Interlaken & Jungfrau Express in Winter

Tour Highlights

Interlaken
Grindelwald
Carriage ride followed by gingerbread and glühwein
Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe'
Glacier, ice caves and sculptures below the summit of Jungfrau
Mürren & ascent of the Schilthorn

What’s Included (Full details)

Standard Class Rail
Heritage Rail Excursion
4* Hotel Accommodation
Breakfast Every Day
Selected Evening Meals
Selected Porterage
Optional Bag Concierge

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Itinerary
Hotels & Trains
Optional Extras

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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.

Day 1

By train to Luxembourg

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels, where we change trains and continue through the rolling hills of the beautiful Ardennes region to Luxembourg. Here we spend one night at the Mercure Alfa, located opposite the railway station, and close to Luxembourg's historic centre.

Includes:

Dinner

Day 2

Luxembourg to Interlaken

Departing Luxembourg after breakfast, we continue into Switzerland travelling by train to Basel. Continuing on the efficient Swiss railway system, we then travel along the shores of Lake Thun, to Interlaken, a magical town with a unique location, situated between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. We spend the next five nights at the Hotel Metropole, a modern hotel located in the centre of Interlaken, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks. On arrivalwe enjoy a glass of mulled wine. The Top O'Met restaurant on the top floor benefits from uninterrupted views of the Jungfrau.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Grindelwald sleigh ride

We travel to the pretty Alpine village of Grindelwald, a delightful town nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger, surrounded by wonderful Alpine landscapes. At this time of year, the idyllic town is covered in snow, making it a haven for skiers. From Grindelwald we enjoy a traditional carriage ride through the snowy streets and picturesque mountain scenery, followed by tasty gingerbread and glühwein so typical of Switzerland. You are then free to explore the village and perhaps enjoy lunch before we return to Interlaken. Later this afternoon, we enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to try Bavarian Curling in Interlaken, with expert help on hand to explain the rules!

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner
Grindelwald
Horse-drawn carriage ride
Bavarian Curling

Day 4

The Jungfrau Railway

Our excursion today is one of the highlights of any visit to the Bernese Oberland, as we travel on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest railway station at 11,333 feet (3,454 m). The route from Interlaken takes us firstly to Lauterbrunnen on the Bernese Oberland Railway. This narrow-gauge line was opened to the public in 1890, and is 12 miles in length. Over the course of the route we pass snow-dusted meadows, charming wooden chalets and attractive farming cabins. At Lauterbrunnen, the Wengeralp Railway runs to Kleine Scheidegg. Due to the steep area through which the railway runs, the line is actually the world's longest continuous rack railway, and on this particular stretch of the route, the views are absolutely outstanding. The final section of the journey is on the Jungfrau Railway itself, which runs the remaining six miles to just below the very summit of the Jungfrau Mountain. Much of the line is in a tunnel with huge windows carved into the rock, looking out to the infamous north face of the Eiger, and providing spectacular views down to the valley below. On emerging from the tunnel the train arrives at Jungfraujoch - known as the 'Top of Europe'. We have plenty of free time at the summit to enjoy the incredible views over the Alps. We also visit the Aletsch Glacier, a 12-mile river of ice, with its labyrinth of ice caves and sculptures carved inside. We return to Interlaken via the mountain resort of Grindelwald or for those who are more adventurous there is the option to take a marked toboggan run from Kleine Scheidegg & rejoin the train in Grindelwald for the final ascent to Interlaken.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner
Jungfrau Express

Day 5

Mürren and Schilthorn

We travel by train to the picturesque mountain village of Mürren today. Situated high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley at 5,413 ft (1,650 m) above sea level, this chocolate box village is a popular tourist destination all year round, thanks to the incredible mountain views it offers; in winter in particular, it is alive with activity. After arriving in the traffic-free village, we continue further into the mountains by cable car, ascending through the spectacular scenery to the peak of the mighty Schilthorn. Once at the summit, you can take in the superb views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains; on a clear day, there is a wonderful panorama of a further two hundred peaks. Here you can also visit the Piz Gloria, which was the world's first revolving restaurant and was made famous in the James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Back in Mürren, you are free to perhaps take a walk on one of the well-prepared scenic footpaths, or even have a go at skating on the open-air ice rink if you're feeling adventurous. Later we return to Interlaken, where we enjoy dinner together in the hotel.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner
Mürren
Schilthorn

Day 6

A day at leisure

Your day is free, giving you the opportunity to use your GRJ Swiss Travel Card to explore further afield with 50% fares. From our base in Interlaken there are many beautiful peaks and places to be discovered - why not make the journey across the Brünig Pass to Lucerne, a favourite destination among Great Rail Journeys customers due to its wonderful lakeside location and stunning mountain scenery? The compact city boasts charming streets and the famous 14th century Chapel Bridge. Built in 1333, it is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. Alternatively, you could visit Montreux, which is easily accessible by rail and beautifully located on the shores of Lake Geneva. From here you can take a fabulous journey into the mountains by cog railway to Rochers de Naye, one of Switzerland's most beautiful viewpoints. After a day's sightseeing, why not return to Interlaken along the beautiful GoldenPass Line?

Includes:

Breakfast
Free Day

Day 7

Interlaken to Cologne

Leaving Interlaken, we travel west to Basel where we join the onward service to Cologne. Our journey takes us along the scenic Rhine Valley, past imposing castles and fortresses overlooking the river below, before arriving in the city. We stay overnight in the city.

Includes:

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

Cologne to London

From Cologne, we travel by high-speed train to Brussels. Here we take the Eurostar service back to London.

Includes:

Breakfast

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

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Interlaken & the Jungfrau Express in Winter

Itinerary

Hotels & Trains

Optional Extras

Itinerary & Map

By train to Luxembourg

Luxembourg to Interlaken

Grindelwald sleigh ride

The Jungfrau Railway

Mürren and Schilthorn

A day at leisure

Interlaken to Cologne

Cologne to London

Please note

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