Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express at New Year

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

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 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 or bask in the marvellous mountain views, before returning to Interlaken.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a free day to explore Interlaken. You could take a boat ride across one of the lakes, including the shimmering turquoise waters of 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

We make our way by rail to the snow-bound Alpine village of Grindelwald, a delightful town nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. Take some time here to admire the attractive wooden chalets and town squares which combine the old comforts of classic Alpine architecture with more contemporary winter sports facilities. Back at our hotel, we sit down to celebrate the coming of the New Year with a fantastic gala dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On New Year's Day we enjoy what is undoubtedly the highlight of our stay in the Bernese Oberland - an excursion to the summit of the Jungfrau. We begin on the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen. Here, we change trains to reach Kleine Scheidegg, joining the Jungfrau Railway itself. Rising higher from Kleine Scheidegg, the distinctive string of red and yellow carriages disappear into the tunnel through the Eiger mountain, making stops at the observation windows hewn out of solid rock, before emerging at Jungfraujoch. The 360° views from the highest train station in Europe are utterly spellbinding. The Mönch and Eiger dominate, while the Aletsch glacier - the longest in the Alps - winds past spectacular peaks. We have time here to soak up the dramatic scenery before making the return journey down the mountain.

• Breakfast, Dinner

As our spectacular seasonal 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 majestic views from the 'Top of Europe' and idyllic lakes that have provided such breathtaking views and unforgettable memories on this incredible trip to the winter wonderland that is Switzerland.

• Breakfast