Experience the majestic Swiss Alps in its glorious winter
finery and discover spectacular views from the 'Top of Europe' on
the renowned Jungfrau Railway
This idyllic winter holiday is based in the heart of the Bernese
Oberland in picturesque Interlaken, one of Switzerland's popular
resort towns, nestled between two lakes and overlooked by the
snow-capped peaks of the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Explore this stunning region on some of Europe's most celebrated
railways, with spectacular trips to the summit of the Jungfrau and
Grindelwald First mountains.
Unforgettable Experiences
Travelling to the ‘Top of Europe’ on the Jungfrau Railway
Journey to the highest railway station in Europe and experience remarkable views from the Sphinx Observatory, of the Mönch and Eiger peaks, as well as the gleaming Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps.
Uncover charming Lucerne, the ‘City of Lights
Cross the spectacular Brünig Pass, travelling through picture-perfect snow scenes to the delightful city of Lucerne, famed for its 14th-century covered wooden bridge and lakeside location.
Basking in scenic views in traditional Grindelwald
Explore the beautiful mountain town of Grindelwald with its wooden chalets, emerald rivers and views of the imposing north face of the Eiger, and travel to the summit of Grindelwald First by cable car.
Exploring the Swiss resort town of Interlaken
Stay for five nights in the picturesque town of Interlaken, nestled in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, between sparkling lakes Thun and Brienz, surrounded by three mighty mountains.
What’s included on the tour?
Tour Manager
Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation
6 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Transportation
Eurostar Standard
Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Food & Drink
Breakfast each day, 5 dinners
Excursions & Entertainment
Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
All guided tours and excursions
Not Included
Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
Itinerary
To Cologne for an overnight stay
Your holiday begins at London St Pancras where you meet the Tour
Manager before boarding the Eurostar service to Brussels. Here we
change trains and continue to the city of Cologne where we spend
the night.
After checking in, dinner is served at our hotel this
evening.
Please note for 7th December & 1st February departures
these will travel outbound via Mannheim, staying at the Hilton
Garden Inn.
Includes
Dinner
Welcome to Interlaken
After breakfast we journey into Switzerland, passing through the
Rhine-side city of Mannheim and Freiburg in the Black Forest on our
way to Basel. From the Swiss city of Basel, we set off on a magical
winter journey past glittering lakes and snowy peaks to Interlaken,
in the heart of the Bernese Oberland - one of the best-loved
regions in the Swiss Alps.
This pristine resort town is nestled between Lakes Thun and
Brienz, sitting peacefully in a picturesque valley that's watched
over by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. On arrival, we
check into our hotel for the next five nights where we have
dinner.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Aboard the panoramic Luzern-Interlaken Express
A spellbinding train journey awaits today aboard the
Luzern-Interlaken Express - one of Switzerland's five panoramic
train routes - to Lucerne. Entering fantastic alpine scenery, we
travel along the banks of Lake Brienz to Meiringen, in the shadow
of the famous Reichenbach Falls. From here, we climb the Brünig
Pass through typical winter wonderland scenery to an elevation of
3,287 feet. On the descent, we pass shimmering lakes before
arriving in Lucerne.
With free time to wander the old town of Lucerne, known as the
'City of Lights', you can discover cobbled streets embodying
tradition and culture with their well-preserved medieval
architecture. There are also plenty of interesting attractions,
from ornate churches to frescoed historic houses and the
14th-century covered Kapellbrücke. Set on the crystal-clear lake,
Lucerne is a great place to explore and find somewhere to eat at
one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants. This evening, we
retrace our journey back to our hotel in Interlaken, arriving
before dinner.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
At leisure in Interlaken
Today is a free day, giving you a chance to explore Interlaken
or possibly to venture further. Locally, you could take a boat ride
across one of the lakes before warming up at a cosy café. Or wrap
up warm 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 which is home
to over 45 scenic mountain railways and aerial gondolas that you
can discover using your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% off
fares.
This evening you are free to dine independently, and
Interlaken's restaurants offers a variety of cuisine, from hearty
traditional dishes to a range of international fare including
Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian.
Includes
Breakfast
Grindelwald and cable car ride to Grindelwald First
Another charming destination lies ahead as we make our way by
rail to the characterful alpine village of Grindelwald, blanketed
in snow and nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the
Eiger. Enjoy some free time to soak up the scenery of attractive
wooden chalets and quaint town squares with its backdrop of
dramatic mountains. You could also find lunch locally, enjoying
Switzerland's flavours or a familiar favourite.
