Christmas and New Year in the Swiss Alps

Make it a Christmas and New Year to remember as you spend the holiday in a genuine Winter Wonderland, surrounded by the snow-capped Swiss Alps, beautiful towns and stunning railway lines.

• The tour includes a 15-Day Swiss Pass rail rover in First Class as well the extra journey on the world famous Glacier Express from Chur to Brig, where you will fabulous scenery and the journey over the breathtaking Oberalp Pass. 
• Enjoy an exquisite round-trip from Chur to Arosa aboard a vintage 1930s Art Deco private Pullman car of Rhaetian Railways.
• Private panoramic charter in the Appenzell on the scenic Rorschach-Heiden rack railway with Boxcab Locomotive Nr.22
• Experience the excitement of travelling by private charter onboard the 0-4-4-0 Green Mallet Steam Locomotive dating back to 1983 , as you travel through the scenic and rugged Jura Mountains in northern Switzerland and are greeted with a champagne reception.
• Make the most of your First Class Swiss Pass on 6 free days of the tour for individual discovery of the countless mountain railways, such as the Golden Pass, Gotthard, Bernina or Centovalli routes or any other destination of your choice on the Swiss main line network.

Wednesday 23 December

London to Chur by high speed rail

You travel from London to Chur via Paris and Zurich on Eurostar, TGV and SBB services. On arrival you check in to the 4-star Hotel ABC, located directly across the street from the railway station. A welcome dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (D)

Thursday 24 December

Christmas Eve atop Mount Rigi and on Lake Lucerne

Your tour starts with a real highlight as you take the scenic railway route past lakes and peaks from Chur to Arth-Goldau.

There you change to Europe’s oldest rack railway for the steep ascent to magnificent Mount Rigi, known as the ‘Queen of the Mountains’. You may enjoy refreshments atop the summit at Rigi Kulm with sweeping views of countless Alpine lakes. You then take the train down on the other side of the mountain to Vitznau and catch the elegant ferry onward to Lucerne. After a stroll around this beautiful city and its famous chapel bridge, you catch a train back to Chur. (B)

Friday 25 December

The Swiss Alps at Leisure and Christmas Dinner in Chur

Today is the first day to use the First Class Swiss Travel Pass at your leisure, to treat yourself for Christmas to grand scenery amid gorgeous mountains and enchanting railway lines.
You could do the circular Albula trip to Davos, head for the serene Appenzell region in the northeast of Switzerland or venture to Tirano along the Bernina route. In the evening you join your fellow travellers back in Chur for a lovely Christmas dinner together. (B D)

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 December

Freedom of Switzerland with First Class Swiss Travel Pass

For the next three days you have total freedom to discover all that Switzerland has to offer with your Swiss Travel Pass First Class network rover. Attractive options in good reach include the Gotthard Railway or the stunningly steep Stoosbahn. Your Tour manager will be pleased to advise you and offer an itinerary with the option of joining. (B)

Monday 28 December

Rhaetian Railway from Chur to Arosa by private Pullman coach

Today you experience the very best of the famous Rhaetian Railway travelling in a privately chartered, original 1930s Pullman car with splendid Art Deco furnishings. The large windows allow superb views of the mountainous landscape as you traverse the impressively engineered 25 km branch line from Chur to Arosa. The route climbs 1,155 metres via several tunnels and bridges, including the 284-metre-long Langwieser Viaduct – first opened in December 1914 and now a Swiss heritage site. On arrival in Arosa, you can take a stroll along the pretty lake of this famous mountain resort town and pause for refreshments. You return to Chur by private Pullman Car in the afternoon, with some free time to explore the city or still venture further afield with your Swiss Travel Pass. (B)

Tuesday 29 December

Private panoramic charter in the Appenzell on the scenic Rorschach-Heiden rack railway

In the morning you travel by SBB train through the mountainous Rhine Valley with grand views of the peaks of Liechtenstein to the east. You arrive at Rorschach on the banks of Lake Constance and have a private charter on the scenic rack railway up to Heiden in the green hills of Appenzell. The Rorschach-Heiden-Bahn is one of the very first mountain climbing railways in Switzerland dating back to 1875 and you get to experience its rich history aboard a private charter train formed of vintage rolling stock and hauled by the classic Boxcab locomotive Nr. 22 dating from 1930. During the ascent you will pass through farming villages and have sweeping views of Lake Constance below. After a chance to enjoy the views from the top at Heiden, the train returns back to Rorschach. You are then free to spend the spend the rest of the day at leisure, with your Tour Manager offering a continued guided trip on the other narrow gauge railways of Appenzell, starting with the equally panoramic line from St. Gallen to Trogen and then from Trogen onwards to Gais, Appenzell, Wasserauen and finally Herisau. Along the way you may stop in the UNESCO city of St. Gallen for refreshments at the impressive railway station from 1915 or in the beautiful old town. (B)

Wednesday 30 December

On the Glacier Express from Chur to Brig and then on the Simplon line to Lausanne

The time has come to venture west to Lake Geneva to the smart city of Lausanne. While your luggage will automatically be forwarded by SBB’s excellent transfer service from hotel to hotel, you’ll travel the world famous Glacier Express along the Surselva Region up the Rhine Valley to Disentis and then over the incredible Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. From there the line continues via Furka and Upper Valais to Brig. A hearty lunch in the First Class Car of the Glacier Express is included. After this delightful, panoramic journey on the world’s slowest but most scenic ‘Express’ train, you continue on an SBB Intercity service via the Rhone Valley and the banks of Lake Geneva to Lausanne. This smart cathedral city on Lake Geneva and the elegant Hotel Mirabeau near the station are your base for the remainder of the tour. (B L)

Thursday 31 December

Mainline steam in the Jura Mountains with a standard gauge Mallet dating from 1893

To see out the old year in style another special railway highlight allows you, as you first take an SBB Intercity from Lausanne past the Jura Lakes on the scenic route via Yverdon, Neuchatel and Biel to Oensingen. There you join a private charter train hauled by the 0-4-4-0 green Mallet steam locomotive Nr. 196 dating from 1893. This is one of the oldest mainline certified steam locomotives in Europe and also one of the very few operational standard gauge Mallets. Your private train will be formed of two elegant salon coaches as you travel on the short but superbly scenic and diverse branch line to Balsthal, pausing for photos at Klus. This line is framed by cragged cliffs, rugged rock formations and impressive hilltop castles. At Balsthal you will notice a large collection of other historic locomotives and railway vehicles, before you have a warm Swiss lunch with champagne reception appropriate for December 31st. After doing the shunting maneuvers that you may film, the green Mallet locomotive takes you back to Oensingen, after pausing for one more photo stop at Thalbrücke. From Oensingen you can return to Lausanne by train, taking the route of your choice and once again taking advantage of the flexibility of the Swiss Travel Pass. Back in Lausanne for the New Year’s Eve festivities, you may either enjoy the city's celebrations with fireworks at the hotel, in the beautiful old town or along the elegant lake-side promenade. (B L)

Friday 1 January

At leisure in Lausanne or another day of discovery with the Swiss Travel Pass

Today you may relax in the beautiful city of Lausanne, with its historic landmarks and world class attractions. You can also use your Swiss Pass one more time to discover pretty local railways, such as the narrow gauge lines above Lake Geneva from Morges to Biere or Nyon to St. Cergue. In the evening there’s a final group dinner at the hotel in Lausanne. (B D).

Saturday 2 January

Return to London

After your exhilarating Christmas holiday you return to London via Paris by TGV and Eurostar services. (B)