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Classic Glacier Express in Winter

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4.6 stars(43 reviews)
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Small Group

Enjoy a wonderful winter rail adventure.

You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
9 days From £2,495 per person

2024 Tour code: GEW24

About the tour

Snow-bound views and stunningly seasonal scenery have made the Glacier Express famous at this time of year, while glistening winter peaks and sugar-frosted forests provide a picture-postcard backdrop as we explore Zermatt.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Strasbourg

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

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal
Day 2 – Chur

We continue our rail journey to Switzerland, arriving in the quaint town of Chur - our home for the next three nights. 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – The Bernina Express and St Moritz

We take the Bernina Express to Poschiavo, enjoying a seasonal journey 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. After some free time in Poschiavo, we make our way back along the line to St Moritz, a resort town that epitomises Swiss lakeside glamour, boasting an abundance of fascinating history, culture and natural beauty. And, what with it being winter, St Moritz is transformed into a wonderland of frosted forests, frozen lakes and freshly-fallen snow.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Free time in Chur

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 set- ting, 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – The Glacier Express

We leave Chur, travelling on the iconic Glacier Express 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. 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.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Zermatt

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. Alternatively, you could visit the town's fascinating climbing museum.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Free time in Brig

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'.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 – Mürren and a lake cruise

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, wander through the charming streets or make a visit to the outdoor ice rink. We return by boat from Interlaken across Lake Thun to Thun, and then continue by train to Brig.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 – Brig and London

Departing Brig, we travel by local railway for a wonderful journey over the imposing Kander Viaduct, through the old Lötschberg tunnel and past soaring mountain peaks to Basel. Continuing to Paris, we board the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Ambassador, Brig

Hotel Ambassador, Brig

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Hotel Stern, Chur

Hotel Stern, Chur

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Trains

Eurostar
The Glacier Express

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Upgrade to a Deluxe Double room in Brig
Inclusive Luggage Upgrade
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.6 stars4.6 / 5 · 43 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (30)
  2. 4 stars
    (9)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
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  5. 1 star
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Customer

5 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

Great holiday. Great tour leader. Superb group. Scenery unbelievable.

Collected by Trustpilot

Joy Wood

3 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

Bernini express was better. Hotels could be better after Covid. Disappointed with holiday

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs G Blanch

5 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

Well organised and tour guide knowledgeable and helpful,

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Smith

5 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

We are never disappointed with Great Rail Journey. Spectacular scenery and excellent tour guide.

Collected by Trustpilot

I Kinsey

5 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

Wonderful tour, fantastic scenery and a tour manager that was extremely friend,y and helpful

Collected by Trustpilot

S Newman

5 stars

Submitted 29 Mar 2022

Superb trip, enjoyed every minute!

Collected by Trustpilot

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Classic Glacier Express in Winter

Enjoy a wonderful winter rail adventure.

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