Highlights of Switzerland in Winter

Experience the splendour of the snow topped Swiss Alps on this spectacular holiday. Trips on Switzerland’s most iconic mountain railways are conveniently included, giving you a chance to sample ‘the best of the best’.

• Initially based in the Swiss Riviera town of Vevey on Lake Geneva and the historic city of Brig and Chur, you’ll stay in top-quality hotels featuring typical Swiss hospitality.
• Discover Switzerland’s spectacular mountain railways from west to east, including the Rochers-de-Naye, Golden Pass, Glacier Express, Gornergrat, Oberalp Pass, Rhaetian Railway, as well as the UNESCO designated Albula and Bernina lines.
• Travel aboard opulent ‘Belle Epoque’ Pullman Cars over the Golden Pass, plus enjoy private accommodation in the 1930s Art Deco Pullman coaches of the Rhaetian Railway for a memorable trip to St Moritz.
• Experience the technical marvel that is the gauge-changing ‘Golden Pass Express’ luxury train from Montreux to Interlaken.
• See impressively engineered railways up close and get the best high-altitude views of the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat summit station.
• Go ’peak-hopping’ on rack railways, funiculars and aerial cableways, whilst exploring local towns and castles with complimentary public transport rover tickets.
  

Saturday 23 January

London to Vevey 

Travel on Eurostar and TGV via Paris to Geneva, then by SBB service train to Vevey, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. Here you check in to the 4-star Hotel Astra, conveniently located opposite the station. A welcome dinner will be served at the hotel tonight. (D)

Sunday 24 January

Golden Pass Express gauge-changing train from Montreux to Interlaken

Today you travel in style from Montreux via Gstaad to Zweisimmen over the Golden Pass Express, a fancy luxury train that runs every day and is valid with your First Class Swiss Travel Pass. The world famous Golden Pass line climbs from Lake Geneva to the highest point near Gstaad, at 1279 metres. In Zweisimmen you stay aboard the train, as the gauge-changing coaches pass through the unique metre gauge (1000 mm) to standard gauge (1435) traverser. The route then winds through the Simmental Valley to Spiez and along Lake Thun to Interlaken. You’ll have free time at Interlaken West for refreshments and a bit of sightseeing, before travelling back to Lake Geneva via Bern, the Gruyere foothills and Lausanne, thus completing a large circular journey for the day.. Back in Vevey you’ll have a free evening to enjoy dinner at a lake-side venue of your choosing. (B)

Monday 25 January

Swiss Riviera and Mont Pelerin Funicular; Rochers de Naye Rack Railway

You start your day by exploring Vevey and Lake Geneva’s famed ‘Swiss Riviera’. You catch a funicular to the terraced vineyards high above the lake, reaching a formidable observation point at the summit of Mont Pelerin. Later on, you can use your complimentary, public transport rover ticket to take the trolleybus route to Montreux and see the medieval Chillon Castle. Early afternoon you board a rack railcar for the steep journey from Montreux to the summit of Rochers de Naye, 2042 metres above sea level. From the top there are panoramic views of the French and Swiss Alps. You return to Montreux, for a further look around town or ride on another local funicular before returning back to Vevey. Dinner will be served at your hotel this evening. (B D)

Tuesday 26 January

Glacier Express route to Zermatt; Gornergrat Railway; The Matterhorn

This morning you board an SBB service train from Vevey station to Visp, where you’ll travel on a panoramic narrow-gauge train for the final section of the Glacier Express route. This scenic railway line winds through rocky valleys and over steep inclines to reach Zermatt. Here you transfer to the Gornergrat rack railway, ascending to 3089 metres above sea level. It’s Europe’s second highest railway, eclipsed only by the Jungfrau. From this high Alpine plateau, enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers and a fabulous front perspective of the Matterhorn. After refreshments at Gornergrat you can film the passing trains in their characteristic chocolate-brown livery, before riding back down to Zermatt. You’ll have some time to look around car-free Zermatt, with its rows of wooden chalets and stone churches. Then you board another panoramic narrow gauge train for the onward journey on the Glacier Express route to Brig. You’ll spend the night in Naters allocated within the district of Brig, an historic, elegant city, which has become famous as a major railway junction and gateway to nearby Italy. Dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant. (B D)

Wednesday 27 January

On the Glacier Express and via the Oberalp Pass to Chur

A true highlight awaits, as you step aboard the legendary Glacier Express and travel in First Class accommodation on one of the world’s most famous trains! Enjoy the sleek dome cars with their grandiose windows as well as the refinement of on train catering, for the half-day journey from Brig to Chur. The Glacier Express initially traverses the narrow valleys of the Obergoms, before travelling through Andermatt and climbing up to the breath-taking Oberalp Pass. From there you descend through the Surselva region and along the Rhine Gorge, arriving in Chur, one of Switzerland’s oldest cities. You check into a centrally located hotel with free time to explore beautiful Chur. (B L)

Thursday 28 January

Rhaetian Railway from Chur to St Moritz by private Pullman Coach along the Albula Line; Return to Chur via the Engadine Valley and Vereina Route

Another signature attraction awaits, as you journey over the UNESCO-designated Albula line. From Chur you take a loco-hauled express train over the stunning Albula route through Filisur, which is renowned for its countless spiral tunnels, horseshoe curves and stone-arched viaducts, including the iconic Landwasser Viaduct, the most famous railway bridge in Switzerland. You are accommodated in a private, original 1930s Pullman car. Aside from the luxury of deep cushioned chairs, the large panoramic windows give fine views of the mountainous landscape, as you traverse the impressively engineered route. After arrival to the resort town of St Moritz, you have time for refreshments and to stroll along the typically frozen lake adjacent to the attractive railway station. Then you take an RhB service train back to Landquart, travelling in First Class via Zernez through the beautiful Engadine Valley, before heading north through the Vereina tunnel, the world’s longest narrow tunnel. You emerge at the popular ski resort of Klosters, from where the train continues by way of the Prättigau region to Landquart and Chur. In the evening there’s a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Friday 29 January

Return to London 

Today you return to London from Switzerland, travelling via Chur, Basel and Paris on RhB, SBB, TGV and Eurostar trains. (B)