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GRJ All Inclusive Jungfrau Express at Christmas

 
4.3 stars(6 reviews)
Duration
7 days
From per person
Sold out
Tour code
26SIX
Mobility Rating 3

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Celebrate Christmas in Switzerland's most enchanting season, stay in a traditional snow-dusted alpine village, and journey on the Jungfrau Express

Experience the snow-capped Swiss Alps at one of the most wonderful times of the year, staying in the traditional village of Wilderswil, where dinner and drinks are provided each evening.

This enchanting GRJ All Inclusive winter break includes a trip on the Jungfrau Express, a masterpiece of Swiss rail engineering, to the 'Top of Europe' where the Sphinx Observatory looks out across Swiss peaks to the awe-inspiring Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps. Enjoy excursions to picturesque mountain resorts, plus free time to explore the region with a Swiss Half Fare Card.

GRJ All Inclusive Icon 02GRJ All Inclusive tours are all about making your holiday hassle-free, so you can savour your experience. All your main meals are included, as well as selected drinks at your destination hotel.

More information

Enjoy More with a GRJ All Inclusive Holiday

  • On this GRJ All Inclusive tour, all meals in Wilderswil are included. On excursion days a picnic lunch will be provided by the hotel.
  • Drinks include beer, wine and soft drinks.

Unforgettable Experiences

Visit the resort town of Interlaken on Christmas Eve
Visit the resort town of Interlaken on Christmas Eve
Explore the beautiful surroundings of Interlaken, set between the striking glacial lakes Thun and Brienz, and maybe take a winter cruise across scenic Lake Thun.
Embrace the festive spirit in Grindelwald
Embrace the festive spirit in Grindelwald
Spend Christmas Day in this quaint village, with a backdrop of snow-capped Swiss Alps, breathe in the fresh mountain air and delight in the fairytale atmosphere of one of Europe’s oldest mountain resorts.
Ride to the ‘Top of Europe’ on the spectacular Jungfrau Express
Ride to the ‘Top of Europe’ on the spectacular Jungfrau Express
Take a memorable trip on the Jungfrau Express to Europe’s highest railway station, at the summit of the Jungfraujoch. Here, at the ‘Top of Europe’, admire panoramic views of dazzling peaks and the astonishing Aletsch Glacier.
Spend five nights in a picture-perfect Swiss village
Spend five nights in a picture-perfect Swiss village
Stay in a typical Swiss chalet-style hotel in the traditional alpine village of Wilderswil, nestled in the heart of the beautiful Jungfrau region, at a top-rated family run hotel with an excellent culinary reputation.

What’s included on the tour?

Itinerary

DAY1To the magical city of Strasbourg

Your festive getaway starts at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and group before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. On arrival in the French capital, we continue by high-speed train (TGV) to the medieval French city of Strasbourg in the Alsace region, for an overnight stay.

Strasbourg is a perfect place to break our journey, and is especially charming in December when it sparkles with festive lights and a vibrant Christmas market. With a blend of German and French influences, the atmospheric historic quarter known as 'Petite France' is an enchanting area to wander through, with its half-timbered houses decorated for the season, overlooking the narrow canals. Another lovely feature of the city is the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, and the beautiful central square, Place Kléber.

Soak up the seasonal ambience as we walk a short distance from our central hotel to enjoy a three-course dinner at a traditional Alsace restaurant.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY2Welcome to the snow-clad alpine village of Wilderswil

A free morning in Strasbourg provides another chance to explore this beautiful city and maybe browse the stalls of its traditional Christmas market, one of the oldest in Europe. The city's attractive historic quarter is divided by the River Ill and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.

Around midday, we continue our journey by rail to Switzerland, travelling via the city of Basel and the resort town of Interlaken. The scenes from our windows transform into an alpine wonderland as we enter the snow-capped Swiss Alps. As we approach Spiez, look out for its fairytale lakeside castle beside dazzling Lake Thun.

Our picturesque route leads to our base for the festive season, the quaint village of Wilderswil, set in a snow-clad alpine valley, surrounded by the impressive Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. Here, we check in to a picture-book Swiss chalet-style hotel, receiving a warm welcome from the family who has run it for over 60 years. Tonight and each evening of our stay in Wilderswil, we enjoy a three-course dinner, with beer, wine and soft drinks served during our meal.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY3A captivating journey on the Jungfrau Express

Today is sure to be a high point of our holiday, a trip through an alpine wonderland to Europe's highest railway station, Jungfraujoch, also known as the 'Top of Europe'. This wonderful rail adventure starts with a short ride on the Bernese Oberland Railway to Kleine Scheidegg, where we join the celebrated Jungfrau Express. Climbing steeply through a tunnel deep inside the Eiger and the Mönch mountains, our train emerges just below the breathtaking summit of the Jungfrau. At over 11,000 feet, Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station on the continent.