Afterwards, we take a cable car journey to the summit of the
Grindelwald First mountain. Appreciate grand panoramas of the
valley below as you climb and look across at the mighty Eiger,
Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. As we descend, we return to
Interlaken, where, following a free afternoon to relax or continue
soaking in the winter scenery, we sit down to dinner at our
hotel.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
A journey on the Jungfrau Railway
The highlight of our holiday awaits today, a journey along the
Jungfrau Railway. First we join the Bernese Oberland Railway to
Lauterbrunnen, where the Wengernalp Railway takes us to Kleine
Scheidegg. Due to the steep route, the views are outstanding, with
sights including the White Lütschine River Valley and Staubbach
Falls, often frozen in winter.
The Jungfrau Railway itself begins at Kleine Scheidegg and runs
the remaining six miles to just below the summit of the Jungfrau
Mountain. After a viewing stop along the way, making the most of
the fantastic panoramas, we emerge from the tunnel at Jungfraujoch,
the highest railway station in Europe. With plenty of free time
here, you can admire the endless expanse of the Aletsch Glacier
from the Sphinx Observatory or maybe head to Lindt store for an
insight into the history and making of Swiss chocolate. After this
glorious winter experience we head back to our hotel for the final
dinner of our tour.
Includes
Breakfast, Dinner
Homeward bound
This sensational winter holiday has taken us into quintessential
alpine scenery on renowned Swiss railways. We have explored the
unique village of Grindelwald and charming lakeside Lucerne, the
'City of Lights', from our base in the cosmopolitan town of
Interlaken.
Our tour of the spectacular Jungfrau draws to a close this
morning as we depart Interlaken and make our way to Basel, before
transferring to the onward rail service to Paris. In the French
capital we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras where you are
free to continue your journey homewards.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature
the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown
above.
One of the excursions on this tour is at high altitude. If you
have any medical conditions or concerns that could impact this part
of the tour, we recommend you seek medical advice and talk to us.
We want to make sure any holiday you book is right for you.
Classic collection
Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments
with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel
options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are
included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers
and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on
average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.
Departure times
Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and
are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your
final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar
or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days
before departure.
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.
The route from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest
railway station, comprises three different railways. The first leg
from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is on the Bernese Oberland
Railway, continuing to Kleine Scheidegg on the Wengernalp Railway.
From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfrau Railway climbs to
Eigergletscher, before entering the 4.43-mile tunnel that ends in
the underground station at Jungfraujoch. During the journey through
the tunnel, the train makes a short stop at the Eiger Wall for view
through the picture window from the north face of the Eiger down to
Grindelwald.
Your holiday begins the moment you meet your Tour Manager at St
Pancras International and board the Eurostar train for mainland
Europe. If you wish to get your holiday off to an extra special
start, why not consider upgrading your on-board accommodation from
Standard Class to Plus Class?
As well as all the amenities enjoyed in Standard Class, Plus Class travellers benefit from extra spacious, comfortable seats, complimentary newspapers and magazines and a light snack with drinks served at your seat during the journey. Before 11am, the light snack comprises breakfast pastries, yoghurt, fruit juice and tea or coffee. After 11am there is a choice of 2 main dishes and a dessert, accompanied by soft drinks, wine or beer and tea or coffee.
Prices for an upgrade from £110pp each way. Please call us for more details.
London Hotels
Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a
difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the
capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager
the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West
End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your
return to London, you would like to break your journey with an
overnight stay before continuing home.
We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.
UK rail connections
Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business -
there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules
and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international
departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible
ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday
change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.
We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.
For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.
Reviews
4.5 / 5 · 43 reviews
5 stars
(27)
4 stars
(11)
3 stars
(5)
2 stars
(0)
1 star
(0)
Martyn Leedham
Submitted 27/Feb
Splendid holiday, well organised and friendly helpful tour manager Andrew
Collected by Trustpilot
sue
Submitted 26/Jan
A wonderful trip. Spectacular scenery. Would love to go again.
Collected by Trustpilot
Gill Pritchard
Submitted 25/Jan
This was a fantastic holiday, led by Claire - our amazing tour guide. She continually went above and beyond to make sure that we all had a great holiday - even taking part in activities with us. Her enthusiasm was boundless.
Interlaken was a lovely town and the snowy day trips to Grindelwald and the Yungfrau were like stepping into a winter wonderland.
My only small criticism was the variable quality of the food in our hotel and the less than 4 star quality of the bedrooms. I upgraded purely to get a comfortable bed and shower.
Nevertheless, the holiday was amazing and it was a lovely group of people to travel with. Thank you GRJ - and Claire.
superb holiday. The tour leader Yasmyn ( not sure how to spell it) was very good. Dealt with all train problems well. Hotel was good. The group of people were also very companionable.
Overall fantastic. It would have been nice to have had another day, there was more to do. Picture is view from hotel room, lovely.
The trip was outstanding with a great tour guide and a great group of people.
The area was stunning, all transfers with the trains went well, hotel and food were wonderful and we would thoroughly recommend this as an area to visit.