Search

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GRJ All Inclusive Glacier Express at Christmas

Eight-day Christmas rail tour through Swiss Alps on Glacier and Bernina Express

Illustration of GRJ All Inclusive Glacier Express at Christmas

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day Christmas escorted rail tour from London to Brig, traveling through France and Switzerland from December 22 to December 29. The holiday combines famous Swiss alpine train journeys with a five-night base in the Albula Valley. Days begin with breakfast at the traditional family-run Hotel Albula & Julier in Tiefencastel, then branch into scenic rail routes: the UNESCO-listed Albula Line to St Moritz on Christmas Eve, the Bernina Express across the Italian border on Christmas Day, the Arosa Line to the lakeside town of Arosa, and the Glacier Express through snowy peaks to Brig. Evenings return to the hotel for three-course dinners with included drinks. Free time allows exploration of St Moritz, historic Chur, and the Tiefencastel valley. All Eurostar, TGV, and scenic rail travel, seven nights' accommodation, all meals, evening drinks, and a UK Tour Manager are included. The tour suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking a festive escape, and those who prefer escorted comfort over independent planning.

Price history

Across 3 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,999.

£2,999£2,7994 Jul12 Aug

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 1 of 3 point is a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour maximum is 40 people; confirm group size dynamics with Great Rail Journeys before booking.
  • Hotel luggage transfers are arranged only between Tiefencastel and Basel; luggage handling at other stations is your responsibility.
  • The Swiss Half Fare Card is included for free days, but only covers 50% discounts; any additional rail or mountain railway journeys require separate payment.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Basel

    London to Basel

    We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and join the Eurostar to Paris, then continue by rail to Basel, where we check in and enjoy our first dinner together. Note: itinerary order differs by departure date.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Into the idyllic Swiss Alps

    After free time in Basel, we travel by rail via Chur to Tiefencastel, checking in to our traditional family-run Swiss hotel for dinner with drinks.

  3. Day 3overnight: Tiefencastel

    Christmas Eve in sparkling St Moritz

    We journey on the UNESCO-listed Albula Line to the festively decorated resort of St Moritz, with free time and a picnic lunch, before returning to Tiefencastel for a festive Christmas Eve dinner with drinks.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Christmas Day on the Bernina Express

    We celebrate Christmas Day aboard the UNESCO World Heritage Bernina Express, crossing the Italian border to Tirano, before returning to Tiefencastel for a special Christmas dinner with drinks.

  5. Day 5overnight: Tiefencastel

    Tiefencastel at leisure on Boxing Day

    A free day to relax at the hotel or explore Tiefencastel and the surrounding region, including Davos and Klosters.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Tiefencastel

    The Arosa Line and historic Chur

    We journey on the Arosa Line to the lakeside town of Arosa, then continue by train to explore the historic, traffic-free Old Town of Chur, decorated for Christmas.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Basel

    The iconic Glacier Express

    We bid farewell to Tiefencastel and board the Glacier Express to Brig through wintry landscapes, with an onboard audio guide, then change trains for an overnight stay in Basel.

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward bound

    We travel from Basel on the TGV to Paris, then transfer to the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Travel the UNESCO-listed Albula Line to St Moritz on Christmas Eve, watching the train spiral through alpine scenery toward the winter resort.
  • Day 4Celebrate Christmas Day aboard the Bernina Express, crossing into Italy through snow-capped mountains, spectacular canyons and valleys alongside frozen lakes.
  • Day 7Journey on the Glacier Express from Tiefencastel to Brig, passing through snowy meadows, frozen waterfalls and white mountaintops with an audio guide narrating the route.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 3-Star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day, and 5 lunches
  • Drinks between 7pm-9pm each evening with dinner in Tiefencastel
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Tiefencastel to Basel
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

What trains does this tour use?
Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV (Paris to Basel), Albula Line (to St Moritz), Bernina Express (to Tirano, Italy), Arosa Line (to Arosa), and the Glacier Express (Tiefencastel to Brig).
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish.
Where do I stay?
Seven nights in three-star hotels: five nights at Hotel Albula & Julier in Tiefencastel and two nights in Basel.
What meals are included?
Breakfast and dinner every day, plus five lunches. Wine, beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee are included with dinner between 7pm-9pm each evening in Tiefencastel.

Similar journeys