Klosters & The Glacier Express

To Colmar

Your tour begins as you meet your Tour Manager and the rest of your group at Great Rail Journeys' dedicated Departure Office in London St Pancras International. From here we board the Eurostar service to Paris, changing trains for Colmar, a pretty Alsatian town close to the German border, where we overnight.

Klosters

Your morning is at leisure to discover the charming cobbled lanes and crooked half-timbered buildings of Colmar. The town is filled with quaint charm; enjoy a stroll through the idyllic, flower-filled canal quarter, known as 'Petite Venise', and explore the narrow winding streets, colourful houses and picturesque squares of the enchanting town centre. This afternoon we continue into Switzerland. We travel by rail to Basel, changing trains in Landquart for the final part of our journey.

Our destination is the Alpine resort village of Klosters, a charming, quintessentially Swiss ski resort which is renowned as a long-favoured holiday destination of the British Royal Family. Our home for the next six nights is the delightful 4-Star Hotel Alpina, a beautiful, traditional hotel in the heart of Klosters, moments from the railway station and cable cars. Our stay here includes all meals, with breakfast, picnic lunches and a three-course dinner each evening with two drinks included (wine or soft drinks).

At leisure in Klosters

You are at leisure today to begin exploring delightful Klosters. A picture-postcard example of an unspoiled Alpine resort and a favourite of the rich and famous, Klosters is simply a delight to discover. Take some time to wander around the peaceful mountain village, discovering streets filled with traditional wooden chalets, atmospheric restaurants and cafés, and a number of stylish boutique shops. Also included in the price of your tour is a Davos Klosters guest travel card, which provides free travel on local cable cars for convenient access into the stunning surrounding mountains.

The Bernina Express to Tirano

After breakfast this morning, we board a train to the nearby town of Davos Platz, for our journey on the spectacular Bernina Express. Connecting Switzerland and Italy via one of the highest mountain railways in the Alps, the narrow-gauge Bernina Express train rises to the challenges presented by the steepest gradients to delight passengers with a journey of breathtaking beauty through this iconic mountain range. We pass rushing mountain streams, pretty Alpine meadows and snow-capped mountain peaks on our journey to Tirano, just across the border in northern Italy. You have some time at leisure here before our return journey to Klosters; you could visit the Sanctuary of Madonna di Tirano in the centre of the town, an imposing church which dates back to the 1500s.

Chur and the Arosa Line

Our excursion today takes us on the Arosa Line to Arosa. We travel first to Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland, where we have free time to take in its historic centre. Visit the ancient 12th-century cathedral with its blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles and beautifully restored interior, or discover the medieval buildings, cobbled streets and ancient charms of Chur's car-free Old Town, before we head to the station for our journey on the Arosa Line.

The scenery becomes increasingly striking as we slowly ascend over 3000 feet into the mountains, passing slopes lined with thick pine forests and wide, dramatic gorges. We reach charming lakeside Arosa, where we have time at leisure to take in the breathtaking views before we return Klosters in time for dinner this evening.

Schatzalp Funicular Railway and Botanical Gardens

We discover Schatzalp today, which is also known as 'the magic mountain.' We make the short rail journey to Davos Platz this morning, where we board the Schatzalp funicular railway for the four-minute journey up to historic Schatzalp, 984 feet above the town. Here, we pay a visit to the Schatzalp botanical gardens, The Alpinum, which is home to thousands of different species of flora from mountain regions across the world, including flowers from China, New Zealand and Tibet.

We enjoy a guided tour of the beautifully landscaped Alpine gardens with the garden director, introducing us to the diverse selection of plant life found here. You have some time at leisure before we return to Klosters. Perhaps visit the Panorama Restaurant, where you can relax and take in the views from the large sun terrace with a coffee and a slice of homemade cake.

At leisure in Klosters

Today is at leisure to further explore the lovely surroundings in Klosters, venture further afield and discover the surrounding area, or to simply relax in the fabulous surroundings of your hotel.

The Glacier Express

We embark upon what is undoubtedly one the highlights of our holiday today, as we enjoy a journey on one of the most iconic trains in the world, the Glacier Express. We travel first by rail to the glamorous resort town of St Moritz. Here, we join the Glacier Express, affectionately referred to as 'the slowest express train in the world', for an unforgettable journey through the mountains.

We enjoy panoramic views across the sprawling Alpine landscapes as the train makes its way through the picturesque, quintessentially Swiss mountain scenery, crossing the famous Landwasser Viaduct and traversing the terrain of the upper Rhine Valley. The train climbs steadily and steeply up and over the Oberalp Pass, the peak of the route, and spirals downwards past countless villages, before reaching the town of Brig. We enjoy a two-course lunch served at our seats as the magnificent scenery passes by. In Brig we change trains for Bern, continuing on to Basel where we spend the night, enjoying our final dinner together as a group.

To London

After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we bid a fond farewell to Switzerland. From Basel, we travel by rail to Paris, where we board the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. On arrival in London, your tour concludes.

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.