Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express at Christmas

From London St Pancras, we travel on the Eurostar to Brussels. Here, we change trains and continue to Cologne for the night.

• Dinner

We journey into Switzerland along the scenic Rhine Gorge. This wonderful stretch of German railway line runs through frosty valleys and alongside the gentle Rhine River as it winds its way between fairytale castles, steep cliffs and deep, wintry forests. Our destination is Interlaken, in the heart of the Bernese Oberland - one of the most beautiful regions in the Swiss Alps. This remarkable town is uniquely nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz, sitting peacefully in a beautiful valley that's watched over by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. On arrival, we check into our hotel for five nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The highlight of our holiday, a journey along the Jungfrau Railway, is enjoyed today as we start by joining the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen. On arrival, the Wengernalp Railway takes us to Kleine Scheidegg. Due to the steep area through which it runs, the views are outstanding, with highlights including the White Lütschine River Valley and Staubbach Falls. The Jungfrau Railway itself begins at Kleine Scheidegg and runs the remaining six miles to just below the summit of the Jungfrau Mountain. With a viewing stop along the way to maximise the fantastic panoramas, we emerge from the tunnel at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.

With plenty of free time here, you may wish to sample the food in the restaurant or visit the Ice Palace, which has stood on this site since the 1930s and boasts a labyrinth of ice caves with hand-carved sculptures featured inside. You could also admire the enchanting Aletsch Glacier from one of the viewing platforms.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Travelling by train to the picturesque mountain village of Mürren, we continue into the mountains by cable car, ascending to the peak of the mighty Schilthorn. Once at the summit, soak in the superb views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains as we enjoy a complimentary drink, then perhaps visit Piz Gloria, an impressive rotating restaurant built made famous by the 1969 James Bond film, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. We return to Mürren and enjoy some free time to wander through the charming streets, before returning to Interlaken for a delicious Christmas Eve feast.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We make our way by rail to the snow-covered Alpine village of Grindelwald, a delightful town nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. There's free time to wander through this fairytale setting of wooden Swiss chalets and colourful town squares, with a stunning backdrop of the dramatic mountains. Back at our hotel, we sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Boxing Day is free for you to explore Interlaken. You could take a boat ride across one of the lakes, including the glistening turquoise Lake Thun, before warming up at one of the cosy cafés or perhaps wrap up and head out on one of the many nature trails that start in the town. Interlaken's history can be traced back to a monastery built here in the 12th century, while the surrounding landscapes provide a gateway to the Bernese Oberland, a region home to over 45 mountain railways and aerial gondolas that you can discover using your Swiss Travel Card.

• Breakfast

As our wonderful festive holiday draws to a close, we leave delightful Interlaken on a train bound for Basel, before transferring to the onward service to Paris. After boarding the Eurostar to London St Pancras we can take time to recall the spectacular snowy mountains and ethereal lakes that have provided such breathtaking views and unforgettable memories on this incredible trip to the winter wonderland that is Switzerland.

• Breakfast