Magical Journeys of Switzerland
- 6 Days
- From £1,499
- Switzerland
- Take the train to Switzerland with a night in Frankfurt en route
- Glacier Express: The World’s Slowest Express Train!
- Bernina Express: Cross the famous Landwasser Viaduct on your way for lunch in Italy
- Jungfraujoch: Europe’s highest station
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 5 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
PLEASE NOTE: The Glacier Express does not run between mid-October and early December. Between these dates, you can still make the journey of the Glacier Express using public trains.
Suggested Itinerary
Catch a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and connect on to the direct ICE service to Frankfurt, arriving late in the afternoon. On arrival in Frankfurt, check in for an overnight stay at the Metropolitan by Flemings Hotel (or similar), within easy walking distance of the main station.
There’s plenty of time to settle in at your hotel before heading into the centre of Frankfurt this evening for dinner, perhaps around the Hauptwache, the city’s historic central square.
Check out of your hotel after breakfast this morning and return to the station to board a direct train to the pretty Alpine town of Chur (pictured).
You’ll arrive in the late afternoon and check in at the ABC Swiss Quality Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest town and easily explored on foot. There are plenty of options for eating out here in the car-free old town, along with tempting boutiques and a 13th century cathedral.
Enjoy the first of your iconic rail journeys as you board the Bernina Express towards Tirano. A truly magical four-hour journey through snow-topped mountains and glaciers, the train climbs to more than 7,392 feet and crosses an impressive 196 bridges before descending into Italy.
Have a quick lunch and wander about in Tirano, then board the train back to Chur for an evening at leisure in the town’s historic centre.
Board the world-famous Glacier Express – the world’s slowest express train – from Chur to Brig and take in some of Switzerland’s most dramatic scenery. Pass through stunning valleys and gorges, cross an extraordinary 291 bridges, and hold your breath over the Oberalp Pass, a 6,670 foot high mountain pass connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri.
Once arrived in Brig, take a train to Spiez over the impressive Lötschberg Pass, followed by a train to Interlaken where you will spend the next two days. Check in at the Hotel Interlaken (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
Take the century-old cogwheel Jungfrau Mountain Railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest station in Europe, perched on a mountain top at 11,322 feet. Gaze out across snow-capped peaks and the huge Aletsch glacier before returning down the mountain for your final night in Interlaken.
Enjoy a leisurely dinner in town, or take a trip to the Harder Kulm, reachable by cable-car, for sunset drinks and mountain views.
Head back to Interlaken Ost station this morning and board a Swiss domestic service to Basel on the border with Germany and France. From here, a high-speed TGV Lyria will whisk you back to Paris, where you can catch the Eurostar back to London.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Frankfurt
Located next to Frankfurt’s main station, the Metropolitan by Flemings offers luxurious accommodation and facilities. All non-smoking bedrooms come with a flat-screen TV, minibar, iPod docking station and complimentary Wi-Fi. There is also a health club with a sauna, steam room and gym as well as a brasserie and bar with an outdoor terrace.
Chur
This 4-star hotel is located just 400 yards from the railway station and offers a sauna and a steam room on site. With a pleasant bar/lounge, you’ll find the perfect place to have a drink. Guests are also welcome to make use of the free high-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the property.
Interlaken
This conveniently located hotel is next to the Japanese Gardens and within easy walking distance of Interlaken Ost station. Bedrooms are equipped with cable TV, wired and wireless internet connection and a safe. You can enjoy Swiss and international dishes in the Taverne Restaurant and there is also a welcoming lounge bar.
Upgrade your accommodation
St Moritz
Situated in the heart of St Moritz, the majestic Kulm Hotel offers stunning views over Lake St. Moritz. Facilities include an extensive spa and wellness area and a gourmet restaurant. One of the finest hotels in Switzerland, the Kulm is an ideal retreat for your stay in St Moritz.
Interlaken
A 7-minute walk from Interlaken West train station, this luxury 19th-century hotel is elegantly furnished in traditional style. Rooms come complete with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, and facilities include two restaurants, a piano bar, spa, indoor pool and fitness centre.
