbol, you may choose to 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. It's an incredible landscape and the Matterhorn is never far from view.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A free day provides the opportunity to see more of this beautiful part of Switzerland. The glamorous Swiss Riviera can be reached in under 90 minutes. Celebrities including Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury flocked to live in the villas of Montreux and Vevey, and with hillside vineyards and the crystal-clear waters of Lake Geneva looking out across to the French Alps, it's easy to understand why. Bern (65 mins) is also nearby, with its UNESCO-listed medieval town, picturesque bridges, and streets lined with arched arcade frontages. 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. Alternatively, have a relaxing day in charming Brig or stay at our welcoming hotel.

• Breakfast

The gorgeous Spiez Castle in the quaint town that shares its name is set in beautifully maintained grounds beside the crystal-clear Lake Thun. Displaying conical turrets and a central keep with stone walls that are nearly 10-feet thick, this fairytale fortress originally dates from the 10th century and looks like it is floating on the waters of Lake Thun. After an engaging tour of the castle and its medieval exhibits, we relax on the glorious terrace for an exclusive private aperitif. Leaving Spiez by boat, we cruise along the sedate lake, with mountain views in every direction, to the town of Thun, where we catch the train back to Brig in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After our final breakfast as a group, the morning train journey to Geneva ensures the fantastic vistas keep coming. This route guides us past Rhône Valley vineyards and along the shore of the stunning Lake Geneva. Heading behind the romantic lakefront castle of Chillon, we pass through elegant Montreux and Vevey as we traverse the northern shoreline of Switzerland's largest lake, home to the Swiss Riviera. Departing Geneva in a First Class TGV carriage, the southern Jura mountains pass by our windows on our way to Paris, and ultimately the Eurostar back to London St Pancras. Over a light meal, we get to reflect on the incredible memories Switzerland has given us and will stay with us for ever.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal