Classic Glacier Express in Winter

After meeting at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Paris, continuing by highspeed rail to Strasbourg for an overnight stay.

Please Note - For departure 07/02/2024 you will overnight at the Hotel du Parc Mulhouse in Mulhouse.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

After a morning to explore the Alsace city of Strasbourg, we continue our rail journey to Switzerland, arriving in the quaint town of Chur - our home for the next three nights. We stay at a charming 360-year-old hotel and are greeted with a welcome drink. Chur is the country's oldest town and is home to a number of historic attractions, including a 12th-century church, the 15th-century town hall and Martinsplatz, found in the heart of the Old Town.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We take the Bernina Express to Poschiavo, enjoying a seasonal journey in First Class carriages over the Alps, admiring views of ancient castles and the magnificent, mountain-ringed Lake Bianco as we wind above deep ravines and past idyllic waterfalls, emerging from the Albula Tunnel and crossing the mighty Bernina Pass. Our destination is Poschiavo, an Italian-speaking town where pastel-coloured buildings line the narrow cobblestone streets. Piazza Comunale is the quaint main square, providing views of the snow-covered mountains and the campanile tower of the Church of Saint Victor. You may wish to enjoy a lunch of local specialities, such as pizzoccheri - a hearty pasta dish with cabbage, cheese and potatoes - before we return to Chur via St Moritz.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day to look around Chur, a destination with a history dating back over 5,000 years. Its quaint Old Town boasts some fantastically preserved medieval buildings and is entirely traffic-free, making it the ideal place to explore on foot. It's here you'll find the city's 800-year-old Cathedral of Assumption, as well as the terracotta-fronted Bishop's Palace. And once you've marvelled at the historical landmarks and wintry mountain setting, there's nothing better than spending a couple of hours warming up in a cosy café, sampling some of the local specialities such as crisp potato röstis and buttery pork schnitzel.

• Breakfast

We leave Chur, travelling on the iconic Glacier Express in First Class to Brig, our base for four nights. Switzerland's striking natural beauty is revealed on our journey which, with it being winter, is transformed into a picture-postcard landscape of snowy meadows, frozen streams and white mountaintops. The Glacier Express passes icy forests and frozen rivers, all playing their part to create a jaw-dropping winter wonderland setting, as we marvel at the alpine scenery from our panoramic windows while we enjoy a lunch served at our seats. Unmissable views come as we travel over the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the route, and make our way through the wintry Rhine Gorge to Disentis.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We visit the charming, car-free resort of Zermatt. We board a narrow-gauge train alongside the River Rhône to Visp. From here, we join the mountain track heading south through wintry vineyards for our steep journey to Zermatt. The spectacular approach takes us through eight tunnels and across forty-two bridges as the Matterhorn comes into view. On arrival, you're free to spend your time as you choose. One option is to make the ascent to the summit of the Gornergrat by funicular railway. Running for just under six miles, the route travels to the mountain's peak where you can enjoy stunning views across to the Matterhorn. The town itself is a quintessential mountain resort with many beautiful sights, such as the picturesque historic chalets of Hinterdorfstrasse, or the many inviting cafés and restaurants where you can enjoy a warming drink or a hearty lunch.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A historic town in the Valais canton, Brig dates back to the Roman era and your day is free to explore further. The cobblestones of the Stadtplatz are well worth visiting, capped by the remarkable Stockalper Palace - built in the 17th century by a prosperous silk merchant. Alternatively, you could make the most of your Swiss Travel 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 the Centovalli Railway for a journey across '100 valleys'.

• Breakfast

Travelling by train to the picturesque mountain village of Mürren, you have free time to look around. You could continue into the mountains by cable car, ascending to the peak of the mighty Schilthorn to marvel at a skyline of famous peaks, including the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger and even Mont Blanc on a clear day, or wander through the charming streets. Travelling to Interlaken, we then cruise the full length of the glimmering Lake Thun, the emerald waters surrounded by enchanting snow-capped peaks. On the cruise, look out for the fairytale Spiez Castle, which juts out into the lake. From Thun, we return to Brig by train.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Gathering for our final breakfast as a group, we leave Brig by train on our way to Basel. Travelling through the heart of Switzerland, over the imposing Kander Viaduct and through the Lötschberg tunnel, the soaring snow-covered mountains bid us farewell as our fantastic festive adventure draws to a close. From Basel, we travel to Paris and, ultimately, the Eurostar back to London St Pancras. Along the way, we reflect on the wondrous winter holiday in incredible Switzerland that has treated us to many unforgettable experiences.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal