Wengen & the Jungfrau Express

London to Strasbourg

We meet in St Pancras International at our dedicated departure office before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Here we transfer to the high-speed TGV service for Strasbourg where we spend one night.

We have a relaxed morning on Day 2, giving you some free time to explore the delights of Strasbourg. You may like to visit the city's Old Town, dominated by the spectacular Notre Dame Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, this church has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Petite France, located on the Grande Île, is the ancient heart of the city and well worth a visit. Here you can take a short boat ride through this World Heritage site, taking in the pretty medieval timbered houses and baroque sandstone buildings that line the river's banks. This afternoon we head back to the railway station and connect with our train into Switzerland. We travel first to Basel then onwards to Interlaken where we briefly join the Bernese Oberland Railway and start to climb up into the majestic Swiss mountains. We arrive into peaceful Wengen this evening, a traffic-free mountain resort with breathtaking views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

The Wengen-Männlichen Aerial Cableway

Our excursion today takes us on this innovative cableway, originally built in 1954 to connect Wengen resort with the mountains for the safety of skiers and walkers. Within five minutes, the difference in altitude reaches 2,970m and we are in Männlichen for more sensational views that can be enjoyed from the café here. After some time to look around, we continue our journey to Grindelwald on Europe's longest gondola cableway.

This pretty Alpine village is nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger and as a popular tourist destination, there is plenty to enjoy. Surrounded by lush meadows and grazing cattle, there are many popular walking paths in the area or you may just like to explore the town, visit some of its souvenir shops and relax in one of the numerous cafés or bars. We later return to Wengen by train where we enjoy dinner tonight at the hotel.

At leisure in Wengen

Today is free for you to explore Wengen and the surrounding areas at your own pace. Wengen is situated in the stunning Bernese Oberland, an area known for its outstanding natural beauty. Perhaps enjoy a stroll in the picturesque village, soaking in the Alpine tranquility.

The Jungfrau Express to the ‘Top of Europe’

Today is unquestionably the highlight of our visit to the Bernese Oberland region as we travel on the Jungfrau Railway to the Jungfraujoch - the highest railway station in Europe. The famous narrow-gauge line was completed in 1912 and is now celebrated as a major feat of engineering. As we climb from Kleine Scheidegg the distinctive string of red and yellow carriages disappear into the tunnel through the Eiger. During the journey the train pauses at two separate observation stops; windows hewn out of solid Alpine rock between the tunnel and the infamous north face of the Eiger, with spectacular views down to the valley below.

Finally, the train arrives at Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe', located at 3454m above sea level. With free time at the summit station, you will have plenty of time to explore the Ice Palace and its incredible ice sculptures. You can also spend time on the Sphinx Terrace, enjoying superb views onto the Aletsch Glacier, at 22 km the longest ice stream in the Alps. After time to explore and to enjoy lunch, we descend back down to Wengen passing picturesque villages and idyllic farming cabins.

At leisure

Today is free to spend at leisure, exploring the Bernese Oberland using your included GRJ Swiss Travel Card for 50% fares. Perhaps journey up to the Schyinge Platte and travel in restored 19th century carriages, hauled by a vintage electric locomotive, as you ride on this classic cog railway. Be prepared for more awe-inspiring views of the towering mountain ranges as well as the lakes of Thun and Brienz, visible to the north. Why not visit the Alpine Botanical gardens up here, home to around 500 plant species, or relax and drink in the views from the café terrace?

Alternatively, you could take a ride on the BrienzRothorn railway, one of the steepest in Switzerland and powered almost entirely by steam engines. This rackand-pinion line traverses a number of bridges, crossing the steep, stony mountain trails and offering glittering views of Lake Brienz as you climb to the terminus at the summit of Rothorn.

The Schilthorn

Today we continue our journey into the dramatic Swiss landscape with an excursion by cable car to the summit of the Schilthorn. We travel firstly by train to Lauterbrunnen, changing for our onwards service to delightful Mürren, before joining the cable car for our ascent to the summit, 2970m above sea level. The views are truly unparalleled and on a clear day we are able to admire a magnificent vista over the entire Alpine region. You have some free time here to appreciate our stunning surroundings. Why not visit the fantastic revolving restaurant and enjoy a 360 degree panorama of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains as you sample a delicious, traditional Swiss menu and maybe a martini, shaken not stirred? The restaurant is named Piz Gloria in honour of the James Bond film, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' that was filmed here, and there are many 007 references to spot. On our descent, there is the opportunity to stop at Stechlberg to visit the mighty Trümmelbach Falls. Nestled deep into the canyon, the falls have carved a path for themselves through the hillside making this a waterfall with a difference. Trümmelbach boasts Europe's largest subterranean waterfalls, and the only glacial waterfalls accessible underground by lift, galleries, tunnels, paths and platforms.

Return to London

After breakfast, we begin our journey home. Departing Wengen, we travel by rail via Interlaken, Basel (on the high-speed service) and Paris, where we connect with the Eurostar service back to London. Here our holiday concludes.