There's free time here to bask in spellbinding views from the Sphinx observatory where you can look out at vistas of snowy mountain peaks and the gleaming Aletsch Glacier, the largest and longest glacier in the Alps. You may be tempted to head to 'Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven' shop for an insight into the history and making of Swiss chocolate, after all it is Christmas! The Alpine Sensation exhibition is also well worth a visit, a multi-sensory experience which describes the history of tourism in the Alps and pays tribute to the miners who built the Jungfrau Railway over 100 years ago. We retrace our journey back to the hotel, with time to relax before dinner with drinks.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY4Christmas Eve in scenic Interlaken

After breakfast, we take a short trip by rail to Interlaken, capital of the Bernese Oberland and one of the most popular towns in the Swiss Alps, where you are free to spend the day. Besides flaunting all the classic hallmarks of Switzerland - snow-capped peaks, glistening glacial lakes and waterfront castles - Interlaken is the centre of a year-round playground for climbers, walkers, and skiers. The town is situated between the glacier-fed lakes Brienz and Thun and surrounded by three iconic peaks: the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch.

Interlaken is a great starting point to visit local viewing spots, and your included Swiss Half Fare Card provides 50% discount on rail, bus and boat fares. You could take a magical winter cruise across Lake Thun and experience fairytale vistas of castles, hills and the soaring Bernese Alps. Alternatively, visit one of Interlaken's chocolate shops to indulge in some of this high-quality Swiss produce. Or relax in a cosy café, maybe with a hot chocolate, a glass of mulled wine or a slice of cherry cake. However you spend the day, a festive three-course dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY5An excursion to Grindelwald

It's Christmas morning and, after breakfast, we travel by train to the characterful village of Grindelwald, tucked away between dramatic mountains. Like a scene from a folktale, this famous village has incredible views of the north face of the Eiger. Grindelwald is one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, rising to prominence during the 1920s when skiing started to become a popular leisure activity.

You could take a yuletide stroll through the idyllic village, where quaint town squares and attractive wooden chalets are surrounded by open skiing fields. To mark the occasion, it may be possible to take a gondola trip to Grindelwald First Mountain, or a cable car to Pfingstegg, a viewpoint 1300 metres above the Grindelwald Valley. Or indulge in some Swiss specialties at a café or restaurant before returning to Wilderswil by rail in your own time. Back at the hotel, enjoy celebratory drinks and a festive dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY6At leisure in Wilderswil

Today is a free day to enjoy the Bernese Oberland at your own pace. If you'd like to take it easy, take a Boxing Day walk around the quintessentially Swiss village of Wilderswil and admire the striking backdrop.

Further afield, you could use your Swiss Half Fare Card to uncover the villages of the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley. The mountain resort of Wengen sits beneath the Jungfrau with fantastic views of the valley. Alternatively, head to the village of Mürren and take a cable car trip to the top of the Schilthorn mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Jungfrau region. From here, you could visit the famous Piz Gloria revolving restaurant, featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Another option is to take the train to Lucerne and discover this pretty lakeside city known as the 'City of Lights'. This evening is the final dinner of our festive holiday at our hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
  • Drinks with dinner
DAY7Homeward bound

This idyllic Christmas break has taken us from the medieval city of Strasbourg to a picture-book Swiss village in the heart of the glorious Jungfrau region. From our scenic base we have journeyed to the 'Top of Europe' on the remarkable Jungfrau Express and experienced panoramas of Swiss peaks and the stunning Aletsch Glacier. We've visited quaint villages, seen iconic mountain peaks, and had time to explore the region at our own pace.

Our festive holiday draws to a close this morning as we board a train via Bern to Lausanne. After dashing through the French countryside by TGV to Paris, we connect with the Eurostar that returns us to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please Note

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 that any vacation you book is right for you.

GRJ All Inclusive

Enjoy More with a GRJ All Inclusive Holiday

  • On this GRJ All Inclusive tour, all meals in Wilderswil are included. On excursion days a picnic lunch will be provided by the hotel.
  • Drinks include beer, wine and soft drinks.
Discoveries collection

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

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.

Hotel

Hotel Alpenblick, Wilderswil
Hotel Alpenblick, Wilderswil
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Eurostar

The high-speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris and Lille in France as well as Brussels in Belgium.

Jungfrau Railway

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.

TGV

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

Enhance your holiday

Upgrade to Plus Class on Eurostar

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?

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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.

Eurostar
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.

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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.

London hotels
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.

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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.

UK train tickets
Door to door luggage service

Enjoy hassle-free travel to and from Switzerland with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service for only £249 per bag.

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The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel in Switzerland. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag. If flying to or from your destination, you will take your own luggage with you on the flight.

Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 6 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (4)
  2. 4 stars
    (0)
  3. 3 stars
    (2)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

M Woodcraft

5 stars

Submitted 5/Jan

A great Christmas experience with a great group of people and Claire, our top class tour manager. Wonderful, traditional Swiss Chalet hotel with amazing food and Hotel staff. We were also very fortunate to have snow on Christmas Eve.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs Evans

5 stars

Submitted 3/Jan

Most memorable holiday ever

Collected by Trustpilot

Sharon Filmer

5 stars

Submitted 06 Jan 2023

Excellent and lovely tour manager. Well organised tour. Lovely hotel pretty location. Excellent food with friendly staff

Collected by Trustpilot

M Woodcraft

5 stars

Submitted 05 Jan 2023

First class tour manager (Claire) and a wonderful Christmas break. Thirty in our group which was ideal and a good time was had by all.

Collected by Trustpilot

A Broadbent

3 stars

Submitted 10/Jan

Travel very stressful

Collected by Trustpilot

graham

3 stars

Submitted 6/Jan

The train times connections we're to close for elderly passengers

Collected by Trustpilot