Mountaintops of Switzerland

We meet our fellow travelling companions at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal at our seats on the way to Paris. In the French capital we take the direct train to Basel - the quickest route to Switzerland. This sleek journey transports us through Jura and Alsace before arriving in the Rhine-side city of Basel. Our hotel near the station is popular with our passengers and we have some time to explore this typically Swiss city with an old town of beautifully characterful buildings before gathering at the hotel for our first dinner together.

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

Leaving our luggage to be transferred to our next hotel, we take a short walk to the train station this morning for our journey to Interlaken. From here, we board a boat to cruise across Lake Brienz. Sailing through the heart of scenic Switzerland, the brilliant turquoise tones of the glacial waters contrast with the green mountain slopes. During the cruise, we can spot picture-book towns and idyllic villages dotting the shores of the lake.

As we disembark, the Giessbach funicular railway is ready to transport us to our hillside hotel, the stunning Grandhotel Giessbach. On arrival, we enjoy a welcome drink as a local expert tells us about the history of this unusual hotel. From its secluded setting, the hotel has views across the sparkling lake and onto the cascading Giessbach waterfall. We have time to explore our new surroundings before enjoying a three-course dinner together at the hotel in the evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we set sail from our idyllic hotel to the town that gives Lake Brienz its name. Here, we board the charming steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway. This rack-and-pinion line was opened in 1892 and traverses steep and rocky mountain trails and verdant alpine meadows - all while providing beautiful views of glistening Lake Brienz below. A real heritage rail experience, the delightful small steam engine chugs, huffs and puffs its way up this dramatic route to its destination at an altitude of more than 7,000ft above sea level. On a clear day, the scenery from this vantage point is spectacular as we are only a few miles from the lakeshore as the crow flies. Viewing Lake Brienz from a different perspective really brings out the remarkable colour and you may even be able to make out the Grandhotel Giessbach.

Returning to Brienz, we have time to explore this pretty Swiss town with its traditional wooden chalets, most notably the quaint geranium-decorated buildings on the curved and cobbled Brunngasse. You may wish to indulge in one of the town's many coffee shops and bakeries before we glide back across the water to our hotel in the late afternoon. There is time to relax or explore before reuniting for a three-course dinner in the restaurant with views across Lake Brienz.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a highlight of any holiday in Switzerland. Taking the train to Brig, we then board the incredible Glacier Express to St Moritz. The 'slowest express train in the world' traverses incredible mountain passes, with views of picturesque villages and valleys, before it delves into the Rhine Gorge. Our panoramic First Class carriages provide a front-row seat to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' as the emerald river winds its way past limestone cliffs. Enjoying a two-course lunch, the breathtaking scenery is constant. After Thusis, the route is UNESCO-listed as it clings to mountain edges on the Albula Line, zigzagging and spiralling its way round mountains and over bridges, including the curved Landwasser viaduct, before arriving in the chic mountain resort of St Moritz.

Our hotel is in the centre of this stylish and popular town and the terrace offers great views of the serene lake - as do our lakeview rooms. With glamorous St Moritz on the doorstep, this evening might be a great opportunity to explore shopping streets such as Via Serlas, where world-famous fashion brands have boutiques, or enjoy one of the town's many restaurants.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, crossing the Alps into Italy on the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express is an incredible experience. From our First Class panoramic carriages, the exceptional alpine scenery continuously impresses as we wind our way up to the summit at Ospizio Bernina before being greeted by the jaw-dropping views of the Palü glacier. This stunning route twists its way down the mountains, spiralling round the corkscrew viaduct at Brusio.

Free time allows us to explore the narrow, cobbled streets and characterful piazzas of the charming Italian valley town of Tirano, where we can enjoy local delicacies in one of the town's delightful trattorias. We return to St Moritz on a local train in First Class in the afternoon before enjoying a three-course dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we leave St Moritz for Chur, before passing many beautiful lakes on our way to Lucerne. From our First Class seats, we see Lake Walen, Obersee and Lake Zurich before travelling southwest past Lake Zug to Lucerne. As the fourth most populus city in Switzerland, Lucerne is an important and historic city draped across the north-western inlet of the expansive Lake Lucerne.

We have time to wander independently round the picturesque old town. One of the most striking landmarks in Lucerne is the 14th-century Kapellbrücke. Separating Lucerne's Old and New Town, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe was constructed to help protect the city from attacks. Inside the gables of the bridge, a series of paintings from the 17th century relay the city's history.

Our hotel for the next two nights, the Pilatus Kulm, is reached by way of the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. Reaching a gradient of 48%, the half-hour ascent takes us up past alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to a land above the clouds. With such a jaw-dropping location nestled between two peaks, the Pilatus Kulm provides utterly stunning views across the soaring mountains of central Switzerland. Due to its position, there are unforgettable sunrises and sunsets weather permitting - and we arrive in good time for the latter, before enjoying a three-course dinner in the glorious restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

If you wake in time, you may be fortunate enough to witness a sensational sunrise that gradually illuminates the mountainous surroundings in dramatic and wondrous style. While today is spent exploring independently, you might not want to leave this heavenly location. However, with a complimentary return ticket on the Pilatusbahn, you could head down the hills to explore Lucerne or beyond. According to local legend, Lucerne was formed after an angel beamed a light on to the spot where a chapel should be built. The 'City of Lights' has a charming old town with plenty of interesting attractions, from ornate churches to frescoed historic houses, while its cobbled streets embody tradition and culture with their well-preserved medieval architecture. Set on the crystal-clear lake, lively and vibrant Lucerne is a great place to wander and find somewhere to eat at one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants.

Alternatively, you may want to explore further afield. With your Swiss Travel Card, you receive a 50% discount on rail, boat and most mountain railways, so you could hop on a boat for a cruise across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. The Rigi Mountain Railway, Europe's first mountain railway, has been departing from here since 1871 and still offers beautiful views across to Mount Pilatus and the southern peaks as it travels up Mount Rigi.

Returning back to the hotel via the Pilatusbahn there is another opportunity to delight in the sunset as we indulge in a three-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we descend the mountain ready to catch a late-morning train from Lucerne in First Class. We arrive at our destination in mid-afternoon, so there is the opportunity to explore the Alsace capital of Strasbourg after we check into our 4-Star hotel. With an interesting blend of German and French culture, Strasbourg's architecture ranges from Gothic to modern and there is a sparkling verve to the atmosphere.

Located on an island, the historic old town is dominated by the spectacular 13th-century Notre Dame Cathedral with its renowned astronomical clock. Attracting tourists, shoppers and people seeking a relaxing meal or drink, Place Kléber is the city's main square lined on one side by the imposing l'Aubette. This 18th-century building was redecorated in the 1920s by three avant-garde artists and has since been known as the 'Sistine Chapel of abstract art'.

La Petite France is one of Strasbourg's most popular attractions. In the Middle Ages, it was home to the city's millers, tanners and fishermen but today draws in tourists with its colourful half-timbered buildings gathering round narrow lanes, and bridges criss-crossing peaceful canals.

In the evening, we gather for a three-course dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After our final breakfast, we leave Strasbourg for Paris. In First Class seats, we travel through the historic duchy of Lorraine and pass the vineyards of the Champagne region before arriving in the French capital. Changing to Standard Premier Class on the Eurostar, we enjoy a light meal and recall the spectacular mountainous scenery that accompanied our fantastic Swiss adventure and the incredible hotels that welcomed us with their warmth and wonderful views.

Arriving back at London St Pancras in the early evening, we say farewell to our fellow travellers grateful for the lovely memories that will stay with us.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal